Rack for guinea pig

One of the very first questions that comes to mind immediately after “Maybe get a guinea pig?” , is “Where will she, in fact, live?” It is a reasonable question, since these animals still need to be kept in a fenced area: it is safer for them, and the apartment will be cleaner.

The first thing that comes to mind is the cage. In the article “Cage for Guinea Pig” we examined in detail all the advantages and disadvantages (mostly disadvantages, of course) of keeping pigs in cages.

Much more for pigs, due to their natural craving for large spaces, racks are suitable (sometimes racks are also called showcases).

Rack for guinea pig – this is such a special house made of solid wood or chipboard, often two-story, large, much more suitable for the humane maintenance of guinea pigs than cages. A rack is a relatively new type of dwelling, which was first talked about 10-15 years ago, with an eye on foreign breeders whose pigs lived in similar racks or in spacious enclosures.

For many years, ordinary cages remained the lot of our Russian pigs, and it’s good if it was a spacious cage, otherwise many animals languished all their lives in tiny cages, which just fit for hamsters.

But life does not stand still. With the development of the Internet, many Russian breeders were able to “look” into foreign nurseries, saw their spacious aviaries for guinea pigs and slowly began to adopt experience and bring the Western culture of keeping guinea pigs to our fertile, Russian soil.

Now no one disputes the fact that a guinea pig needs a spacious home. And it’s even better if it’s not a cage, but an aviary or a small enclosure in the room. Since it is not always possible to allocate a few square meters in an apartment, albeit for a very beloved pet, then so-called racks for guinea pigs become a worthy analogue of the aviary and an excellent replacement for cages.

By the way, we have experience of long-term (about three years) use of two hand-made shelving, so the article was written, as they say, in hot pursuit and on the basis of certain experience.

So, what to look for when choosing a rack?

The first and most important criterion when choosing a rack is the frame material.

Now racks in the vast majority of cases are made of solid wood or chipboard. Sometimes there are products made of plywood.

If we talk about solid wood, it is most often pine, as it is the most affordable natural wood. If you want exotic, then you can, of course, order a house for your favorite pig and oak, only it will already cost many tens of thousands.

It goes without saying that a house made of solid wood will be more environmentally friendly, more durable and better than one made of chipboard. After all, it is no accident that wooden furniture has always been valued much more expensive than modern “stolplit”, in which, after a couple of years, the edges fly off, and under the influence of liquids they begin to swell and deform (do not forget that guinea pigs produce quite a lot of liquid in the course of their life ).

So consider advantages and disadvantages of shelving made of chipboard.

The most important thing dignity such structures is relatively low cost.

The main disadvantages of chipboard – this is:

1. Non-environmental. In the manufacture of laminated chipboard, urea-formaldehyde and phenol-formaldehyde resins are used. These substances prevent the processes of wood decay, however, they do not have the most favorable effect on human health. And animals.

2. fragility. Chipboard absorbs moisture well and deforms.

The photo below is an example of a chipboard rack.

Now let’s analyze advantages and disadvantages of solid wood shelving

Here Advantages of wooden shelving:

1. Environmental friendliness: wood is a natural material.

2. Durability. Solid wood shelving will retain its original appearance for many years.

And the tree is much more resistant to moisture. We have tested this on our own experience.

One of our shelving, which was mentioned at the beginning of the article, is made of chipboard with a polycarbonate finish, the second is made of solid pine with water-repellent impregnation and no protection at all. It just so happened: there were young, green and inexperienced… The active use of both racks by our pigs for almost three years makes it possible to conduct an unbiased comparative analysis. The bottom of the solid wood rack was treated only with a special water-repellent impregnation. No polycarbonate, no pallet. We pour sawdust or filler directly onto the wooden bottom. The rack is almost three years old, and everything is OK with the floor! Not swollen, not deformed! There is only a slight smell. But don’t repeat our mistakes!

In the photo below – shelving made of solid wood.

From my own experience, I can definitely say that wooden shelving has much more advantages! For their pigs now only wooden racks!

This is the main Lack of solid wood shelving – higher cost than the counterpart from chipboard.

The way to protect the rack frame from moisture is one of the most important issues when choosing a rack. If this aspect is neglected, then a brand new rack will become unusable in a few months due to frame deformation – once and an unpleasant smell – two. After all, even when using filler or sawdust, the liquid still gets on the frame of the rack and is absorbed. Some breeders use waterproof diapers to solve this problem. Well? It is also an option! If you are ready to spend money on diapers, then a rack without moisture protection is quite suitable.

