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Post by 3degumusketeers on Jul 19, 2011 10:19:25 GMT
Hello everyone I'm a soon-to-be degu mama of 3 (boys) and am trying to figure out the best cage for them... Have not liked anything I've seen so far in the way of readily available pet cages. I'm aiming for a base size of 120x55cm with 3 whole tiers +shelves. I really like this cage www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/hutches_cages/chinchilla_cages/137450but it has plastic bases so I am worried about chewing. Everything metal I have found was not satisfactory in terms of size. Any ideas ?!? Had a look at the custom-built John Hopewell cages, but while they're superior quality etc, i'm not happy about the size (or price LOL). Won't be able to build my own as we're lacking a car to transport materials and don't own the neccessary tools IF ANYONE KNOWS OF A GIANT METAL CAGE WITH SEVERAL TIERS or extension kits of some kind, or an idea to make ready available cages work (have considering wrapping the plastic trays in wire mesh ?) LET'S HEAR IT ! THANK YOU !
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Post by iamlina on Jul 19, 2011 10:29:27 GMT
Have you tried pre-loved and ebay?
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Post by philbailey1806 on Jul 19, 2011 10:44:27 GMT
I've heard ebay quite often have some cracking deals on, and I can imagine pre-loved would be cheap, as noone wants a massive empty cage hanging round, you might be able to pick up a quick sale. Also I agree with you, I don't think a plastic based cage would last 5 mins to be honest.
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Post by 3degumusketeers on Jul 19, 2011 10:46:26 GMT
Had a look on ebay, but no joy -the new cages are too small or also plastic and the used ones tend to be collection only... and we don't drive There's no a lot happening on pre-loved in our area. Also gumtree and freecycle are hit and miss (we live in the SW and traffic on these sites isn't as fast as elsewhere). Will keep looking though ! Considering buy a couple of wire cages now and combining them somehow ?
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Post by 3degumusketeers on Jul 19, 2011 10:57:32 GMT
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Post by potnoodle94 on Jul 19, 2011 11:00:39 GMT
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Post by fred on Jul 19, 2011 11:01:16 GMT
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Post by 3degumusketeers on Jul 19, 2011 11:13:20 GMT
potnoodle -that's the one I'm considering (only bigger for slightly less money on zooplus) -I like the size of the individual levels ! Just worried about the plastic...
fred -yes, I'm consiering combining two of these if I can take a side panel off and add wooden levels across the combined length/width ?
Thank you!
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Post by 3degumusketeers on Jul 19, 2011 11:40:15 GMT
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Post by fred on Jul 19, 2011 11:54:41 GMT
I think with this hutch you would probably have to put in a lot of work to make it degu safe. Just a general thought: with the space you want to offer your degus , you will need to do quite a bit of DIY even with a metal cage. Converting a cabinet, wardrobe etc may be only a little step further (mostly with respect to the doors).
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Post by 3degumusketeers on Jul 19, 2011 12:28:04 GMT
yes, I realize that even the metal cages would require a bit of DIY and a few embellishments. What would you do to the hutches to make them 'degu safe' ? Maybe we'll convert my daughter's wardrobe some time in the future. Just not an option right now. BTW Just noticed your two goos' names -are you German by any chance ?
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Post by geordiedan1892 on Jul 19, 2011 12:37:11 GMT
Hi i used an old set of bedroom draws. About 4ft x 2.5 "has to be the right kind of wood tho as some woods are bad for the degus health". So i took out the draws leaving only the frame. Turn the frame upside down and used the top as the base. Then made a door with a frame i made and add mesh " wide enough so they cant get caught in it but small enough so they dont escape" then covered the front with the same mesh and same for the roof. Also add shelvs and other degu fun stuff and there you have a degu cage! Had nosey and lashes for 2 years from babies and they love thr cage. Only other thing is you gotta make sure it is prety big inside for them.
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Post by fred on Jul 19, 2011 12:41:12 GMT
Only a flat, smooth surface would be OK; all other wooden surfaces would have to be covered. It is difficult to see from the picture but I suspect that would apply to most of the hutch.
I have converted a vivarium with relatively little DIY, that might be another option for now and should provide sufficient space if they are still youngsters. There quite a few examples of this on German degu pages.
Yes I am German, these were their nicknames, reflecting their different personalities, but became permanent.
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Post by 3degumusketeers on Jul 19, 2011 12:47:04 GMT
geordiedan -that is an excellent idea... we have a chest of drawers with broken drawers in the bedroom ! it's untreated pinewood though ?! fred -I'll keep looking I'm German, too BTW
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Post by geordiedan1892 on Jul 19, 2011 13:11:29 GMT
Nice one! I think that would be ok but not 100% sure. Some great people on here im sure they will know if that wood is ok :-)
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Post by Kat on Jul 19, 2011 13:22:04 GMT
Hi, If you have a bit of time, I would keep looking on ebay, gumtree and preloved. I don't drive either but explained that I didn't drive to the sellers and asked if they would be happy to deliver for a small fee. One offered to drop the cage off for nothing extra as they wanted it gone quickly. This is my cage, its three Pets at home cages linked. The hardest part of linking them was cutting the trays but my dad helped me out with a tool for that. All I needed was a flat screwdriver for opening cage clips, squeezers? for closing the clips, cutters for the mesh and a file. I got the file from the £ shop. The other stuff I already had but is very cheap to buy. Sorry about the mess, that was just after moving a few rooms about and emptying under the stairs. GRR Kat
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Post by 3degumusketeers on Jul 19, 2011 13:30:34 GMT
geordiedan -well, I just measured it and it's only 3'x3' and the back panel is very thin cardboard type stuff I wouldn't buy a cage that small, so I don't think there's any point in spending money on converting that thing. Found some nice triple hutches though, so may be able to skip the whole DIY action Kat -I've scoured those pages for hours on end, but unfortunately there really isn't much available where we live I'll keep looking though ! For the moment it looks like I may go with a triple hutch though. PS: love your set-up ! x
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Post by geordiedan1892 on Jul 19, 2011 13:32:37 GMT
Great cage kat! Im gonna build something that size for my girls once i have moved. Moving from northern ireland bacm home to newcastle bk in england, so a long trip for my 2 degus. Not to mention the van rental, ferry and petrol cost and the driving i'll have to do just cos we have 2 fury friends lol gona get a small cage too so they can sit in the front with us on the way. But they are worth it :-)
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Post by geordiedan1892 on Jul 19, 2011 13:35:04 GMT
Nah ur right thats way too small for them. If u look on youtube and search degu cage there is a lad who made a cracker of a cage. Thats where i got my idea from
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Post by 3degumusketeers on Jul 19, 2011 13:57:15 GMT
So, I'm really liking this hutch www.happyhutch.co.uk/details.php?product=105It's 4ft long, 54in high and 18in deep (there's an option to go to 2ft depth, prob can't afford that tho LOL) It'll be specially built and NOt flat-packed -and they reckon they can ship it on mainland UK for £10 -not bad, considering the other postage quotes I've seen ! The inside pannelling looks pretty smooth, no ? They'll have a nest box on the top level and the two levels below will have two double wire doors on the front. Really liking this...
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