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Post by luluzellbell on Apr 14, 2012 19:47:15 GMT
Hi all! ;D I am adopting two 6week old baby girls in a weeks time, (over the moon) and I would like to give them some more space, as they are currently in a thickets cage. Although I would love to make them a wooden cage, and have been drawing plans for MONTHS my parents have been trying to talk me out of it, as they think it will be too difficult. I am still being quite stubborn but have been surfing the net looking for an affordable metal cages which would also be big enough for at least two degus. I know that lots of members on this forum have the xtrail/liberta explorer style cage, but I was wondering whether this cage: cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220943340065&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en#ht_1488wt_689Would be suitable, with it's bar spacing, (would 6week old degus get through the gaps?) I would be covering the mesh floor of the middle level, and adding wooden layers for deeper substrate to be enabled. I think it will work, but I really need a few more opinions, as I am torn as to what I should do. Thank you!  P.s. hope the links work!  I can be a bit of a dunce with computers at times!! |
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luna1
Burrowing Degu
Nozzle, my miracle!
Posts: 143
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Post by luna1 on Apr 14, 2012 20:07:41 GMT
www.petsathome.com/shop/rabbit-folding-run-by-pets-at-home-31898The above link is what I use as a playpen for my lot on occasions and the bars on your cage look about the same gap as on this? Although I don't have any 6 week old pups, one of my girls is very, very tiny as she has issues with eating  she also happens to be nicknamed Houdini for obvious reasons, she also has many other nicknames, none that I could repeat on here though  I am not a cage expert as my OH builds ours, I just draw up the plans ;D I think that your cage will be fine for your 2 little ladies. Especially as you are going to add more levels for them. PS: just to add, that looking at the cage again,the bars MAY be too big but you could wrap chicken wire around the outside until they get a bit bigger  No doubt others will be along to help you. Congratulations on soon to be a Degu owner, they are fantastic, wonderful animals. Have you owned them before?
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Post by luluzellbell on Apr 14, 2012 20:13:54 GMT
No, I have never had degus before, but I have been obsessively researching them for over a year now, I am utterly intrigued by them, and when I saw the girls up for adoption so close to where I live, and not in p@h, I jumped at the chance!
I am so looking forward to learning more about them, and spending time with them! I can't wait!
I think I'll go for the cage, it seems to be very reasonable, (i already have some chicken wire if it comes to it) and If I'm lucky I may even have it ready for when they move in next week- I'll Have to wait and see!!!
Thank you!
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Post by luluzellbell on Apr 14, 2012 20:54:07 GMT
Do you think it would work (if I wanted to) if I attached the thickets cage to the top of the xtrail?
It would arrive flat packed so maybe this would be possible? I think it would be worth it for the extra space, but has anyone tried anything similar before, as I haven't seen it before with joining the xtrail, only other cages.
Thanks for the help! :-)
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Post by deguconvert on Apr 14, 2012 23:42:30 GMT
Bigger cage space is ALWAYS better when it comes to degus, so if you can see a way to accomplish it, I would cheer you on all the way!
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Post by winic1 on Apr 15, 2012 22:56:55 GMT
I think the bar spacing might be a little too wide on this one. Yes, the price is less than the official X-trail/Explorer cages, but you are not getting the level/shelf liners with it, and you do want to go for the one with the smaller bar spacing (sorry, I'm in the USA and I don't know which is which for you, for us, you get the "Critter Nation" for degus, not the "Ferret Nation", which has the wider bar spacing and costs less, darn it!). If you are going to have to buy wood or other supplies to cover the levels, and the ladders, it would probably be better to just look for the best price on the better cage, which is also a bit bigger than this one, I believe.
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Post by luluzellbell on Apr 16, 2012 8:02:30 GMT
Yes, I was worrying about the bar spacing, lucky thing I haven't bought the cage yet!
I'll just have to keep searching for better deals and renovateable book cases on the net.
:-)
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mandymon
Foraging Degu
3 Gooies and a Golden Gootriever
Posts: 75
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Post by mandymon on Apr 16, 2012 10:49:03 GMT
I had looked at this cage too for a thickets upgrade and still quite like it (saving up atm) Even though with the cost of the cage + accessories and levels it would be the same as an Xtrail I like this better as I like having wee DY projects and making things customised so depends how much work you want to put in to make it home for the girls The spacing is probably a bit big for 6 weeks but I'm sure once they're a little bit older, maybe about 12 weeks or so, the bar spacing would be alright for them. if they could hold out in what they're in for a coupe of weeks it should be ok or Luna has a point with the chicken wire, it would only be for a few weeks. Hope you figure it all out |
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 16, 2012 12:09:24 GMT
This is a lot of cage for the money, but as Winic points out, as well as the bar spacing issue, this cage is 80cm wide, rather than 93cm I think for the Xtrail. I think this makes a difference, 93cm meets the forum's recommendation, but 80cm wouldn't. There's no degu cage police here, I just thought I'd mention it How frustrating that the Xtrail is so much more expensive than this one, for what doesn't seem like that much difference in product  I think someone got the Xtrail equivalent at equinecaninefeline.com for £145 including a 10% voucher code they found. |
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Post by luluzellbell on Apr 17, 2012 15:08:26 GMT
moletteuk Yes, I've found the cage on equinecaninefeline and the discount code, so it looks like I'll be getting this one, as the price is very reasonable and the reviews I've found are all pretty good. Even if I did have the xtrail, I'd still be adding lips for more bedding, and more smaller levels etcetera, and Ive loved making toys for all my pets, I have loads of fun thinking up ideas!! mandymon, I thought maybe about the spacing, but it is probably worth the extra for the xtrail, as the size would be better, and within the reccomended cage sizes. It's a shame, as at first I really thought I'd struck a deal! Thanks a lot for the help, no doubt I'll have plenty more questions in the future!
