New Piggies - Diy Cage

[kerri Davidson]

Hi there, I'm thinking about getting 2 piggies next month and want to build a home for them. My last guinea pig lived on his own indoors and had a plastic cage and metal run but i want to try making my own one and have found some pretty good ideas on pintrest etc! The thing I'm struggling to find is how big exactly should I be making a cage/run for 2 piggies? You find so much diferent info online I struggle to know whats correct and not. I think i'll be going to 2 boys it that makes any different? One site says they need more room then sow and some say they all need the same. I totally understand that the bigger it can be the better but I was just wandering what the minimum had to be? Also should they have 1 house big enough for the both of them to hide and sleep in as theyre used to living in big groups or would they be better with seperate houses? And would they be better with 2 seperate water bottles or just one big one? And what do people use for bedding etc, I used to use sawdust but only recently found out that it can be quite bad for them due to the dust that they would breathe in from it?
Any other useful information would be greatly appreciated? And had anyone ever built their own cages before (from wood and prespex) that have any tips, ideas or materials used?
Thank you

 

[GPcrazy]

Boars do seem to do better in bigger cages.
Generally, the consensus is minimum size for 2 piggies is 140cm x 70cm. You can usually get away with 120cm for 2 sows, but boars need the extra space.

It's always a good idea, especially with boars, to have at least 2 of everything - 2 hideys, 2 water bottles, 2 food bowls etc. If you can even have 3 hideys that would be better still. They might share, and they might both use the same stuff, but it's always best to have enough for them each to have their own. It reduces the chances of fighting. So if you want to have at least one house that's big enough for both of them together that would be great, but definitely still at least have another one, if not two, so they can use them individually if they want to.

I like using fleece as bedding. Other people use wood chips, or paper based beddings.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi there, I'm thinking about getting 2 piggies next month and want to build a home for them. My last guinea pig lived on his own indoors and had a plastic cage and metal run but i want to try making my own one and have found some pretty good ideas on pintrest etc! The thing I'm struggling to find is how big exactly should I be making a cage/run for 2 piggies? You find so much diferent info online I struggle to know whats correct and not. I think i'll be going to 2 boys it that makes any different? One site says they need more room then sow and some say they all need the same. I totally understand that the bigger it can be the better but I was just wandering what the minimum had to be? Also should they have 1 house big enough for the both of them to hide and sleep in as theyre used to living in big groups or would they be better with seperate houses? And would they be better with 2 seperate water bottles or just one big one? And what do people use for bedding etc, I used to use sawdust but only recently found out that it can be quite bad for them due to the dust that they would breathe in from it?
Any other useful information would be greatly appreciated? And had anyone ever built their own cages before (from wood and prespex) that have any tips, ideas or materials used?
Thank you

Hi! You may find the guides in our starter kit helpful, as it contains information on cage sizes (minimal and recommended), bedding overview, boar guide etc. " Starter Kit" Of Information Threads For New Owners

Guinea pigs are ground roamers, so they can do with as much space as you can spare. Their social wiring is that sows choose the boar they want to live with and associate with him. Hence the recommendation that giving boars only pairs more space to have their own territory each/the option to get away from each other (that includes providing all furnishings in double) whereas sows are more wired to live closer together.

You can make cages with wood and perspex, but you still have to factor some floor and lower side lining, as otherwise the pee will soak into the wood. You will never get it out completely - and piggies spray a lot as part of their social interaction! You also have to consider how far you can reach when cleaning a cage, as that will make a big difference in daily life.
Most of us prefer C&C grids for that reason (as well as the cost factor), as they are more flexible and allow for changes and adaptations as time goes on, even if they are not as stylish. With boars, you want to ideally have the option to split the cage with the possibility to interact through the grid/bar divider in case they turn out to be character incompatible, especially if you are planning to go for baby boars. The risk significantly reduces if you adopt from one of our recommended rescues.

 

[Anarchybmc]

I had two boys in the ferplast 120 for a week, never again! It was way too small I have attached pics to give you an idea of how little space a shop bought cage can give compared to c&c or the equivalent. Ted and chewy are in the run and All of my other boys are currently in 2x4 c&c but custom made cages are in the mix! All of my boys have their own houses,tunnels,food bowls,hay trays and water bottles this definately helps with the squabbles! I've also housed mine on fleece I personally find it way easier washing bedding.


Ted and chewys run



The ferplast 120 cage


2x4 c&c

 

[T-Rex]

My first DIY cage for my two boys was 130cm by 87cm, with a small loft at the top. They have done ok in it but I must admit it that it seems very small for two energetic boys who don't always like to be on top of one another. We made it out of an old child's wardrobe. I love it though, so pretty. We are currently extending it. I have a thread in Housing and Enrichment! The new cage will be approx 280cm by 87cm. This will be plenty big enough and obviously not achieveable for everyone!
The other cage has been ok, no fights just some grumbling and rumbling!

My original cage-

 

[PiggySmitten]

Hi if you are interested in different bedding but don't fancy fleece, I have tried wood shavings, Fitch (paper based), Carefresh, Aubiose (hemp based) and Easibed over the past 3 years (as well as fleece). I use fleece in my largest c&c set up (7 grids x 2 grids) but for our other piggies I have now settled on easibed (has to be the "original" non perfumed one). I have liked all the bedding types I've listed and if money was no object I would use Carefresh all the time. Easibed seems to drain well and stay dry on the top layer and is significantly cheaper than Aubiose.