|
|
Post by w8152 on Apr 19, 2010 10:48:12 GMT
looks good. maybe i should model mine so my wife can visualise it better aswell.
|
|
|
|
Post by NightwishRaven999 on Apr 19, 2010 15:12:34 GMT
That look fabulous ! As for the edges around the levels...the 3 cm is a little small. Go for atleast 4 cm. You will need atleast an inch (almost 3 cm) of bedding on the levels to keep them nice and clean. So if you want the bedding not to move around too much, add another cm to the edges. If you had a group of degus I would have advised you to build one large level across the middle of the cage to offer even more surface area and to keep the top area for the smaller levels and ramps. But since you have Steve and Felix for now, this will be fine. They would be very pleased to know you plan on building a home like this for them  Oh yes and before I forget, dont forget triangular levels. They are ideal for the corners and they have a way of emphasizing the center of the cage. They also look really good, so dont dismiss them too quickly. I like the fact that you plan to have a deep base. I also like where you placed the running wheel. It looks very good. I dont know if this is your final plan, but its great that you plan in advance like this. It gives you someting to look forward to and will help you make your mind when you actually build the cage. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- One final thing...it was brought up in this thread and I thought it a good idea to talk about this shortly. Depending on if you use a plastic slider or not, the part where the glass or plexi glass fits into the slider is the most vulnerable area of the cage. If you have a particularly troublesome group of degus and not many branches to fill the cage with, its advisable to protect the slider. This can be done by placing a strip of wood behind the front base of the cage. This piece of wood should be slightly higher than the plastic glass slider. This will stop the degus front chewing on the vulnerable plastic. Since the strip of wood would be inside the cage, the degus will chew on it a little. So for a permanent solution, use a thin, flat metal rod (can easily be found at hardware stores) and place it along the lenght of the cage right behind the plastic slider. This will protect the slider and stop the degus from doing any damage with their teeth. I will be dealing with this matter in the wesbite. Now you are all set  |
|
|
|
Post by emz on Apr 20, 2010 5:18:39 GMT
Thanks for the heads up on the shelf edges I wasn't sure which was one reason I mentioned it. I'll change them to 5cm just to be sure. ;D I am also tempted now you mention it to perhaps make the shelf by the wheel and the top "sunbathing" shelf into triangle shapes instead just to make it a little more interesting looking. I'll try modelling it and see how it looks later when I get some time. The largest shelf in that is 106cm x 25cm, followed by a 85cm x 25cm shelf and the 2 smaller 37.5cm x 25cm shelves at the moment. Is that definitely enough shelf space? I only have 2 degus like you say but I really want it to be a cage they hopefully never get bored in. Maybe the shelves should all be 30cm wide instead of 25? The front panel for the base depth is 25cm (9.8 inches) should that be enough? Last thing I want is them making a huge mess by where the doors are lol. As for a slider we can buy metal ones at the local DIY store rather than plastic, that should be adequate right? So they wouldn't be able to somehow chew the plexi glass doors? --- w8152: Yes you should try modelling it! I recall reading us women are not as adept at conceptualising in a 3D space as men, which is the main reason I modelled it for myself (and is a reason I am so dreadful at reversing my car lol.) |
|
|
|
Post by NightwishRaven999 on Apr 20, 2010 5:41:39 GMT
The levels are great. In the model they looked a little small, but I forgot how long you wanted to make your cage. Now that you told me the measurements, I believe it is enough shelf space for the two of them. Since the levels will not be huge and wont take up all the space, you will have lots of room to install hammocks, baskets, thick branches and ropes... Its also very nice to have lights reach the bottom of the cage. The way you planned your cage, the levels wont interfere with the lights and wont stop the bottom from being well lit. I dont know if you can find metal sliders though. There is no way they can chew on the plexi glass. The only damage they can do is to the plastic sliders. If you find metal ones...thats great ! But if you dont, I advise you to install a strip of metal behind the slider. This way the degus wont get their teeth on the plastic. 25 cm for depth is more than enough ! lol...I can imagine the amount of bedding your degus will have under their feet...hehe. So much digging : ) We were talking about safe herbs and plants earlier. You will be happy to know I did some more reseach and translation work and managed to accumulate a large list of degu-safe ingredients. The list consists of herbs/plants/seeds and flowers. You might want to look some of those up on google images...you will be surprised to find some of the plants mentioned are very common. Read the last post of this topic. deguworld.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=food&thread=5408&page=1Should be helpful... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Edit: Oh and I must say, 30 cm instead of 25 for the shelves isnt a bad idea. It may only be 5 more centimeters...but every inch helps. For us it may be small, but for the degus its not : ) |
|
|
|
Post by emz on Apr 20, 2010 6:27:14 GMT
Wow that list is amazing, I didn't realise there would be so many plants to choose from! That's fantastic, can't wait till I get some time to grow some stuff for them to try. ;D There are definitely metal ones you can use here in the UK at B&Q: Metal channelsSeen a double U channel for about £22 for two strips 2 meters long. It can hold 6mm thick sheets, that should be thick enough for the doors I think? They also sell some metal tubes for the shelf supports, which is about £6 for a meter which is enough for what I need. I have yet to price up the wood but my estimate is around £30, which still makes it much much cheaper then my cage I have so far (which was about £220 including the wheel.) I will need to get an actual quote though to be sure. I'm thinking the materials will end up about £80-90. This has sort of become a shopping list - just jotting down so I don't forget lol. It may also help anyone else in the UK perhaps who plans to then build something themselves. |
|
|
|
Post by NightwishRaven999 on Apr 20, 2010 6:50:51 GMT
The only problem I see is that those metal tracks are only "one way". If you plan on having two doors, there needs to be a division in the slider for the glass or plexiglass to slide easily. In smaller cages its very possible to only use one large sheet of plexi glass instead of two smaller ones, but since your cage will be large, its much better to use two sliding doors.
