Opinion on cage size

Gradie and the pigs

Gradie and the pigs

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Hi there I think I do already know the 🙂answer to this but will give it a shot’ I have two male guinea pigs their cage is 123cm long 76cm wide and 84 cm high so i can sit in the cage with them comfortably’ is their cage big enough for them Norman is the smallest at around 7 / 8 inches long and Chewie 12 / 13 inches long so quite a big boy they are very respectful to each other so isn’t any bad rumble and tumble’
I can’t really expand their cage will they be happy living in their cage at the moment provided with lots of things to enrich them 🙂
 
Ideally no, you need a minimum of 150 cm (5ft x 2ft) length for two boars. Your cage would be the minimum size for a single or two girls. Boars do need more space than sows. Your boars will probably be fine if they have a good strong bond, but smaller size cages can lead to friction and fall outs. Is there any way you could perhaps buy some C&C type grids that you could tie wrap around one side of the cage so they can have more room, I’ve seen this done quite often. Do bear in mind that if you have other pets like dogs and cats then you would need to supervise or make sure they are in a room which is secure.
 
I agree with the others. Your cage is on the tight side for a boar pair.
150cm being minimum but 180cm being the recommended size for a boar pair. Their physical body measurements are not relevant to the amount of space they need.

Ive seen from one of your other posts that they are only young, I think you mentioned 4 months of age on another post. If that is correct, then they are just hitting their teens and not yet at the toughest patch (which occurs around 6 months) so the more space you can give them the better as that is when lack of space can really hit and cause problems.
 
It's also worth bearing in mind that the external measurements of a cage don't count.
The most accurate way to know how much space they really have is measure the inside floor area.
This is usually a good 5 - 10 cm smaller than the outer area, and this is the space that counts.
Cages are almost always marked with the largest outer measurement which is very deceptive.
 
Bill & Ted said:
Ideally no, you need a minimum of 150 cm (5ft x 2ft) length for two boars. Your cage would be the minimum size for a single or two girls. Boars do need more space than sows. Your boars will probably be fine if they have a good strong bond, but smaller size cages can lead to friction and fall outs. Is there any way you could perhaps buy some C&C type grids that you could tie wrap around one side of the cage so they can have more room, I’ve seen this done quite often. Do bear in mind that if you have other pets like dogs and cats then you would need to supervise or make sure they are in a room which is secure.
Click to expand...
Sadly no where I live c&c grids are as rare as hens teeth 😞
 
Swissgreys said:
It's also worth bearing in mind that the external measurements of a cage don't count.
The most accurate way to know how much space they really have is measure the inside floor area.
This is usually a good 5 - 10 cm smaller than the outer area, and this is the space that counts.
Cages are almost always marked with the largest outer measurement which is very deceptive.
Click to expand...
Yes agree but I have measured from inside the cage 🙂
 
Piggies&buns said:
I agree with the others. Your cage is on the tight side for a boar pair.
150cm being minimum but 180cm being the recommended size for a boar pair. Their physical body measurements are not relevant to the amount of space they need.

Ive seen from one of your other posts that they are only young, I think you mentioned 4 months of age on another post. If that is correct, then they are just hitting their teens and not yet at the toughest patch (which occurs around 6 months) so the more space you can give them the better as that is when lack of space can really hit
Click to expand...
My Piggies said:
Although your cage is slightly above the minimum welfare size of 120cm x 60cm, it is strongly recommended that boars have at least 180cm x 60cm to avoid potential fighting and falling outs.
Cage Size Guide
Click to expand...
I think I could probably extend it by adding a ramp in to a playpen lined with coroplaste on the bottom ?
 
Bill & Ted said:
Ideally no, you need a minimum of 150 cm (5ft x 2ft) length for two boars. Your cage would be the minimum size for a single or two girls. Boars do need more space than sows. Your boars will probably be fine if they have a good strong bond, but smaller size cages can lead to friction and fall outs. Is there any way you could perhaps buy some C&C type grids that you could tie wrap around one side of the cage so they can have more room, I’ve seen this done quite often. Do bear in mind that if you have other pets like dogs and cats then you would need to supervise or make sure they are in a room which
Click to expand...
I think I will try adding a ramp in to a playpen on to coroplaste to make it a bit bigger for them 🙂
 
Gradie and the pigs said:
I think I could probably extend it by adding a ramp in to a playpen lined with coroplaste on the bottom ?
Click to expand...

