Ideas for a cage in this location

[LukeM]

Okay, so I really wanna get pet guinea pigs and my parents would probably only be cool with it if I kept them in my room. There are really only 2 options in my room, under my desk (which would be dumb) or in an old, unused and sealed off fireplace. Here are some pics of the fireplace, how would you suggest I build a cage in there, I am thinking it should probably be multi-storied due to size.
Here are some pics of the fireplace. Any ideas would be appreciated.



The images are deceptive it is a small space but not as small as it looks.

It is 92cm (36.22in) across and 48cm (18.90) deep and at its lowest point is 102cm (40.16) heigh.

Any ideas are appreciated

Obviously i would clear out my junk first

 

[CavyMama]

The space is way too small for a guinea pig cage. The minimum for one pig is a 2X3 C&C cage which is 7.5 sq feet.

 

[LukeM]

I was thinking of doing something like this after clearing away my cabinet.
I would lay down a base made of some material (some kind of wood) to have a level base surface)


Then after a while I will build a 2nd floor



Excuse the mess in my room. In the middle of rearranging.

 

[Roo99]

How would you support the bottom the cage not resting on the fireplace? Are you planning on building a grid base?

EDIT: Sorry, I didn't notice your post about the wooden base above. Sorry! However, you have to be careful with woods around cavies, as they can have a very strong scent that can irritate a piggy's sensitive upper respiratory system.

 

[LukeM]

I would make legs to use as supports

 

[CavyMama]

Okay, you have mentioned you wanted to get a pair of pigs. The recommended space for 2 is a 2X4 C&C which is 10.5 square feet or 36" by 50" and that's if the pair is two girls. Boys need more space. Upper levels do not count toward square footage.

 

[LukeM]

3.8ft x 3.8ft is 14.44 sq ft. So the plan I showed is enough space.

 

[Roo99]

In my opinion, it looks like a 2 level cage in such an awkward shape and position would be hard to clean. Also, more levels take away from cage space with ramps and the like. I would recommend that instead of a multi-level cage, make a single level cage as big as you possibly can. That would probably be better for you and any pigs that you happen to adopt.

 

[LukeM]

The lines are straighter I'm just really bad at drawing plans.
It would be hard to make it much bigger as the silver pole you see on the right of the last 2 photos is my bed leg and a few inches away from the bottom of the photo is the edge of my desk.

 

[Roo99]

Is there any way that you could move that dresser/shelving unit? If you could move it to the other side of your bed then you could make a really big cage.

 

[LukeM]

my bed is already against the wall but I am throwing out that cabinet anyway

 

[lissie]

That's a nice plan, but it won't be 14.44 sq.ft. You'll have to deduct the lost space that goes in the L.

 

[PigPandemonium]

The base of your cage would have to be a 2x4 making it in an L shape, or with any twists and turns, takes away from the space they have to run and do laps around the cage. You can imagine it by comparing it to this, would you be able to run easier and faster in a maze, where you keep having to turn and can't build up speed? Or a huge basketball court where you can run any which way you want in circles?

 

[PrincessAngel]

Could you also extend your cage closer to your bed?(like against the wall to the right of the cabinet). That would make the cage bigger and give the pigs more room to run

 

[LukeM]

That's a nice plan, but it won't be 14.44 sq.ft. You'll have to deduct the lost space that goes in the L.

Thats right i hadn't thought of that. But the 'L' area is only 1.18 sq feet so The area will still come to 13.26 sq feet. I could possibly make it a bit bigger. I have a few inches to work with.