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Post by hedrush on Mar 22, 2012 21:19:55 GMT
It looks absolutely fantastic Have you got the wheel on the freestanding stand? All I can suggest is some sort of heavy duty staple on the base. There are a couple of options for making a metal wheel yourself, and then you can fix it direct to the wall of the cage, or I think I saw someone selling metal wheels on degutopia forum a couple of weeks ago. I have a glass water bottle that I attached using a couple of cup hooks and the spring thing it came with. One cuphook (dodgy rusty one in pic) to poke the water tube through and take the weight, a screw with a snap hook to fix one end of the spring to the wall (corner of vent) and a cup hook (top left) to fasten the spring in the wrapped round position. That probably doesn't make sense, so here's a couple of pics: Thanks, I'm really chuffed with myself lol. Everyone that's saw it thinks it's great too. I want to build more now lol. Both suggestions are fantastic thanks. I've managed to secure the wheel with 2 cable clips, theyre made of plastic tho. Similar to these m.diy.com/mt/www.diy.com/nav/fix/electrical/cable-accessories-management/cable-accessories/cable_clips/Corelectric-Clips-Cable-Round-Box-of-100-11348149?&action=detail&un_jtt_redirectI've got everything required for your bottle mod, going to get onto that right now. Thanks for the pics, really helpful.
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Post by smithomatic on Mar 22, 2012 22:36:14 GMT
You should be really chuffed with yourself! Its bloody fantastic! Well done! How have your degus taken to it? Have they found any escape routes yet?
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Post by deguconvert on Mar 23, 2012 0:34:37 GMT
I want to add in my applause as well, very well done!! They look happily settled in there, and will be quite tickled with all their new space. It looks terrific!
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mhb
Burrowing Degu
Mystified and Entertained on a daily basis
Posts: 173
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Post by mhb on Mar 23, 2012 8:18:21 GMT
Looks great! (Totally pinching the tip for the water bottle moletteuk! Thanks)
I am dying for payday and the clocks going forward so I can get on with ours.
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Post by jorivesud on Mar 23, 2012 12:04:19 GMT
I don't have pictures yet, cage came in yesterday. I'm just about to do the inside and have the Degus move in this week-end. This was a web order and the cage came smaller than expected, but still manageable I think. The inside of the cage is 44x56x126cm(DxWxH).
Here is what I'm thinking of doing: Add a Full level slightly lower than center, with 2 almost half levels below and 3 almost half levels above. All half levels will be easily removable for cleaning. The half levels will alternate from being in the back and right side of the cage at increasing height from one to the other. This will give me a CARA of about 10112 sq.cm. (If the cage had been the advertised dimensions, I would have got about 13000 sq.cm... but have to work with what I have)
What do you think of this plan? any recommendation?
I will post picture when available.
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Post by deguconvert on Mar 23, 2012 12:23:31 GMT
Hello Jorivesud! Welcome to the forum!! May I ask a couple of questions? How many degus will be living in this cage? Do the shelves that will be "almost half" need to be limited to the almost half size in order for them to be removeable? Oh, I have more questions . . . what are you making the shelves out of, and do you plan to edge them so they can contain substrate? Also, just out of curiousity, how does your cage open to give you access to the inside?
Please don't be offended by this observation, for I truly do admire and appreciate your efforts to get as much CARA out of the cage as you can . . . but it is such a tiny but tall foot print that a similar example in human space would be like living in a bathroom sized home with multiple floors. Would it be possible to contact who you bought the cage from and return it for a refund or a larger cage?
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Post by jorivesud on Mar 23, 2012 13:16:34 GMT
I will have 2 female Degus. All level, with the exception of the cage bottom, which is steel, will be made of wood. The levels will have wood edges also. I have 2 10"x12" doors to access the inside, which is why I can only have 2 full levels. I will make the half levels as large as I can, but I want to be able to have them fit thru the doors for cleaning. At the end, I might have a bit more CARA, if I can enlarge the half levels a bit more, but don't think I will be able to get more than a few extra 100 sq.cm (so, maybe going to 10400 sq.cm).
I will schetch some more layout before I start tonight, but this is what I was thinking of for now.
The cage can't be returned, without almost wasting all my money with restocking & shipping fees.
note: If I see that the Goos are not happy, I might build myself a cage later, but would like to make some use out of this cage 1st (else my better half might not be very happy...). If I build, I would do it nice and right, with a nice furniture look and finish, so this would not happen in a week-end (with the kids and all activities...)
note2: If you want to have a better idea of what my cage is, it's same as fuzzymum1(on page 4) but in black.
