Cage DIY

[dyzired]

So after Rockets escape the other night, I'm really stressing out about getting my darn cabinet turned into a cage already!

Just a couple questions.. I am able to put in two full shelves.. Originally I was going to add a shelf toward the bottom and two corner shelves toward the top... But it'd be better just to add two full shelves right? And What wood is best? Also, I'm going to buy vinyl tiles for the very bottom floor since I can't really replace that if it gets nasty with pee... Do any of you recommend certain tiles? Or maybe a different option??

Any advice is appreciated! I've asked this question before but I really need good advice. Some tips on anything would be great!

[NightwishRaven999]

I am very glad to hear this project is still in progress.

Perhaps it would help you to know that my first cage was exactly like you mentioned. A large level near the bottom and two corner levels on top. It was very aesthetically pleasing, but I soon came to realise that I was not using the cage to its full potential.

I am very happy you are considering using two complete levels instead of just one. A complete level would provide more running space than two corner levels combined.

With two complete levels the cage will still be pretty and more importantly, the degus will have more room.

Many members have used either Pine or Plywood for the levels. You should line the outer edge of the levels with a strip of Kiln dried pine. This will stop the degus from chewing on the wooden level directly, and will stop the bedding from being pushed off the level.

As for lining the bottom of the cage with vinyl or ceramic tiles, some have found this to be a useful precaution.


My advice would be to go for two complete levels.
Small levels and ledges may be pretty, but they add very little space for the degus and are near useless. Whether or not the two corner levels look prettier, will not matter once you see your degus running full speed on those large levels.
You will be so happy to have chosen the two larger levels

A tip I would like to add for when you finish converting the cabinet and have all the levels installed...Try to refrain from filling the large levels with too many toys and accessories.
Use the levels to give the degus are much free (uncluttered) running space as possible.

Very anxious to see the end result !
Keep us up to date

[Kat]

I line the bottom of my metal cage with heavy duty vinyl. I found the normal stuff just wasn't up to the job. The best thing about the hard wearing one (and ceramic tiles) is that they can be scubbed if needed.

Kat
x

[degualot]

This has given me a lot to think about when building my own cage...

So the idea is to have full levels to run about without having two many little levels which look great but aren't what The Degus really need....hmmm something to think about.....

ok I think I understand what you mean... Floorspace is better than a cluttered area. So what about toys, do you have any pictures of your improved cage NightwishRaven999.... how you have it arranged.

thanks

[dyzired]

Yeah..I thought it would be cool to have two corner shelves up top because I had some other cool ideas to go along with it...but I think my ideas were more for my own creative purposes and not so much for the degus. Sooo Ive decided on the two full shelves because it seems like theyd be much much happier.

I know some people built their cages with the ability to remove shelves easily if they needed to be replaced...how did they do this exactly??

And the only thing I bought for the cage as far as accessories is a nice big wheel. I might put a little hut or hammock in there. But as far as other toys I didnt really plan on putting anything else. Maybe just some twigs and things for them to chew.

[NightwishRaven999]

@ dyzired
I am glad you will be going for two larger levels.
Your degus will benefit greatly from this.

About the levels being easily removable...I have posted about this in the "How to build a degu cage" topic. Near the bottom of the 6th page, you will find a graphic illustrating the method I have used for adding the levels to my cage.

deguworld.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Cage&action=display&thread=5734&page=6

The illustration I provided was specifically for triangular corner levels, but the same method is used for the complete levels.
Since the complete levels are the same width as the cage floor, they fit inside the cage very snuggly. I draw a straight line on the cage walls to figure out where I want the level to go and screw in several thick screws into the wall of the cage. The screws are only screwed in half way, so they protrude from the walls of the cage. The level then fits right on top and is held in place by the screws that are partially drilled into the cage walls.

I am sorry for not being able to explain better. Hopefully, the illustrations on the cage building topic will help you understand what I mean.
There are many other ways of fitting the levels in the cage though, this is simply the method I have been using in my own cages.

