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Post by degumom100 on Apr 19, 2018 5:41:36 GMT
So I've been working on making a better home for my degus, as the rat manor is too small for them (4 cheeky ladies can run around so much). I'm getting rid of my vanity station and tall jewelry box to place the new home. The measurements of the habitat will be 45" L x 24" W x 67" H with 4 levels. The bottom will be used to store their treats/toys/supplies. The 1st level will contain two 10 gallon tanks that will be used for their burrowing. The 2nd level will be their play area. The 3rd and final level will be their hideaways. The two top levels will have mini water fountains I came across that would be their water bowls - though if it's not degu safe, I'll stick to plan be, which is water bowls - and food bowls. I'm going to have two sliding glass panels covering the top 3 levels. The bottoms with their supplies will have doors. The top part will have a huge vent, and tiny fluorescent lights on the back, as those don't give off heat I was told, and will give them a sense of day (I hate my room light and tend to keep the lights off). The sides will have vents too, as I want as much circulation as possible. All edging will be covered in metal to prevent my girls from chewing everything, and the floor will be lined with melamine (or something else if the hardware stores don't have it. I'm pretty excited about this, as this will be the first time I will be working with wood, and crafting something this big. I've attached photos of a scale model of what I am aiming for.
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Post by bouncy on Apr 19, 2018 8:26:04 GMT
I love the concept of this! It's a good length for their little legs, and it's carefully thought out.
Regarding the water, it can work both ways. You've taken some inspiration from the video of a wild goo drinking! It could be a good idea, but there's a possibility that the water noise will worry them, or they'll wee (as they do) and contaminate it. It will be interesting to see these mini fountains!
Are you thinking of adding a wheel? If so, don't forget to allow for its height!
Your best (also most efficient) bet for the lighting is LED. They emit much less heat than fluorescent bulbs.
The only negative part I can see is the size. As I said, your length and depth are great but, for four goos, I would suggest you add another level to your plan, or give up the storage area.
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Post by deguconvert on Apr 19, 2018 15:19:21 GMT
I think that is brilliant, and I agree with Bouncy . . . four full levels of that size for the ladies would be better than the three. Yes three is technically within the minimum for four, but they will love and benefit from having that bit of extra room. If you can pull it off, seriously consider doing it. I think you will be glad that you did.
I am wondering how you are closing in the front? Are you using glass? Constructing a frame and wire door that you can swing open? Whatever you are doing, add accessibility into your calculations. Being able to easily get in and do the cleaning out and filling back up is a HUGE bonus. Doors that open wide are very helpful for that. I love your plan for ventilation as well! Well thought out!
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Post by randomname on Apr 19, 2018 16:09:05 GMT
The geek in me loves that you built a scale model, makes my nerdy heart happy. I have no helpful advice though, I am a diy disaster. Just wanted to big up the model
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Post by degumom100 on Apr 19, 2018 18:21:47 GMT
I love the concept of this! It's a good length for their little legs, and it's carefully thought out. Regarding the water, it can work both ways. You've taken some inspiration from the video of a wild goo drinking! It could be a good idea, but there's a possibility that the water noise will worry them, or they'll wee (as they do) and contaminate it. It will be interesting to see these mini fountains! Are you thinking of adding a wheel? If so, don't forget to allow for its height! Your best (also most efficient) bet for the lighting is LED. They emit much less heat than fluorescent bulbs. The only negative part I can see is the size. As I said, your length and depth are great but, for four goos, I would suggest you add another level to your plan, or give up the storage area. Thank you! I took inspiration for the habitat from checking out other's setups and diy videos. Once I had an idea of what I can use vs what not to use, I planned out where the habitat would go in my bedroom. I find using graph paper as a great tool to use to make floor planning lol. For the water fountain I was actually going to make it myself, as I haven't really found any online that are degu safe. I was thinking elevating the little pools 1 inch from the ground, and depending on position, have the surround bowl slanted so one they don't go into the pool, and two give them a grip. I've attached a photo of the ideas sketched out. I figured given that the slanting, there would be lack of contamination. My girls are pretty smart and don't like the idea of getting wet - they had a water bowl that curved inwards and they refused to go in it. They do have a wheel. 12 inches. And I will definitely be putting it in the habitat. I was going to put two in different levels. They LOVE the wheel. All 4 would get on it, not fighting, and run together. It's the cutest thing I've ever seen. I'll give the LED lights a try. I wasn't sure to use them. As for the storage unit, originally I was going to have it on the side and have 4 levels. Given everyone's post, I'll go back to that plan.
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Post by degumom100 on Apr 19, 2018 18:23:57 GMT
I think that is brilliant, and I agree with Bouncy . . . four full levels of that size for the ladies would be better than the three. Yes three is technically within the minimum for four, but they will love and benefit from having that bit of extra room. If you can pull it off, seriously consider doing it. I think you will be glad that you did. I am wondering how you are closing in the front? Are you using glass? Constructing a frame and wire door that you can swing open? Whatever you are doing, add accessibility into your calculations. Being able to easily get in and do the cleaning out and filling back up is a HUGE bonus. Doors that open wide are very helpful for that. I love your plan for ventilation as well! Well thought out! After some discussion with my partner, I'm going to have two doors with mesh swing out. I wanted the glass because it gives clear vision for me what my girls do, and that is partially due to wanting to take video and pics of them. With the doors, it's less complicated, so I'm going to go with them
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Post by degumom100 on Apr 19, 2018 18:24:58 GMT
The geek in me loves that you built a scale model, makes my nerdy heart happy. I have no helpful advice though, I am a diy disaster. Just wanted to big up the model LOL thank you! Blue prints are grwat, but models make it so much easier to plan out where things will be. I have an obsession of miniatures.