Is your cage on a table then?
Any area connected by a ramp doesnt count towards the cage size (it’s only considered to be a bonus space but doesnt actually increase their living space) as ground roaming creatures piggies need their cage to be on a single level. They aren’t natural climbers and not all piggies will use ramps. Ensuring they aren’t steep and ideally have sides on them can help though.
 
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Piggies&buns said:
Is your cage on a table then?
Any area connected by a ramp doesnt count towards the cage size (it’s only considered to be a bonus space but doesnt actually increase their living space) as ground roaming creatures piggies need their cage to be on a single level. They aren’t natural climbers and not all piggies will use ramps. Ensuring they aren’t steep and ideally have sides on them can help though.
Click to expand...
No it’s on the ground sorry should be more specific it’s on the ground but there’s just a few metal bars where the gate is so the ramp would just be to climb over it on to the other side it’s only two / one inch high
 
I got these online, they are not officially C&C grids but seem exactly the same and much cheaper, you get all these grids for £23! I know you are in NZ but you might find something like this. You can use a PVC shower curtain as a base to protect your floor
 

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Bill & Ted said:
I got these online, they are not officially C&C grids but seem exactly the same and much cheaper, you get all these grids for £23! I know you are in NZ but you might find something like this. You can use a PVC shower curtain as a base to protect your floor
Click to expand...
Ohh cool thanks will see if I can find something
 
Gradie and the pigs said:
Ohh cool thanks will see if I can find something
Click to expand...

I agree - while some of my grids are grids as part of a C&c cage kit, others are the ones from Amazon as per the pic Bill&Ted has put on.
The only thing you must make sure is that if you can find grids, that they have 9 holes, not 8 holes. The 8 hole grids means the holes are larger and piggies can potentially get their heads stuck in them

All About C & C Grid Cages Around The World
 
Piggies&buns said:
I agree - while some of my grids are grids as part of a C&c cage kit, others are the ones from Amazon as per the pic Bill&Ted has put on.
The only thing you must make sure is that if you can find grids, that they have 9 holes, not 8 holes. The 8 hole grids means the holes are larger and piggies can potentially get their heads stuck in them

All About C & C Grid Cages Around The World
Click to expand...
Thanks for the advice i defiantly am going to make their cage bigger hoping to make it 190 cm long for them maybe a bit bigger :)) as they are my children
 
I'd say a 5x2 cc cage or equivalent size would be best for the minimum living space for two boars :) I found this cage sizing guide helpful when I was planning out my setup. It gives my two boys plenty of room to run around and do their own thing. Bigger is always better of course! :D
 
I found this on a Facebook group. I'm not sure how aquaret it is.
 

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JaimeGraceUK said:
I found this on a Facebook group. I'm not sure how aquaret it is.
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I wouldn't use the guide above as the sizes are really far too small, and in several cases don't meet even the absolute basic minimum.
Part of the issue is that commercial cages often quote outer measurements which can be a good 10-15% large than the actual interior (useable) space.
Additionally FB groups can be set up and run by anyone with little moderation of posts, so all manner of inaccurate information can be put up by people with limited knowledge and experience.

Far more accurate is the Forum guide, which provides sizes that meet basic welfare standards.
Cage Size Guide
 
:agr: completely. That image shows cages which would be too small.

For two sows of one neutered boar and one sow - minimum 8 square feet. Recommended 10 square feet or a 2x4 c&c cage. A 2x3 is only really big enough for a single piggy living next to a neighbour but even than a 2x4 would be better.
For Two boars OR three sows OR one neutered boar and two sows - minimum 10 square feet. Recommended 12 square feet or a 2x5 c&c
For four piggies (one neutered boar with three sows or four sows) - minimum 12 square feet. Recommended 14 square feet or a 2x6 C&c
 
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