As for the toys, you will honestly not need much.
I realise toys are also a matter of pleasing aesthetics, but sometimes we degu owners tend to go overboard with this.

The degu cage should be a safe haven for the degus who reside in it...not an attraction park. Building a cage is the best way to give your degus more room and to provide them with more opportunities to perform basic activities.

In the wild, degus run, dig, chew, burrow, forage and climb.
The degu cage should reflect this and should focus on providing the degus with opportunities to run, dig, chew, forage and climb.
Toys are a fun distraction and are good environmental enrichments. But they should not consist of the cage environment itself. They are only there as a bonus.

Once the degu cage is complete, you will find it much easier and far more tempting to try and provide your degus with a more natural setting.

You can read more about providing your degus with a more natural setup in this topic.
deguworld.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Cage&action=display&thread=5858&page=1

Hope this helps.
Jordan


@ Degualot

Yes, that is exactly it.
Floor space is useless if it is cluttered with toys and accessories.
The cage should have lots of free open areas where the degus can sprint and run.
It is incredibly satistying to watch your degus run across one level at full speed, jump up to the next and sprint across it in no time. This is something that they cannot do in a cage that is filled with toys and smaller levels. They are constantly cut off by object on the floor or things hanging in front of them.

I do not mean the cage should be bare...quite the contrary.
What I am saying is that the cage should have free open areas.
Even with many branches, clay pots, tunnels, piles of hay, rocks and stones, the degus should have a clear path where they can sprint from one side of the cage to the other.

[Maravilla]

Aug 29, 2011 4:43:14 GMT NightwishRaven999 said:

I do not mean the cage should be bare...quite the contrary.
What I am saying is that the cage should have free open areas.
Even with many branches, clay pots, tunnels, piles of hay, rocks and stones, the degus should have a clear path where they can sprint from one side of the cage to the other.

I fully agree. What I have most in the cages are tunnels: made of wood, cardboard, cork (they love them!!!!) and clay. Even the tables and labyrinths are somehow huge tunnels.
Degus need space to run, but I think they have to feel somehow protected as well. In Chile, lots of their predators are birds, so even a bush already protects.
An adequate distance between two levels is 30-50 cm (the last one if you have a really big running wheel; ours is 40 cm in diameter). Here you can be creative and provide them a nice home. You can hang some tubes etc. and even include a branch to climb on.

[fred]

Aug 29, 2011 4:43:14 GMT NightwishRaven999 said:

Floor space is useless if it is cluttered with toys and accessories.
The cage should have lots of free open areas where the degus can sprint and run.
It is incredibly satistying to watch your degus run across one level at full speed, jump up to the next and sprint across it in no time. This is something that they cannot do in a cage that is filled with toys and smaller levels. They are constantly cut off by object on the floor or things hanging in front of them.

I do not mean the cage should be bare...quite the contrary.
What I am saying is that the cage should have free open areas.
Even with many branches, clay pots, tunnels, piles of hay, rocks and stones, the degus should have a clear path where they can sprint from one side of the cage to the other.

I would like to add to this from my own observations. I was able to make my living room degu proof and gently persuade the girls to go after the good wood and leave the bad wood alone. They currently have 2-3 hours a day a run of the room and I can observe their behaviour and preferences. They have the opportunity to run, jump, climb and interact with toys, and obviously free choice what to do.

First and foremost they run and run, and this may amount to a couple of kilometers every time they are out. They run up and down slopes of up to about 45 degrees at full speed but are far less comfortable at larger angles.

They also jump a lot but this is mostly integrated into their runs. They comfortably jump up and down 40 to 50 cm but anything more they are obviously very unsure of themselves.

They have some climbing opportunities but are very awkward at it.

They also have some toys / enrichment objects in the room but largely ignore them (except for having a go at the good wood, of course).

So when they have a free choice, they pretty much do what one would expect them to do from the numerous studies of their behaviour in the wild.