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Post by degumom100 on Apr 19, 2018 18:25:28 GMT
Here is the photo with water fountain plans.
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Post by bouncy on Apr 19, 2018 23:35:17 GMT
Ooh, fountain/watering hole looks great!
When I was creating for the pups, I considered glass/perspex, then I thought about cleaning. I ended up making a wooden frame that fixed onto the front of the unit, with fold down doors across the entire width for each level. I used piano hinges, which are great, I have full access, and I they love poking their noses through.
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Post by degumom100 on Apr 20, 2018 0:17:11 GMT
Ooh, fountain/watering hole looks great! When I was creating for the pups, I considered glass/perspex, then I thought about cleaning. I ended up making a wooden frame that fixed onto the front of the unit, with fold down doors across the entire width for each level. I used piano hinges, which are great, I have full access, and I they love poking their noses through. Thank you! Looking up liners for the watering hole, I found one that will fit in the habitat. About 21.5 inches long. I'm debating to have two water holes and pumps since that's a bit longer than expected. But that would mean less fighting between the girls. It will be surrounded by rocks. I also think I may have the swinging panels covering the shelves, instead of making the shelves slide in and out. Not sure how to explain it, but I may draw up more plans.
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Post by degumom100 on Apr 20, 2018 1:01:24 GMT
Here is a rough sketch of each levels for the habitat. 1. Hideaways and location of food and water (fountain/pond) 2 and 3. Play areas for their exercise wheels, toys, and branches (treats will be hidden) 4. Serves as a play area, but will have two 10 gallon tanks stuffed with bedding for them to burrow through. Each level will have vents. The front will have two large swinging doors with mesh. Hideaway will have led lights for the feel of night and day. Cutaways on the 3 shelves with either wooden ladders or rocks pile in a stair like way. Ive also adjusted the length from 45" to 48" L to give them more space to play.
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Post by deguconvert on Apr 20, 2018 4:00:16 GMT
AWESOME!!!
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beckerd58
Foraging Degu
Parent to 2 boys and 2 girls degus
Posts: 98
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Post by beckerd58 on Apr 20, 2018 4:45:20 GMT
Here is a rough sketch of each levels for the habitat. 1. Hideaways and location of food and water (fountain/pond) 2 and 3. Play areas for their exercise wheels, toys, and branches (treats will be hidden) 4. Serves as a play area, but will have two 10 gallon tanks stuffed with bedding for them to burrow through. Each level will have vents. The front will have two large swinging doors with mesh. Hideaway will have led lights for the feel of night and day. Cutaways on the 3 shelves with either wooden ladders or rocks pile in a stair like way. Ive also adjusted the length from 45" to 48" L to give them more space to play. Wow! Makes me want to break out my tools and come up with something. You've put so much thought into this, really so many great ideas. I love the stone water feature. Have you thought of adding some type of filter? Good luck and I look fwd to watching it come together.
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Post by degumom100 on Apr 20, 2018 5:32:15 GMT
Here is a rough sketch of each levels for the habitat. 1. Hideaways and location of food and water (fountain/pond) 2 and 3. Play areas for their exercise wheels, toys, and branches (treats will be hidden) 4. Serves as a play area, but will have two 10 gallon tanks stuffed with bedding for them to burrow through. Each level will have vents. The front will have two large swinging doors with mesh. Hideaway will have led lights for the feel of night and day. Cutaways on the 3 shelves with either wooden ladders or rocks pile in a stair like way. Ive also adjusted the length from 45" to 48" L to give them more space to play. Wow! Makes me want to break out my tools and come up with something. You've put so much thought into this, really so many great ideas. I love the stone water feature. Have you thought of adding some type of filter? Good luck and I look fwd to watching it come together. Thank you! I'm definitely going to put in filters for the water, just figuring out which ones to get to fit my needs.
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Post by deguconvert on Apr 20, 2018 15:12:35 GMT
I can't wait to see this all together. You could be creating a whole new wave of cage envy and creative building you know.
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Post by claire on Apr 21, 2018 3:49:51 GMT
Ok can I place a bet that if you fill those tankss with bedding for burrowing in..... that will be there nest. They will sleep in there.
I tried this in my cage and they just abandoned there house they they grew up in and moved in there lool.
Looks really good love your drawings too. They will defo love the 4th level instead of storage and i really really really hope those fountains work out that's sooo cooooollĺ!!!!!
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Post by savvy on Apr 21, 2018 8:54:10 GMT
When I first got Pixie and Dixie they took their wheel off and filled it with hay for a nest. Goos never do what you expect, lol.
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 21, 2018 10:07:18 GMT
Very exciting plans
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Post by degumom100 on Apr 21, 2018 14:20:56 GMT
When I first got Pixie and Dixie they took their wheel off and filled it with hay for a nest. Goos never do what you expect, lol. Monica and Phoebe both love using the wheel. Rachel and Becky though, will rarely use it. Most of the time they just sit in it ratting treats they found or sleep in it.
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Post by degumom100 on Apr 21, 2018 14:21:23 GMT
Very exciting plans Thank you ☺
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