Is my cage big enough for a pair of sows?

new_pigsitter

new_pigsitter

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Hello!

Whether or not I get to keep Minnie (the pig I'm pet sitting--she has an uninformed home), I would like to get a pair of girls in the future.

Now, I have a massive hamster cage my dad and I built a few years back, which Minnie is using as a temporary home atm. Question is, is it big enough to permanently house two sows, or even two boars?

The cage is about 42x47 inches (107x119cm) and 18" (46cm) tall, which is smaller than the minimum length wise. Does length matter or is it more just general floorspace?

Here's a picture of the cage right now as I don't have one of it empty


If this isn't suitable I suppose I'll just have a very happy robo for that cage :)
 
I’m afraid it’s not anywhere near big enough for two boars. They need at least 140cm+. You may just about get away with it for two sows, but don’t quote me on that. Though as you can see space runs out when you put in two of everything. I’d try and go bigger, even for sows, if you could.

And if you end up keeping Minnie then you would need a bigger one for three sows.
 
Have a look at the Cage Size Guide and see what you think. I've always thought that area was more important than length, and so as your cage is much deeper than your average store bought habitat (which will be just 60cm), I'm not sure focussing on the length in isolation is so relevant here. By my reckoning...

The guide says for 2 sows its recommended to have 150x60cm = 0.9m^2
For 2 boars or 3 sows its recommended to have 180x60cm = 1.08m^2

Your say your cage is 107x119cm = 1.27m^2

So if my maths is correct and your measurements are accurate, I'd interpret that to mean that your enclosure would be positively spacious for 2 sows and generous for 3 sows. In fact the recommended size for 4 sows would be 210x60cm = 1.26m^2 - but more space/pig is always better ;).

{The only thing I've just noticed is that you've left the tape on the boxes. Guinea pigs chew boxes. And anything stuck to boxes. And then they eat the bits they've chewed... I'd particularly try and remove the Amazon tape, as ours often seems to have anti-rip threads running through the glue and I dread to think what that might do to GP teeth :eek:}
 
Tangle said:
Have a look at the Cage Size Guide and see what you think. I've always thought that area was more important than length, and so as your cage is much deeper than your average store bought habitat (which will be just 60cm), I'm not sure focussing on the length in isolation is so relevant here. By my reckoning...

The guide says for 2 sows its recommended to have 150x60cm = 0.9m^2
For 2 boars or 3 sows its recommended to have 180x60cm = 1.08m^2

Your say your cage is 107x119cm = 1.27m^2

So if my maths is correct and your measurements are accurate, I'd interpret that to mean that your enclosure would be positively spacious for 2 sows and generous for 3 sows. In fact the recommended size for 4 sows would be 210x60cm = 1.26m^2 - but more space/pig is always better ;).

{The only thing I've just noticed is that you've left the tape on the boxes. Guinea pigs chew boxes. And anything stuck to boxes. And then they eat the bits they've chewed... I'd particularly try and remove the Amazon tape, as ours often seems to have anti-rip threads running through the glue and I dread to think what that might do to GP teeth :eek:}
Click to expand...

Good to note about the tape. What should I use to hold together the boxes in that case? Or should I just not use boxes?
 
To add to what I said above^^

This was sorta along the line of thought I was thinking. It's a 2000sq in cage, which, since the recommended size is 1500sq in, I figured would be ok.
But, if you as a community decided the length must be at least 120cm there must be a reason for that, whether it be for running/popcorning purposes or something else.
I guess if I really feel so inclined I'll build a C&C cage myself.
 
The length and width of the cage really doesn't matter, it's the internal floor space that matters so if your cage has more square meter floor space than the minimum that is excellent
 
new_pigsitter said:
To add to what I said above^^

This was sorta along the line of thought I was thinking. It's a 2000sq in cage, which, since the recommended size is 1500sq in, I figured would be ok.
But, if you as a community decided the length must be at least 120cm there must be a reason for that, whether it be for running/popcorning purposes or something else.
I guess if I really feel so inclined I'll build a C&C cage myself.
Click to expand...
The length quoted is only if you're talking standard shop type cages. The one you have is plenty big for two of either gender. Glad you've fallen for piggies x. In any case, your cage is 119cm.....no one would quibble about 1cm, and it's almost double the 60cm quoted for the other dimension. Overall floor space is what counts, and your cage has plenty.
 
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I think it is enough space for 2 lady piggies, our C&C for Ollie and Tallulah is a 3x3 format which is actually a bit smaller, it exceeds the minimum recommended floor space its just square rather than long and thin.
You'll be an excellent piggy parent @new_pigsitter :)
 
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