How you can Make a C&C Guinea Pig Cage From Scratch

C&C cages are in style within the guinea pig world, and there’s no marvel why! They’re simply the most cost effective cage you’ll discover, they are often expanded simply in case your piggies want more room otherwise you add to your herd, and so they’re extraordinarily customizable.

A C&C guinea pig cage is low cost and simple to arrange following just a few easy steps. Merely lower the Coroplast to measurement, rating it so that you could fold up the slides of the cage, and duct tape it collectively. Then, zip tie the cubes collectively and tie them to the Coroplast for added safety.

On this article, we’ll discuss methods to construct a C&C guinea pig cage from begin to end, and the way a lot it would value.

What’s a C&C Guinea Pig Cage?

C&C stands for cubes and Coroplast, the place the cubes have been initially offered as storage organizer cabinets and Coroplast is a sheet of corrugated plastic.

The plastic sheet is lower, scored, and folded to make the bottom of the cage. The cubes are then lined up across the edges, zip tied collectively, and secured to the bottom to make the cage partitions.

How you can Make a C&C Guinea Pig Cage

1. Buy Cubes

Cubes for a C&C cage ought to be 14 inches on all sides and not less than 9 squares throughout. Lower than 9 squares, and your piggies would possibly be capable of get their heads caught within the grids and even escape!

When you have child guinea pigs, getting cubes with even smaller grids or layering them in order that the gaps are half as massive could also be required till they’re older.

C&C cubes have been initially offered as shelving, and also you would possibly be capable of get a greater deal if you happen to seek for shelving models reasonably than C&C grids–there’s typically a mark-up on those offered as pet merchandise.

You could find them at many large field shops, and in addition on-line.

2. Buy Coroplast

Most individuals buy massive sheets of coroplast from a ironmongery store. Of those frequent in my space, I’ve discovered that solely Dwelling Depot appears to promote the massive 4’x8’ sheets–however you might need higher luck buying round than I did!

In any other case, it’s also possible to duct tape the Coroplast collectively–however utilizing large sheets tends to be simpler.

3. Measure and Minimize Your Coroplast

That is doubtless going to be essentially the most troublesome step within the course of. First, determine how massive you need your cage to be and the way tall you need all sides to be.

Having tall partitions on the again and sides prevents hay and poop from falling behind the cage, the place it may be troublesome to scrub frequently. This will even stop your guinea pigs from spraying urine exterior of the cage and onto your partitions and different gadgets.

Many individuals choose to have a shorter wall within the entrance, although, in order that they’ll see their piggies!

I counsel sketching out a diagram on a chunk of paper first in order that you already know precisely what you need, then utilizing a pencil to sketch it onto the Coroplast itself.

After you have this finished, you possibly can lower it all the way down to measurement–keep in mind to maintain the partitions hooked up to the bottom, as this may make assembling the cage a lot simpler.

4. Rating the Coroplast

Subsequent, use a knife or field cutter to attain the locations the place your cage base meets the partitions. You don’t wish to lower all through–simply sufficient so that you could fold the partitions upward.

You’ll additionally want to chop the corners of every facet in order that they’ll be part of collectively correctly.

5. Duct Tape the Cage Base Collectively

We’re nearly completed making the Coroplast base! All that’s left is to fold up the edges and tape them collectively.

In case you’ve had to make use of a number of items of Coroplast to make a sufficiently big base, or to get the form you’re searching for, you’ll additionally wish to tape these collectively in order that nothing slips beneath the flap the place they join.

6. Join the Cubes

Now, take your cubes and use them to line the skin of your Coroplast base. Add zip ties as you go or after the cubes are all collectively–it’s as much as you, however zip tying all of them collectively on the high and backside is important.

This may maintain the cage collectively and is way sturdier than the connectors that include the cubes–although you should utilize these as properly if you happen to’d like.

I additionally advocate punching just a few holes within the Coroplast and utilizing zip ties to attach it to the cubes.

7. Add Bedding

For my part, the most effective bedding choices for guinea pigs are fleece and chenille bathtub mats. Do not forget that the bedding ought to encompass three layers:

• a high layer that wicks away moisture,
• an absorbent layer,
• and a water-proof backside layer.

The Coroplast within the cage can rely as your waterproof layer.

Fleece liners typically include wicking and absorbent layers already stitched collectively, although you might need to wick the material earlier than use.

In any other case, you possibly can layer depraved fleece on high and an absorbent layer reminiscent of u-haul liners or reusable pet pee pads on the underside. The identical goes for bathtub mats.

After all, disposable bedding can be an possibility. Be sure to decide on one which’s guinea-pig protected, dust-free, and fragrance-free.

Pack the bedding down along with your fingers and ensure it measures not less than 2-3 inches when compact. This ensures it would wick moisture to the underside, which can act as your absorbent layer.

8. Add Your Piggies’ Gadgets!

Lastly, it’s time for the enjoyable half: establishing the cage with your whole piggies’ stuff! Be sure to incorporate not less than one water bottle and conceal per guinea pig.

Place down both a hay pile or hay bag with holes massive sufficient in your guinea pig to climb by way of utterly. Piggies have gotten caught in smaller holes, and those too small for them to get their heads into make accessing the hay troublesome.

Different gadgets to think about are a litter field, toys, pee pads, and pellet bowls. (Pellet bowls being non-obligatory as a result of you possibly can at all times scatter feed for added enrichment!)

How A lot Does a C&C Cage for Guinea Pigs Price?

C&C cages will nearly at all times be your most cost-effective possibility for a guinea pig cage. Selfmade cages are the most cost effective as you’ll solely want to purchase the cubes and Coroplast.

You could find the cubes you’ll want for round $30 for a small set. This ought to be sufficient for a cage that meets minimal necessities, however some individuals select to purchase extra to supply an even bigger area.

A big (4’x8’) sheet of coroplast additionally prices round $30, so you possibly can count on to pay not less than $60-$70 in your C&C cage–maybe extra if you would like it to be bigger than the minimal.

In case you don’t wish to spend time studying methods to construct a C&C cage and making it your self, it’s also possible to purchase pre-cut Coroplast cage bases, or buy a complete cage set from locations just like the Guinea Pig Cages Retailer or Kavee Cages.

Understand that these will nonetheless require meeting; the Coroplast is simply lower and scored so that you can prevent a while.

You’ll additionally must buy zip ties individually and use them to attach the cubes for safety. With out this step, the cage is probably not protected in your piggies to reside in.

As an illustration, multi-story cages have been identified to break down and kill guinea pigs. Your pigs may additionally be capable of escape multi or single-level cages and get into mischief.