Guinea Pig C and C Cage Building Time

Our first batch of grids finally arrived so it was time to get building our first attempt at a C and C cage. 

Original plans were to set it up on a fold up table we had here.   Starting to take shape.

 

  

As you can see in this pic it didn't quite fit so plan B was to just put it on the floor for now til the next lot of grids arrive mid January and we can make a base.  (Well, hubby can make a base while I take photos! He's chief cage engineer.  I'm design team and fleece chief.  Teamwork!)  

Next up it was time to measure, measure then score and fold the coroplast/corex/corflute base.   (It is like a corrugated plastic they use for signs etc.  Got it from Bunnings.) 

 

Missed a few steps with the photos but next up we popped the grids on the floor, put the base in then I added the bedding.  I'll be experimenting for a little while to see what works best but starting out with some Huggies Bed Mats (disposable) as the base with some prepared fleece over the top.  If that works OK I'll look into getting some washable things to put under the fleece.  Idea is that the fleece wicks moisture through to the absorbent layer underneath, leaving the fleece dry.  

Here's our Guinea Pig Palace (version 1).  

 

I got hubby to make a separate corflute box at one end that is the 'kitchen.'  This has wood shavings and newspaper bedding and this is where the hay rack is located and where we put the food saucers.  Hoping this means most of the pooping and weeing happens in this bit too, so this section is changed more regularly. 

Here comes the girls ready to check out their new home.  The brick is under the water bottle to catch drips and also hold the fleece down.  

  

Testing out the kitchen area.

 

Up the other end we put two leftover grids over the top and I quickly snipped some leftover fleece to make a fleece curtain for a little extra privacy down in the resting area.  Guinea pigs are prey animals so they appreciate somewhere to hide and feel safe. 

So that's the new palace and we'll see how things go.  Have the rest of January to experiment with bedding and see what the best options are for low odour and ease of maintenance before we all head back to work and school and life gets a bit busier again. 

The girls seem to love their new home and we do too. 

Cheers, Sue

Back To The Start

DD and DS have been BUSTING to get a pet for quite a while now.  They love visiting friends and family with dogs, cats or other furry friends.  Hubby and I weren't quite so keen to be honest.

Our place doesn't suit a dog and I'm not a big fan of cats (no offence cats.)  One day while stopping by a pet store (the kids drag us into them every time we pass one) there were some guinea pigs in a cage.  They looked quite cute.  I started doing a bit of google searching on guinea pigs.  Then a bit more.  Then a bit more.  Started taking a few notes, printing off pages, collecting care leaflets, calling in to any local pet stores and checking out the supplies, liking guinea pig facebook pages - you get the idea.  Didn't take that long really and I was quite hooked. 

 

We talked hubby into the idea then it was time to gather supplies and equipment.  First off - the cage.  We got the biggest one we could find - 120cm by 60cm.  And a pigloo, a stick bridge, some ceramic food bowls, water bottles, kiln dried dust extracted pine shavings, a bag of carefresh, some timothy hay, some Oxbow guinea pig pellets and a few other bits and pieces.  

DS7's toy lamb kept the cage cosy while we waited for our guinea pigs.  

By this stage I'd read enough to know that it'd be better to get them from a rescue than from a pet store.  We got in touch with one we found about 45 minutes away and made an appointment.  

It was time to go and choose our girls.  A very excited car full of people that day.  

Cheers, Sue