Advice on cage building

dan3008

dan3008

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hello my lovely guinea pig peoples

So the time has come again for me to sort a new cage for the boys (only had them since august, and this is the 3rd and hopefully final cage I'm building)

The reason we need a new cage is we have decided to keep our foster bunny. Turns out, staying up all night to syringe feed a poorly ball of fluff fosters quite a special bond. So we now need a bunny cage, and 2 guinea pig cages (We're going to split coco from the other 2, and we're getting him a friend once the local rescues open again for bonding visits.

Presently, the rabbit is in the bottom of a stacked 2*5 C&C cage, while the 3 boys are in the top, and we have an emergency cage in case we need to action the split sooner than planned.

What I want to do is basically build a 6' by 4' table, with wood walls on the 2 short sides, and use some of the C&C panels I've got to go down the 2 long sides, the middle divide and make 2 lids(we've had 1 escape act when they were in the bottom cage... the lid is needed...) All this with the bunny space underneath using the Correx liners. to protect the carpet.

My problem is, I'm not sure what to make the table out of. Any experienced cage builders out there got any hints? Currently considering MDF for the base, and plywood for the 2 wooden walls. But with that, I would need to then put a waterproof layer over the wood.

Anyone know if it would be safe to use Melamine Faced Chipboard (like what Ikea furniture is made of) for the base and sides?

Any other tips for building a large elivated cage are welcome

Thanks
 
Forgot to add. Does anyone know where I could get 4'*6' boards in the uk?

everywhere does 2*6 but 4*6 seems to be a tricky one...
 
it’s far too easy to fall in love with a foster and have them end up staying! How lovely for bunny though to have found a lovely home! Is s/he feeling better now?

Melamine topped chipboard is fine provided they aren’t directly on it as if the coating chips, cracks at all as then moisture might get into the chipboard which will cause it to fall apart.
If you can only get 2x6 board, then it’s probably going to be easier to join two together with bracing underneath to make it 4ft.

Are you used to bunny keeping?
For the rabbit to have a 6ft x 4ft living space is really lovely! Will s/he have access to more than that or run time? The current advice is for them to have access to 60 square feet every day (or a 6ft x 2ft hutch/cage with an 8ft x 6ft run permanently attached giving a total space of 10ft x 6ft). This is why one corner of my garden is completely filled with animals and hubby says I can’t have any more!
Will s/he be getting a friend?
I am also incredibly careful to never have my rabbits and piggies be in the same air space due to the risk of the illness which rabbits carry being fatal to guinea pigs. If they come into the house due to adverse weather, they are always in totally separate rooms. I know some people do keep them in the same room but for me it’s too much of a risk.
 
Thanks for all the advice piggies&buns.

Yeh snow is doing a lot better now. Just took a few days to start eating after he was castrated...

He has access to most of the house throughout the day so has plenty of run space.

I'd heard about the illness risks, so have spoken to my vet, who's advice was that since hes an exclusively indoors bun, it's safe, just dont let them have direct contact with each other...

Yeh hell be getting a friend once the adoption goes through properly. But had to get him castrated ect first
 
I’m so glad he is doing better! Hopefully he will have a lovely lady to live with soon!

My old bunny boy is sadly one of the unbondable. It’s made me very sad that he doesn’t want a lovely lady but he clearly enjoys the bachelor life too much! He lives next door to a pair of lovely, pretty young ladies who are very interested in him, but he could not care less whether they are there or not!
 
alpacasqueak said:
So glad he’s staying with you @dan3008, so pleased he’s doing well now and good luck with finding him a friend! :D

Patch sounds so brilliant @Piggies&buns :)):love:
Click to expand...

He‘s a bit of a grumpy old man now complaining about the girls next door disturbing his peace! He is a fantastic lap bunny though, loves nothing more than snuggling up with me, begs to be stroked etc. This is something the girls don’t do, they just want food and all night raves!
 
Piggies&buns said:
He‘s a bit of a grumpy old man now complaining about the girls next door disturbing his peace! He is a fantastic lap bunny though, loves nothing more than snuggling up with me, begs to be stroked etc. This is something the girls don’t do, they just want food and all night raves!
Click to expand...
What a lovely boy :luv:
Haha sounds a bit similar to my chins, Poppy was the grumpy old lady and after we lost her Pedro was all for the raves as he wouldn’t get a telling off! XD
 
Haha. Our snow Is a young boy at 13 months. But he LOVES attention... and playing tig... if I'm working hell just wander up and tap me and run off. And will keep doing it till I go give him attention
 
Given that I'd still have to cover melamine board, I'm going to get ply or mdf and cover it with a pool liner
 
It would be covered by bedding and eventually fleece liners. Alternatively I might use stick on vinyl wrap... just some kind of waterproof layer... need to research that a bit more I think
 
It sounds wonderful dan3008 ! Vinyl or correx on top would be great if it’s going to be covered with fleece. MDF or ply sounds the right thing for stability and custom madeability ! I think you are going to have to post pics so we can see this journey with you. How lovely you have kept your foster bun ! All your furry animals have a very happy home 🥰
 
Once I start building, I will be sharing photos of the whole build process. but thats going to take a little longer now... Track and trace have just told me I've got to isolate for 10 days. so that'll cause delays.
 
Oh no - well you can plan everything thoroughly - stay well !
 
So due to the cost of a diy build we've purchased a second 2*5 stacked c&c cage and some spair grids. Pictures to follow once its built.

Also got 4 fleece liners from cande cosies... my bank account is crying lol
 
Hope you escaped COVID. Looking forward to seeing your new setup.
 
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