Are L-shaped cages problematic?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Deleted member 141156
  • Start date Start date
D

Deleted member 141156

Hi, new to this forum! I currently have two bonded pairs of boys outdoors in custom built hutches that are 90cm x 180 cm each and I may take my friends pups once they can leave mum (mis-sexed pigs at pet store litter šŸ˜¬) as she does not have the space.

We live in Australia, so they come inside when it gets over 32Ā°, which is very frequent in the summer time. I have been wanting to move them inside permanently for a long time, but my parents did not allow it (Iā€™m 16). They are giving in now, and I am allowed the smallest bedroom, which has 3m L x 2m D of usable space, plus built in storage units.

I believe my grids are 30cm, but they could be larger so I would need to change the amount of grids so they fit this space. I think the most space effective cage layout would be to have two L-shaped 2x5 (base of the L against the back wall) + 2x4 (top part of the L sticking out under the upper cage) cages for my boys, and a 2x10 stacked on top for the three/four girls. Would this be suitable or are L-shapes problematic for boys since they could be cornered? My young boys are very well bonded but my oldest have a couple of disagreements now and then.

Sorry if this doesnā€™t make any sense, I can draw a diagram šŸ˜…
 
I donā€™t think it would be an issue; there are corners on a regular cage anyway! Those on an L shape wonā€™t be any more acute, so not any more likely to cause piggy cornering.
I have an L shape for my girls and I really like how it works.
 
You will not be able to have girls at the top. If girls absolutely must be in the same room, then you will need to put the girls at the bottom so their smells cannot fall down onto the boys as it can cause the boys to fight. You also need to ensure you always handle the boars first so you dont risk transferring girly smells onto the boys

it can be risky putting sows even in the same room as boars as it can cause them to fight over the girls (even if they canā€™t get to them) So If at all possible boars and sows are best kept in separate rooms for the sake of the boys relationship.

There is a section in guide covering boars and sows in the same room
A Comprehensive Guide to Guinea Pig Boars
 
Thank you so much, I didnā€™t know that. I thought since there would be a two grids between the cages vertically and no bedding would be swapped then it would be okay. My boys are also older and have smelt girls before from a long distance away when I was pig-sitting. I will rethink and possibly say no to the pups if it will not work. Is putting a neutered boy and sows group below them less risky then sows alone?
 
sixfluffybums said:
Thank you so much, I didnā€™t know that. I thought since there would be a two grids between the cages vertically and no bedding would be swapped then it would be okay. My boys are also older and have smelt girls before from a long distance away when I was pig-sitting. I will rethink and possibly say no to the pups if it will not work. Is putting a neutered boy and sows group below them less risky then sows alone?
Click to expand...

The sow smells will drift around and that is the problem. Sow smells absolutely will fall downwards so this is why the sows should always be at the bottom so the smell has nowhere to go, but it isnā€™t a guarantee that the presence of sows wonā€™t cause problems.
no having a neutered boar/sow group is not going to make it less risky - sows smells will still be present so your bonded boars are still at risk of problems.
 
I agree the sows need to be below the boars. Any stray bit of hay, hair, etc drifting down will carry a lot of scent and be very exciting to the boars which can result in fighting.

When it comes to keeping them in the same room I have never found this problem in all the years I have kept piggies. In my piggy shed I currently have six pairs of boars all living in raised 6' hutches and two sow herds on the floor, with no problems. Other people may have had different experiences tho.
 
ive a boar pair ,and neutered boar and one sow,living in the same room without any problems.one of the boar pair is 10 months old.i have always kept mixed groups in the same room,so may be accustomed to it.i hope all works out.if your piggies will be young,they may just get used to it and not cause you problems,other than they need to be personality compatiable.good luck.
 
Shapes are not a problem..
My Piggies live in L shape and they are fine.
Best luck with your set up. . Pictures be nice :clap:
 
I currently have all mine indoors and have boars and sows all in the same room with no problems whatsoever, and in fact in summer they shared the same outside run space. Perhaps it is because mine are used to living like that, perhaps it is because there are lots of them so they are more used to feeling like a herd, or it might be I've just always been lucky! So it can work. I've never had boars fight, but I have had the odd sow who was a right pain in the neck with other sows, one loved her daughter but would tolerate no one else. After I had them for a couple of weeks I realised why they had been a bargain couple lol!
 
Thank you for all the replies, it helps so much. I think I will try three cages, one with boys on top, one with boys on the bottom and one with the girls next to them with escape proofing on both sides. If nothing seems to work then I will have to surrender the girls to my local rescue (where they would be if I couldnā€™t take them in the first place) and go from there.

(I had to put a different birthday in order to make an account, so I think my account was deleted because I am too young.)
 
You canā€™t put sows next to boars, they either have to be stacked (below boars) or in a different room.
 
Sixfluffybums said:
Thank you for all the replies, it helps so much. I think I will try three cages, one with boys on top, one with boys on the bottom and one with the girls next to them with escape proofing on both sides. If nothing seems to work then I will have to surrender the girls to my local rescue (where they would be if I couldnā€™t take them in the first place) and go from there.

(I had to put a different birthday in order to make an account, so I think my account was deleted because I am too young.)
Click to expand...
Yes your account was deleted because you are too young to legally join the Forum.
This was explained to you in a private message from staff.
Changing your birth date to get around these rules, does not change the fact that you are in breach of the rules.
 
