MOVING DAY (moving across the room, that is)

Rob (left) and Rory (right) cuddle as they sleep. Roland is in a tunnel in the playpen.

The Chinnypigs changed places last night, with the giant guinea pig mansion moved to the former location of the chinchilla cage, and the chinchilla cage is now in the corner where the guinea pig mansion was. An essential change, it means you can actually walk through the door and into the room!

When I ordered the first part of the piggy mansion from Guinea Pig Cages Store it was only one piece of furniture, about the size of a crib (guinea pigs are so obviously children substitutes). When I decided we were ready to expand from one pig to two, and I was having trouble bonding River and Melody, I ordered another of the same size, then attached them together and created a ramp from scored coroplast.

The original location of the guinea pig mansion, seen here in nighttime mode.

When I added the second cage to the first after they successfully bonded, I ended up pushing the right end of the mansion within a couple of feet of the room's door. Moving them to the other side of the room just made sense. The chinchilla cage and pen is a rectangle instead of an "L" shape, so there's now plenty of room to get inside.

The mansion in its new location. It's A LOT easier to clean the "balconies" now that one isn't in a corner.

The tool rack is now on top of the cage, but still reachable. I moved the worktable to the opposite wall next to the chinchilla cage and pen. In the process, my original table, a wooden Target desk, fell apart and I had to commandeer the "extra party table" as a new desk. 

The boys' cage in its new location, next to the window and with the playpen against the wall.

Now the chins, who need a cool climate, are right next to the window, while the skinny pigs, who need it warmer, are far away from the draft. The boys were so spoiled by having an open cage that they got extremely upset being shut up inside during the furniture move. They kept running on the wheel and jumping around. I remember when they popcorned from excitement for the open pen. Now they take it for granted, the little brats.

Finally, here's a stretched-out view of the room:

Of course, the computer is near the TV-loving chinchillas (actually, only Rob likes it).

Did some cleaning since, and moved the blue light to the desk next to the chinchillas (it's their night light). I'm a lot happier with this set up, and I know that it will be easier for visitors to the menagerie, etc.