What is better?

[CV26]

My boys currently each have a 120x60 Ferplast cage with a divider between them. They also have a 3x2 c and c play pen each which they get a couple of hours in each day.

The room is pretty full but I've been considering options for trying to give them more permanent living space. I've gone round in circles measuring, adding up and thinking about all the restrictions I have to work with.

They could have a Ferplast Plaza 160 each. But that would be it...no play pen and probably floor time would be rare for a number of reasons.

Would you say they have it better as they are now with the play pen change of scenery. Or would they have it better to simply have a bigger cage to live in pretty much full time?

 

[LMPigs]

Making sure I understand, is it that you have two separate piggies - presumably they cannot live together - each in a Ferplast 160×20? At the moment you presumably take it in turns to get them out in the playpen, but you're saying you could instead get them a larger cage each, but then no room for the playpen?

Probably it depends a bit on how much time they actually spend in the playpen, how impactful it would be to take this away.

Also, if they are both solo it is ideal of they can interact through the bars. Is this something which is possible in your current set up and would that be impacted if
you change things?

 

[CV26]

Yes they are separate and can't live together.
They have a normal cage each with bar interaction and a playpen cage each with bar interaction. They get about 3-4 hours in the playpen at least 4 times a week.

This means they get a change of scenery but ultimately due to space, all 4 cages are pretty much the same size at 120 x 60 / 3x2 c and c. The normal cages are raised up and the play pens fit underneath.

I could upgrade their normal cages to a Plaza 160 each and they would still have bar interaction. But I can't then fit playpens in for both of them as well due to constraints with other stuff in the room.

If I could squeeze in one play pen for them to take turns it'd only be a 3 X 2 at best. They can't have free range floor time instead anywhere and I don't think they'd enjoy it on their own based on how they interact through the bars normally.

i was trying to decide if having a regular change of scenery was better than just having a larger cage.

 

[Black piggies]

What age are they? Do they seem to enjoy playpen time? My piggies have seemed to enjoy time and space out the cage more when younger. They'd have a roomy cage.

 

[Piggies&buns]

To be honest, If the playpen is the same size as the cage, then other than a change of scenery, they aren’t gaining much.
As having a bigger cage would mean they have more permanent space, then I think i would go for that over playpen time.

 

[CV26]

Thank you all for your thoughts.

They're a little over a year old.

They do popcorns and zoomies in both cages and happily sleep in each one too.

I've looked at all options including bespoke shaped C and C ideas to see what I could get in. I've also weighed up the cost too and I keep coming back to either keeping things as they are or upgrading to the 160s. Nothing else properly works for a number of reasons.

They'd have the 40cm bit in the Plaza as a hay / kitchen end so they'd get the full 120 for snoozing and playing. At the moment their hay tray does take up 1/3 ish if the floor space - although they seem to enjoy leaping in and out of it as the sides aren't that high.

Practically for me I'd also have 2 big cages to clean rather than 4 small ones. Although they'd probably have to go into their carriers on clean out day rather than being moved into the play pen - but that wouldn't be for long.

 

[CV26]

So I finally made up my mind and have given the boys a Ferplast Plaza 160 each. Lots of faffing this morning but the room has had a good clean.

I've managed to make do with the liners I had but next job is to make some better fitting ones.

 

[Bill & Ted]

Their cages look fab. I have a 160 Plaza and a 140 Plaza and have I joined the two together in an L shape when I had Ted, Ginger and Posh. I now have them back as two separate cages for Ginger and Posh and Hector and Kiki

 

[Black piggies]

Your set up looks fantastic. Hope your boys enjoy the extra space. It looks like the hideys are laid out to allow zoomies, which I'm sure they'll appreciate if that's now their main running around space

 

[Swissgreys]

Fabulous set up - you have 2 very lucky boys.

 

[CV26]

Thank you. I'm pleased I've finally done it. They don't seem phased by the upheaval...begging for food began almost instantly after they'd done a lap round their new digs.

Imagine how long a zoomie could be if they liked each other

 

[dhill_cb7]

Wonderful setup! How many hours did you put into this ?

I am always crunching numbers and looking at my bank account to see if/when I can expand my boys 6ft by 2ft c and c (sorry American here and we don’t use metrics).

 

[CV26]

Thank you. It took about 3 hours total to put it together and get the room straight again. Had to move furniture around and it's amazing where hay ends up!