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Post by dyzired on Jul 24, 2011 23:43:02 GMT
So my bfs dad just opened a used furniture store.. And when I went there the other day.. I noticed this bookshelf sort of piece.. It was wood.. And it had two shelves which made up 3 levels.. And it had two glass sliding doors on the front. I have been thinking about how it would make a good cage for them. I was thinking of drilling holes in the shelves so they can access the levels.. Then I can remove the top of the unit and replace it with chicken wire so the cage will have ventilation. What do you all think? I was going to buy a cage attachment that sits on top of a fish tank for now until I could build them something bigger.. But that's like $36 just for that piece.. And for this shelf unit at their store i will get for freee Sound good? Ill probably go there within the next couple days so I can take pics and measure it. It's definitely not as deep as Id want it to be.. But it's tall and wide enough for now. And I think theyd like it. Feedback pleeeaassee
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Post by NightwishRaven999 on Jul 25, 2011 4:25:12 GMT
Hello dyzired
The idea of using a bookshelf or a cabinet to create a degu cage is not at all uncommon. One thing you may want to do is to secure strips of kiln dried pine on the edge of each shelf. This way you can add bedding on the shelves, without having the degus throw it all off.
It would also be easier for us to give you feedback if we knew the exact dimensions of the bookshelf. But from your post, it would seem to be easily adaptable to create a degu cage.
A photo of the bookshelf would be great. Anxious to hear more about your project. Keep us updated !
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Post by dyzired on Jul 26, 2011 1:26:03 GMT
Okay so I got the cabinet home and it's bigger than I had remembered lol But it looks like it has potential. It actually has a built in storage area underneath which is wonderful. Just some questions I had about making holes in the shelves. If I make holes..do I need to line them with something to prevent chewing?? If so, what can I use?
Ideas would be wonderfulllllll
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Post by dyzired on Jul 26, 2011 4:17:09 GMT
Also! The sliding Doors on the front seem fairly heavy enough that the degus couldn't escape. But just as a precaution, is there something I can buy and attach to them so that I can lock them?
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Post by emz on Jul 26, 2011 6:38:06 GMT
Mind if we saw a picture of the cabinet in question? Makes the answers easier to give you then.
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Post by dyzired on Jul 27, 2011 21:49:38 GMT
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Post by NightwishRaven999 on Jul 28, 2011 0:02:15 GMT
It looks lovely dyzired ! It is very hard to tell what type of wood the cabinet is made of, from the photos. But it does look something like melamine to me.
If I am correct and it is melamine, you dont want your degus chewing on the levels. Melamine is a sort of partical wood or mdf, loaded with glue and and pressed together to from a hard plank. Most of the time, this type of wood is sold with a black, brown or sand colored coating.
It may be necessary to add strips of kiln dried pine to the edge of each level. First, so that the degus chew on safe wood, and not the melamine and also so that you can add bedding to the levels without having the degus push it all off. The point of using a wooden cage is to be able to use lots of bedding on the cage floor and levels. This makes the cleaning of the cage easier and keeps the cage clean longer than pet store bought cages.
As for the cage design you are planning. My only comment would be that cutting such large holes in the levels would be reducing the amount of running space available to the degus. The shelves are quite big, so you should use them to the full. Try to see if you can remove the shelves and make a smaller opening in one of the corners that will fit in the back of the cabinet. You can use ladders of branches to grant the degus access to the openings.
Whether or not you want to use a waterbottle is your decision. But you may also want to consider using a water dish instead.
The cabinet should provide your degus with a large and interesting home. I am very anxious to see what you come up with.
Keep us updated ! Jordan
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Post by dyzired on Jul 28, 2011 0:56:34 GMT
Thank you! And I believe my dad said it was pressed wood...soo you're probably right with that...I think I may just knock all the shelves out and come up with something on my own. I didn't want to do that..but I really don't want my degus to chew up that wood if it's bad for them. Thank you for your ideas!
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Post by Kins on Jul 28, 2011 8:33:48 GMT
Wow, it looks great. I think you could make a really fab cage without too much work! I love the 'storage' underneath too, one of my cages is on top of a homemade cupboard which is so useful for storing all their stuff. I don't think it would be necessary to replace the shelves completely. If you cut access holes like you want to and just line the holes with metal (not aluminium) strips, which should be available from a hardware store, then the goos won't be able to chew them. Also, like NWR suggests, adding strips of kiln dried pine to the edge of the shelves would be very beneficial and would enable you to put plenty of substrate on them. I have now made 2 cages, both are made from MDF (which is not degu safe as such), the shelves are edged with kiln dried pine strips and I have also covered each shelf with self adhesive vinyl floor tiles to stop any wee that does soak through from staining the shelves. I used a water bowl with my 'big' goos for a while but one of them, Jim, decided it was fun to move it about and tip it over so I had to go back to a water bottle. They also like to throw their food bowls around occasionally, little devils. This is the first cage I made, you can just about see the edging on the shelves. Unfortunately I don't have a picture of the 2nd cage, which I have added much wider strips of pine edging so that I can put more substrate on the shelves. Always good to ask questions, sometimes people can come up with great ideas to help you out! I hope my rambling has helped a little... EDIT: The cat litter in the cupboard is what the previous owners were using, I only used it for a couple of days until I got some new substrate as I knew it was not good for them. The goos also decided that they DID NOT need ladders and actually threw them on the floor in disgust.
