ava
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 215
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Post by ava on Sept 5, 2011 13:30:51 GMT
Design courtesy of my fiance Dimensions are: 100cmx50cmx100cm Levels are 30cm apart. I only included the wheel in the design as I was unsure of how it would effect the height of the second level - wheel diameter is 25cm. Cage will probably be made of MDF, while the levels will either be MDF or kiln dried pine lined with MDF. The thing underneath the cage is a cabinet we intend to build into it. Not sure of the dimensions, fiance (name is Simon by the way) knows though. Not sure if it's visible, but on the top two levels they have ledges - we thought this would mean that when the cage is opened they wouldn't fall if they were at the edges of the levels. The holes are where we will have vents, so it'll just be a cut out hole with some wire mesh covering it on the inside, nailed in. The top will also have wire mesh on. Will the cage be ventilated enough or do we need more vents? As you can see there are three levels - I wanted to add half levels above the top level but am worried they will reach the wire mesh and chew through it/try to climb across it and fall - are these real problems or should I be fine to have half levels up there? The front will be perspex - just one sheet to slide across. Simon has designed a system for that apparantly, chew-proof. Not sure if you can see them, but there are square holes to the right of the second floor and left of the third. These are 15cmx12cm. I wasn't sure if they could actually jump through the holes and didn't want to make them so big they'd take up a lot of floor space, so I thought I could just use branches for them to get to the next level. Are the holes large enough for fully grown degus and is the branches idea ok? Think that's everything... is the design alright?
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Post by Maravilla on Sept 5, 2011 13:46:05 GMT
Hallo Ava, any chance to make the cage 120 cm high? 30 cm for all levels could be a little bit too small. Too small for putting higher things and too small for you to clean it. I don't know which wheels are recommended and available in the UK, but the recommendations I know are for wheels with an inner diameter of at least 30 cm. Degus are not so small animals and smaller diameters could harm their vertebral column. So, if you have the chance to buy a bigger wheel, do it for your degus, please. If ventilation is enough depends on the size of the holes. What size have you thought about? The square holes in the levels are okay, 15x10 cm would be okay as well. It's perfect you didn't plan them on the same side. I don't know which mesh is available there, so I cannot say anything about it. We used some with 19x19 mm... no chance for degus to climb through it. It shouldn't be bigger. Branches are okay, as well as stones, ramps or other things. Are you sure to make just one door for the whole cage... it means that once open, you have to monitor 3 entire levels... impossible when you are cleaning the cage. It's already hard when it's only 2 levels you have to watch at the same time you are trying to clean the levels.
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ava
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 215
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Post by ava on Sept 5, 2011 14:07:04 GMT
I think we might be able to make it 120cm. There might be some issues with stability (what with the cabinet underneath) but Simon says he'll try and work it out. Would you recommend changing the spacing to 35cm or 40cm, or something more? Thanks for the information about the wheels. I think I saw 25cm recommended on the RSPCA website (Here, specifically: content.www.rspca.org.uk/cmsprd/Satellite?blobcol=urldata&blobheader=application%2Fpdf&blobkey=id&blobnocache=false&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobwhere=1232994695157&ssbinary=true) and just used that as I wasn't sure. I'll change it to 30cm - haven't found anything for the wheel yet anyway, it was just a place holder. The ventilation holes are 15 x 25cm each. I think when I'm cleaning the cage I'm going to let the degus out and use some sort of animal play pen thing, with someone watching them, so I shouldn't have any trouble with just one door. And as for putting food in and things like that, I'll only have two degus to keep an eye on anyway. Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it. Edit - Also is something like this ok for the sandbath - www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2lb-Loaf-Tin-/110733684147?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Kitchen_Cookware_GL&hash=item19c83dedb3I don't think that's big enough (measurements tend to confuse me ) but another loaf tin or something, uncoated? I thought it's basically the same thing as you can buy from pet shops but it's cheaper.