You will have a lot of difficuly oppening the doors if the two glass/plexiglass sheets are inserted into a "one way" slider.
I would have trouble giving you an estimate though. Not only de we use a different currency, but the price of the materials are different in each country. Wood is very cheap in Canada...cheaper than in most countries.
I can assure you that you will not spend £220, but I cant give you a number.
If the levels were to reach the other side of the cage and span the whole length, then you would not need the metal supports since they two sides would support themselves easily.
But since part of the levels are floating in mid-air, they may bend down without the metal tubing underneath. Good thinking on your part !
Dont worry about changing this to a shopping list ; )
Its all related to cage building projects, so its fine.
Besides, I have a feeling this thread/topic will be used heavily in the future.
Its getting a lot of views very quickly and its the first thing that comes up when you look for "how to build a degu cage website" in Google.
|
|
|
|
Post by emz on Apr 20, 2010 7:03:41 GMT
On the second page of the results is a "double U" channel like I said before, which will support 2 pieces at 6mil. Maybe that part was lost in translation and they're probably not called that over in Quebec I am sure. Sorry should have sent a link to that also before. |
|
|
|
Post by NightwishRaven999 on Apr 20, 2010 7:19:45 GMT
No no, dont apologize...its my fault.
Sorry, should have read your post more attentively before getting my hands on the keyboard.
Thanks for the link. That look great. There is no danger of damage with that !
Now your cage will be 100% degu proof.
I should really be getting to bed now...its 3:30 am for me : )
Will see you in a bit.
Take care
|
|
|
|
Post by emz on Apr 20, 2010 7:33:49 GMT
If it is 3am then no wonder - it's 8:30am over here so I have slept already. Night-night. ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by w8152 on Apr 20, 2010 9:59:50 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by emz on Apr 20, 2010 14:44:02 GMT
The handles look pretty useful. If I can't find any at B&Q I'll definitely consider those myself - cheers.
|
|
|
|
Post by NightwishRaven999 on Apr 20, 2010 15:16:22 GMT
Thanks for sharings the links with us w8152 : )
Hopefully this will prove useful to others in the UK.
Handles can be very useful...easier to open the doors and no need to wash the front of the glass everytime you leave a fingerprint : )
|
|
|
|
Post by DegutasticJen on Apr 20, 2010 15:39:10 GMT
This topic has become very useful for me aswell, just like emz i also will be building a cage, well two infact, probably will do one big one but some sort of divider in the middle somehow, I am drawing up the plans tonight with my hubby so that we can it built this weekend.
As I need one half for males and one for females. It may actualy be better to make two. Again something we need to draw up later in our planning.
But all these links have come in very useful :-)
|
|
|
|
Post by gemmagreaves on Apr 21, 2010 9:56:26 GMT
im just curious, would the goos be able to gnaw through the wood at all? i guess not as theres no edges but i was wondering if i got an old wooden wardrobe and just replaced the chipboard at the back with a sheet of thick wood, then replaced the doors at the front with rabbit hutch style ones with the mesh ( i prefer this to glass doors as i enjoy poking the occasional treat through the bar of the cage when i walk past). its just an idea i had so i really want to make sure this would be ok before i look into shelving etc! our goos have a huge cage at present but i want to protect my carpet and hoover and it looks so much tidier!
|
|
|
|
Post by NightwishRaven999 on Apr 21, 2010 14:07:57 GMT
@ gemmagreaves
Hi there : ) How are you ?
To answer your question, no.
One of the subheadings on my site has to do with chewing.
Its entitled "I have read that degus can chew through wood. So what will stop them from chewing through the cage ?"
"This is one of the most popular questions I get. Yes ! Degus will chew on the wood.
They need to chew in order to keep their teeth trim.
But what will stop them from chewing right through the cage ?
First and foremost, degus cannot chew on a flat surface !
If the cage is well built, the degus will have nowhere to chew on. Of course, they will occasionally chew on the cage levels, but this is unnavoidable and has little consequence on the cage structure itself.
Think of it this way. If you place a degu in a wooden box, he will not be able to chew his/her way out.
