Opinions on Playpen Set-up?

[zenaida]

Good idea on the linolum! But a quick look suggests that the coroplast is cheaper by the square foot. Home depot has 4x8 coroplast sheets for 16$. It might be worth looking into linoleum remnants or something though. They probably have smaller bits left over from people's kitchens that would serve me well.

I'm thinking coroplast lining the metal cage is my favorite right now. Going to dwell on it more though. Only 24 hours ago I was thinking fabric on PVC!

Winic: I had a dusty old sewing shop when I lived in Framingham. I don't have one right now. Although there's a place the next town over that I've been meaning to pop into sometime to see if it is the "dusty old" variety or the "chic upscale" variety sewing shop. 

[winic1]

Wow, our Home Depot and Lowes has never had bigger than 2'x4' coroplast in stock, and that big rarely. Wish they carried the bigger stuff, would make adapting bird cages so much easier, and would have been great for the guinea pig cage floor (we cut and glued several underbed storage tubs together).

[misscatafer]

The coroplast could work, attaching it to the outside of the pen! They probably would still try and have a nibble but it looks pretty sturdy.

[moletteuk]

I'm concerned they will still be able to climb the bars if any type of protection is placed on the outside. I'm not sure though because my goos have never had anything with bars.

[winic1]

I would expect them to climb the bars. With 6 degus, you are bound to have a climber or two among them.

[moletteuk]

Can you get hardboard over there? It's like really thin mdf with a thin coating of melamine (or some plastic) on one side. It's thinner and lighter than mdf, I was wondering if you could make your extra panels out of this and use velcro to join them (because they won't be thick or strong enough to take hinges). I'm just thinking that the mesh panels and fabrics are all a bit of a risk as to whether they would work, but we know that a smooth flat surface will work.

[zenaida]

If the hardboard you're talking about is what I think it is, then I essentially already have that with my current pen. It isn't melamine coated MDF, but plywood, but it is about the same thickness and weight. I was able to get hinges to work with it, but to do so, I had to swap out the wood screws that it comes with for bolts, washers, and nuts.

So I'm still thinking about the dog pen. I would just have to put the flat surface on the inside to shut down the climbing. That probably means going back to a metal or wood material.

Remind me: Degus can or can't climb vertically oriented bars without horizontal ones?

[winic1]

Probably can't. No guarantees. Definitely more difficult, but not necessarily impossible.

[zenaida]

So here's my current plan (if Nico approves).

I will get the dog play pen. When I get it, I'm going to measure how much inset I have on the inside. I'm really hoping it is 4mm or more. The Coroplast is 4mm in thickness. If I need to, I could go with linoleum which is 2mm in thickness. Either way, I would aim for something that lies flush or even better is slightly inset from the frame. That way they can only get their teeth on the frame. I should be able to cut it pretty exactly by tracing and with a box cutter so that it fits super snug. Then I can wire it to the smaller bars and use super glue around the edges.

Assuming this would be successful, that should mean that there is a flat surface that they can't climb. All the edges are metal so they can't set to work with their teeth.

The only variable I can't find right now is how deep the bars are on the frame. The frame is "1/2 an inch" thick. From pictures I can tell that the vertical bars are the ones that go into the frame and the horizontal bars are welded to the outside of the pen.

People use this pen frequently with rabbits, I'm hoping that is a positive sign for me.

[moletteuk]

Fitting the facing within the metal frame sounds like a good idea

[deguconvert]

WONDERFUL discussion! So Zenaida . . . what has developed with this?? If you have made another post about it, I haven't seen it yet. Working my way through the backlog of what I have missed from the oldest to the newest.

[zenaida]

Nothing has happened yet. We went out of town camping until yesterday. This plan might have to go on hold though. The girls have started to take an interest in chewing the walls of their cage and I probably need to address that problem first.

[zenaida]

I just ordered the dog pen. Should arrive next week.

The walls will be addressed real soon too. Just need to run to the hardware store. Thank goodness for the gift cards I got leaving the job. Money will be a little tighter with me out of work and the only way I'm able to do these things is on those gift cards.

[zenaida]

Just arrived!



Notice how much more space there is! Also I LOVE the door already.

The girls don't like it yet, it currently is just something that makes loud strange sounds, but once it is ready, they are going to be so excited! They recognize their current pen and get excited whenever they see it come out.

I measured the inset... I have just shy of a centimeter to work with! So definitely the 4mm necessary! I think I'm going to just go straight to coroplast!

If Nico will let me, I'm going to run out to the hardware store now... It's our anniversary though so he might want me to be a little more romantic than assembling a playpen...

Edit: DRAT! I can't get the corroplast. It won't fit in my car! I must plot how to get it home...

[Emziedee]

I love it!!!

[zenaida]

I keep going through the possibilities...

I'm pretty sure I can put some eye bolts into the side of the cage and use the dowels that it comes with to directly connect it to the cage so no one "nudges" it open.

Hmmmm... Thinking.... Some of you have experience with the coroplast from guinea pig cages right? I *think* it just needs a box cutter to trim it right? I could bring my cutter and make quick cuts in the parking lot so it would fit?

[Emziedee]

Sounds like a plan, just looked up coroplast and it looks easy enough to score and fold even

[deguconvert]

I, too, LOVE IT!! What an excellent find and it makes everything still so visible!

Happy, Blessed, Joyful Anniversary to you both!

[zenaida]

So I'm resurrecting this old thread because I have related questions.

First of all, the pen is still amazing! Like not a scratch on it amazing.

The problem is still the flooring. We've not had much success in that department and are currently using taped together cardboard that we fold up and lay out for playpen time. It is really awkward, not durable, and just a pain to use.

Today I stumbled upon this product. What do you think? www.homedepot.com/p/TrafficMASTER-Black-48-in-x-96-in-Vinyl-Garage-Mat-60-251-0900-40000800/206288861

It is exactly the right size. Getting flooring that is 4 ft wide is rather difficult. My main concern is "100% vinyl foam". I know I'll probably have to touch it in person to know for sure, but anyone have any chewing concerns from what you see on the page?

[misscatafer]

Are the edges going to be exposed? Looks comfy! I can imagine they would go to town on this if they can get their teeth into it.