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Post by kikgoos on Dec 30, 2019 22:06:22 GMT
Hey gang,
So building a divide in the liberta explorer so Larry can see Nibble and scratch and noone gets to kill anyone.
I have been looking through the threads here about mesh types, there was a bit of concern about galvanised if it is going to be heavily chewed? I can only assume it is going to get a fair bit of abuse.
My plan is to build a mesh box sort of thing which will be held in place by tying it to the bars (properly with steel ties).
So I need something with holes small enough so noone can get bitten but big enough to have a sniff and see each other and strong enough for 3 determined goos not to be abke to chew through!
Thanks all. Xx
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Post by savvy on Dec 30, 2019 23:14:36 GMT
How about using clean/new oven shelves? They should be strong enough to withstand chewing.
Alternatively, if you can find a cheap, or better yet, free thickets cage online you can take it apart and use the mesh to make a divider.
Just running through some thoughts....
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Post by deguconvert on Dec 31, 2019 8:00:12 GMT
I have also used cooling racks to separate with. Which are similar to oven shelves, but can be much lighter and of various sizes. You just need to be sure you get something they can't get through. As well . . . there are metal shelving pieces that can be cut to size that might work . . . though you may need to lay two pieces one over top of the other, at a difference of a 90 degree angle so as to create a cross hatch of wire that they can't push through.
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Post by kikgoos on Dec 31, 2019 8:31:11 GMT
I love you guys, thanks! What fab ideas! Oooo I'll let you know how we get on today xx
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Post by kikgoos on Dec 31, 2019 9:38:48 GMT
Shall I avoid non stick coated ones? Xx
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Post by savvy on Dec 31, 2019 10:12:40 GMT
Shall I avoid non stick coated ones? Xx Try to get stainless steel ones where you can. Any coatings can be chewed off. |
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Post by kikgoos on Dec 31, 2019 10:16:22 GMT
Most that don't have non stick on say chrome plated, is that ok? Xx
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Post by savvy on Dec 31, 2019 10:30:09 GMT
I'm not sure you be honest. You could test a small area (where it won't be obvious) with pliers and see if any of the chrome comes away in a layer.
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Post by deguconvert on Dec 31, 2019 17:34:46 GMT
A lot of the closet type shelving is powder coated and that should be OK. I have used galvanized metal in my cages with no issues. You could give it a really good wash and scrub with a brush. I would definitely avoid anything that is coated with teflon.
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Post by moletteuk on Dec 31, 2019 19:04:40 GMT
I would avoid teflon and I don't know about chrome, so I'm tempted to say avoid as it's usually thin and would probably flake off more easily than zinc plating, so galvanised is probably safer.
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Post by winic1 on Jan 1, 2020 0:52:03 GMT
If you soak/wash/scrub the galvanized in vinegar, it takes the loose stuff off and greatly reduces the zinc plating. This does mean it may rust later if subsequently exposed to a lot of water, pee, etc (that said, the bird cage I made quite some years ago has not rusted except right at the water bottle location.)
Make a double-layer divider, with a centimeter/quarter inch space in between the two layers. Use a thin piece of wood, or a dowel, between the two layers to keep them separated. Build a frame for the area/size of the divide you are building, and then add a few crossbars to keep the middle of the mesh pieces from getting pushed against each other. Kind of like framing a house or a wall.
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Post by kikgoos on Jan 1, 2020 20:17:02 GMT
Great idea. Thanks for advice. My husbands a builder and got very excited about the building a wall reference hehe. Xx
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Post by kikgoos on Jan 18, 2020 18:01:01 GMT
imgur.com/gallery/4OCo3FoRubbish pics but the divide is in. Basically my husband built a "box" to sit under the opening between levels. Made a frame of kiln dried pine and put two pieces of mesh on both sides of it so no access to hurt each other. I sprayed and scrubbed the mesh with white vinegar first so hopefully the zinc is reduced. Xx
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Post by bouncy on Jan 18, 2020 20:39:28 GMT
That looks solid!
Let's hope they'll be cuddled up next to each other by the mesh soon!
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Post by kikgoos on Jan 18, 2020 20:44:53 GMT
Fingers crossed. Scratch could not care less if she tried, she popped down to see what fuss was once and hasn't bothered again. She is in bed asleep. Nibble and Larry have squeaked at each other on and off for the last 5 hours! Xx
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Post by deguconvert on Jan 19, 2020 0:17:51 GMT
I think that is an AWESOME divided "meeting" room! Well done!
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Post by saggy on Mar 14, 2020 0:57:39 GMT
A bit late to the party but just in case someone needs a quick idea for something more temporary - I use the top of one of those 2 part hamster cages which is really quick and easy plus it has an inbuilt mini door for attempts at getting them back together or quick ushering into or blocking in one half of the cage if need be. I have a liberta explorer too. When their fights get a little too aggressive (normally just winter now) they can battle it out through the hamster cage bars which are just too small to allow them to get a good bite in (unless one of them is stupid enough to leave their tail hanging through) but they use up their aggression anyway then a day or two later or even just hours sometimes, they're obviously being nice to each other and utterly mad at me for separating them  It's really quick and easy to put in and out at a seconds notice so you can stop it before really bad injuries and real grudges can develop. Although the first time separation was three months, it's worked so well that if and when they start to bite, I just put the cage in with the door open and they immediately level it down a notch so I don't shut it as they hate being separated or stopped from going where they want in the cage (I think it helps for them to see the places they're denied too lol)  They are very determined and so far not got though in a few years but have to put a heavy oak block on top to weight it down so they can't get under. It's all just about fits under the shelf in these cages.  |
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Post by saggy on Mar 14, 2020 1:18:40 GMT
Fingers crossed. Scratch could not care less if she tried, she popped down to see what fuss was once and hasn't bothered again. She is in bed asleep. Nibble and Larry have squeaked at each other on and off for the last 5 hours! Xx It's the same with mine - it's always fatsy and little one who fight (the runt and the fat lazy one). Fatsy's much more bulkier/heavy weight who completely sees red but she can't keep up with little one who's a running machine and little one antagonises her - unless I'm looking! My middle one just sits tutting and rolling her eyes type of thing not getting involved pointing out to me that she's not involved. Once they're separated, which is nearly always tweeny and little one in the bottom half and fatsy in the top, after they spend hours fighting between the hamster cage, Tweeny does snipe at little one as she's annoyed at both of them that she can't go upstairs Mine had a horrible fight in the beginning and were separated for months because the injuries were so bad on their first one and they were very revengeful but they're absolutely fine now for the most part so don't give up hope |
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