Cage extension headache

[AidaB]

I need to share(and vent) with some understanding people!

Our boy guinea pigs have a CC cage in our bay window….. 2x4 rectangle. I thought it would be simple to stretch it into a trapezoid shape and make it bigger for them. They have loved the extra space in the playpen all summer, which won’t be possible once the weather gets colder.
In my head it was simple…. In reality, it’s not! Finally got units same height, more grids and more correx. So today is the day, and it’s driving me crazy! Slowly feel like I am making some progress. I knew none of my fleece pads would fit, but my current ones seem to have shrunk again, the jigsaw puzzle continues.

I have only done one side. I think the other side is going to have to wait for my next day off, before I get really annoyed.

 

[Black piggies]

Trapezoid shape sounds great in a bay window. I hope it gets less annoying. I've considered triangular shapes like that but thought would be difficult. Cage liners always seem to shrink. I used to cut thin strips of fleece fabric to lay in the gaps but now I just wipe the gap.
You've still got the triangle shapes to deal with though.
I love cage rebuilding, looking forward to photos

 

[AidaB]

Photos…. Hmmm!
Yes, currently sticking fleece scraps round the gaps. Make new fleece pads is on the long to do list in my head.
Trying to predict where Hamish will pee…. and Hector will want to chew!

 

[Black piggies]

Sorry I'm laughing. It's stressful rebuilding but I'm sure it'll be lovely when finished.

 

[Swissgreys]

I admire your creativity. To be honest I found building my first rectangular C&C challenging enough

 

[AidaB]

Sorry I'm laughing. It's stressful rebuilding but I'm sure it'll be lovely when finished.

That’s ok, I was smiling as I wrote it!
I love them dearly but in terms of living arrangements that’s what I have to consider. Boys!
This is what I have so far…. Time for a lunch break. The other end will have to wait, currently has a (shelf) loft that they love.
Correx stresses me out.
Just need to fix the house,(it’s wobbling on a join),add water bottle, fleece forests and hay. Not forgetting guinea pigs, who are napping in the playpen, blissfully unaware!

 

[Black piggies]

That’s ok, I was smiling as I wrote it!
I love them dearly but in terms of living arrangements that’s what I have to consider. Boys!
This is what I have so far…. Time for a lunch break. The other end will have to wait, currently has a (shelf) loft that they love.
Correx stresses me out.
Just need to fix the house,(it’s wobbling on a join),add water bottle, fleece forests and hay. Not forgetting guinea pigs, who are napping in the playpen, blissfully unaware!
View attachment 183585View attachment 183586

Very clever! Looks to be working out.

 

[Black piggies]

I'm curious how you laid the grids on the base on the triangular bit. That's what's stopped me when I've considered triangular parts if a cage rebuild.

 

[piggieminder]

You have my sympathy, although you have done that very well. I'm sitting here putting off building 2 lofts. I've built 2 recently and the guinea pigs in those cages are having great fun wizzing up and down ramps and enjoying extra space. It needs to be done now my new pairing have been together for several weeks and have settled, there will be more room in the main cage if I can get the hay trays in a loft. I really find corex a challenge too. My OH bent the grids for the ramps before he went out, he will be back in a minute expecting to see a revamped cage and I haven't even started!
Fleece always seems to shrink even when pre washed 2 or 3 times before sewing. I put a puppy pad wth news paper on top along the edge to take up the gap.

 

[AidaB]

I'm curious how you laid the grids on the base on the triangular bit. That's what's stopped me when I've considered triangular parts if a cage rebuild.

I have IKEA units underneath, with triangular units on each end. No grids!

 

[AidaB]

You have my sympathy, although you have done that very well. I'm sitting here putting off building 2 lofts. I've built 2 recently and the guinea pigs in those cages are having great fun wizzing up and down ramps and enjoying extra space. It needs to be done now my new pairing have been together for several weeks and have settled, there will be more room in the main cage if I can get the hay trays in a loft. I really find corex a challenge too. My OH bent the grids for the ramps before he went out, he will be back in a minute expecting to see a revamped cage and I haven't even started!
Fleece always seems to shrink even when pre washed 2 or 3 times before sewing. I put a puppy pad wth news paper on top along the edge to take up the gap.

Good luck with the ramps. I have been talking about doing ours all summer.
I like the puppy pad/newspaper idea for the gaps.

 

[Black piggies]

Ah you've had to think about furniture too. No wonder you need a break

 

[piggieminder]

I hope you had a successful afternoon @AidaB . I've just finished, took 3 x longer than expected!
The ramps are good, my partner's getting good at them after 7 years of practise!

 

[AidaB]

I hope you had a successful afternoon @AidaB . I've just finished, took 3 x longer than expected!
The ramps are good, my partner's getting good at them after 7 years of practise!

After fixing the wobbly house, and adding the other bits, I have left it be for now. Boys enjoyed the extra space last night, slightly puzzled at the slightly changed arrangement.
They are still using the playpen during the day, which will continue until the weather really turns.
Glad to hear you got the ramps sorted, sounds like you have a lot of experience. My partner thought I was bonkers, I was left to bend my own corner grid.