Chinchilla Community Forums

Chinchillas => Cages => Topic started by: dag on February 02, 2011, 03:27:03 AM

Title: Wooden cage?
Post by: dag on February 02, 2011, 03:27:03 AM
Hello all,

I've been scouring these message boards, but can't seem to find an answer for my question, so I decided to join and start a new thread.

My question is: would it work to use a partially wooden cage to house a chinchilla, specifically this one:

(http://www.oscepa.org/images/stories/pictures/General%20Images/Misc%20Field%20Work/cage.jpg)

It is a cage that I built for a chameleon, but unfortunately that chameleon did not survive the cold Danish winter in my drafty apartment.  :'( So I was thinking that it might work well for a chinchilla, with some adaptions such as levels and hammocks and such. It's quite tall -- about 5' 6" -- so in terms of size I think it would work, but I just wonder if the little guy would chew his way through the wood.  ::shrug::

The more I research chinchillas, the more excited I am about getting one ::nod:: but if possible, I would like to use this cage that I already have. It's a somewhat urgent question for me because I am moving shortly and want to know if I should bring this cage with me to my new apartment, or just get rid of it.

Thanks for your help!
Title: Re: Wooden cage?
Post by: Debbie.nl.ca on February 02, 2011, 07:00:42 AM
Looks like it would work to me. Most my cages are pine frames with mesh.
Title: Re: Wooden cage?
Post by: dag on February 02, 2011, 07:24:38 AM
Looks like it would work to me. Most my cages are pine frames with mesh.

Thanks, that's good to know. I've read though is that these creatures will chew anything they can sink their teeth into. Your chins don't try to chew their way through the wood?
Title: Re: Wooden cage?
Post by: Debbie.nl.ca on February 03, 2011, 07:25:39 AM
I put the mesh on the inside of th frame so they can't chew it. I make each side/section and doors and just screw them all together with the mesh on the inside.
Title: Re: Wooden cage?
Post by: chinclub on February 03, 2011, 04:52:37 PM
Usually its the corners you have to worry about.  The flat panels of wood should be fine, especially if you put untreated pine boards in there for shelves.  He would must prefer the easy to get to shelves than the hard to work with flat sides.  Just wrap the edges of the cage that you don't want chewed with metal flashing.