Building my first c and c

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susiewoosie

susiewoosie

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Hi

I want to build something like a 3 storey - 2 levels at 2 x 4 and 3rd just a hay loft. something like this woops borrowed from another site . how to you do clean the bottom, is it easily accessible?

any ideas on design appreciated ...susie
 
Good luck, think it will look fab, no idea on cleaning a 2 storey one though.

A good tip to keep the corex clean is getting a picnic plastic tablecloth thing cut to size from dunhelm's. This will protect the bottom, then put newspaper as normal.
 
Hey,

A big thing you have to think of with these sorts of cages is support, C&C grids alone struggle to support much more than 2 levels i’ve always added wooden support to all my C&C designs as i find without the support they’re supper wobbly especially when the pigs are pop corning around veggie time !

Is the C&C going to be two separate 2x4 or one complete cage with ramp ?

I think you’d have to make some sort of door and latch system to allow the bottom half as i can imagine without that cleaning is pretty impossible ! I use binder clip things for my doors but they aren’t very strong not strong enough to have the weight of an upper level on them anyways.

You could always try and make a wooden frame for the cage ?

I find the best way to design cages is just jot random things down and then take your favourite things from different designs and put it all into one, thats how i came up with my cage ! :)
 
I was thinking about what you want while browsing the forum but came back too late to edit my post, adding to what i said i thought about a design i tried to sketch it but it just didn’t look right and i think it may just make it seem more confusing. So i’ll just try and explain it the best i can !

If you had a 2x4 (base) with a 2x4 (middle) directly on top and then a 1x2 (top) level.

The base level would be pretty hard to clean as there would be no way of getting in, you wouldn’t want to have an opening door at the front as you’d need to have beams going across width ways (beams being two grids wide) to support the middle level. The beams would rest on each side of the cage meaning the two 4 grid long sides wouldn’t be moveable as they’d be providing support.
But you could create a door system on one of shorter of the sides (on the base) that is just 2 grids wide, so basically at the end. That would allow you to slide out the correx tray, change it and then slide it back in and close the door. (If you have the space of course) You would have to decide on some sort of latch system to close the doors over maybe binder clips ?
But basically on top of this base you could just build your normal 2x4 with a 1x2 hay loft :)

Recommendation for ramps would be square guttering with carpet tiles as these provide grip and safety sides and are easy to clean.

*When i say beams i literally just mean bits of wood that go across to take some of the weight My wood is about the thickness of grid squares and just slide in the grids easily and do a great job at keeping everything sturdy :)

I hope this helps, if it doesn’t make sense i can try and make a better diagram ;)
 
Thank you very much....mmmmmhhhh lots to think about...yes, it needs to be cleaned quite daily and easily, so door at the side would work, 2 obviously making sure i had clearance. I understand twiams, no problem, very clear.

another question: my other half is at his wits end with me and will only let me build this if i get rid of their play pen which is in the middle of the room. If they are in double storey 2 x 4 and loft 2 x 1.. do they still need to get out for a couple of hours at night.. just now they are in play pen from when i come home till bedtime. I would still take them out for cuddles, Maxi only lasts 20 minutes at the most and Minnie (trouble as i like to call her) last 5 minutes. The piggies well being is the most important thing here.

so, i can build the biggie piggie cage if i can rid of the play pen
build a smaller version if i can't...

generally. do piggies in big c and c cage have to get out?
 
I’d say a bigger piggie cage is of more value to the piggies than the play pen :) My two boys live in a 2x4 C&C with1x2 loft and don’t come out to run around much they only go in a run outside in the summer when it’s not too hot or too cold, indoors i don’t have a pen and they just reek havoc everywhere !

My pigs are happiest when in their cage too they like they’re own space :)
 
thank you twiams....food for thought...oh i love piggie projects..sx
 
I'd agree with twiams.

I have c&c and I don't have a play pen :) The piggies seem happy enough! Good luck in building your cage, would love to see some pigtures once finished! :D
 
Me again... did a dummy run with the grids..2 x 4 is massive! it will have to 3 x 2 with two levels, ramp and hayloft...would this be enough for two piggies all the time... the inside measurement of the 3 x 2 is 110cm which is same length as 120 ferplast but c and c is wider?
 
Most recommendations rely on at least one floor and a cage should meet the requirements for the amount of pigs, for 2 that would be a 2x4 C&C cage. As a rule of thumb, additional levels don’t really count, however i think if you had two 3x2 levels it wouldn’t be too bad although you have to account for the space lost through having ramps, they take up more floor space then you’d think.

It’s up to you really i’d probably go for it, as it is a good amount of space, and it depends what size cage you have now etc. if their used to something smaller than even a little upgrade is a nice change :)
 
thanks twiams

they are both in 120 cage with two little bunk beds each, they like their separate space. This is harder than i imagined....i will do a dummy run with a 4 x 2 and a 2 x 2 loft space and the 3 x 2 x 2 levels.....trial and error...maybe i should just move pete out and have a piggy mansion..hehehe
 
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