Unhappy with the new cage :-(

[Amysmom]

As mentioned on my daughter Amys thread we have a new cage for our girls Bonnie and Lottie.I didnt realise how low it would be! We had their other cage on a bureau so I didnt to bend at all.I had my spine fused last year so constantly bending through my knees takes its toll.

The cage is built into the stand so you cant take it off-why do they make them so low? Its also very deep which makes it lower still.I wish I had known how low it would be. but to have a cage this size high up like the other one would mean having to get something big to put it on.

Also it has 2 platforms and ramps and the girls dont want to use them.
The hay rack is at the top of the one ramp as you cant attatch it lower down so we also have a dish of hay on the ground.I think I'm going to remove the one ramp and platform because it looks awkward if they want to run around.Will putting carpet on the ramp encourage them to use it?

The cage is on a 14 day trial so I need to decide it theres anything better for my back that I could buy instead.

 

[Dindypig]

I've included a link here for a two tier version of the one I got for Dindy and Cupcake, theirs was the three tiered one. It's 100mm long (due to space restrictions at the time). The long ramps had carpet and bannisters added (easy to do, as you'll see in one of the links). The wheely stand is not attached, the plastic base sits into it, so the unit can be sat on the original table that you used before if you want.
The pen, http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/hutches_cages/guinea_pig_cages/100_cm_cages/137457

Dindy's pen thread. http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=56669

I do hope this is of some use to you.

 

[meganhannaford]

can i see a pic

 

[Amysmom]

Wow-thats great-but its £50 more and I just dont have that kind of budget.
I paid £79 for the cage we have now-it was reduced from £130.

 

[LittleNippers5]

You could get C and C grids with some Corothrem and make your girls a C and C cage .Here is a link to a website that might help you:
http://www.guineapigcages.com/

 

[Amysmom]

Thanks for that but having a c&c cage would mean bending down even more than I have to with this new one plus we have a dog so its just not possible.

I have taken the one platform and ramp out and they were popcorning! I think they like the cage to feel 'open'.
We dont have the cage lid on either becaue it looks much better left 'open topped' and its nice to not have to open any doors to see to them.
Ive dug an old little stool out and have just sat on it by the cage to talk to them and its taking the strain out of my back so maybe I just have to find ways to adapt to it.

 

[4piggiepigs]

my first c and c cage was on legs made from grids

 

[MrsWilsoncroft]

Sorry to hear the cage is not good.
I had a problem a few weeks ago when I ordered a new one and it ended up being no good for our house either.

Do you have a photo of the cage at all?
And the size etc x

 

[AndreaJane]

I wouldn't recommend C & C if you have a bad back - we've got one and it kills my back leaning over the grids and into it. I'm going to have to build my own in the new year.

 

[AndreaJane]

Have you thought about making a customizable one out of spare shelf units or something similar? Mine will be completely recycled apart from the ironmongery when I get around to building it. Here's some ideas: http://tierische-eigenheime.de.tl/Schwedisch.htm

 

[Amysmom]

Have you thought about making a customizable one out of spare shelf units or something similar? Mine will be completely recycled apart from the ironmongery when I get around to building it. Here's some ideas: http://tierische-eigenheime.de.tl/Schwedisch.htm

There are some amazing ideas-thank you.

Hubby said if I do find it too much for my back despite using the little stool he could always either saw the metal legs off and them put the cage on a table or he even better he could add some longer legs.

 

[Amysmom]

Sorry to hear the cage is not good.
I had a problem a few weeks ago when I ordered a new one and it ended up being no good for our house either.

Do you have a photo of the cage at all?
And the size etc x

My daughter-Amysguineapigs has a link to it on her last thread.
Its from Zooplus and its the R5A 120, the size is 122 x 62 x 91cm so its plenty big enough for 2.

What did you do about the one you ordered-did you send it back?

 

[liquorice allsorts]

sorry to hear the cage you brought is no good, you could try advertising it on here , to get some of your money back, or you could try asking the suppliers to take it back,either way its all a bit of a hassle, hope you find a solution soon, but whatever you do dont take any risks with your back!

 

[piggyfan]

The ferplast 140 is big enough and you can get a stand for it

 

[Bailey]

Could you take the wheels off and put it up on something to make it higher? Seems a shame to get rid of a cage that otherwise is really good and would save you some money too x

 

[Amysmom]

The ferplast 140 is big enough and you can get a stand for it

Isnt the stand for this just as low though?
All the stands ive seen are low-wonder why they make them so low?

 

[Bekki]

How about buying some tables/shelves etc etc and putting a cage on top of them? that way you can choose how high you want. It take a look at this video of a cage mad from correx on some shelves

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3_m342IMc4[/ame]

 

[Amysmom]

That looks amazing!

I wouldnt have the space for something like that though.
They are currently in our small dining room although next year it is been knocked into the gardenroom next to it but it will still be too narrow for something like that.

Their other smaller cage was on top of the bureau which is far too nice to have a cage on really and the size they need now would be too big for it.

I went for this one with the stand because I dont have a table big enough for the size they require now.Its a catch 22 situation really

 

[Guinea pig slave]

Part of our 12ft long set up that houses two pairs of piggies:

The full monty:

Its around 2ft off the floor and is over six feet in height, I have a little stepping stool to reach the upstairs piggies rolleyes OH is 6ft 6" tall so does most of their cleaning out etc.
All hand built and looks lovely at night with little fairy lights

Our three Himalayan girlies live on what was my dining table :{ OH got his building head on and did this in a day for them:

These are easy to clean as there's no bending over to extremes and being in the lounge, the piggies have lots of interaction with us (swear they watch TV :x)

 

[Amysmom]

Wow amazing!

Id be tempted if I had a spare lounge-dont think hubby would be too happy with me moving our new furniture out of our newly decorated lounge to make way for piggies.

Hubby said in the new year (he has a butchers shop so is rather busy right now!) he will build a stand that the cage will fit over-it will kind of sit under the cage so will give it some height.

We dont really want to saw the legs off as when we have the work done on the dining room/gardenroom it ill be useful to be able to wheel them out of the way into the kitchen.