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Post by misscatafer on Jan 25, 2018 22:07:00 GMT
Hey guys, thought I would share with you my latest degu project - solving the mess issue! Currently I hoover daily, there is always a mixture of hay, poo, sawdust from chewed toys and sand on the floor. I have perspex on my cage already on the two bottom levels at the front and it works 100%. I have wood shavings on these levels and don't have any fall out, I change the wood shavings on these levels every 6-8 weeks dependent on mess and smell. On the levels without perspex I have been using fleece blankets which I change out weekly and hoover daily. I started doing this after Boo got badly injured and the habit has kinda stuck. I don't like using fleece though as it means weekly cage cleaning and the risk of buggering up the washing machine from all the debris (this has happened to me twice now). Plus it is unsightly seeing all the poo just gathering up on top of the fleece (although is so easy to hoover up!) So we have now ordered more perspex from here: www.sheetplastics.co.uk at a cost of £56. Rob collected it so we saved money. It only took 2 days from ordering to being ready which I was impressed with. so here it is! We are going to completely cover the back and upper sides with the bigger pieces and screw it into the frame on the outside. The smaller pieces will go on the inside of the front to act as little window ledges. I'm hoping they won't chew them as they are low. They don't chew the existing perspex, but it covers the entire height of the level so they probably don't realise it is there. Fingers crossed!
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Post by bouncy on Jan 25, 2018 22:42:54 GMT
Pop to Wickes, Bunnings, or B&Q and get a length of aluminium or steel U profile to match the thickness of the perspex. No chewing!
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Post by claire on Jan 27, 2018 5:53:41 GMT
Just irritating teeth grating on metal. Good job we love these little rats
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Post by moletteuk on Jan 27, 2018 11:08:46 GMT
Can't wait to see the finished project
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Post by misscatafer on Feb 2, 2018 20:53:42 GMT
So we have had a slight change of plan, we will now be adding two solid wooden shelves running the full length of the cage tomorrow as well as putting the perspex on, exciting! We are planning on splitting the cage directly across the middle, providing both groups with the same amount of living space and eliminating the risk of them being separated by plastic shelves. We will still use the glass surface protectors over the wood to prevent chewing and urine soaking in. Really excited! We are preparing for the mods tonight... The cage looks a bit shocking! Boo and Toby will be camping out in the play pen overnight. I had to video them using the lazy susan together, never seen any of my goos share this before! youtu.be/s4lvLEF6oR0
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Post by eithura on Feb 2, 2018 23:37:08 GMT
Sounds like some major renovations! I hope everything goes swimmingly for you.
What clever little goo's running together! Mine would just squabble over who gets to run in front...teenagers
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Post by deguconvert on Feb 3, 2018 8:00:43 GMT
LOVE the video!! Love it!!
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Post by misscatafer on Feb 3, 2018 8:15:18 GMT
They were doing it for hours yesterday together DC! Such clever goos to be able to coordinate like that. I hardly slept last night for knowing I had two degus out of the cage, but checked on them this morning and they are still in there happy as larry. We have a busy day ahead now. Going to have to pick up our spare thickets too to put the girls in while we gut out their section
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Post by moletteuk on Feb 3, 2018 11:29:53 GMT
Good luck today, hope it all goes smoothly!
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Post by misscatafer on Feb 3, 2018 19:57:03 GMT
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Post by deguconvert on Feb 3, 2018 23:03:13 GMT
WOOOOOOW!!!! No kidding they are mahoosive!! Well done so far!
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Post by misscatafer on Feb 5, 2018 1:05:21 GMT
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Post by deguconvert on Feb 5, 2018 4:00:47 GMT
WOW!!! LOVE it!!
So . . . how is it divided between the two pairs?
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Post by claire on Feb 5, 2018 4:36:49 GMT
Doesn't pre planning make all the difference. It's beautifully put together they are going to love it
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Post by misscatafer on Feb 5, 2018 8:11:57 GMT
So the top new shelf is Bella and Harmiones, and they have that and everything above, then Boo and Toby have the bottom new shelf, and will have another shelf underneath. Only used 3 plastic shelves, which can easily be changed to wooden ones.
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Post by moletteuk on Feb 5, 2018 12:05:24 GMT
Great Love the correx shelf idea, it's kinda genius as long as you don't have flat surface chewers (it's probably so smooth that's unlikely).
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Post by misscatafer on Feb 5, 2018 12:44:43 GMT
I'm reeeeally hoping they won't chew it.. It's an exact fit into the shelf so they can't get their teeth round it and you need a flat instrument such as a ruler to get it out as it is so flat. We are more worried that the bottom two may chew the bottom to get to the girls.. But if they start that we will cover the bottom in some kind of sheet metal. Attached most of the perspex today:
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Post by deguconvert on Feb 5, 2018 16:00:50 GMT
Looks AWESOME!!
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Post by zenaida on Feb 5, 2018 18:48:47 GMT
Please give an update about those floors after they have some "wear and tear". In my cage there are a couple places where they are working at the vinyl tiles. I might consider changing that out if yours are in good shape.
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Post by misscatafer on Feb 5, 2018 19:35:24 GMT
Will do. So far they have just pushed some of the substrate out of their chosen pee spots so the correx is exposed, but they have been unable to do any damage.
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