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Post by amie on Sept 15, 2011 1:24:22 GMT
I think it's wonderful how everyone's cages are coming along and the amount of people who are striving to give their degus the best cages ever! Unfortunately due to my job (and the lack of HAVING ONE at the moment.... long story!) I'm not in a position to build cages for all of my nine boys. They all have cages that are H148cm L92cm D60cm. These have served them really well for the last year, however I'm itching to build something with more lengh. They need running space and the hour a day they get out of the cage really isn't cutting it anymore. (BTW, for those who don't know, not ALL nine boys are in the same cage, lol. I have three of these cages!) So, brainwave! Until I can build cages for them, I was thinking of flipping these cages over onto their sides so that the height becomes the lengh and the lengh becomes the height. This would give them 148cm of running space, however, they'd only have 92cm of height until I can build. I'd like your thoughts and opinions on this please? I'm hoping to start building as soon as my financial situation improves, but for now....  |
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Post by NightwishRaven999 on Sept 15, 2011 2:36:38 GMT
Hello Amie, thank you for those encouraging words.
It is indeed fun to witness all this growth that is occuring on the forum. It has been over a year since this bloom of activity has started and still it is going strong.
Your idea of turning the cages on their side is very good.
Although it would take some planning on your part as far as adding a lengthy cage base and levels...I believe it would be well worth it !
I would prefer to have a lengthy cage than a tall one, and I believe your degus would benefit from this.
148 x 60 cm is a VERY good size for a cage base and 92 cm is not so far from a meter in height.
If you can find a way to turn a cage on its side and fit in a large level midway, it would offer your boys more running space.
As for cage building, I am glad you plan on waiting until your situation is more stable. I hope you will find employment soon and please let us know of your final decision about whether or not to turn the cages on their sides.
Anxious to hear from you...
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Post by amie on Sept 15, 2011 2:47:15 GMT
I think it will be quite easy to turn them on their sides and creating one more extra level the same legh as the base should be fairly easy. I can join the levels they have now together to create a longer level. I'm gradually phasing out toys from their cage too and hoping to go for a more natural look with burrows and underground tunnels etc. They love their hammocks though, so do you think I should keep these? They break their toys so quickly, they hardly seem worth it and are quite expensive to replace when a cardboard box seems to please them just as much (if more!) than a shop bought toy does! lol. Just like a child really. Much more interested in the wrapping paper rather than the present itself I think I will try this with one of the cages and if it goes well, I'll do it with all three |
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Post by NightwishRaven999 on Sept 15, 2011 3:05:02 GMT
You make excellent points Amie.
If you can make a level the same length as the base, I would say go for it !
148x60 cms will allow the degus to sprint quickly from one side of the cage to the other and offers lots of room to dig and burrow.
A second level close to this size would be excellent !
As for starting to work on a more natural setup...all I can say is "Great !"
You will have so much fun working on this and seeing your degus performing the same activities they would in their wildlife habitat.
If your degus enjoy the hammocks, why not keep them ?! ;D
You are correct about the toys...I have always found them to be costly.
Since I have started implementing a more natural setup in the cage, I have removed all the old toys I used to have. Not only because they did not match the décor...but also because the degus no longer used them much.
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Post by fred on Sept 15, 2011 3:25:34 GMT
Very little to add what Jordan has said. It's a great idea  When you have two spacious levels it doesn't matter whether the cage is 80 or 100 cm high. You could make the bottom tier a bit higher than the top one and try to fit in a tray for a deep layer of bedding. And of course the hammocks must stay. They love them and I don't think they give a toss whether it's 100% authentic  |
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Post by amie on Sept 15, 2011 4:04:12 GMT
"They love them and I don't think they give a toss whether it's 100% authentic " LOL!!!! Probably what they would have said themselves! |
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 15, 2011 4:41:26 GMT
WOO HOO!!! Go for it, girl!! I'm cheering you on!!
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Post by Kins on Sept 15, 2011 8:50:14 GMT
Sounds like a super plan Amie. Well done you!