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Post by nuttz on Jul 28, 2011 9:23:02 GMT
i think the cabinet looks great! im sure after a little thought you could make this to be one fantastic cage, looks like there will be plenty of running room if you think out your design thoroughly, i like the idea it has the storage department underneath, i wish i had somewhere to store all my goos food, treats under my cage. i know kins always comments on how useful hers is! i totally agree about adding the kiln dried pine to the shelf edges, this way you can add plenty of substrate to each level, its almost self cleaning...lol my cage never smells, and i only do a full clean once a month, honestly..ive no need to clean it more often, and TBH i think they could go longer but after a month i think its only fair to do a full clean, during the month i do do the odd bit of clean out, like scrape out some old hay and add new fresh bedding/hay. i used a metal frame shelving unit for my boys cage, built wood around it, making holes, ladders, ledges etc so they can access each level........im really pleased with the outcome, my goos seem to love it. i make all their toys, ladders myself as in spain there isnt much choice, unfortunately both my pear and apple trees are looking a little sorry for themselves...lol i cant wait to see your finished project, im sure you will be delighted with the outcome, your goos will love you forever ;D here is a link to my cage pics if you feel like having a peek, i agree its not the best cage youve probably seen but im more than happy with it, infact we are planning on building two more cages with the exact same design in the next couple of months! deguworld.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Cage&action=display&thread=7222
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Post by dyzired on Jul 28, 2011 20:24:22 GMT
Thank you all for the great ideas =] But as far as pricing goes...I think I'd rather knock the shelves out. Wood is cheaper than the metal strips in my local lowes or home depot. I like the idea of lining the shelves so I can put bedding on each level. I might try that! Plus..if I knock the shelves out..I'm not limited to what the cabinet looks like now. I think I can make a much better set up than what's there now. And yes..I'm very excited for the storage area underneath because this is basically the EXACT design I wanted to build from scratch. And Moose and Rocket also share my bedroom with Jeebs (the veiled chameleon), Koopa and Lakitu (2 yellow bellied sliders), Bowser and Dry Bones (2 mississippi map turtles), and a tank of african cichlids, plecos and catfish. SO..the storage space is wonderful because I have food containers, bedding, fish filter boxes/cartridges, and other things of the sort kinda just scattered around my room. It'd be nice to have some desk space again!
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Post by dyzired on Jul 28, 2011 20:29:29 GMT
BTW I loveeeeee both of your cages..you guys did such a good job on them. Nuttz..I saw on your post about your cage that you made a lot of toys for your goos...is it a lot cheaper than buying things at petstores that theyd sell for parrots? I love to make things...what are some good items to make fun toys out of?
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Post by nuttz on Jul 29, 2011 10:18:32 GMT
yes, making your own toys etc is so much cheaper and more satisfying.. i believe the only things ive ever brought are the food bowls, water bottles, and their first house that they destroyed, oh and their running wheels. i make all sorts of ladders and bridges out of apple or pear branches, i either join them all with sisal string/rope or i use metal chains. they have an old fish tank that they use as a digging pit, i normally put it in their cage every couple of weeks or so, just to give them something new to do.. i make their hammocks, the best one i made was from using an old woolly hat, its great! but by far my best buy was a box of childrens building blocks, i brought them from toys"r"us for around 15 euros, hubby made little holes in each of them and i either thread chain or sisal rope through to make hanging toys, sometimes you can find cheap dog toys/balls (made out of sisal rope) at places like poundshop, i have added some to the some of the ends of the hanging toys. basically, all you need is a box of blocks, 3 or 4 meters of chains (thin enough to thread through the holes you drill into the blocks) a pair of wire cutters to cut the chain...lol and a roll of sisal rope, just let your imagination go, with a box of blocks you can make so many things and they are all nice and brightly coloured. we also make all of their houses so now if they want to destroy a house i let them and then make them a new one.. ;D but another great thing to give them is an empty eggbox, fill it with hay and treats, i tend to tie a piece of sisal string around the box to make it harder for them to open. its so much fun watching them tear it apart to find a treat. just a few ideas for you...lol ;D
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Post by dyzired on Jul 29, 2011 17:21:55 GMT
Thank u!! I'll definitely try some of these ideas. I love the egg carton idea but the egg cartons we buy over here..I don't think the material they're made of is safe for degus to chew up. I'll have to try the building blocks idea though. I think they'd love it!
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Post by nuttz on Jul 30, 2011 9:20:02 GMT
i also have a problem buying egg boxes that are safe over here in spain, mostly all are made out of plastic and its really hard to buy cardboard type ones, im guessing that it doesnt really have to be an egg box though, if your were to fill a small cardboard box up with hay and treats, im sure they will have just the same amount of fun! sometimes you can find the egg boxes im talking about in the freerange section of eggs, you might pay more but its worth a look?!
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Post by dyzired on Jul 31, 2011 14:19:04 GMT
Sounds good I'll definitely check. What about brown paper bags? Are those degu safe? I could always just fill one of those up and tie it closed. It might be a little easier to tear open but still fun right?
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