All our images of our cage can be seen here:
https://www.emogic.com/GPCage/
Guinea Pigs need to be in herds (have company) and need room to thrive.
When we adopted our Guinea Pigs, they were in a 1 x 2 ft cage. Much too small for 2 GPs.
So we purchased a 21 in x 43 in cage and found after food bowls and shelters that there was not much running space for the GPs. And they love to run.
We wanted our Guinea Pigs out in our living space so we can frequently interact with the GP.
We found a “do it yourself” design as it could be done cheaper, and we could build it to suit.
The initial design can be found here.
https://www.guineapigcagesstore.com/standard-covered-guinea-pig-cages
We built it to 29 inch x 6 ft and feel there is enough room for them (2 – 4 GPs) , although they can always use more space.
It is built from premade wire storage kits. The pieces are 14 x 14 inches.
https://www.homedepot.ca/product/rubbermaid-storage-cube-3-pack-/100014…
There is a cleanable corrugated plastic base (chloroplast), and a strong plywood base under that.
We have cats, so we needed to have a top.
We are not going to show you how we built it, there are other instructions and videos for that. But we are going to explain challenges encountered, and modifications we made, that the videos do not cover.
Search for ‘Build a C&C Guinea Pig cage’
https://www.google.com/search?q=Build+a+C%26C+Guinea+Pig+cag
All our images of our cage can be seen here:
https://www.emogic.com/GPCage/
Guinea Pig Cage : On Plywood
We wanted our cage on a high table so we can easily interact with our GPs.
So we used a plywood base to attach the cage to so we did not have to fasten it to the table.
The image shows the soft PEX clamps we used to do this. They run the entire perimeter, so we don’t need to screw in the inner holes.
Guinea Pig Cage : Interaction Area
We wanted to be able to easily interact with our GPs while they were in the cage.
We have a three piece removable section on the front.
It is secured by six (colored) paper clip clamps, easily removed.
https://www.emogic.com/GPCage/IMG_20191108_195039576.jpg
https://www.emogic.com/GPCage/IMG_20191108_195105400.jpg
We use this area to hand feed them.
We found they would stand up and lean on the chloroplast box sides, and it would cause it to bow dangerously.
So we added a 1 x 5 board to support it.
Guinea Pig Cage : Kitchen Area
We built a small chloroplast kitchen / litter area inside the main chloroplast area.
It houses the hay feeding box and the water bottles.
We fill it with aspen bedding chips, and use GP designed fleece blankets for the main living area.
We clean the kitchen area every day, using new chips, and washing the chloroplast. We take the liner out daily, brush of the GP poos, and turn it over. The fleece can go about 5 days without being washed in this way.
It is suggested you have at least 2 fleece blankets to alternate.
We give them their fresh vegetables in the main living area after cleaning, and the pellet bowl goes there too.
The kitchen area is really intended to be a bathroom, but as you may be aware, GPs go anywhere they feel like.
https://www.emogic.com/GPCage/IMG_20191108_195153993.jpg
https://www.emogic.com/GPCage/IMG_20191108_195224802.jpg
https://www.emogic.com/GPCage/IMG_20191108_195146294.jpg
Guinea Pig Cage : Lock the Door
As we have cats, we were concerned that they may catch removable parts, and pull them off.
We realize that is unlikely, but still possible. We have clever, and no so clever cats.
So we added two removable sliding 1×2″ wood pieces to secure the removable piece at night, or when we are away.
There are L-brackets at the bottom to support and hold them in. The pieces slide in perfectly at the top in the wire overhang.
https://www.emogic.com/GPCage/IMG_20191108_195644758.jpg
Guinea Pig Cage : To the Top
We have cats, so we need a top.
We wanted a top that:
-Was easily removable (free floating)
-We could access and clean the whole cage
-Support bad cats jumping on the cage
To that end, we needed to add the wood supports seen in the image as the cage is 6 ft long, and it would bow under it’s own weight and a cat or two, would be an issue.
We also made it so you can open either side, for easy accessibility.
The hinge was made from a light extendable curtain rod. We zip tied each side to it.
https://www.emogic.com/GPCage/IMG_20191108_194931538.jpg
The wood supports butt up against the center plastic liner pieces. This allows the top from sliding front to back.
https://www.emogic.com/GPCage/IMG_20191108_195529371.jpg
The wood supports have an L shape end which stop the top from shifting left and right.
https://www.emogic.com/GPCage/IMG_20191108_195352034.jpg
https://www.emogic.com/GPCage/IMG_20191108_194941865.jpg
The top wood supports are fastened using soft PEX clamps.
https://www.emogic.com/GPCage/IMG_20191108_195328505.jpg
The top pieces overlap for support. They overlap 8 front to back, so there is a supporting lip. They overlap 4 on either side with a one square wide gap in the center. They are zip tied together.
https://www.emogic.com/GPCage/IMG_20191108_195511802.jpg
https://www.emogic.com/GPCage/IMG_20191108_195012786.jpg
https://www.emogic.com/GPCage/IMG_20191108_195501723.jpg
We used a fleece inside over the kitchen area to give the GPs a sense of piece in that area. Predators strike from above, and GPs know that.
https://www.emogic.com/GPCage/IMG_20191108_195255605.jpg
All our images of our cage can be seen here:
https://www.emogic.com/GPCage/