The teeth are not positioned in a way that permits chewing on a flat surface. The inside corners are all sealed, glued and nailed together. There is no way a degu can chew through a wooden box.
The cage we have been talking about all along this article, closely resembles a wooden box.
The only difference, is that the front consists of a clear material (glass, plexi glass, mesh).
Secondly, degus that are kept in small cages will spend most of their time looking for a way out.
When degus feel confined, their instinct is to dig with their claws or chew with their teeth.
In large cages, degus are content and do not spend their time looking for ways out.
On a sidenote, providing your degus with many toys and thick branches of safe wood will greatly reduce their tendancy to chew on the levels.
So, no...if your cage is well built, there is no way your degus will be able to chew their way out."
From your comment, I know you figured this out on your own.
But I understand how insecure you might feel, since we have all read that degus can chew on everything and will chew through everything.
Let me give you another example...
Lets say you keep your degus in a cage with a plastic base.
It would be safe to say, the based would be chewed and ruined in a short period of time.
But when the degus chew the plastic base, they do not start from the bottom where it is flat...they cannot chew down there. They need to start by the edges and slowly make their way down in the base.
In a wooden cage, this doesnt work.
There are no odd ends or loose edges, everything is sealed shut and perfectly straight.
If the wardrobe is well built, then making a degu cage out of it is very doable.
If you will use mesh in the front, you will have to be careful. Most mesh doors have a wooden frame around the mesh. It looks good but the wooden part will be vulnerable to degu teeth. You might have to reinforce them with thin metal strips.
Its a good idea though. I know many people who have built cages for their degus using large libraries or IKEA furniture. You can judge for yourself if it can be made degu-proof, but if you want a seond opinion, try and get a photo of it.
|
|
|
|
Post by alyssaliss on Apr 21, 2010 17:21:42 GMT
wow you are like a degu cage god lol
i first saw this on another petforum
i real want to attempt to make a cage, would it be possible to make an L shaped cage though??
you see that would be the shape i need
i was thinking that you could then have the main glass door on the bottom and then split the top with 2 more glass doors ,one on top of the other . if that makes sense.
|
|
|
|
Post by NightwishRaven999 on Apr 21, 2010 18:06:19 GMT
@ alyssaliss Hello : ) I am not surprised, I posted the link on my Youtube and on several different forums and sites. I really want to reach as many degu owners as possible and hopefully spread the info that building a cage is the best way to house degus. By an "L shaped cage" I am not sure what you mean. I am not sure if this is what you are reffering to, but there is an "L shaped cage" on Youtube. Here is the link to the video. www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1MwZLNB_MoIts an interesting design although it offers a very small amount of space compared to a full rectangular shaped cage. Also the way you explain it, the top of the cage would have two glass doors, one above and one below. Its my impression that such a cage would be fragile at best. Unless you have some skill with wood-working or plan to get help from someone who has this skill, I think you would find it hard to build something with this shape. Such a cage would also be very small. Its recommended to keep the 100x50x100 cm minimum in mind. But if your cage will be L shaped, the 100x50x100 cm figures no longer apply. Even if the cage would be 100x50x100 cm, the shape would make the total area much smaller. What I mean is even though you make the cage 100 cm long on the bottom and 100 cm high on the top the L shape would still make it a lot smaller than if the cage was [ ] shaped. You must remember that for degus, surface area is more important that climbing space. In an L shaped cage, there is very little space to add levels and ledges. Of course this has to do with the size of the cage you plan to build... If you have no other option, then it will have to do. But I would honestly not recommend building a cage like this. You would have to plan and take measurements very carefully. If you need some help, just ask here....we will try to help you as much as we can. Also, if you can decide on the exact measurements of the cage I would be better able to give you advice. |
|
|
|
Post by alyssaliss on Apr 22, 2010 7:27:21 GMT
yes sort of that shape but not as thin
i dont have the exact measurements yet but i was thinking 100 long 60 up on one side and 150 up on the other side
ha that took ages to type , does that make more sense? it would be bigger than my cage is atm
edit when i post it it mucks the picture up ill have to draw one and scan it lol
|
|
|
|
Post by NightwishRaven999 on Apr 22, 2010 7:41:13 GMT
It will be tricky for you to fit in all the glass doors and such, but if you plan well and measure everything, you should have no problem.
The sizes you mention are much more adequate than those in the Youtube video.
How deep do you plan to make this cage ?
The depth plays an important role in asserting the total surface area of a cage.
I am glad you are considering building a cage for your degus.
Although I will admit, I dont often hear about or see L shaped cages, it is much better than the standard pet store cages. The shape is interesting and you can still provide your degus with lots of room.
The first thing you should do is to draw up a plan and get all the measurments on paper.
|
|
|
|
Post by NightwishRaven999 on Apr 23, 2010 21:37:10 GMT
degutasticjen, I hope you will post photos of the cage for all of us to see.
I am anxious to see how it looks : )
|
|