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Post by deguconvert on Mar 23, 2012 14:33:36 GMT
I completely understand. You are certainly making the best you can with it, and I do applaud you for that.
I bought a cage that was suitable for two degus, but barely. Then when one died suddenly, we bought two more pups to keep him company and once the pups hit puberty, the cage size became a big issue. Especially when coupled with the chaos that decends with puberty. I bought a second of the same cage, and became creative with putting it together. It went through several morphosis, some rather comical. The best I was able to concoct with my inexperienced DIY brain was to use hinges in order to turn the whole fron panel into a fully opening door. THAT made cleaning much easier. ;D In the end, building a wooden cage was the best thing I ever did, but not wanting to just throw away $300 worth of cage, I used the bar sections to become the doors of the wooden cage we have now. It isn't as striking to look at as those with glass doors, but it works and we like it.
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Post by moletteuk on Mar 23, 2012 19:35:42 GMT
Hi Jorivesud, Are you a 'soon to be' degu keeper? Have you considered tipping the cage on it's side? You could probably fit a second full size level in if you made the top bit shallower than the bottom, or left a cutout for the wheel? You could then extend at some point by adding in another cage above or below. Or if you keep it the right way up, maybe you could extend one storey of the cage to be wider to provide a running area, or provide a semi-permanent play area under or above the cage? Just some ideas there, there are lots of things you can do to extend and improve cages with a bit of imagination, and you seem to have the enthusiasm to modify, so that's great It's incredibly difficult to get a cage just right first time, especially before you've got to know the little guys.
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Post by deguconvert on Mar 23, 2012 20:34:09 GMT
I was thinking the same thing, Moletteuk, and was going to write to that effect, but hesitated because of how short the cage is and keeping a wheel in it . . . but what you suggest would be an excellent means to accommodate a wheel and still dramatically increase the overal CARA. BUT I'm not sure the doors will allow for this option? I was wondering if the sides are all welded together, or if one of the sides (front) could be rigged with hinges to allow for a full opening door when cleaning, and just the other smaller doors for when degus are being played with, watered, or fed?
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Post by jorivesud on Mar 27, 2012 15:02:22 GMT
So, here is what the cage looks like. I still need to build the last level at the top where I put the cage provided grill level for now (but, it`s not being used). The cage now has 2 full levels, bottom and middle one (middle one has 5'' of plexiglass around the cage, bottom has 6 inches of base cage steel). 4 half levels (a 5th one to come). I only have 1 wheel for now (at the bottom), the second one will be built soon. It's made out of a round 11.5x3 inches cake pan and lazy Susan bearings. You can see the gap left on the right hand side of one of the upper half level for the second wheel. I still need to add a few branches, but that's what the current Degu house looks like. We got the 2 girls last Saturday and they are already very friendly (they go in my hand and I can move them around in the cage, haven`t taken them out yet).
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Post by deguconvert on Mar 27, 2012 18:38:55 GMT
I think that looks really great!! Well done!!
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Post by clanham on Apr 3, 2012 19:03:47 GMT
the new working progress cage with the old one inside (4ftx3ftx2ft old cage)
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mhb
Burrowing Degu
Mystified and Entertained on a daily basis
Posts: 173
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Post by mhb on Apr 4, 2012 7:21:44 GMT
Hahaha brilliant space saving plan! Can't wait to see the finished thing.
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 4, 2012 9:03:42 GMT
Lol are the goos conducting a viewing of their new home?
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Post by clanham on Apr 4, 2012 13:16:14 GMT
lol moletteuk they are viewing there new premises before it is finished
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Post by clanham on Apr 4, 2012 13:17:55 GMT
the base of the cage is an old coffee table i had lying around with glass inserts in the top which i will be using as sliding doors for the new house/cage
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 4, 2012 15:03:24 GMT
Ah! I see the coffee table now, some smart recycling there Make sure the goos aren't on to their solicitor making unreasonable demands for the move ;D
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Post by clanham on Apr 4, 2012 15:06:32 GMT
too late moletteuk i have had the letter they want to be mmoved in by the end of the easter hols
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mhb
Burrowing Degu
Mystified and Entertained on a daily basis
Posts: 173
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Post by mhb on Apr 4, 2012 15:23:06 GMT
too late moletteuk i have had the letter they want to be mmoved in by the end of the easter hols
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