Housing problems

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Theanette

New Born Pup
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So, we jumped into the guinea pig life feet first with 1 boar, a brand new cage and all the trimmings only to realize that he needed to have at least one more friend. With our new addition it was clear that we needed to have a bigger cage. We made one 1800cm by 70cm, but cleaning it isnt very easy. I'm looking into getting a new cage, but want to know if a smaller living space would by acceptable if my boys have daily access to a much larger playpen outside on grass. We live in SA and have lovely weather most of the year. The biggest ready made cage I can find is 120cm by 60cm
 
I’m afraid 120x60cm isn’t big enough for boars. They’re more territorial hence the need for space. The minimum size you can have for them is 150x60cm (on one level), regardless of how much time they have in a run etc. Is it the shape that makes it difficult? If you post a photo of your setup perhaps we could help you come up with some solutions.

By the way be careful on hot days. If it’s hot for you it’s definitely hot for them. We’d love some photos 😉
 
Gorgeous piggies!

I agree with siikibam, boars need a large cage, irrespective of their run. A 120x60cm cage is too small for boars and can cause problems in their relationship with lack of space. The 180x70 cage is the recommended size for two boars, so it’s perfect for them. What is it that makes it hard for you to clean?
 
20210125_100400.webpLike I said we built it ourselves. Its a 1,8m by 80cm (I measured it again) cage with two geyser drip trays for the bottom. I then lay their towel in it. We cut the edges off the plastic drip trays to fit in the bottom. When I clean it it comes apart and I carry it outside to hose it down and scrub it at least twice a week, but sometimes their wee leaks through onto the tiles which is messy. I'm waiting for a quote on a custom made cage with a removable solid tray at the bottom, but the biggest ready made store bought one I can find is 1,2m
 
Side note, the green tray in their cage is the base for the original cage the pet store sold me and said would be big enough. Clearly it wasnt nearly big enough
Theanette said:
View attachment 165409Like I said we built it ourselves. Its a 1,8m by 80cm (I measured it again) cage with two geyser drip trays for the bottom. I then lay their towel in it. We cut the edges off the plastic drip trays to fit in the bottom. When I clean it it comes apart and I carry it outside to hose it down and scrub it at least twice a week, but sometimes their wee leaks through onto the tiles which is messy. I'm waiting for a quote on a custom made cage with a removable solid tray at the bottom, but the biggest ready made store bought one I can find is 1,2m
Click to expand...
Side note, the green tray in their cage is the base for the original cage the pet store sold me and said would be big enough. Clearly it wasnt nearly big enough
 
Theanette said:
View attachment 165409Like I said we built it ourselves. Its a 1,8m by 80cm (I measured it again) cage with two geyser drip trays for the bottom. I then lay their towel in it. We cut the edges off the plastic drip trays to fit in the bottom. When I clean it it comes apart and I carry it outside to hose it down and scrub it at least twice a week, but sometimes their wee leaks through onto the tiles which is messy. I'm waiting for a quote on a custom made cage with a removable solid tray at the bottom, but the biggest ready made store bought one I can find is 1,2m
Click to expand...

It’s a lovely cage, well done for making it. Yes, the green tray and the 1.2 ready made you’ve found aren’t enough.

so, is it the taking out of the trays which is the problem? I can imagine it is cumbersome.


My boys live in my shed but they come indoors during summer when it is too hot outside. I use c&c grids to make the sides of their cage but for the base I simply use a sheet of plastic (which is bigger than the cage). I then put down puppy pads and then layer fleece on top of it. It works very well, no leaking etc and changing the bedding is simply a cage of folding the fleece up while it is still in the cage to hold all poops and hay inside and then taking it outside and shaking it out, removing the pads and then replacing all
 
Your cage looks lovely, we have one very similar but I find it really easy to clean!
I think it is about the getting the type of bedding right, we use some puppy pads and then a fleece liner on top, when it comes to cleaning I just shake off all the bits on the puppy pads and then scoop them up and put it in the bin, it then just needs a sweep and a spray and wipe down with some small pet safe disinfectant, I can see how removing and hosing it would be a pain but with the right bedding combination that really shouldn’t be necessary!
 
Thanks for the advice. How many puppy pads would you say you use a week? If I can limit the times I have to take he whole thing that would help a lot. Working from home most of last year gave me the time to do it, but it seems a bit unrealistic this year with work and two small children
 
I put 5 in as all our hides are on the back wall and that’s where they pee! We clean our cage out every 5 days and it only takes me around 30-40 mins for a full clean (obviously still spot cleaning each day)
 
Theanette said:
View attachment 165453Went and got some of the puppy pads an it seems like it will do the job. Thanks.

Excuse Bubbles' choppy haircut. Some days its reaches 30 here so he needed a serious trim.
Click to expand...
That’s good! I would also say that fleece is much better to use than towels, towels don’t wick the moisture away and will stay wet where as fleece will dry much quicker. It doesn’t have to be fancy fleece liners just cheap fleece throws will do the job with the puppy pads underneath :)
 
When you use fleece, make sure that it wicks. You will have to wash it beforehand. It may need a few runs in the washing machine, with just soap and some vinegar (in the softener compartment) if you have any. Check the wicking by putting a little water on the top. It should be absorbed and the surface stays dry. If it’s still sitting on top then you’ll have to wash it again.
 
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