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Post by fred on Sept 5, 2011 14:32:16 GMT
I think the general design is great , and Maravilla has already made some good suggestions. If you can't make it up to 120cm, you could have two levels higher than the third, Nightwishraven's cage is a good example for this. For the levels I would suggest MDF lined with kiln dried pine/timber. Like Maravilla, I also would be a bit concerned about the one door. From my own experience I can tell you that two degus can be one too many when the door is open But maybe we this is just because we don't know exactly what Simon has in mind for the door.
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ava
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 215
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Post by ava on Sept 5, 2011 14:39:37 GMT
Thanks for the suggestion about the levels, Fred, I'll bear it in mind In regards to the door - I would be able to only slide it across half way, so surely that would be ok?
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Post by Maravilla on Sept 5, 2011 14:40:32 GMT
Hi Ava, as for the sand bath, you can take a small aquarium, a cookie box, one mold used for preparing lasagne ( something like these) or any other thing that isn't plastic. The higher, the better to avoid that your degus make a beach out of their cage . Degus are very good at it. Just add a nut and they will play beach volley! In the cage picture section you can see our cages as well. One we put on a sideboard... no problem at all. Ventilation should be big enough if you really put them on both sides. New degu owners sometimes have ideas which don't coincide with reality. If you had my degus, no matter which group, taking them out of the cage for cleaning would be impossible. There aren't very tame and don't like to be touched, or worse, taken out!! Here, this would be pure stress each time I clean the cage. I am just telling you this to show that it can happen that you cannot take your little darlings out while cleaning their home.
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Post by fred on Sept 5, 2011 14:43:59 GMT
I think I know now what Simon has in mind and yes that would be OK. Just important that you are able to open the door only a little bit.
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Post by NightwishRaven999 on Sept 5, 2011 23:08:48 GMT
Ava, this is wonderful ! The cage design looks great. As was pointed out, 35-40 cms of spacing bewteen the levels might be better. Think of the large tree branches you will be collecting later on Maravilla and Fred have both given some excellent advice. Very anxious to hear more about this ! Keep us posted !
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ava
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 215
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Post by ava on Sept 6, 2011 16:23:43 GMT
Hi Ava, as for the sand bath, you can take a small aquarium, a cookie box, one mold used for preparing lasagne ( something like these) or any other thing that isn't plastic. The higher, the better to avoid that your degus make a beach out of their cage . Degus are very good at it. Just add a nut and they will play beach volley! Haha, ok. Well, I'll be having a look around Ikea, so I should be able to find something there. Oh good - definitely will be putting two on each side. Ok... well, I'm hoping they will be somewhat tame (I will spend a lot of time with them personally and I'm sure my brother-in-law-to-be also will, as they'll be his as well), but if they're that difficult I don't think having two doors will make much of a difference. I'll just have to be careful and get someone to help me out when I'm cleaning. However, I thought it was recommended to let the degus out to play each day anyway? So surely I should try to get them to come out? Thanks for the warning, anyway. NightwishRaven999 - Thanks Will be changing the design to get more room inbetween the levels some time this week.
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Post by Maravilla on Sept 6, 2011 16:38:18 GMT
However, I thought it was recommended to let the degus out to play each day anyway? So surely I should try to get them to come out? Well, this is something you can ask 10 people and will get 10 different opinions. I can't let my degus play outside because I have 3 groups (it wasn't planned but just happened), have two cats (yummi! ) and my degus are not tame enough to touch and take them out every day. They would be completely stressed, shocked and scared to really enjoy this time. I got them being adults from different sources so every animal had made its own experiences. My degus have quite big cages so they have space to run there and a running wheel and running plate. It can happen that your degus will claim the space outside their cage because they consider it as their territory they want to use, check and mark whenever THEY want... resulting in chewing bars or other annoying habits. It's therefore I tend to suggest a permanent playground they can use whenever they want to use it. This is my personal opinion resulting from almost 2 years of degu keeping and talking with other degu owners. Ask another person and this person will tell you a completelly other story. You never know what kind of degus you will have one day. And having babies doesn't mean automatically that they will become tame.
