Cage Stacked cages - 3 levels 2x6

[6GPS7]

Ok, more general question, who has a stacked cage, and how did you construct it? Do you feel like its sturdy enough? Is it hard to clean? Does your bottom one start on the ground, or do you have it on a stand? If a stand, did you use a grid stand or something else? Do you feel like your piggies have enough light in between levels?

Specifically, here's what I need...

• 3 2x6 cages
• Stacked? I may be able to do 1 separate, but ideally all 3 would be stacked.
• I don't want the lowest one to be on the ground - it needs to start at least 1 grid level high.

I found a 2x5 in the gallery that did this here:

(broken link removed)

Any tips or thoughts on stacked cages? Is a triple decker 2x6 even possible or advisable?

 

[pinky]

Personally, I think that 1 grid space between levels is too tight. I have a double decker 2x5 with 2 grids between the lower and upper level. I can comfortably clean the bottom level with the amount of headroom space. I couldn't do that with one grid of space. I think it would limit your interaction with the guinea pigs and would be harder to clean. It's hard to clean under a loft. This would be like cleaning under a huge loft. The other thing I don't like with that cage is the low coroplast sides. You'll have debris getting tossed out the cage.

 

[6GPS7]

@pinky - thanks for your input. Do you feel like your double decker is pretty stable? Do you just use wire ties, or did you use something else to support it? Is your spacing more like this one? https://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/originals/9e/b8/b5/9eb8b57b4089eb77d84db8d4cd0dc6d7.jpg

ETA: I'm not a huge fan of that one right there - see how it looks saggy in the middle, and also how there's no grids on the front? How do the pigs not fall out of that? hmy:I only linked it to show the spacing...

 

[pinky]

@pinky - thanks for your input. Do you feel like your double decker is pretty stable? Do you just use wire ties, or did you use something else to support it? Is your spacing more like this one? https://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/originals/9e/b8/b5/9eb8b57b4089eb77d84db8d4cd0dc6d7.jpg

ETA: I'm not a huge fan of that one right there - see how it looks saggy in the middle, and also how there's no grids on the front? How do the pigs not fall out of that? hmy:I only linked it to show the spacing...

This is pretty much my current cage:

https://s738.photobucket.com/user/kavykeeper/media/CAM00226_zps85b57d2f.jpg.html (<script class="js-extraPhrases" type="application/json"> { "lightbox_close": "Close", "lightbox_next": "Next", "lightbox_previous": "Previous", "lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.", "lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow", "lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow", "lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen", "lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails", "lightbox_download": "Download", "lightbox_share": "Share", "lightbox_zoom": "Zoom", "lightbox_new_window": "New window", "lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar" } </script> <div class="bbImageWrapper js-lbImage" title="Stacked cages - 3 levels 2x6" data-src="/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fi738.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx28%2Fkavykeeper%2FCAM00226_zps85b57d2f.jpg&amp;hash=df93690c02d6ffc6a50ec2baa79742fc" data-lb-sidebar-href="" data-lb-caption-extra-html="" data-single-image="1"> <img src="/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fi738.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx28%2Fkavykeeper%2FCAM00226_zps85b57d2f.jpg&amp;hash=df93690c02d6ffc6a50ec2baa79742fc" data-url="https://i738.photobucket.com/albums/xx28/kavykeeper/CAM00226_zps85b57d2f.jpg" class="bbImage" data-zoom-target="1" style="" alt="Stacked cages - 3 levels 2x6" title="Stacked cages - 3 levels 2x6" width="" height="" loading="lazy" /> </div>)
This was when I had 2x4's:
https://s738.photobucket.com/user/kavykeeper/media/cage048_zpsedb882d2.jpg.html (<div class="bbImageWrapper js-lbImage" title="Stacked cages - 3 levels 2x6" data-src="/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fi738.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx28%2Fkavykeeper%2Fcage048_zpsedb882d2.jpg&amp;hash=c62c9af4eecb46960d0200ad0c2ebacc" data-lb-sidebar-href="" data-lb-caption-extra-html="" data-single-image="1"> <img src="/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fi738.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx28%2Fkavykeeper%2Fcage048_zpsedb882d2.jpg&amp;hash=c62c9af4eecb46960d0200ad0c2ebacc" data-url="https://i738.photobucket.com/albums/xx28/kavykeeper/cage048_zpsedb882d2.jpg" class="bbImage" data-zoom-target="1" style="" alt="Stacked cages - 3 levels 2x6" title="Stacked cages - 3 levels 2x6" width="" height="" loading="lazy" /> </div>)

I use 75 lb strength zip ties when I build cages and add a wooden I-beam under the top level for extra support. I overlapped grids on the sides for extra stability. I decided to try that a few cages back and it worked so well I build all of my double deckers this way. My cage is stable enough that it held my husband when he slipped off a ladder and fell onto the top level. We can pick up the cage by the top of the grids and carry it around or flip it over, etc. I use velcro to hold the sides of the coroplast together so it's easy to clean it and store it if I need to...... Some people use plexiglass for a section of the sides. I'm not sure about the cage in your photo.

 

[6GPS7]

Ok, I think I'm going to abandon the idea of 3 2x6s and instead do a single 2x6 and a double stacked 2x5 like you have. I may put mine on a stand though, having it on the floor kills my back.

What is an I-beam?

 

[prettynyguen]

hi, i had a 2*5 stacked cage, with an extra level in between for clearance (pretty much the same as pinky's above). my husband used a mallet and pliers to make sure the connectors were tight, and we also used a million zip ties. the cage was really strong, but i found it difficult to clean the bottom level. also, the guinea pigs were harder to pick on the bottom because you had to reach way back. i wouldn't want to extend it any further without some sort of central support. recently i changed it back to one level, and i'm loving it. i considered putting a loft on, but it just takes up more room in their main running around space. all the piggies are easier to get to (i have two pairs), and it is so much easier to clean. it takes up more floor space, but it is worth it. i'm going to be putting a layer of shelves underneath for storage, but the cage will still all be one level.

 

[pinky]

Ok, I think I'm going to abandon the idea of 3 2x6s and instead do a single 2x6 and a double stacked 2x5 like you have. I may put mine on a stand though, having it on the floor kills my back.

What is an I-beam?

It's a piece of wood that runs that length of the cage, under the top level. I buy a 8' piece and cut it down. I think they call it a 2x2 but it's really about 1.6" wide. If you cut it a bit longer than the width, you can run it through the top, middle opening of each grid directly under the bottom of the top cage and attach a screw eye on the top or bottom of each side of the I-beam that extends beyond the grids to hold it in place. One I-beam is usually enough but since I've never done a double decker 2x6, you might want to have two of them if you feel it needs the extra support.