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[Summer]

We are making out the blue prints tonight, can't Wait to see how it turns out what a beautiful cage.

[FluffBall]

one more thing before I forget  if you are making it out of wood I got the smallest/strongest possible wire I think that mine is 1/ 2" x 1/2"  they have a hard time getting their little mouths through to bite at the wood but anyway what I did was takthe wire and have it cover the entire inside of the cage sides completely and then just stapled it down  all over cause I know that they are smart little guys and I didn't want them trying to knaw through the wood and get out or just mess it up that way this cage will last longer

[Jo Ann]

 Hi All,

Anyone thinking of using old furniture to build a cage or a mostly wood cage ... they are beautiful, but not usually very practical.  Vent holes will have to be cut in both sides as well as the back, for a good flow of fresh air. (1/2" square cage wire can cove the holes.)

You may want to make the inside melmine. It's so easy to wipe off and keep clean.

It's not just for convience of cleaning ... melmine is not porus like wood is and will not allow urine to soak into it.
Always cover the exposed edges with metal so that the chin can not chew on them.  Melmine can be consumed by a chin, but like plastic, will not dissolve and can damage the intestines of a chinchilla.

I found this big entertainment center type thing. I am thinking of trying to line it with thin pine plywood and make a cage out of it. I have no idea what kind of wood it is made of so I don't want them to be able to chew it. 

Chins will spray on the wood and if one gets sick (dirrhea) ... wood allows the fluids to soak into the wood and is a breeding ground for germs, fungus and making a chin sick.

     
  Jo Ann

[Summer]

Thanks for the tips. We did the blue prints just a few more things to add and we can start! I'm using the melmine. 

[FluffBall]

Jo Ann

Anyone thinking of using old furniture to build a cage or a mostly wood cage ... they are beautiful, but not usually very practical.  Vent holes will have to be cut in both sides as well as the back, for a good flow of fresh air. (1/2" square cage wire can cove the holes.)

do you have a pic of one?
 ::silly::Mellissia

[Jo Ann]

Hi FluffBall,

    I'm not sure if you are wanting a picture of the the furniture or of the wire covered hole.  I will have to look for the picture someone sent me made from furniture(made from a china cabinet), but here is how to cover the vent hole....

 
Jo Ann

If you will notice, the wire has been smoothed on every cut edge. There are two pieces of wire, one on each side of the opening and there are "C" clamps on at each corner and center sides to hold it in place.  1/2" x 1/2 wire was used. 

This is on one of our cages that we use to introduce two chins and/or keep the male and female familar with each other while the kits are being raised.

[FluffBall]

yes I wanted to see the furniture cage I have tons of furniture I could turn into cages think hubby would get mad but  o well it is mine no I would use the old stuff first
Mellissia

[Summer]

Ya it is done  . I still have to add a few  more things to it. I will put some pics of it in a few days or so. 

[Chins To Love]

Can't wait to see the pics

[Summer]

I am going to put the pic's up tomorrow.

[Oli]

Where can you get quality wire i need about 6m to make my cage, what do you think is the right height and width of a cage

[Jo Ann]

Hi Oli,
    The restrictions in cage size is only those you have room for  AND are willing/able to clean throughly WEEKLY. 
    A nice size is 18"x 24" x 30" 2 or 3 levels/floors for a single or a pair of chinchillas.  BUT if you have a male/female pair, you also need what is called a whelping cage ... it should be 18" x 24" by 15" or shorter and only one level.
    Below is a picture of a cage we use to make for many of those who adopted chins from us, but Bill no longer makes it ... we have about 200 chins now and do not have the time. Just click on the picture to give you a larger image.    

 
Jo Ann

[Stacy]

I had to give up on the cage building. My husband doesn't have a lot of extra time and I don't think I can do it.  Every time I put things together I do it backwards, and have to take it back apart. I had one of the huge cages from Chin World and I just could not wait on help to put it together. By the time I got it done one of the ledges was in the middle of the door. It was kinda funny, but a real pain to fix.

[Jo Ann]

One night (or I should say early morning) we were trying to get a cage together for a family that was going to get two chins from us the next day.  We were very tired, to say the least.  The next morning it was time to load everything up in the van ... as we picked up each side of the cage, we realized we forgot to put the back on it!   

Hand made cages are wonderful if you have the time, tools, and patients ... but ... I have found them not to be very economical if they are made properly.  Many of the internet places you can find cages now are, as a rule, less expensive than making them yourself.

 
Jo Ann

[Summer]

  Yes, That why I am buying a new one Today.