Free Ranger said:
Perhaps your mum could join up if you have any more questions? Is this allowed, staff?
Click to expand...

Parents can sign up and ask questions on behalf of a child but they cannot sign up and allow their child to use their account
 
It seems a shame to to block the IP address just in case her mum could sign up and ask questions? I just worry she's going to get the wrong advice elsewhere.. When I was 16, all my friends used to use omegle.. and that forum was pretty traumatising lol! This seems like the tamest and friendliest forum out there! :) Tbh I think we need to educate the children if this forum is going to make more of a difference as unfortunately guinea pigs are classed as "child's pets" (when they're anything but) and every child I know is clueless perhaps apart from the odd few (I work in a primary school) perhaps @Wiebke and others could make a "child's guide for teenagers under 18?" I just wish I had access to this forum when I was a child, I feel things would've been very different.
 
Tara95 said:
It seems a shame to to block the IP address just in case her mum could sign up and ask questions? I just worry she's going to get the wrong advice elsewhere.. When I was 16, all my friends used to use omegle.. and that forum was pretty traumatising lol! This seems like the tamest and friendliest forum out there! :) Tbh I think we need to educate the children if this forum is going to make more of a difference as unfortunately guinea pigs are classed as "child's pets" (when they're anything but) and every child I know is clueless perhaps apart from the odd few (I work in a primary school) perhaps @Wiebke and others could make a "child's guide for teenagers under 18?" I just wish I had access to this forum when I was a child, I feel things would've been very different.
Click to expand...

Even without signing in, you can sill see the forum and access all the information guides via the search option and via the guides shortcut on the top bar - including our comprehensive new owners's guide collection both in the Guinea Pig Guides and at the top of the New Owner's Care section. You just can't post.

Since we are a public space, we are legally forbidden by both European and US regulation to admit or knowingly harbour underage users. What far too many youngsters don't seem to understand that is that them signing up, trying to or lying about their age despite our warnings plastered all over the registering process can easily lead to us having to close down as a forum if we get into trouble. Which is something nobody of us wants. Especially as restrictions are bound to become stronger in future years and not less - for their own protection.
The internet is not a free for all, and the more it is abused, the more restrictions there will eventually be.
 
That is exactly what I thought - how desperately sad to ban children from a forum full of useful, indeed essential info about an animal which is sadly marketed to children.

I had totally non animal minded parents, and every pet I had, I had to feed, care for and learn about completely by myself. Indeed back then there was no veterinary knowledge available about animals like guinea pigs at all, let alone those specializing in them as I have read about on here. I understand that forums are perhaps more of a club for the regulars, but I am still saddened that such glee was shown at refusing to help a child.

I fully admit that I know nothing about social media and forums, to be honest I don't really "get" the point of social media at all!

Whilst I do keep my guinea pigs in a very different fashion to that on here, and I would never insist there was only one way to care for them, I still think that there are many in the hands of children who do not have helpful parents , and I really wish they could be catered for, and be helped by the knowledge on here.
 
Bluebell said:
That is exactly what I thought - how desperately sad to ban children from a forum full of useful, indeed essential info about an animal which is sadly marketed to children.

I had totally non animal minded parents, and every pet I had, I had to feed, care for and learn about completely by myself. Indeed back then there was no veterinary knowledge available about animals like guinea pigs at all, let alone those specializing in them as I have read about on here. I understand that forums are perhaps more of a club for the regulars, but I am still saddened that such glee was shown at refusing to help a child.

I fully admit that I know nothing about social media and forums, to be honest I don't really "get" the point of social media at all!

Whilst I do keep my guinea pigs in a very different fashion to that on here, and I would never insist there was only one way to care for them, I still think that there are many in the hands of children who do not have helpful parents , and I really wish they could be catered for, and be helped by the knowledge on here.
Click to expand...

We are aware of the problem but we have to comply with the law and with the regulations of the country we are located in or we risk being closed down as a forum altogether.
When the forum started out, the minimum age was 13 but this has been raised as a result of the rise of social media and all the dangers that have come with them. We live in fast changing times and we have to go with them.

Our full information is still available and accessible from different locations to every visitor; they can also see posted threads, search on here or google for particular issues.

There was no glee involved. We have only made our point as clearly as possible as any long discussions would not have helped either side and would not have changed the outcome. We have offered a legally acceptable solution for direct access. Our hands are very much bound on this issue. Do you really think this is fun for us?
 
@Bluebell no one expressed glee in refusing to help. In fact she was given advice before her IP was banned. As said the rules are there for a reason. I donā€™t feel it would be fair for the forum to be shut down because they let a child stay on as a member. I can actually understand the need for the age restrictions and welcome it. If she needs any more info the forum is still accessible without an account.
 
Safeguarding is a small part of my job and in a world where social media is so widely used it is vital that this forum is a safe space for everyone.
There are too many horror stories of online abuse which is why the legal restrictions are so strict.
Safeguarding is meant to protect everyone and it is absolutely right that we comply.

The information and advice is available to anyone which is right, membership is age restricted which is also right.
Protection of children & vulnerable adults is a shared responsibility.

This is one of the best regulated and safest forums. Letā€™s keep it that way.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top