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Post by hazel on Feb 5, 2021 11:17:07 GMT
Hi, newbie here! Well, not even a newbie. I don't have any degus yet, and I won't get any until I have a cage of course.
I was wondering if it would be okay to gut a really big cabinet. The plan would be to windows in the doors, top and sides and fit iron mesh. Then I'd put in all a trio of degus would need to live.
I know some woods are toxic for degus, but surely they can't gnaw on a vertical plane? But, would they ever be tempted to chew on the sides of a partial platform? And even if they won't, does it matter anyway? If so, should I try my best to find a wood that hasn't been stained, and do people even make cabinets like that?
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Post by bouncy on Feb 5, 2021 11:58:26 GMT
Ooh, a self build!
First things first - what are the dimensions of the cabinet, and what is it made from? Has it been stained/varnished inside and out?
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Post by moletteuk on Feb 5, 2021 17:30:00 GMT
Have a good look around the cage building sticky thread and the show us your cage thread, you should find lots of ideas and information there: deguworld.proboards.com/thread/18718/guides-diy-cagedeguworld.proboards.com/thread/6918/show-cage?page=30Basically the cabinet needs to be quite deep to be worth converting, something like 40cm is a minimum front to back, preferably around 50cm and minimum length is 100cm. Most degus won't chew on a flat plane if it is perfectly smooth, but any uneveness or holes and that will give them a key to start scraping. Some are much worse for this than others. Things like sides of platforms and holes through to next levels, shelf edging trim etc either need to have metal strips or angle screwed on to make it chew proof or need to have replaceable strips of wood. |
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Post by deguconvert on Feb 5, 2021 22:00:07 GMT
Hello, Hazel, and welcome to the forum!!
What Savvy and Moletteuk said, ditto!
I did build my own, and yes . . . if there is a knot, or a divot, or a bit of unevenness, they will go to work on it. Anywhere that you have cut open and inserted something, like bars or venting, or windows . . . if there is an exposed edge, they will chew it. At least the majority of degus will. Some don't . . . but some times they don't until suddenly they do. Then they DO with vengeance. LOL
That doesn't mean it isn't worth it. I build a MASSIVE wooden cage with the help of my friend, and it was WONDERFUL for them. Our degus really thrived in that environment. So, yes, do it, but there are things to know and work with to ensure that you don't end up with escapees all the time. Or degus that are reacting to the wood type, or the treatment on the wood.
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Post by hazel on Feb 8, 2021 10:55:43 GMT
Ooh, a self build! First things first - what are the dimensions of the cabinet, and what is it made from? Has it been stained/varnished inside and out? Well, there IS no cabinet yet. I'm thinking of going out and buying a cabinet, a) so it blends into the furniture of the room a little better b) because I'd likely be of a better construction than anything I as a complete DIY greenhorn could put together and c) to save most of the effort that goes into building a cage XD sorry for the late reply, for some reason none of the messages in this thread showed up until today? |
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Post by hazel on Feb 8, 2021 10:58:15 GMT
Hello, Hazel, and welcome to the forum!! What Savvy and Moletteuk said, ditto! I did build my own, and yes . . . if there is a knot, or a divot, or a bit of unevenness, they will go to work on it. Anywhere that you have cut open and inserted something, like bars or venting, or windows . . . if there is an exposed edge, they will chew it. At least the majority of degus will. Some don't . . . but some times they don't until suddenly they do. Then they DO with vengeance. LOL That doesn't mean it isn't worth it. I build a MASSIVE wooden cage with the help of my friend, and it was WONDERFUL for them. Our degus really thrived in that environment. So, yes, do it, but there are things to know and work with to ensure that you don't end up with escapees all the time. Or degus that are reacting to the wood type, or the treatment on the wood. Hm, is there any way to make it so there won't be any exposed edges, or is it inevitable? |
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Post by moletteuk on Feb 8, 2021 11:33:00 GMT
There will always be exposed edges at the holes between levels and along the front of each shelf when the doors are open.
There will also need to be holes in the sides for ventilation, but if you have enough ventilation you can cover the holes with metal vents or you can use inexpensive metal plastering angle bead to cover the ventilation hole edges.
Do show us what you have in mind before you buy it. Many bought cabinets have quite weak construction, especially for the back and try not to buy anything with lots of holes in the sides for adjustable shelving because those would all need covering.
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Post by hazel on Feb 8, 2021 11:54:29 GMT
There will always be exposed edges at the holes between levels and along the front of each shelf when the doors are open. There will also need to be holes in the sides for ventilation, but if you have enough ventilation you can cover the holes with metal vents or you can use inexpensive metal plastering angle bead to cover the ventilation hole edges. Do show us what you have in mind before you buy it. Many bought cabinets have quite weak construction, especially for the back and try not to buy anything with lots of holes in the sides for adjustable shelving because those would all need covering. Surely it won't matter when the doors are open if I take the degus out quickly? |
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Post by moletteuk on Feb 8, 2021 13:08:46 GMT
You will need an upstand along the front of every shelf to keep the substrate in and the edge of that will be chewable at all times.
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Post by hazel on Feb 8, 2021 13:31:31 GMT
You will need an upstand along the front of every shelf to keep the substrate in and the edge of that will be chewable at all times. Uggghhhh! Should I leave this to the pros and just buy a normal degu cage? |
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Post by savvy on Feb 8, 2021 14:22:15 GMT
You could look for the outer frame of a cage and then you can refit the inside to your specifications. This may be cheaper than buying a new cage and then adding levels, or indeed building your own.
Look for an aventura or liberta type frame. They are easy to adapt and you may be able to pick one up for a few quid second hand on Gumtree, preloved, etc.
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Post by savvy on Feb 8, 2021 14:32:34 GMT
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Post by hazel on Feb 8, 2021 14:47:34 GMT
Oh! Would it be big enough for three female degus? |
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Post by savvy on Feb 8, 2021 15:06:52 GMT
Should be, you can always change the half levels into either 3/4 levels or full levels with just an opening down to the next level. The liberta is very easy to customise.
I know she has three in her other liberta cage.
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Post by hazel on Feb 8, 2021 15:12:38 GMT
Should be, you can always change the half levels into either 3/4 levels or full levels with just an opening down to the next level. The liberta is very easy to customise. I know she has three in her other liberta cage. Okay, thank you. |
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Post by savvy on Feb 8, 2021 15:14:12 GMT
It might be an easier start for you than trying to build one from scratch.
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Post by hazel on Feb 8, 2021 15:27:45 GMT
It might be an easier start for you than trying to build one from scratch. To be totally honest, I'm not overly hyped about building a cage myself. Buutttt I was thinking this might be a nice shared activity to work on, for me and a relative who himself is an enthusiastic amateur carpenter. If I'd have known how tricky it would be, I don't think I would have brought it up with him at all. Ugh, of all the DIY projects. He's never build anything to house a living creature in, but I don't want to disappoint him now. At least if you build a wonky table it won't poison your beloved household pets. |
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Post by savvy on Feb 8, 2021 15:30:40 GMT
ROFL! You could ask him to help with extra levels and wooden ramps, huts etc.
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Post by hazel on Feb 8, 2021 15:33:04 GMT
ROFL! You could ask him to help with extra levels and wooden ramps, huts etc. I could, that seems like a reasonable middle ground. |
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Post by bouncy on Feb 8, 2021 16:44:04 GMT
If you have a sit down and draw exactly what you would like, including vents, levels etc, share it with your friend or us. You may find it's more straightforward than you think! Unless you're looking at something totally out there like my degu palace, it really isn't as hard as you think. I had a cage made of metal shelving!
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