Houses with windows, Hayracks, etc. danger for piggies?

[Abnoba]

I have been reading on some forums that you shouldnt use wooden houses that have those little windows in. At least not if you have very young guinea pigs. Now, that doesnt apply to me right now, but I might have a little one again at some point, and wanted to know if the following has ever happened to one of you.

I was told that the reason against windows is, that the small guinea pigs fit through them easily. And often, they still try to use them as "doors" when they are really too big for them. Some people told stories about their piggies getting stuck in them, and they had to cut the house up to get them out of there! O_O Which is obviously quite scary for both piggy and owner.

Now, apart from one piggy, I always got them as grownup ones. So I cant really say anything about this subject from my experience.. Did anything like this happen to your piggies?

Same goes for hayracks - alot of piggies like to jump into them because its cozy and there is plenty of food
But I heard stories where little piggies tried to do it and got stuck with the head between the bars of the hayrack

I mean, obviously all this applies to babies only, so I am in no real danger of anything happening to mine atm, but it would be interesting to hear your thoughts on this, just so I know for the future...

also, are there any other things in a cage that I should be aware of, that are possible hazards?

 

[Beaney]

Not sure about the houses but I don't use hayracks for mine (they are 15 weeks old). I did have one in there which for the most part was ignored but I did notice once that one had climbed into it because she could fit through the bars. She didn't seem to have any problems getting out again but I decided it wasn't worth the risk. I now use a litter tray which I fill with hay - it is a hay rack they can sit in and munch to their hearts content!

 

[Darky]

Fry and Laurie use their window as a door. But it's fine, because they share a rabbit-sized cabin, so the window is huge.

There are much smaller windows as well, but they're waaay too small for them to even attempt it.

 

[Abnoba]

thats what I have been told - when they are used to doing it from being tiny tiny piggy babies, and just dont realise that they wont fit through it anymore! I suppose a fully grown pig that never did that before wouldnt be stupid enough to attempt it lol (hopefully).l.

A rabbit sized house is a pretty good idea though How do you fit it in your cage?

 

[Darky]

Quite easily, luckily. It sits quite easily in there.

I'll take a photo of the cage tomorrow - it only takes up the end of it, but it is fairly big. I tend to change what side it's facing when I clean them out, changing the amount of space they have. I'm working on making them a play area outside of their cage, due to the size of the cabin.

 

[Barmy4boars]

I have had problems with hayracks. We had a pig who used to jump on top and get his leg stick them panic and struggle making it worse. Plus for me they take all the fun out of hay... they rolling around, burrying noses and hiding in it.

With the houses I think the wooden ones you describe are the best there are. I have some and 2 piggys can fit inside. If I were worried about a little pig getting stuck in the window I could board it up with Correx or better still modify it so it were large enough for a piggy to get out.

 

[Darky]

Tadah~