DIY rack for guinea pig

Every year more and more breeders are moving away from cages in favor of guinea pig racks, and this positive trend cannot but rejoice.

We have experience in the long-term (more than three years) use of two shelving units made by ourselves, so the article was written, as they say, in hot pursuit and on the basis of certain experience.

Read about our story with racks at the end of the article, but for now – the steps for making a rack for guinea pigs with your own hands.

So, the decision has been made: we will make a rack for the sea. For starters, it would be nice to decide on the size.

As you know, guinea pigs are open-minded and freedom-loving animals, so they need a lot of space for a comfortable life. Ideally, 0,7 square meters per capita.

But the ideal is the ideal, and reality does not always allow allocating so much free space in the room for your beloved pet. Just remember that in the case of guinea pigs, the rule is: the more the better.

• The most popular shelving sizes are 80×60 cm, 100×50 cm, 120×60 cm, 120×80 cm.
• The most popular form is the “bread box”
• The most popular modification is a two-story rack with a ladder.

A large rack is also beneficial in that it will be possible to clean it less often! Yes, don’t be surprised! If in a small cage you need to clean up every 3-4 days, then in a large rack – once a week, and even then it may happen that you can not remove all the filler, but only damp in the corners (where the pigs mark their place for “toilet”).

If your rack is two-story, of course, you will need a ladder. Make it gentle, because due to the peculiarities of the structure of the spine, guinea pigs may have difficulty climbing to a height.

For one pig, a smaller shelving will be enough, but for two or three it is better to choose a more spacious shelving.

Spacious living space is a guarantee of health for your pig. These animals are very fond of driving (if you let the pig run around the room, you probably already noticed this feature). In a cage of 30×40 cm, you won’t particularly run away, but in a two-story rack there is a ladder to scurry around the floors, and there is a lot of space for various houses, tunnels and labyrinths.

The most important problem, which many, due to inexperience, somehow lose sight of, is moisture protection. I don’t know if this is a feature of our pigs, or everyone has it, but pigs pee a lot. And the liquid finds cracks even through a thick layer of filler and subject to regular cleaning.

I will say right away that the ideal tool for moisture protection of the rack frame has not yet been found. Everyone chooses the optimal and affordable. Most often do-it-yourself shelving is trimmed from the inside materials such as:

• polycarbonate
• plexiglass (acrylic glass)
• linoleum
• self-adhesive film

But in my mind pallet would be the best option.. It is guaranteed to protect the frame of the rack from liquid and greatly facilitate and simplify the cleaning process.

Most often, shelving is made from:

• solid pine
• Chipboard
• plywood.

You can read about the advantages and disadvantages of each of these materials in the article “Guinea pig rack”

In a nutshell:

• solid pine – the most environmentally friendly and durable material, but more expensive;
• Chipboard – cheaper and non-environmental;
• plywood is cheap and short-lived.

And plywood, and laminated chipboard, and a pine shield can be bought at any large building supermarket. All that is needed later is skillful male hands.

When making a shelving in addition to the material for the frame, you will need:

• electric jigsaw or hacksaw,
• drill,
• screwdriver or screwdriver,
• screws, nails,
• glazing beads or slats,
• if you decide to trim the frame with plexiglass inside, then also a glass cutter.

And you can not bother with the purchase of material and delivery, and then with a saw, tape measure and dust, but buy shelving kit.

Finished parts made of natural wood, all the necessary fasteners included, and two removable trays for perfect moisture protection and easy cleaning.

After assembly, you will get an original castle made of natural wood. Great alternative to a cage! Details

So, the rack is ready!

If you decide to paint it, then the coating will need to be chosen especially carefully. Pay attention to:

• water-based paints (such paints are the safest) – water-based or water-dispersed,
• wax oil is one of the most environmentally friendly products for wood. Modern oils are odorless, easy to apply and dry quickly. They even decorate children’s toys.

Tadam! The most exciting moment is coming … Settlement of pigs.

Just before that, please do not forget to attach a drinking bowl to the wall of the rack, install a bowl and a sennik.

Your pigs will love their new home!

We went down the path of abandoning the cage a few months after purchasing the gilts.

The seller in the pet store with honest eyes and very convincingly recommended us a Chinese cage 30×40 cm, crowning her tirade with reinforced concrete “Yes, they will have enough for their eyes, I’m telling you for sure!” This is despite the fact that we bought a pregnant pig, and we only vaguely guessed about the number of future offspring.

Thank all the gods, our Matilda was relieved of her burden in a week with only one pig. Luck number one. And luck number two – it was a female, that is, mother and daughter could quite comfortably coexist in the same cage. In general, we were fully convinced that we were incredibly lucky. But for the time being.

When Pippi (there we named the newborn) grew up a little, the girls became clearly cramped in the already small cage. By that time, we had already begun to figure out what was what, and the size of the cage of 0,7 square meters for one pig began to take on real features.

We didn’t know what a rack for a guinea pig was, but we didn’t hear about the fact that such a wonderful structure can be bought or made to order. Our dad has golden hands, so once again taking pity on the guinea pigs pushing in a cage like sprats in a jar, and sighing loudly, he retired to his studio with a thoughtful look.

The next day the children were squealing with delight around the new pig house.

• Wood!
• Double decker!
• With stairs!

The pigs sniffed the new living space for a long time, not daring to go up to the second floor, and, it seems, did not believe their luck! It’s like moving from a communal apartment to a penthouse.

After 15 minutes, the first poop testified to the recognition of the new home.

The life of pigs is clearly filled with variety. They divided the floors: Matilda, as the eldest in age, at the same time appropriated the title of the eldest in the house and assigned her spoiled daughter to the second floor, securing a cozy couch on the first floor. When the mood of “Running” rolled in, both of them, with a dashing whistle, drove along the stairs and hid in the houses. Even a corner for writing now everyone had their own!

It seemed to us that the ultimate dream — here it is! But after some time, shortcomings began to appear. Learn more about them in the video below.

We took into account all these shortcomings, we stepped on all possible rakes, and now we know exactly what a high-quality rack for a guinea pig should be like! Our racks – in the “Shop” section