Cage Instructions
These simple cages are made from coroplast, duct tape, 1x1 hardware cloth (cage wire), wire ties, and doors edge guard strips. Coroplast is exactly like what they use to make corrugated boxes, only it's plastic. It can be found at custom sign stores and at plastic supply companies. It comes in 4 ft by 8 ft sheets, which cost $11.00/sheet here. Prices vary across the states. Some places (for a fee) will cut it down for you if you have no way to transport full sheets.
To make a 30x30 cage with 14 inch high sides, you will need to start with a piece of coroplast that is 48"Dx58"W
I use white or clear, because in my area these colors are less expensive, but it comes in a variety of colors.
48 inches
58
inches
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Lay the coroplast on a flat surface.
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From the front edge, measure in 4 inches.
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From the edge of each side & back-measure in 14 inches.
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Mark these lines on the coroplast, using a pen or marker and a straight edge.
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Use a cutting mat or scrap wood piece to protect the surface underneath.
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The red lines on the diagram indicate where to cut all the way through. You can discard these pieces or practice the next step on one of these scraps.
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The black dashed lines indicate where to score, you do not want to cut through to the front.
I use a box cutter, but if you're more comfortable with an Xacto knife, feel free to use it.
Once you have it cut, turn the whole thing over and bend all these flaps up.
Now you need to secure it together with the duct tape, which also comes in a large range of colors!
Place the tape lengthwise on the outside, along all the scores & seams.
Double the tape amount at the bottom corners and you will have a leak proof box.
You
need a 30" x 9" or 10" piece of hardware cloth to make the top of
the front side. Depending on how accurate the size of the front coroplast flap
turns out determines the height of the wire.
Frame this wire piece on all 4 sides with the edge guard. Also put edge guard on
the top edge of the coroplast flap. Using an awl, ice pick, or large nail,
carefully punch holes in the coroplast front flap just under the edge guard. You
only need 5 evenly spaced holes (where the Xs are). Next, punch holes in
the sides. These need to be one half inch in from the front edge (where the Os
are). You will probably need 4 to 5 on each side.
Use the wire ties to fasten the framed hardware cloth to the front.
If you have a very curious piggy that has to chew on these ties, you can use
heavy gauge floral wire or C rings.
Thread the floral wire from the inside of the cage and twist it so the ends are
on the outside of the cage.
Now the cage is ready for bedding, pigs, bowls, a water bottle, and toys!
I
have the bottle on the inside of the cage for the new babies.
You can mount it through the wire and use a bottle spring
or bail wire to hold it in place.
Cavy
food bowl.
5" in diameter by 2-1/2" high.