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Post by chinlover1000 on Mar 1, 2011 19:51:57 GMT
Hi i have just bought a large parrot cage to convert into a new home for my chinchilla, the bars are 2.5 cm wide and the floor is bared, i am guessing he deffo wont get through that gap, its only half a cm bigger than what he has now, but what can i put on the bottom of the floor to stop his feet getting stuck? he has wired bottom now, but its chris-crossed where as this one isn't. Any help would be great? many thanks. natasha
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Post by amie on Mar 1, 2011 19:56:20 GMT
They shouldn't be expossed to any kind of wire flooring whether it be crissed cross or normal bars. It can give them a foot infection called bumble foot. The best thing to do is line it with safe wood (check the safe wood list on Degu World. I think the same applieds to Chinchillas, but don't qoute me on that). You could line it with floor tiles (ones they can't chew) or the cheaper option (and what I'm doing at the moment) is to line it with cardboard. You have to replace it every week as it gets peed on and chewed, but it's a good temporary option  Edit: More typos than I care to mention! lol. |
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Post by chinlover1000 on Mar 1, 2011 20:08:12 GMT
thanks, sorry i did know about the bumble foot, but its only an small area which is exposed to his feet and as we have had him over 3 years and never had a problem with his feet, i never thought about it and always thought it was fine as he's never had a problem with his feet - i will have a think about the ideas and see which is best, thanks.
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Post by amie on Mar 1, 2011 20:13:22 GMT
No problem. I haven't had a problem with mine (I have Degus, not Chinchillas) being expossed to wire flooring inbetween cardboard changes, but that's only for an hour or so every week. However, it's quite important to keep it to a minimum as it's very painful for them if they do develope it. Good luck with the new cage! You shoud post some pictures once you've got it all set up. We're a nosey bunch (or perhaps I'm just speaking for myself here! lol) and we love to see other people's cages to gain ideas for our own!
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Post by nickymills30 on Mar 1, 2011 20:42:39 GMT
aparantly, chins can be kept on mesh, but, personally i don't. i have bought, some cheap tiles, 11p each, and used those, they are easy to keep clean, but, do make sure, there are gaps, with some mesh, as chins fur shouldn't get wet, which will happen, if there is no ware for the wee to go.
And can we have pics please xxx
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Post by amie on Mar 1, 2011 20:55:56 GMT
Nicky.... Are those tiles suitable fr degus and where did you get them?! lol. You're going to get fed up of me asking where you bought things all the time! Haha  |
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Post by nickymills30 on Mar 2, 2011 7:00:55 GMT
i'll never get fed up hun lol. I just went to a normal tile shop, and asked them if they had any cheap tiles, the women did look at me a bit strange lol, but i bought 18 white ones, so when i do want any more, they will all match! My husband thinks i;m a looney xx
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Post by chinlover1000 on Mar 2, 2011 13:30:48 GMT
thanks for the tips - i might attach some wooded areas and leave a few small gaps to let wee and poo go through - i have been looking on the net for some pictures of the bottom of peoples chin cages, but i was struggling to find some which weren't woodshavings at the bottom etc and not really the ideas i wanted to see - luckily its not a rush job to get done as hes in a cage at the moment - OH has taken it to work to try and steam clean as its needs a good blast down. I was looking about getting one of those metal flying saucers to put in his cage as he doesn't come out as often as he should, but they are so expensive and cant really afford them, but really want one x
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Post by amie on Mar 2, 2011 13:49:36 GMT
You can get a plastic one for £10 one ebay or most pet shops. Degus chew like crazy and mine haven't chewed theirs. I'm guessing chinchillas chew less than degus so you could probably get away with it? I don't know.... Nicky might be able to tell you as she has Chinchillas |
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Post by nickymills30 on Mar 2, 2011 18:13:32 GMT
i use silent spinners with mine, which are around £20, but........................ alot of chin owners don't like them, as they say the 12" are to small, but mine love theirs. My first pair came with one, and my friend has chins, and they love their wheel too. Chins will prob chew them, just keep an eye on it as they tend to ingest the plastic.
I know what you mean, about the bottoms of the cages. I;m not a big fan of shavings, so thats why i came up with the tiles xxx
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Post by chinlover1000 on Mar 2, 2011 21:35:53 GMT
I'm trying to imagine the tiles Nicky, but i think i am being stupid! how exactly are they laid and fixed etc? with the wheel i thought 12" was too small, but if you used them then i might invest in one! x
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Post by amie on Mar 3, 2011 1:31:52 GMT
I offcially hate silent spinners now. There's nothing silent about them.
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Post by nickymills30 on Mar 3, 2011 6:40:08 GMT
they are just bathroom/kitchen tiles. At the bottom of a cage, they won't need fixing, as other then moving slightly, there isn't anywhere for them to go. If you use them on shelves, which i do, even on wooden ones, keeps them cleaner lol, you can attach a small piece of wooden, along the edge, to stop them falling off, but, my trio of boys, go mad, in their 5' cage, running round and playing, and all their tiles stay in place xxx
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Post by chinlover1000 on Mar 3, 2011 15:59:36 GMT
the cage is finally home my bf cleaned it down for me and i have measured it, i have only measured the actual chin space and not the bottom, but its 4ft by 2 ft be just under 3ft - now i just have to try and put some shelves etc in and make it safe for Alfie without spending too much as all my funds has gone on the cage!
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louwra
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 136
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Post by louwra on Apr 7, 2011 11:40:04 GMT
Nice cage! Chins will chew plastic, which is very bad for them. I dont have mine of wire at all, always worried about bumblefoot, specially as chinnie feet are so soft.
The way you have that cage ( I have a similar one) under the wire tray you will have a solid one, right? I would take the wier tray out, you dont need that. With cable ties attach wire mesh to the gaps ( or you can use mdf, drill some holes for the cable ties and attach to the outside of the cage to cover the large space) and then use something like Finacard as substrate.
You dont have to worry about chins getting wet, as the finacard absorbs it, its soft, and they can forage around in it. Mine love it
I dont use shavings, too dusty. I use finacard (www.finacard.co.uk) its not expensive and last for ages. I have all of mine on this, degus, chins, guinea pig and ratties
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Post by malteser60 on Apr 7, 2011 12:08:35 GMT
I can also personally vouch for finacard. I have it on my degus shelves and the bottom and it really keeps the odours in and its soft. Now all I have to do is stop my degus eating the cardboard - they seem to prefer eating that than their nuggets!
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Post by Kat on Apr 7, 2011 13:10:41 GMT
I alo use finacard. I find it to be brilliant and much easier to clean up if it gets kicked out of the cage
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