My opinion is that so long as you give them the biggest possible cage you could manage and plenty of floor time so they get lots of exercise you should be fine.
I'd work out the size area by multiplying length by width and see how the two cages compare.
What are the dimensions of the cage you are thinking of building (you've got length and height there, what's the width?)? It really depends on how much area it falls short by how likely it is to work okay :)
If it is equivalent to the preferred size for two pigs you might well be okay, it's certainly better than pet store cages and much better for all the piggies to be together.
Our C&C cage is actually bigger than the table it rests on. On top of the existing tabletop, we made a bigger "top" out of wood laminate flooring and screwed the laminate onto the table, then put the cloroplast tray on top of that. It's still perfectly stable but has much greater surface area.
We also added more space by having a two-level cage. We made a ramp out of cloroplast- not too steep- so the pigs can get to the upper level. Our piggies have a great time running up and down and back and forth. It took them a week or so to not be scared of the ramp. We actually put little veggie treats in a line up the ramp to show them that they could make it up on their own, and they were "trained" in no time.
Another thought is that, unless you have dogs (as we do) or something else that could harm the piggies, is to put the C&C cage on the floor. This works great for a lot of people.
My family now has four dogs, including a shepherd mix I just adopted from the shelter. She's gotten used to them, but I'd not trust her with them on the floor. The other three dogs love the pigs though. :)
We have two huge dogs too, and though some people say that pigs and dogs can get along, there's no way in hell I'm going to chance it, because I know how fast those dogs can move when they get excited.
Still, I think my other suggestions might work for you, especially because of what you said about your tabletop being an odd size. Our cage is set up on a desk- a metal computer desk, no less- but we've increased the surface area of it greatly by screwing another "top" onto it.
OK, my boyfriend the math major just did the math on square footage, and it's 10.3125. So that's about right for three...it would just be more of a square than a rectangle. The guineapigcages.com site says 10.5 minimum for three pigs. The estimate we came up with is much larger than I expected it would be. :)The problem is how we can fit the grids in that kind of odd space, because I don't see many square C&C cages. Most people seem to have long tables that fit the typical cage sizes. The grids are 14 inches all the way around?
You can make the cage any shape you like really, whatever works best for you - it's the area that counts for the pigs, they don't mind the shape :) Just ziptie together in the formation you like!
That's an awesome cage. Is that carpet in there? And that wooden house box is great.
When I'm able to move out of my parents' home, I'll be able to set up a huge one. It's just my living situation right now that's the problem! I really thought my mom would go for the huge cage, because she loves guineas.
If you meant length and width of your table, and not length and height, then your cage could be 10.31 square feet (I think, anyone is welcome to double check that :P) of floor space. The minimum for 3 pigs is 10.5, so that's really close.
Comments 22
I'd work out the size area by multiplying length by width and see how the two cages compare.
Reply
If it is equivalent to the preferred size for two pigs you might well be okay, it's certainly better than pet store cages and much better for all the piggies to be together.
Reply
We also added more space by having a two-level cage. We made a ramp out of cloroplast- not too steep- so the pigs can get to the upper level. Our piggies have a great time running up and down and back and forth. It took them a week or so to not be scared of the ramp. We actually put little veggie treats in a line up the ramp to show them that they could make it up on their own, and they were "trained" in no time.
Another thought is that, unless you have dogs (as we do) or something else that could harm the piggies, is to put the C&C cage on the floor. This works great for a lot of people.
Reply
Reply
Still, I think my other suggestions might work for you, especially because of what you said about your tabletop being an odd size. Our cage is set up on a desk- a metal computer desk, no less- but we've increased the surface area of it greatly by screwing another "top" onto it.
Reply
Reply
You can use cable ties to make the cage the width you need and the grids are 14" :D
Reply
My first C&C was a square L shape for 2 pigs:
( ... )
Reply
When I'm able to move out of my parents' home, I'll be able to set up a huge one. It's just my living situation right now that's the problem! I really thought my mom would go for the huge cage, because she loves guineas.
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment