Questions of a Newbie

[PsRumors]

Good afternoon all. I am in the process of putting together a C&C cage for my wife's and daughter's new cavies. There will be 2. As you can see from the picture it will be quite a condo once finished. There will be a loft in front of the window so they can look out from different levels.

My question is this. I plan on using coroplast but as you can see it will have to be several pieces. My thoughts were to have the sides made up for 6" but have the butting ends through the center of the cage about 2 to 3 inces high. This would allow the piglets to move across without to much problem but yet you could remove a section at a time for a good cleaning. Will this work? I hope I was able to explain it.

The cage itself is 9 panels across the back 3 panles down the left and 5 panles down the right. A total of 27 panels have been used so far. It is sitting on an old model rail road table I once had. It is sitting in a finished attic with heat, air and of coures the window for fresh air on nice days.

How many water bottles do I need? Will they remember where the bottles are or do I need several throughout the condo?

Thanks
PsRumors

 

[cinn&sprinslave]

The butting ends thing sounds fine to me. I have actually done that before. And to make it easier for the cavies to hop over to the next area you can use a brick or make a stair out if wood.
WOW! That condo is so huge, and totally awesome the piggs will love it!

Since that cage is so huge I would suggest having two water bottles on one end of the condo, and two at the other end.

 

[Piglet]

That is one amazing cage! Please upload it in the photo galleries, so others can see it

 

[PsRumors]

I'll get it uploaded once it is finsihed.

Thanks

 

[DaCourt]

Are you sure you only want 2 piggies? You could have a whole herd. If you needed to, you could even put a divider down the middle.

AWESOME! You are a good cavy dad.

 

[Guinea pig guy]

That is a very awesome cage.Guinea pigs will remember where their water bottles are but I would suggest having two at the least.Great cage PsRumors,your wife and daughter should proud,I know your cavies will be.Again great cage.

 

[PsRumors]

Thanks again for the info and thanks for the compliments. It has been difficult getting up there without anyones knowledge. I hope it turns out as well as I have invisioned.

I had a few minutes this evening and got the loft in front of the window installed along with ordering the coroplast. I hope it comes in quickly.

Overall there is 40 sq feet of usable floor space. When I installed the loft I set it so the entire condo can be divided into two 20 sq foot pins. I will be making a trip to the pet store this weekend to buy bottles, houses, etc. Hopefully I can be done by the end of the weekend.

By the way, how many piggys can be kept in 40 sq feet? Just for knowledge sake. I have already laid down the law of 2 piggys.

 

[mncavylover]

That's 35 square feet, whoa! I'm really impressed. That's awesome!

 

[CavySpirit]

You could comfortably do 5-7 guinea pigs in that cage. I'd probably recommend ADOPTING one neutered male and 5 females. Of couse, 2 is fine. You might want to start with 3. One neutered male and 2 females if you've never had cavies before. Then, if it goes well over time and seems right, you could gradually introduce another one that needs a home.

 

[DaCourt]

Wait...you aid getting up there without being noticed. Does that mean you are surprising them with this? Wow! I said you were a good cavy dad. I take that back. You are a GREAT cavy dad! You know you will bring them to tears with this.

 

[PsRumors]

Yes, this is a Christmas present. My daughter and wife each have a guinea. During the day (I work out of my home) when the wife is out running errands and I am not busy I get up there to work on it. Or if they all run to town etc in the evening.

The 2 guineas are living seperate right now in cages the wife said was big enough. She bought these 2 weeks ago (she just didn't know any better). I could look at these things and tell it wasn't. I came across this site and the light bulb went off.

I hated taking down my railroad but these little animals need it more than I do. As soon as the condo is livable I will give them the gift as I don't want these pigys in those small cages any longer than they have to be.

I'm not much of a cavie person but want whats best for any animal and my wife and daughter love these things so....I didn't have much choice.

Here is a wide angle pic so you can see the whole thing. It's tough to see the loft but it is 1 grid deep and 2 wide with a divider down the middle. What should I use for ramps? I will need 2 so they can get to each side. I will have a tunnel running under it but first must figure a way for them to be able to clean it out.

Is there anything else I need? I am planning a couple of hay spots 4 water bottles and 4 food dishes (2 feed and 2 vegetable/fruit). I want to make sure I have all my bases covered.

 

[sofiemuffins]

Absolutely amazing! I wish I could make a set up like that!

 

[CavySpirit]

I just hope that your wife and daughter are going to be okay with going up the stairs multiple times a day to feed, clean and interact with their cavies.

Also, what are the sexes of the two guinea pigs? Please give a THOROUGH read to this page: www.cavyspirit.com/sociallife.htm

Once again, though, awesome cage.

 

[DaCourt]

How about a small refrigerator up there to keep the veggies?

 

[Emily F.]

It's very nice! Your wife, and daughter will love it! You seem like a wonderful Dad and Husband. If I were You, I would go with 3 water bottles. What bedding are you going to use?

Once again, very nice! It looks amazing!


Emily

 

[leeannm81]

That is soo great!! I doubt there's many men who would do that for their wives or daughters. That's so commendable (sp?). Good luck and show them this thread after you've given them the present, that way they can know how great other people think their man is!!

 

[sofiemuffins]

I'm so jealous! I was just looking at the picture again...I would put some plush carpeting on the ground and have large fluffy floor pillows...I'd stay up there 24/7 and hang out with the piggies. I wish I had a whole room in my house devoted to my pigs.

 

[silkerlover]

This is awesome!! please post more pictures when you get it all set up!!

 

[liluqt]

PsRumors, wanna adopt another daughter? Lol, you're too awesome of a dad! Heck, you might have to adopt all of us on the board.

 

[PsRumors]

The fridge is a great idea. Our fridge now stays over full with 4 kids and all. I will have to start watching the yard sales for a dorm fridge. They could even keep them some drinks up there.

I just found out the coroplast isn't to be in until Monday aarrrggghhhh. A couple times now I have been able to sneak the pigs up there and let them play, they seem to love it. It will be almost like floor play ALL the time.

The table is built in such a fashion that I can add on very easily if ever need be. I doubt I will ever need to though.

We have been using aspen for the bedding and it seems to work very well. We also use it for my son's snake (different room and part of the house then the cavies). We buy it at Tractor Supply for $7 for like 10 cubic feet. I guess I will be buying it by the pallet now.

I'll be buying all the accessories this weekend for the condo and everyone will be gone during the day Monday and Tuesday, maybe it will get finished then.

I'll keep you posted.

Again, thanks for all the kind words.