Cage/ c&c advice

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xkellyx

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Hey.
So yesterday I took on 3 baby brother guinea pigs and they're currently in a 120cm cage. They are only 7-8 weeks old. Obviously with have 3 boys I'm going to need to keep and eye on them and also get them a big cage to hopefully prevent fighting.
What cage would you suggest? I have received a few suggestions from a member/ Facebook friend but just wondered what other people would suggest? Or if I did a c&c cage what dimension of cage would be best for 3 boys?
I have seen a massive cage in The Range which is 2 tier but I have honestly never seen a cage so big! I would easily stand/lay in it and I'm 5ft1. But it's two tier with wooden ramps and shelves.

Any ideas or thoughts are mucky appreciated

Thank you
 
Hell and welcome to the forum. I would suggest a C&C setup as three boys may end up as two boys and one boy, a C&C setup id ideal for altering and rearanging.
You might want to look at our members setups here http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?53210-Member-Gallery-C-amp-C-cages-homemade-cages
There are links for materials here http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?17001-C-amp-C-Grids-Cubes-Connectors and here http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?42871-Teacratepackaging-MEMBER-S-OFFER-ON-CORREX and here http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?128-Correx-Corruaged-Plastic-Coroplast-Suppliers
If you find the idea of all that a bit daunting you might want to look at ready made kits that work out less that the price of a commercial cage. Here is a link to a good company http://www.candcguineapigcages.co.uk/
 
Is there anyway I can prevent one being on his own?
If they end up having to be separated could I get a female and get the boy neutered? I was very wary of getting the 3 boys- but the home I got them from said they would be fine as they're brothers- now I'm worried ones going to get left out :(
I think I may look at getting a made c&c- what sort of size would you say is best for the 3?
 
The problem with boys is that they can appear to be OK while young. When they get towards a year old is when you may experience problems as that's when the hormones seem to kick in & if there's going to be fighting & fall-outs that's when it will occur.

I'd go for the biggest I have space for. What space would you have spare for these 3 piggies?
 
Well they're currently in a spare bedroom so i would fit a 2x6 c&c cage (with a loft if recommended) or they can live outside in an insulated 6x9 shed. I would rather keep them indoors but if living in a shed with a lot more space will prevent them from fighting then I could do this.
 
xkellyx said:
Is there anyway I can prevent one being on his own? That would be upto the boys, plenty of space and seperate food bowls might help
If they end up having to be separated could I get a female and get the boy neutered? Yes, bare in mind that a boar needs six weeks after neutering before he can go with a girl, girls have been known to get pregnant upto six weeks after a boar has been neutered do to residual sperm in the boar.I was very wary of getting the 3 boys- but the home I got them from said they would be fine as they're brothers A concious person/breeder/rescue would not have given you that advice - now I'm worried ones going to get left out :( Don't worry unless it happens, there are many situations where three or more boars get along.
I think I may look at getting a made c&c- what sort of size would you say is best for the 3? I would go for the 2x5 with 2x1 loft as the minimum for three boys, if space allows for the 2x6 and the 2x2 loft upgrade, it would allow for a seperation area in the future if needed
Click to expand...
I hope that helps.
 
It's possible you could build something similar to my set-up, see:- http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?103194-A-Different-Type-of-Run&highlight=

Mine is approx. 8ft x 3ft but you can get several sizes, see:- http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RABBIT-GU...Pet_Supplies_Poultry&var=&hash=item3a79982060

You then need a correx base but you can get similar product from B&Q. You can adapt to your own spec.

This type is strong & ideal if you have a cat or dog in the house. If you go for this type then make sure you get one with a front as well as top large door.
 
That's great thank you! I will see what the boys want to do then. I'm going to measure up and see if I can get the 2x6 (I'm sure I can) and I will get that ordered next pay day :) what is best to line the c&c cages with?
 