Look forward to seeing pictures (wink, wink, nudge, ,nudge) once you have made your modifications.
I think there are some fab members (I'm sure they know who they are) on here who inspire a lot of other members to 'better' their goos lives, It's all just fab!
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Post by amie on Sept 15, 2011 8:56:19 GMT
Lucky I had the brainwave! I would never have thought of it if there hadn't been so many posts on here lately pushing for lenghier cages rather than taller.
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Post by amie on Sept 16, 2011 13:35:39 GMT
I'm going to have a go at doing this today. Will post pictures of the results if I can do it! |
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 16, 2011 14:39:14 GMT
Go Amie! Go Amie! Go Amie!!! I hope it goes really well for you.
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Post by amie on Sept 16, 2011 15:20:06 GMT
Thank you. I think it might be more difficult than I thought because of how the doors open. There's no way I can cut new doors either. It's REALLY thick metal and I'd just mess it up. Easier to cut flimsly wire like the P@H cage, which is what I've being doing for my rats today |
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Post by NightwishRaven999 on Sept 17, 2011 4:33:03 GMT
Hope it works out Amie ! Please let us know !
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 17, 2011 8:17:38 GMT
Amie, are the sides of the cages individual pieces that are all connected to each other with clips or something like, and then the doors are openings within each pannel? When I made my initial modificatin to the two wire cages we had, I completely restructured the whole thing, reinforcing the sides with solid metal bars (they turned out to be crooked argh). I left one whole side open though, and purchasing large hinges, I turned the pannels that would traditionally close that side off into large doors that then gave we complete access to the interior. My "wonder" for you is . . . what if you were to buy some pine lengths that are 5cm X 5cm, make a basic frame to which you could attach your wire pannels, and the leaving one side open, fashion the remaining pannels into hinged doors? Does this make any sense? It's still a lot of work, but hopefully still less money than building a full new wooden cage.
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Post by amie on Sept 17, 2011 22:42:40 GMT
Here are the cages flipped onto their sides My boys seem to LOVE THEM! There's more I want to do to them (and I also need to attach the perpex back onto them), but this is a good start I'm going to remove the wheels from the side of the cage as soon as I can be bother. It doesn't bother the degus, so it can wait! lol. This is one of the cages simply flipped over (yes, I did it all by myself without the help of my boyfriend! lol)  Then....  Starting to take form....  ....   I've done two cage so far. I was also able to put one cage on top of the other and have more space in the kitchen now! Each cage is L128, H94 and D60. The top cage is Sammy and Dean's and the bottom cage is Elijah's and the little ones (who used to have THREE wheels until they broke two of them! They have to share one until I can replace them). The bases of the cages re simply a layer of carboard underneath the metal bottom of the cage to stop hay going everywhere. I'll change it out every week or so. Simple! And also, just incase you're wondering. I'd managed to get one cage on top of the other all by myself too! LOL!  As you can see, still need to attach the perpex to the cage to save my floor! |
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Post by NightwishRaven999 on Sept 17, 2011 22:59:25 GMT
Amie ! This looks fantastic !
I love all the hay mounds and the large levels !
Your boys definitely have more running space.
Anxious to see more ;D
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Post by amie on Sept 17, 2011 23:08:35 GMT
Thanks! They're boucing around a little more than usual Any ideas on how it can be improved would be grreatly appreciated. I can only use stuff I already have at home due to lack of funds though. Cage layout and placement of things can be changed though! |
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 18, 2011 1:34:39 GMT
Brava!!! You've done a brilliant job!! I'm very impressed, Amie!
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Post by amie on Sept 18, 2011 2:19:15 GMT
Thank you |
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Post by fred on Sept 18, 2011 15:38:20 GMT
fab-u-lous ;D ;D ;D
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When you have two spacious levels it doesn't matter whether the cage is 80 or 100 cm high. You could make the bottom tier a bit higher than the top one and try to fit in a tray for a deep layer of bedding. And of course the hammocks must stay. They love them and I don't think they give a toss whether it's 100% authentic 
