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[Crimson_Ham]

I'm sure this is covered somewhere but...

I've been looking for wooden shelves and ledges and in my local petstores they either don't have any or have very small ones... So I've given up on them. How would I go about making my own?
Also I saw (in a pet store on a trip... I wish I had bought it when I saw it...) a "swing" ledge for chinchillas... it had a chew above the ledge part and a chewable ledge... any idea how someone would make one of those since I can't find it around here?

Just looking for new ways to let them jump and play... Dagda doesn't have much to jump on yet and he can't be in the other cage so I'm looking for alternatives... He's very active outside the cage but his cage doesn't seem very fun for him right now so he doesn't run and play much in there.
I may get a couple ferret hammocks for them all to jump around on too...

[Jo Ann]

   What was it made of?  How did it attach to the cage?    When you say swing ledge ... are you meaning the ledge itself swings?  

I've seen a swing that is made for birds ... but it's not a ledge ... and it's made of plastic, which would be a "no-no" for chinchillas.

   Jo Ann

   A swing tube could easily be made with 4 or 5 inch PVC pipe, two eye hooks and chains.

[Crimson_Ham]

It was kinda odd... but yeah a swinging ledge. It attached to the cage like a bird swing would but the bottom was about the size of my hand. I don't remember what it was made of but I know it wasn't plastic. I was thinking about getting a piece of wood and attaching it to bird type swings on each end (non plastic of course) and hanging a chew toy between the two... I dunno if it'd work but it sounded good lol

[Jo Ann]

   I have seen some, that I think you are talking about ... the swing platform is a lava stone, these last longer than the wood, and give the chin's hind feet something to hang on to ... but are usually more expensive than wood. 

Always keep in mind the price of a disposable/replaceable item ... If a chin gets diarrhea ...  is the price of the item low enough that you could throw it away and replace it with a new one  OR do you prefer something that can be washed/sterilized, dried and reused?

If you use a wood platform for the swing seat, I would rough it up a little with a wire brush or file to make the surface easier to "land on" and not slide off of.

   Jo Ann

[jmdebb]

i have some superpet sleep n ledges if you are interested.  they are 6.75.

jean

[Hoppinchins]

What does the sleeper ledge look like?

[Crimson_Ham]

What does the sleeper ledge look like?

thats a good question...
also is the 6.75 including or excluding shipping?

[Debbie.nl.ca]

Go to the your local lumber shop and buy lengths of pine boards 4- 6 inches wide. I like the 6 inch, it will last a bit longer from all the chewing. I have even used 8-12 inch also but they can get pricey.
I make selves, little perches, steps, houses and yes even swings & slides.Small chains are good for hanging the swings, and those old fashioned metal curtain hooks are great for attaching. Wink Jo Ann. Though I have used heavy key rings , & screws with washers.
If the cage has a mesh or wire top I just put a piece of wood on the outside and screw into it from inside.
If your going to start making stuff and don't have any tools I'd suggest getting a cheap little jigsaw, and a drill.
I can't screw in screws by hand, back troubles and would be lost with out my drill 
I sure miss hubby's band saw, now that the work shop has moved out side the house , and 20 minutes away 

[Jo Ann]

   To make things easier on you and to prevent splitting the boards ... pre-drill the holes for the screws (one size smaller than the screw).  And use wood screws instead of nails.  Screws can be moved, if need be, they make a more solid connection, are less likely to split the board and are almost always reuseable.     {With the number of chins we have, I have to be a penny pincher.}     

 Be sure to use fender washers (one on each side of the wire) when attaching an object to the cage.  Fender washers are round, flat and have a small hole in the center where you place the screw.  (Make sure the size of the hole is big enough to accommodate the size wood screw you are using.) The use of fender washers assures a more stable/strong connection of what ever you are putting up and the wire walls of the cage.   

 note: Make sure the fender washers are wider/larger in diameter than the space between the wires in the walls of the wire cage.   

  Jo Ann

[jmdebb]

hi, sorry i didn't get back to you sooner, i didn't get an email that there were more posts to the thread.

http://www.tjschinchillasupplies.com/houses_ledges.html

its the first one under ledge, and the shipping depends on where you live and i use the cheapest method available.  you can email me threw the site if you have questions, i have to figure out how to work this out to notify me of responses to my posts.

[LindyLu]

From my experience (which IS limited) chins didn't like swinging. I've bought AND made swinging ledges and a swinging tube. They didn't like um. The "sleep n' ledge" is good, just kind of small. I have a few of them. They make great little steps and perches, but the name is deceiving, a chin doesn't have room to sleep on it! lol

[Hoppinchins]

Has anyone bought the maze off of that website above? I think my chins would like it. They need more stuff to do durning play time!

[Debbie.nl.ca]

I can get a 1x6x 8 foot length of pine for about $8.00, and make most of that stuff for a fraction of the cost.
Most places will cut it if you don't have tools, then all you need are some crews and a driver for most.

[jmdebb]

i don't know where you live, but i have the lava ledges and the sleep n ledge, and i don't think the price is bad..