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Post by degualot on Sept 6, 2011 18:11:46 GMT
Maravilla I've been looking to build a new cage big enough because to be honest I don't have time everyday to let them out and I was in the frame of mind to build a big enough cage so that they can run, sprint and have a good time so not to get bored and need to get out all the time. Currently I have 3 seperate groups and letting them out everyday can really eat into my time. I love my Degus and I like having play time but sometimes it's just not possible for me, being a universty student as well as working and studying. Now I give all my spare time and attention to my Degus, talking to them, giving them some treats, stroking them, (very tame) and I enjoy playing with them so they do get some kind of interaction from me everyday. However i'm currently sepending 3 hours a day in play area, I get up at 6 in the morning and don't go to get until 12.00, this is everyday and i'm exhausted. I would never give them up as this is not something i'm willing to ever do, they are my family to me... So i'm asking what cage would be considered big enough to let them enjoy it more than being outside their cage. I was thinking around 120cm x 60cm x 200cm... would this be considered big enough... I plan on building two of these. Each will contain 2 Degus assuming I get my two brothers back together. thanks for any suggestions or help
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Post by Maravilla on Sept 7, 2011 6:52:29 GMT
@ degualot: is 200 cm the planned lenght or height? As lenght, it would be just wonderful!!! Have you so much space along one wall? Then build two cages one above the either. My degus enjoy their running space!!
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Post by degualot on Sept 7, 2011 17:16:54 GMT
sorry yes I'm going for 200cm length to give them tigers a good run. I plan on stacking two lot's together maybe if not at different sides of the room.
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Post by Kat on Sept 7, 2011 17:51:21 GMT
Haha, ok. Well, I'll be having a look around Ikea, so I should be able to find something there. Hi, I don't know much about cage building but I do know ilea. Lol. I have quite a few ikea items for my boys. There is a set of 2 rectangle storage tins for 4.99 that would make great baths. The 89p glass jars would be good to.
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Post by Ady on Sept 7, 2011 17:59:21 GMT
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ava
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 215
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Post by ava on Sept 7, 2011 19:08:36 GMT
Haha, ok. Well, I'll be having a look around Ikea, so I should be able to find something there. Hi, I don't know much about cage building but I do know ilea. Lol. I have quite a few ikea items for my boys. There is a set of 2 rectangle storage tins for 4.99 that would make great baths. The 89p glass jars would be good to. Ooh, ok, thanks! I'll look out for them ;D Thanks for the link - it does look good, but I'd worry about Degus accidently breaking the glass :-/
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Post by Kins on Sept 9, 2011 9:35:28 GMT
Thanks for the link - it does look good, but I'd worry about Degus accidently breaking the glass :-/[/quote] I have a glass cookie jar as my goos dustbath, as long as it is on a sturdy flat surface there is no way they would break it! It works a treat as the dust stays in it for ages and can be used several times, which is much less wasteful.
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ava
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 215
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Post by ava on Sept 11, 2011 16:45:10 GMT
Alright, well, I'll have a think about it. Just want to try and be as safe as possible with it at least for the moment.
About food bowls - I've heard of using coconut shells in a cage and I was wondering if it'd be ok to use them as food bowls. Also, would they hold water? I wouldn't have thought they do but Simon disagrees so thought I'd ask here.
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Post by fred on Sept 11, 2011 16:58:32 GMT
In theory you can use coconut shells as a food bowl. However they are relatively light and you have to somehow fix them to the cage, otherwise your goos may drag them around and make a right mess of it (I speak of experience). If you have small ones, you may encourage a lot of squabbling. I think they are better suited as enrichment in the cage.
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Post by NightwishRaven999 on Sept 12, 2011 6:36:28 GMT
@ Ava As Fred mentions, the coconut shells would need to be fixed tightly, or else the degus would drag them and simply over turn them.
If you are able to fix them to the cage, then I see no problem.
As for holding water...this is most interesting. I have used coconut shells as feeding bowls in the past, but never thought of using them as water cups. Yes, they could hold water. The fun thing about coconut shells is that they do not rot when wet. The inner skin/bark does not absorb water and the outer shell will not turn soft even after years of being submerged in water. This is one reason why coconut shells are often used as decoration in aquariums.
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