Making cages out of wardrobes/cabinets

[degumummy137]

What type of materials should be safe to repurpose as a degu cage? I’m assuming even safe woods will be waxed or treated, and others are made of various plastics.

[deguconvert]

Are you asking re wardrobes that are of the right size/fit for re-purposing as a cage?

There are lots of ways to answer that, but I think it mostly comes down to what you add.

Any wardrobe will need to have ventilation put in . . . so metal vent openings that are mesh or have small holes are best. (Metal mesh fabric is also useful for covering and protecting vents.) Anything plastic WILL be whittled into nothing in very short order, so don't buy plastic fittings.

Lighting will also likely be needed, so all electrical cords need to be covered with metal to prevent chewing . . . or need to have immediate egress to completely remove them (the electrical cords that is) out of the cage through a protected opening that the degus cannot chew the hole itself, nor reach any of the electrical parts. Placed on the roof/ceiling of each level (since degus are not bats and will not be able to grab hold of a flat horizontal surface over their heads, and is not placed somewhere they can climb up or over to.) helps with this, as they should be beyond reach. IF you have low levels though, covering them with metal mesh fabric (chicken wire) that has very small opening of say .5 cm) will keep the lights and cords safe. Just make sure that the metal mesh is not resting on the item you are protecting, but has good air space between mesh and item so that little probing degu arms and teeth cannot grab hold.

Other things that also need to be protected, or filled in, are any drill holes or built in holes that are designed for additional shelving that may come with the wardrobe.

You will need to add full levels with means for the degus to access each level. Using Kiln dried softwood is safe and relatively economic. You can equip each level with guards around the outside edges that can help to reduce mess . . . ie. peeing, poo flinging, and substrate kicking. Note that I say REDUCE . . . degus are VERY skilled (as I'm sure you well know by now) at creating mess, and there is no way to completely eliminate ALL of it. Other than to have a cage without degus in it. That would work! No mess, but no joy. Also put the edges around the access openings between levels . . . it will keep the substrate from falling all the way down. Another benefit of the edges is that the kiln dried wood is safe for degus to chew, and they will chew it! Which is really great for them, and they are not hard to replace once they start getting too beat up.

Painting or sealing the wood you use to be the "floor" of each of the levels is advised, as it will prevent pee from soaking into the wood. Wood that is raw and not sealed can have a nasty pong from being soaked with urine, that builds with time. Leave the guards/edges raw . . . if you seal them, you make them unsuitable for chewing. Another thing that you can use for these levels is the melamine covered furniture board. The melamine repels the urine nicely and is easy to wipe up when you clean. For these levels, you want to make sure they are perfectly level . . . whether that be horizontal or vertical surfaces . . . as it is MUCH harder to bite and gnaw on a perfectly flat surface.

Hmmm . . . I think I've reached the end of my thoughts for now. I hope that other members will also answer you. We have had many very good cage builders/re-purpose'ers' on our forum!

[degumummy137]

Thanks for all of the helpful tips! Size-wise I know what I’m looking for, but I’m concerned about the materials - wouldn’t some commercial furniture be toxic if they managed the chew the exterior material?

[moletteuk]

Check out our materials guide for cage building deguworld.proboards.com/thread/17316/cage-materials

Cage building and conversions rely on the premise that degus won't chew a smooth flat surface, but you have to remember they will chew anything they can easily get their teeth around. It's awkward for them to chew a flat surface, they have to open their mouth wide and sort of scrape their teeth along so they don't do it when there is no incentive.

So the walls and floors of the cage can be built with non chew safe materials with durability and pee proofness usually being the main priorities. You have to cover and protect very carefully any points that the degu can get their teeth around, so that includes metal or wooden edging all around every vent, every route through the floors, around the door etc. In something like a wardrobe conversion there are usually extra things that need protecting like any unused construction holes or shelf noggins. Any ridges or anything that deviates from a smooth flat surface needs protecting or covering in some way. A wardrobe would usually need the back panel upgrading to something weight bearing.