Cage Design

[Bexi87]

Hi everyone,

Well I have finally managed to get my new cage design down on paper. It's going to be 150cm tall, 150cm wide and 50cm deep, and it is going to sit on top of a 60cm cupboard (pic below)

I've tried to work out the area of the cage and have got a figure of 26,500cm sq - is this right?



I'm just in the process of working out the cost of materials and what I actually need as I want to build it in one if possible, rather than over a period of time like last time.

Here is my list so far, please let me know if I have missed anything!

• Wood
  
• Mesh
  
• Pine stripwood to line shelves
  
• Tiles for floor/shelves
  
• Support for shelves
  
• Lights
  
• Hinges/screws/door knobs
  

I have a few questions that I am hoping some of you could help with

Mesh
I am thinking of getting 1inch mesh (19g). All my guys are around the 1 year mark so I have no issues with the holes being too big, it's more will they be big enough to hang toys/wheels from?

Shelf Support
How have you supported the shelves in your cages? I was thinking that it would probably best to use fixings but to be honest I have no experience with shelves at all and I'm a bit concerned about the goo's chewing them?

Sorry for the ramble. I've got the cage building itch and I'm just dying to get started but I need some spare cash first

[davx]

1 inch (2.54 cm) mash is in my opinion a bit large, aren't there smaller mesh types, e.g. 0.8 inch or something like that?

How have you supported the shelves in your cages? I was thinking that it would probably best to use fixings but to be honest I have no experience with shelves at all and I'm a bit concerned about the goo's chewing them?

I used metal brackets and fixed them with screws.
The shelves / floors I protected with metal band (strips??).

[Ady]

Nov 5, 2011 21:34:02 GMT Bexi87 said:

I've tried to work out the area of the cage and have got a figure of 26,500cm sq - is this right?

I think it's right number.

Do you plan to make full length doors in front or ones on top part and ones on lower part? (Does it make sense? my English is not great, sorry)

As davx said, not sure about the mesh, I would worry they'll try to squeeze through and got their head stuck in.

[Bexi87]

Here is the plan for the doors



The top door will open upwards so I can just open that if needs be.

[Ady]

That looks great. One full length doors is such a pain

[fred]

The CARA calculation is correct with a small but. In your cage with three full large levels this may seem nitpicking, but since the calculator is also for smaller, less well designed cages, this would be the position: To qualify as a level for CARA, it has to cover 50% of the floor area in a continuous way. The top level would therefore not count. However, a large branch or a wooden bridge behind the hammock (assuming that it will go at the same place as in your current cage) would make the top level a continuous running area. Does that make sense? I would appreciate any comments on the calculator thread (don't want to hijack this one).

Have you considered to include a burrow compartment in part of the cupboard?

[Bexi87]

Would it be better to have the top self as a full shelf?

I really need the entire cupboard for storage as the cage is in my bedroom and their stuff is everywhere! The base will be about 30cm deep so I'm hoping that will give them some digging opportunities.

[Ady]

As fred said if there's bridge, branch 'connecting' those two levels, they could run from one to other, otherwise those two would be more like ledges than levels. The idea connecting them with bridge seems really nice, giving u the space for hammock in between. In my cage on top I have one level full length but only half width (of the cage width) and yours solution seems better to me. Maybe make them 50cm long?

[Maravilla]

Really nice idea!! I think your goos will have a nice cage.

I agree with Ady about making the top levels larger, so that there is only a gap of max. 50 cm. It's enough. Why do you want to divide it? Well, I am a fan of large levels, so it's hard to understand why there is any need to cut off important running space.
The bigger doors, how many levels should they cover? In any case, I would suggest only two, because it's hard to control degus when you are cleaning the cage. You just cannot watch 3 levels at the same time you are cleaning one level.
Are you sure about the distances between the levels and the height of the top level? It's also the question of being able to see the goos there.

[Bexi87]

I do really like the idea of a bridge between the two top levels, I'll look into that.

I want a split level at the top so I can hang their hammock between them and make sure that their water bowl stays clean (it has to be at the top of the cage so they don't fill it with shavings!), but obviously I'm open to suggestions

Again, with the distances between levels. I have to work to the limited space I have in my room, without making the cage too high for me to be able to access/clean etc as I'm not the tallest! Their current cage has 30cm between each level and I have no problem seeing them run about so I want to give them just a little bit extra.

In terms of the doors, I put them in a run when I clean the cage out so I don't really need to worry about controlling them. The only time I'll need to control them is when I'm feeding them but I would only open one door anyway so I think I should be ok. Would you recommend having 4 smaller doors rather than 2 larger ones?

[Ady]

I personally like the doors in your plan. As u said u use the small one to feed them, it wil be easy to control them and use the big one while they out. Looks good to me.

[Maravilla]

Well, the size of the doors really depend on what you are doing with your goos during the cleaning. All my goos are not tame enough to take them out, nor do I really have space to put them in (except the transport box)... additionally, there are 2 cats waiting for food . Some of my goos are cleaning the cage with me, others I cannot see during this time. For me, smaller doors are the better option. This might be different with you.
The distance between the levels is fine. It's neither too big nor too small and allows you to put also higher things in the cage. It's just the question if you can reach the top level. Our big cage is about 210 cm high and the top level starts at about 165 cm, I think. I am quite tall, about 175... and it is hard to see my degus there. For cleaning I need a ladder.

[NightwishRaven999]

Bex this is looking fantastic ! So glad to see you embarking on another cage building project.
Be sure to take photos during the building process !

[Bexi87]

Thanks Jordan. I have tried to resist building another since January but after the chewing episode I don't think I should wait much longer.

I will definitely make sure I have pictures of the process

[Bexi87]

Right, I need opinions which of these two would you choose for a cage?

www.supapets-online.co.uk/wire_mesh/inch_x_half_19g_wire_mesh_6m.htm

or

www.supapets-online.co.uk/wire_mesh/three_quarter_16g_wire_mesh_6m.htm

I quite like the look of the first one, I think maybe it could stop them kicking stuff out as easily?

[fuzzymum1]

I personally would go for the squarer mesh - that way I could easily fit a finger in for those quick hello tickles. I like to be able to poke a finger in and say a quick hello without opening the door sometimes - when I open the door they all try to jump out onto me at times.

[Bexi87]

The issue I have is that the squarer one is a lot more expensive, so I am tempted to go for the other one.

Would it be bad to go with the thinner one?

[deguconvert]

Are you planning to hang anything from it? If it will be bearing any weight, you will find that it begins to crack and break sooner than the heavier gage does.