Our Caviary: Intelligent Design
Over the years, I tried many things to house my cavies. My original set up (22 years ago this spring) did not evolve into my current set up. I made changes and am pretty happy with the results. The original set up housed about 50 piggies, including pups, in 2 large community cages. These were primarily made of wood with box construction. They were difficult to clean. They had poor air circulation.
Next down the line was lots of air circulation with the lids of storage bins on top of tables with crude dwellings for the piggies. Looking back, I am amazed none of the cavies ever jumped off! Lots of cages with the plastic pans and wire sides housed my cavies over the years. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to buy a used 8-hole KW cage with pass-thru doors. JACKPOT!
Since then, I've slowly but surely gotten rid of pull-apart cages and replaced them with pull-out pan cages.
Next down the line was lots of air circulation with the lids of storage bins on top of tables with crude dwellings for the piggies. Looking back, I am amazed none of the cavies ever jumped off! Lots of cages with the plastic pans and wire sides housed my cavies over the years. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to buy a used 8-hole KW cage with pass-thru doors. JACKPOT!
Since then, I've slowly but surely gotten rid of pull-apart cages and replaced them with pull-out pan cages.
Why those kinds of cages?
Well, they are just MUCH easier to clean, easier to see all of the piggies at a glance, can be moved (all have wheels) to clean behind, easier to attach hay racks, easier to see all feed/water containers--they just make my life easier which makes the piggies' lives better since I can see and address their needs quickly. Other cages can work for a single pet. Maybe even 10 piggies. But I have more than 40 at any given time. If they were all in plastic bottom big Mart type cages, it would take me all day to take apart, clean, reassemble cages and then do feed/water. I am a big fan of the C&C type cages but do not have floor space in our current set up. Since it is vital for cavies to get good exercise--actual running, jumping, free-as-a-bird exercise--to remain happy and healthy, mine take turns running loose in the caviary throughout the year as well as seasonal grazing in large exercise pens outdoors. That is the best I can do for them until we have a different barn. They seem to like the arrangement very well.
Outside? Are you serious?
Yes. Outside. In their own room. Over the years, I've learned that the softwood dust from pine shavings, dust from hay, dust from feed as well as hair/urine/saliva/feces from cavies/rabbits is not especially good to breathe in all day every day. Even being cleaned twice a week (more if needed), there will still be a certain amount of dust and hair. Me and my family are not allergic but I do like having friends over and some of them are allergic to animals.
If my caviary was indoors, it would need excellent ventilation as well as an air purifier. Also, the various dusts, food bits and droppings are quite difficult to get out of carpet when it's in large quantities. It requires a Shop Vac to clean those things up. Even then, it would still be best to have plastic under the cage area and for a few feet all around. I am not against having an in-the-house caviary but it would not work in our current home. These same things (hay, droppings, bedding, urine) can be problems for pet cavies in your home. I do not recommend keeping any rodents in bedrooms and also advise that children wash their hands after playing with their pet cavy. Many children with allergy problems will have trouble with cavies. Cavies are not dirty animals unless their humans allow them to become so but even a clean cage and clean cavy can cause watery eyes and rashes if someone is allergic to hay, cavy saliva, softwood dust, etc.
If my caviary was indoors, it would need excellent ventilation as well as an air purifier. Also, the various dusts, food bits and droppings are quite difficult to get out of carpet when it's in large quantities. It requires a Shop Vac to clean those things up. Even then, it would still be best to have plastic under the cage area and for a few feet all around. I am not against having an in-the-house caviary but it would not work in our current home. These same things (hay, droppings, bedding, urine) can be problems for pet cavies in your home. I do not recommend keeping any rodents in bedrooms and also advise that children wash their hands after playing with their pet cavy. Many children with allergy problems will have trouble with cavies. Cavies are not dirty animals unless their humans allow them to become so but even a clean cage and clean cavy can cause watery eyes and rashes if someone is allergic to hay, cavy saliva, softwood dust, etc.