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Post by luluzellbell on Apr 17, 2012 19:44:27 GMT
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 17, 2012 20:26:50 GMT
Yay Would you be able to share some photos with us when you get it all set up? We could really use some more pics of large metal cages. When are you getting the little furry fellas? I sense it must be soon ;D |
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Post by luluzellbell on Apr 17, 2012 20:45:06 GMT
It looks like I'll be getting them next tuesday, but the date isn't set in stone. I can't wait! Sadly it looks like they'll be in their same cage for a short while, as I can't move them into a new one when A) It hasn't arrived yet And B) I am still going to want to add more wooden bits to the cage, deepening the levels for more substrate, adding splashguards, possibly adding a few more large shelves and definitely more ledges and so on. Maybe this is better though as they wil probably be quite confused as to what's happening to them, with their family disappearing and then moving house! Maybe the fact that they have been born and raised in that particular cage will be comforting along with smells and other things. I'm just SO exited! ;D P.s. I will definately post pics!! |
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Post by jaydecay78 on Apr 17, 2012 21:18:49 GMT
Hi luluzellbell
I got that exact cage 2 or 3 weeks ago and its brilliant!!
Only problem we had were that the instructions arent the easiest to use! Took me a couple of hrs but once you get going its fairly easy to sus out what goes where
Also, mine was actually a grey/black colour rather than blue when it arrived - which is good because I actually prefer the darker colour.
we've added a wheel, dust bath and a few ledges from their old cage and there is still loads of room - next job is to add a wooden splashguard around the inside (something Mel has done and posted pics of) as the goos still manage to throw approximately 50% of their bedding, hay, sawdust, food and poo out!
Good luck and looking forward to seeing your pics!
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Post by winic1 on Apr 17, 2012 21:23:25 GMT
Ya know, I think you are right that it probably is better that at first they stay in their same cage. "Home" will still be the same, even tho there are now new people and new surroundings, smells, noises, etc to learn about and get used to. THEN when they have realized that their new world is okay, they will get a new, bigger home, in the same world. Be sure to re-use some of the same bedding and items from the old cage in the new one, at least at first, so that they know where they are and their new life isn't a total shock.
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Post by luluzellbell on Apr 18, 2012 6:16:52 GMT
I will definitely be swapping bedding and stuff, it makes so much sense! Glad that the cage probably won't be blue, as I would rather have the grey one too. I would be adding splashguaurds to all the levels, anyway, and more ledges. A question, how do people make ledges for their wire cages, or do they not make ledges? Would I need a special fitting, or just a large bolt like fitting? Thanks |
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Post by Kins on Apr 18, 2012 8:37:11 GMT
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nugget
Warbling Degu
Posts: 25
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Post by nugget on Apr 18, 2012 13:30:19 GMT
luluzellbell I am getting the same cage as you. Can't wait for it to come it looks fantastic x
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Post by winic1 on Apr 18, 2012 14:28:25 GMT
screws & washers work fine for anchoring things to a wire cage. Be sure to use the washers, also, give a more stable fit to the cage. Bird cages attach all kinds of stuff by screwing/bolting them on. Just make sure the screw isn't too thick for the wood, resulting in splitting.
Also, do you know that you should always pre-drill the hole for the screw rather than just screw it in, this also prevents splitting.
You can also hang things from the top and from underneath the levels, we do swinging things with little metal hooks & chains, or less-movable by hanging from stainless steel wires, and then of course there's ropes and cords and baskets and....
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Post by luluzellbell on Apr 18, 2012 18:20:44 GMT
I think I have some suitable bolts at home, so I'll be able to use them. Im not entirely sure of everything that will be coming with them, so i need to think thoroghly about what i need to make, and what id like to make, I've already made a cargo net style thingamajig, dried out a branch, and I've adapted a plastic toy house. I'm just thinking up of what to make next! We also have a small apple tree in our garden, so I'll pick some fresh twigs for them to gnaw on nearer to the date that they arrive. Oh, and ive started drying out a natural mix, but I just can't wait for the goos to arrive now! |
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I can be a bit of a dunce with computers at times!!
she also happens to be nicknamed Houdini for obvious reasons, she also has many other nicknames, none that I could repeat on here though 
I think someone got the Xtrail equivalent at equinecaninefeline.com for £145 including a 10% voucher code they found.
