|
|
Post by orphiel on Sept 25, 2018 11:19:14 GMT
Hi everyone
The cardboard flooring over the wire bottom level is not doing it for my two - they are basically destroying it so much I have to replace it a bunch of times a day...
I saw some of you have put down tiles, but I am not sure what kind, does anyone have links or similar I could look at l please? And forgive the perhaps daft question but do I just lay them down or do I have to glue them in in some way?
Cheers!
|
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Sept 25, 2018 15:54:36 GMT
Depends how well they fit really. If you use ceramic tiles, it is helpful to know the dimensions of the area you want to use them in and then choose tiles that will fit well and cover everything. If they are not glued in, then you can remove them to wash if you want. As well, if they are on an open edge, degus being the mischievous characters that they are, they can shove them off the edge . . . which is dangerous on many fronts! So you kind of need to have a lip round the levels that will keep the tile from being shoved off. However, ceramic tile is rather on the heavy side.
There are vinyl tiles that are peel and stick, which can and do work wonderfully, but they don't stick easily to metal. Which means that you can still use them but you need to find a way to safely secure them. OR you might consider making/building DIY wooden shelves/full levels on which you can then stick the vinyl. Vinyl cleans nicely and prevents the wood from become urine soaked, which is an odor that builds with time and constant wetting.
Which brings in other woods that have been covered, like melamine, which is highly recommended, doesn't soak easily, but does need to have any exposed edges covered with metal stipping to prevent destructive chewing and you will want to use a pet safe sealant anywhere that the wood beneath the melamine coating is exposed in such a way that it could become urine soaked.
Does that help?
|
|
|
|
Post by ntg on Sept 25, 2018 15:59:12 GMT
Just as a second note, if they're destroying cardboard so quickly that you need an alternative, vinyl flooring won't be much of a chore for the little demons either. Personally, I think I'd probably go for the wood option as it'll be lighter than tiles, although it will be a bit more work.
|
|
|
|
Post by bouncy on Sept 25, 2018 17:01:09 GMT
I've got a complete level made from perspex that I cut to size. Because it's a separate level, I put an aluminium lip around it. Three years on, and it's still as new.
|
|
|
|
Post by orphiel on Sept 26, 2018 13:10:22 GMT
Awesome, cheers you guys. I definitely remember a local place I can get perspex or wood cut to size so I'll do that as soon as I get paid next week! I have poo guards on order so don't need to add them  in the meantime I'll triple the cardboard haha. They're in my office, so I spend all day in there, so I basically shove more in several times a day in case... I saw the new note about wire floors and hope I made myself clear with my posts about them - I am 100% committed to them not having to walk around on any wire at all, I didn't realise the cage I ordered didn't have a proper floor so I'm sorting out adaptations (delayed by redundancy money being a month later than expected!) I really appreciate all your help and non judgemental advice with sorting out the best for the goos! |
|
|
|
Post by misscatafer on Sept 26, 2018 13:37:08 GMT
Are you able to cut out the wire flooring? We did this with our cage and filed down the edges. We were then left with a plastic bottom tray, so we put the wire flooring back into the bottom of the tray and covered with thin mdf type stuff. When I clean out that part of the cage I can take pictures if you like to show what I mean.
|
|
|
|
Post by orphiel on Sept 26, 2018 15:23:35 GMT
That would be fantastic if you have pics - I can take out the wire flooring really easily but yes, then it's a plastic base! It sounds like yours might be similar to mine |
|
|
|
Post by misscatafer on Sept 26, 2018 15:27:59 GMT
Mine is the Blenheim extra large rat cage, is this what you have?
|
|
|
|
Post by misscatafer on Sept 26, 2018 15:43:22 GMT
Okay I took some quick pictures. Please excuse the poo etc, it's a lived in cage after all  so basically my cage had a 'grill' on the bottom above the plastic tray. So my partner cut out the grill using a hacksaw, leaving the edge of the grill intact so the cage was still functional. He then filed down all of the points where the grill was to make it degu safe - you can see where the grill was attached here:  Then luckily we discovered the grill fitted perfectly in the plastic tray, hence preventing escapes. Excuse the diving degu, he was trying to assist me in showing you  Next we cut a piece of wood to size to perfectly cover the grill and create a solid floor. Now I can't remember why we have this piece separate lol, the rest is solid, but if works either way.  Hope this is clearer for you |
|
|
|
Post by misscatafer on Sept 26, 2018 16:08:04 GMT
Thought I would show you what we did with our other cage! So this was our first cage and we didn't realise the grill fitted into the plastic base. So we cut out the grill like the other one but threw it away (stupid!) then covered the plastic tray in chicken wire, it is wrapped right under the bottom so there is no risk of cuts or grazes:  Then we measured the tray and went to Wickes to find the cheapest tiles possible to fit in the base.   This works fine as well |
|
|
|
Post by misscatafer on Sept 26, 2018 16:13:55 GMT
I personally prefer the wooden floor with the grill underneath as when cleaning, you can lift the wood & grill out, then wipe clean and hoover the tray easily. Whereas I bet you can imagine how much effort it is to have to take all the individual tiles out, wipe them clean then hoover that chicken wire! It never feels fully clean as you can't really wipe the tray clean - not that they have access to it anyway but still.
|
|
|
|
Post by bouncy on Sept 26, 2018 17:11:50 GMT
One thing to bear in mind - if you have a base that absorbs, you will have a lingering parfum de wee, even after a change. Try working with wipeable surfaces, which is why members tend to cover shelves in home builds. If you can wipe it, you can clean it!
|
|
|
|
Post by orphiel on Sept 26, 2018 18:13:26 GMT
Thank you so much, that really helps mine is a little trekker cage. The plastic base slides in like yours, but the wire grill I have isn't fixed, it slides out separately, which means I'd have to hack it off the sides like yours to put it into the base. I think my best plan might be to see if I can get something cut to basically fit exactly into the slide out wire bit holder, rather than over the top of the wire but itself - I'll do some more measuring tomorrow! And yeah, I definitely need to take the wee situation into account, as well as escape proofing if I do leave out the metal. Hmm. I might come back here with some poorly done drawings of options to get you to vote on the best plan, haha. Am also digging out the details for the glass cutter I used years ago as i seem to remember they did other stuff too but I have no idea where I put anything, arg. |
|
|
|
Post by bouncy on Sept 26, 2018 18:23:14 GMT
Lol we like pictures and plans!
|
|
|
|
Post by bouncy on Sept 26, 2018 18:32:41 GMT
Just had a quick look at your cage - I think the tray at the bottom slides out. Whatever you use, make sure you protect the sides of the tray to prevent escapes. Perhaps just take the mesh with you (assuming it slides in) and ask whoever to cut your new floor to the same size?
|
|
|
|
Post by misscatafer on Sept 26, 2018 21:03:10 GMT
We had a gap from the grill too. He has bolted the metal grill level to the plastic tray so they slide out together now. Looking forward to seeing your solution, once you start modifying your cage it will become so addictive!
|
|
|
|
Post by orphiel on Sept 27, 2018 17:08:19 GMT
You're right, bouncy, it does slide out, meaning if I take it out entirely I'd have to do similar to miscatefer, and I'm not very confident about DIY at all! I am planning to order a big sheet of perspex to cover over the wire floor for the moment, as found a place online to cut it to size for about 20 quid, and then I'll continue making more exciting plans soon - I want to extend their 2 half levels as well.
|
|
in the meantime I'll triple the cardboard haha. They're in my office, so I spend all day in there, so I basically shove more in several times a day in case... 