There are no predictions sadly, three boars rarely work and I get so upset that people innocently are led to believe they will be ok.
Hormones usually start flowing from 4 months so you'll experience mounting, chasing, nipping etc. It is the dominance game and as long as you have an underpig who is submissive out of a pair, they usually sort it out and settle.
Babies will be alright for a time but you need to have a plan of action - you could take one piggy dating to find a boar friend but have to wait and see who bonds or could potentially end up with three separate single boys :(
Keep a close eye on the boys and see if there are signs of bullying within the trio - my boys (brothers) hit the terrible hormonal stage at 4 months and we had them neutered soon after, it calmed and settled. We would have found them wifepigs each had they not sorted things - neither are dominant, just extremely laid back boys who love each other :) They've lived peacefully together since for the past 2.5 years. Neutering does not change the behaviour but I remain on the fence with my experience...Benny was a nightmare humping Frankie 24/7 but post op, has never had as much as a sniff around him...:{
You could have one neutered and find a little sow when he's 'safe' after 6 weeks but caution needed having a girl near your other boys :(
People who hand over three boys saying they'll be fine have little idea of the heartache it can potentially cause...:(
 
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Am I able to private message you or vice versa guinepigslave?
 
If you click onto my avatar, it pops up 'private message'. If I recall, you need 50 posts to be able to do so so may not be able to :(
Not to worry, I'm lurking on here most of the day between fussing my piggies, washing etc. and lots of other experienced members can read your concerns and offer advice :)
 
I just feel awful taking the 3 piggies on after being told they should be okay- which they still might. But all I'm reading now is that 3 males very rarely get on- I feel awful and a bad piggie mum already- that its my 3 boys who are going to be affected. I was also looking at 2 girls yesterday but I didn't go see them because I was taking these boys and now I just wish I had because maybe I would have got the 2 girls. But then I think the boys would still have gone as a 3 whether it was to me or not :(
 
Aw, please do not blame yourself for this, it is solely the person you had them from :( The thing now is you have the boys and there are ways around the situation.
If they are happy together, you may be one of the lucky few but would definitely have a back up if things go wrong - that makes you a caring and responsible mummy to your piggies. Enjoy them but watch for signs of aggression - that will help you to acknowledge which piggies could live as a pair and which one needs to be taken out.
Rescues do a great job of bonding piggies so if you let us know where you are located, an option could be to let one go to a Piggy Bank recommended rescue where he will be bonded with a friend and carefully rehomed or keep one next to the others, have him neutered by an experienced Vet and find him a lady friend :)
It is really the waiting game for you to see which boys fall out (if they do)
Again, this is no fault of yours :) x
 
Thank you for the reassurance. I will keep a close eye on them and fingers tightly crossed they will get on but if not then I will have a spare cage for a lone boy and I will take him dating lol. If I had to separate one of them would I be able to get another baby to go with him or would an adult be better? I'm going to get a big c&c cage next month so I will have this cage spare for if I do have to separate them. I've previously looked at the piggy bank and the closest one to me is 2hrs away :(
 
I have a soft spot for older piggies as they get overlooked and boar babies are usually bonded prior to being rehomed - an older boar could be the better option with a younger one but a good rescue will help, it's finding a single male :(
Neutered boar/sow relationships work really well so this may be the plan to keep in mind - if one of the boys has to be kept separated, as long as he can see/hear and smell the others, he'll be fine living next to them in a cage for a time until you decide.
It's good you have the spare cage - I keep them too as even with my bonded piggies of three years, anything could happen :{
 
I know of a boar who is about 9 months old who didn't get along with his friends- so if it comes to it I could always take my piggy to him and see if they get on.
If I did the neutered boar with a sow- they wouldn't be able to stay in the same room as the two boys would they?
 
This is going to sound silly but.. How many grids do I need to make
1) a 6x2 c&c cage with a 2x2 loft? Is 26 right? Do I use grids user the correx or not?
2) a 2x4 with a 2x1 loft? I've worked that as 22 grids?
 
xkellyx said:
If I did the neutered boar with a sow- they wouldn't be able to stay in the same room as the two boys would they?
Click to expand...

Best not to as it might start 2 bonded males fighting.
 
xkellyx said:
This is going to sound silly but.. How many grids do I need to make
1) a 6x2 c&c cage with a 2x2 loft? Is 26 right? Do I use grids user the correx or not?
2) a 2x4 with a 2x1 loft? I've worked that as 22 grids?
Click to expand...

1) 26 if 1 side of loft is totally open or 27 if you have ramp only at one side and other side closed. You may need 1 more for the top side where the ramp is making total of 28
2) 20 (4+4+2+2 for bottom sides 2 for upper base 2+1+1+1 for top leaving opening then 1 for top side at top of ramp. making total of 20

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. I've got all the c&c grids & connectors but these are for a future project.
 
if yu have to seperate them you could do a two tier c&c cage and would take up same floor space as 1 tier. Youtube has some tutorials My friend got one baby boar then realised two would be better so put vic behind both boys ears (both only 8 weeks) and they live quite happily together so far. I'm fairly new so dont take vic thing as gospel Other people will know better than me There is also boar dating in some rescues if he does need a friend. Other members will know details of rescues that do this
 
I've got another question and didn't want to make a new thread as its still cage related..