But there are better ways!

In those racks that are on the market today, as a rule, two options are used to solve the “wet” problem – plastic pallets and interior decoration with polycarbonate, plexiglass (it is also organic glass, polymethyl methacrylate, acrylic glass) or similar moisture-proof materials.

Pallets

Of course, neither one nor the other option can be called environmentally friendly, but other things being equal, pallets still look more advantageous. Why? Firstly, the pallet is a one-piece construction, without seams and cracks, which protects the frame of the rack from leaks and ensures a longer service life. And secondly, the presence of a pallet makes life a lot easier! Cleaning the rack takes much less time! He took out the pallet, poured the filler into the bag, washed it – and you’re done! These are not tedious picking out with a scoop and brush of filler or sawdust from all corners and hard-to-reach places!

In the photo below – a rack made of natural wood with a pallet. By the way, you can buy one right now in our Guinea Pigs Store.

Polycarbonate/Plexiglas

Finishing with polycarbonate or plexiglass is a more economical way to protect against moisture, such shelving usually costs less than those with pallets.

The main disadvantage of polycarbonate and plexiglass is the presence of seams at the joints of the floor and walls. These seams, of course, are sealed with a moisture-resistant silicone sealant, but, as our practice shows, over time, the sealant leaves, and moisture still begins to get into the cracks, causing damage to the frame.

Perhaps you will be more lucky, but in our opinion, the pallet is still more convenient and reliable in this regard.

In the next photo – a shelving unit made of solid wood with plexiglass trim.

It is not so important whether you choose a rack with a pallet or with polycarbonate. The main thing is that protection against moisture is in principle! Because while collecting material for an article, I repeatedly came across offers to sell racks without protection in principle. Well, it’s kind of unprofessional, isn’t it…

Racks for guinea pigs are both small and very impressive in size, as in the photo below, for example.

The main advantage of such racks is space saving if there are a lot of pigs.

So, how many floors should a typical shelving unit have?

Here the answer is simple: if you can buy a two-story rack for guinea pigs, buy it! Nature is designed in such a way that pigs spend almost all the time in motion. Hence the requirements for a large area of ​​cages and racks. Pigs are born to run a lot! Therefore, if your pig runs down the stairs to the second floor and back 100 times a day, this is only a plus for him and his health!

Today, most often you can find two-story racks. The second floor increases living space and does not look too bulky.

Three-story racks and higher ones are made only to order.

Most popular sizes of those offered today:

• width along the bottom edge – 40 cm or 60 cm.
• length along the bottom edge – 60 cm, 80 cm, 100 cm or 120 cm.

The second floor of the rack in many models is made narrower than the first, which allows you to better see the pigs and facilitates the cleaning process, as in the photo below.

To keep one pig, you can buy a small rack, but if there are several animals, then everything depends only on the capabilities of your wallet.

Having scrupulously studied the current offers on the shelving market, we have compiled a list of accessories that can be purchased in addition to the shelving:

1. Chest of drawers

Sometimes the rack is supplemented from the bottom with a chest of drawers or shelves for pig accessories, which is very convenient.

2. Protective grilles

This accessory is necessary if there are small children or other animals in the house that are aggressive towards pigs (usually dogs). In fact, there is no need for bars, as the pigs cannot even jump over a low ledge, so the likelihood of escape is extremely low.

Lattices – exclusively for protection against dangers from the outside.

3. Backlight

This additional option is from the category “rather for beauty”. No functionality, but unusual and cozy!

See for yourself:

Especially if you turn off the light in the room and watch the pig! Relax!

4. Filling

These are drinkers, senniks, houses, hammocks, etc. Some racks are sold without filling, most have a drinking bowl and a sennik as standard.

Other accessories are usually purchased separately.

Making a rack with your own hands is not difficult if you have carpentry skills. To do this, you just need to find a man with “golden hands” 🙂

Another way is to buy a rack for a guinea pig. For example, in our company store. We have been manufacturing high-quality and original racks made of natural wood for several years.

In any case, your pigs will be much more pleasant and comfortable to live in such a house than in a cage. And aesthetically, the rack often looks much more attractive!

Even more photos and ideas in the article “26 interesting racks for a guinea pig”