Want to let gpigs stay indoors permanently. Cage ideas?

[jobhuntersrus]

Our gpigs are normally outside in a hutch. During this freezing weather I have brought them in overnight and sometimes kept them in all day too when it has stayed below freezing. We have loved having them close and being able to see them easier and have made the decision to keep them in. Trouble is I have been keeping them in a pet carrier which is really too small to be a permanent home. I have a metal pen we use as a run in summer but not enough space indoors for that. Off to have a look at big pet shop tomorrow but any recommendations? Also where in your house do you keep them?
Thanks

www.petsathome.com/shop/rabbit-100-guinea-pig-and-dwarf-rabbit-cage-by-ferplast-15957 we have that one, we have 4 guineas in it, 2 adults and 2 younger ones but i think they are starting to need something bigger, we keep them in a corner in the livingroom between 2 sofas so i can sit and speak to them all day

Not sad at all. They speak back! I read a great book on gp care once, there was a guy who had about 25 gps all in a home-made pen, basically with high enough sides so they couldn't jump over and a wooden floor. Unfortunately cannot remember the name of the book. Try googling make your own guinea pig run and see what comes up.

I have 2 females in the house, they live in DD's bedroom in a Nero4 cage on the stand. I got it from pets at home. It was quite expensive but it is big enough (unlike some of the other cheaper ones which are 1m this one is 1.2m/4ft long which is enough space for 2 pigs. Looking on the PAH website, it looks like they no longer stock the Nero but you can see the set up here

You can buy cages marketed for guinea pig use that are smaller than 120 but I wouldn't as they are just too cramped for two, but ok for one at a push. You can buy a 140 on the pets at home site with a stand, that looks good.

Thank you. I was looking at that one online. I was thinking of putting it in the corner of the living room. It would be partly hidden by the sofa but away from drafts and the radiator. Difficult to appreciate the size looking online so going to have a proper look tomorrow. Seem some huge ones online but apart from putting it in the middle of the living room floor we just couldn't fit them in. Am really excited at having them around all the time. Just got the dog to think about but she pays little attention to them when they are out in the run on the grass in summer so fingers crossed she won't distress them.

you can make them yourself v cheaply and with no diy skills, there is a whole website dedicated to it, they're called
c and c cages
is well worth it as is cheaper, easier to shape to fit your room, bigger

size wise you need a nero 4 or bigger anything smaller is no good long term

ours are piled up cage on top of cage in the living room right now, they are cute

www.guineapigcages.com/cubes.htm

We have the equivalent size of a Nero4 for our two boys living together. We bought it second hand from a breeder, was v.cheap.

My other pig lives in a smaller cage which we bought from Pets at Home. Think its this one.
www.petsathome.com/shop/cavie-80-guinea-pig-cage-by-ferplast-15980
Its a reasonable size for just one small pig and he loves sitting on the little platform.

Our bigger cage opens like this - a lid on the roof and one on the side:
www.pet-supermarket.co.uk/products-Imac-Cavia-Easy-120_CA0843.htm

Which is much much easier than our smaller cage which opens like this - the whole side coming open:
www.petplanet.co.uk/product.asp?dept_id=393&pf_id=53508

So I would go for the biggest you can find with a top opening lid bit.

Love the cubes idea. Would need to make a lid though. Lots to think about. Thank you.

Well we bought a 120 cage and piggies are now in a corner of the living room. In the end we were governed by the size of the space I wanted to put them. Sniffed about the cage for a bit but now hidden in the igloo. I was worried about them being too cold outside and now worried about them being too hot inside! Can't resist peeking at them all the time. They have yet to eat or drink as far as I can tell. Maybe they will be a bit braver this evening when house is a bit quieter. Going to try and leave them alone for 24 hrs or so to let them settle into their new home then looking forward to having them out to cuddle and play more. Thank you for the tips and advice.

sounds nice - bet they settle in in no time. mine like being able to squeak for veggies whenever they want

aww they will be fine indoors, im too soft daft in the head to put them outdoors!

I have a cubes and correx cage like sanfairyann - all commercial cages (including nero 4) are really too small for adult gpigs, (especially big males) unless they are free to run around on the floor of your home a lot in which case a nero4 might be ok

Think about it from the piggies perspective and go large

Where do you get the cubes from? Is there a UK supplier?

the website has a link to uk suppliers. I got mine off freecycle though so it didn't cost me anything at all - worth a try - they are the metal grids you can buy to make up cupboards and storage bins so people do have them up in the loft etc

word of warning about the cable ties though - mine ate one and got it stuck on his teeth, had to get vet to yank it off