At the end of the month because I have 3 boars- I want to give them as much room as possible as I do want them to get along and if I provide more space the chance is higher (not much I know :( ..)
So, I have a 120cm cage at the moment, if I get another 120cm cage and attach the two- maybe making a hole in the base and attaching a tube (any other ideas welcome!) do you think this would be enough room for them?
My other options are to get a 6x2 c&c cage or..
Get them a big hutch for outside and have a run attached to it so when I'm home they can have the run and hutch. I could possibly use the shed and put a hutch in there so they have that all open up. But I'm not sure how quickly i would be able to do this.
I just really want the best for these 3 and whatever I do I need to make sure I can adapt it for 1 pig and 2 pigs separate just incase the worst does happen.

Or another thing I've just thought is getting one of those enclosed puppy pens and just having that as their home with huts and cups.. But then to get to them i would have to climb in and I don't want them scared anymore than they are
 
xkellyx said:
I've got another question and didn't want to make a new thread as its still cage related..

At the end of the month because I have 3 boars- I want to give them as much room as possible as I do want them to get along and if I provide more space the chance is higher (not much I know :( ..)
So, I have a 120cm cage at the moment, if I get another 120cm cage and attach the two- maybe making a hole in the base and attaching a tube (any other ideas welcome!) do you think this would be enough room for them?
My other options are to get a 6x2 c&c cage or..
Get them a big hutch for outside and have a run attached to it so when I'm home they can have the run and hutch. I could possibly use the shed and put a hutch in there so they have that all open up. But I'm not sure how quickly i would be able to do this.
I just really want the best for these 3 and whatever I do I need to make sure I can adapt it for 1 pig and 2 pigs separate just incase the worst does happen.

Or another thing I've just thought is getting one of those enclosed puppy pens and just having that as their home with huts and cups.. But then to get to them i would have to climb in and I don't want them scared anymore than they are
Click to expand...

Regarding your tube idea, you could use two tubes and have them doing laps between the two cages! :)
We also have three boars, they live outside in a hutch which consists of a 4ftx4ft run with a ramp up to a 4ftx2ft hutch. I have also made an extension to the run which is approx 3ftx7ft which they happily popcorn about in for about five minutes then wonder off back into their hidey holes.
I will be bringing them in for the winter months but space in the house is a bit tight, so I am thinking of engineering some sort of three storey jobby. (either that or I'll be living in the hutch during the winter!)

Best of luck whatever you decide to do, I would keep them indoors for the time being though due to winter coming. Sorry, I can't comment on the c&c setups as I have had no experience of these, but they do look fab, some of the setups I've seen on here look amazing! :)
I would love to see some pigtures of your boars (or am I blind, because you've posted some already? {:| )

Happy house hunting! :)
 
Space is getting a bit tight in our house at the moment too- I have a spare bedroom but the boyfriend is a bit funny with me using it all for guinea pigs :(
I have also considered a two tier cage but then it's the question of will they use a ramp. I've seen a massive cage for £60 in The Range but its got 2 ramps and I just don't think they'll use it.
My bf has said if I put them in the shed I need to buy another shed lol.
 
I'm sure your boyfriend will be nice and cosy in the shed! ;) hee hee
 
I have been aware of your situation for a while, so sorry you were duped into the trio.

A 120 cage is the minimum for a pair, a 140 more suitable for a trio and for boys in general it is best to give them as much space as possible so if you can't manage a huge c&c, then two 120 together should be fine, although I found cages to be pricier than c&c, you have one already and would give you the space they need while you save up for a c&c if you found the cages together didn't work.

And my spare room is my pigs room, a large 5x4 c&c for the herd (5piggies, girls) with a 2x4 loft and above and at the end of the room a 5x2 for the boys.
 
I was thinking of making a c&c cage but with 2 tiers so they have the room but not necessarily taking up the spare bedroom, would this work do you think? Then if I have to I can separate them just into a smaller c&c cage, so have 2 boys in a 2x4 or something like that anyway?
 
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