Upper Levels Please Help with Cage Expansion

[LuisaSpike]

Hey everybody,
I reeeeally want to expand my girls' space, but I don't really have anywhere to go but up. I've heard that 1x_ lofts are no good because the piggies don't have enough space to move around each other, and I know that would be a huge problem with my pigs, as Luisa starts bucking and spraying urine at Spike if Spike gets too close, and they always eat together at the same time. I have a 3x4 cage but I don't want to overshadow a huge amount of space with the loft as I have to get in the cage to clean it already, and I'm not thrilled about making cleaning even more difficult than it already is. I have a little more than a grid's width between the edge of the cage and the furniture, so I have a little bit of space to do an overhanging loft, but I have no idea how to make an overhanging loft. Also, any cool and easy to clean designs for a loft? I'm open to suggestions! I have a covered cage with supports in the middle to hold up the cover, so I can do a loft in the middle, although I'm not sure how practical that would be. Lastly, any tips for how to make it easier to clean? I mean the actual cage not the loft, the loft should be easy enough, I'm just worried that I won't be able to easily clean under the loft.

 

[Traysea]

I would use removable bars to support the loft in the cage so that you can just lift out the coroplast to reach into the main floor of the cage. Someone just recently posted pics of a cage done with bars. So instead of tie wrapping grids like a shelf inside the cage to make the second level you just cut dowels (or something similar) that are a bit longer than your cage. Then you slide the dowels thru the holes in the grid. I would say just use wonder bars from the cage store since they are so awesome.... but they are only 2 grids long, not long enough to reach across your 3 grid cage.

 

[Traysea]

I found the thread with the wood supports, maybe this would help:

https://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/threads/91706-Question-Zipties-amp-Second-lvl

 

[LuisaSpike]

Thanks, [MENTION=28226]Traysea[/MENTION], that is perfect! Now, with just a little brainstorming, I should be able to figure out how to make that work with an overhanging loft. Still, that is brilliant! It will make cleaning sooo much easier.