How safe are brick?

[pinky]

One of my guinea pigs likes to burrow occasionally which isn't a big problem. I noticed that some people use bricks to weigh down the fleece. I bought a few today but noticed how rough and sharp the corners are. Considering they're about the height of a guinea pig's head, I'm rethinking using them since I'm afraid they could get hurt if they run into one. Any thoughts on that? I thought of filing down the corners but there's still the risk of them running into them.

 

[bpatters]

I put bricks in my cage when I was using fleece, and never had a problem with them running into them. That's not to say they couldn't have, just that mine didn't.

 

[lissie]

I thought about using them but had the same concern with you so I never used one. You can probably wrap them in fleece so they will be safe.

 

[Duffinvt]

Some people use tiles. If you decide to use the bricks, I like Lissie's idea of wrapping them. You could even pull a colorful sock over them, just to keep them from hurting themselves on it.

 

[SweetiePig]

I would still use them. I'd go get some cute socks and put the bricks inside the socks to cover them so they arnt as sharp and rough and plus, they would look cute with a nice little cover on them

 

[kathlaaron]

I've thought of getting bricks too, but the rounded off ones, though they might be more expensive, I don't know. If that idea appeals to you, maybe they would let you take them back and trade for the rounded off ones.

Otherwise, I think pulling a sock over the bricks is a really cute idea !

 

[skinnyguineaus]

To avoid the tunel game I cut 8 strings of fleece and sew two to each corner of the liner. I then attach the strings to the corners of the C&C. It secures the fleece in place and it's cheap, easy and safe.

 

[karwask]

Hi All,

I bought a brick to use under the water bottle as people have suggested two things:

1. The dripping water on the brick provides some coolness in the heat.
2. If they have to step up on the brick to drink, it helps keep their front nails trimmed.

But, as many have said here, I put it in there and realized that, when they are startled, there is a good chance that they can run into things and the brick seemed unsafe for that reason. I am also starting to feel that way about my wooden fort that it's easy to run into and it's not very forgiving vs. their pigloos. So, took out the brick for that reason.

 

[pinky]

I decided not to use them. My son gave me his five pound weights and I put two in there. They work great and have all rounded edges.

 

[pinky]

I only paid .05 for the bricks.....

I've thought of getting bricks too, but the rounded off ones, though they might be more expensive, I don't know. If that idea appeals to you, maybe they would let you take them back and trade for the rounded off ones.

Otherwise, I think pulling a sock over the bricks is a really cute idea !

 

[anwaflynurse]

I have always used a brick under the water, the pigs love to lay on it. I use it up in the kitchen so it is out of the way on the side. My pigs love to chase each other up and down and around and have never injured themselves on the brick. It is just the small square one from Menard's, no rounded corners, but its not like the corners are rough or sharp, just.....hard. Works great to catch drips and to cool off warm pigs in the summer.

 

[KiwiCavyAdorer]

I have 3 separate bricks in different places, as steps, in Maximus von Lichtenwalders abode, I notice that he likes to put pressure on his front claws and haul himself up sometimes, as if it's nice for him to get his claws into something and pull with them.

My caution since he is a single pig for now, is about cold. At first I wrapped a towel around to insulate from the cold. For that reason I have now made padded square covers (like a toaster cover) for them with good thick batting. The bricks have been the best step idea for his set up so far. I'd suppose that with the thickness of the coverings if more pigs were to come along and a stampede occurred the padding would work then too.

I'll have to see about desired coolness in summer, the padded covers might prevent it then.

 

[kathlaaron]

For that reason I have now made padded square covers (like a toaster cover) for them with good thick batting. The bricks have been the best step idea for his set up so far. I'd suppose that with the thickness of the coverings if more pigs were to come along and a stampede occurred the padding would work then too.

How wonderful that you made those for him !!

I am not nearly as concerned, about my girls bumping into them and hurting themselves, as much as I am about the sharp edges that some bricks have. For that DOES concern me, and I believe, a wound or serious scratch is more than possible. So, I hope to find a couple rounded edged bricks, if I ever do decide, to get a few.

 

[pinky]

My husband suggested I use one of his heavy duty files to smooth off any edges. I don't know if that will compromise the stability of the brick or not. I like the idea of the covers for them but would prefer to find something to use that I won't have to worry about getting soiled and needing to be laundered. The weights work really well but I only have two of those and need two more of something to put over the other two spots. I went to a couple of Goodwill Stores yesterday browsing around. I also thought about those small concrete lawn ornaments. I tried a one pound weight and my digger moved it. I think I need two more 5 pound things to be effective. It's funny because I seem to have more of a problem with my digger since I made the cage larger and since one of my guinea pigs passed away.

 

[bpatters]

I think you guys are worrying too much. I've had bricks all over my cage when I was using fleece, and the pigs regularly zoom around the cage. Nobody's ever hit a brick. Besides, the level of their heads is usually higher than the brick when they're running, anyway. My pigs' favorite use of the bricks was as something to stand on to wheek for more food!

Pinky, filing off the edges isn't going to affect the stability of the brick in any way.

Bricks are generally only pennies each -- the decorative ones can be a dollar or so. I think I paid 35 cents each for mine at Lowe's.

 

[SweetiePig]

They do have the octagon shaped bricks which look like the edges had been sanded down already?

 

[pinky]

I figured out something even better than bricks. I went to my local garden center/nursery and bought 4 cobblestones. They're about 4 lbs. each, oblong, low to the ground and smooth. I soaked them in a gallon of water with a tablespoon of bleach to disinfect them and rinsed them well. I dried them in the sun and put them in the cage. They work perfectly! The nice thing about them is that they come in different colors, shapes, sizes and weight and are completely natural.

I think you guys are worrying too much. I've had bricks all over my cage when I was using fleece, and the pigs regularly zoom around the cage. Nobody's ever hit a brick. Besides, the level of their heads is usually higher than the brick when they're running, anyway. My pigs' favorite use of the bricks was as something to stand on to wheek for more food!

Pinky, filing off the edges isn't going to affect the stability of the brick in any way.

Bricks are generally only pennies each -- the decorative ones can be a dollar or so. I think I paid 35 cents each for mine at Lowe's.

 

[kathlaaron]

I figured out something even better than bricks. I went to my local garden center/nursery and bought 4 cobblestones. They're about 4 lbs. each, oblong, low to the ground and smooth. I soaked them in a gallon of water with a tablespoon of bleach to disinfect them and rinsed them well. I dried them in the sun and put them in the cage. They work perfectly! The nice thing about them is that they come in different colors, shapes, sizes and weight and are completely natural.

Oh my gosh Pinky, that is what I was thinking of for you last night ! After I got offline, I was thinking to myself, "what about getting some plain old smooth heavy stones ?" Really !

At some point I would love to see a picture of the kind you got, if that would be ok !

 

[kathlaaron]

They do have the octagon shaped bricks which look like the edges had been sanded down already?

I believe those are the ones that I was thinking of, that had the smooth rounded off edges, SweetiePig !

 

[pinky]

Not a great photo since I took it with my phone but there are 4 cobblestones in there. One in under the water bottle.