Baby safe cage

[Sherry Elaine]

I bought this cage from Martin's Cages on a suggestion from a knowledgeable chinchilla breeder. However, I heard that the ramp and the one wire ledge may be unsafe for the kits' feet. This is the whole cage; it is actually the smallest cage that Martins's sells, and the wire spacing on the outside is the smallest. What else should I change?

Note: the kits actually like to climb up the side of the cage and jump down. I'm not only worried about them falling from the little ledge-but from the very top of the cage because they are little daredevils.

 

[Chinniechantel]

Can you not take out the ramp? I would worry about kits legs for sure on the ramp and shelves, I would cover the shelf with wood and remove the ramp if possible. Otherwise it is worth the money saved on a broken leg to buy a baby safe cage.

 

[Essentia]

I would take out the ramp and shelf and add in a hidey house instead. The hidey house will make a "ledge" about the same height as the wire shelf that's in there now.

From what I have heard, kits are just little daredevils in general. You can always sand down the edges of the hidey house so there is nothing sharp (where as with a wire shelf you can't really do that) to fall on. The bedding at the bottom is a fairly soft area for them to fall, and the cage isn't really tall, so I wouldn't be worried about them falling unless they hit the corner of something.

 

[Sherry Elaine]

Thanks girls.
I really thought I was buying a cage that was the safest.
I will have to get George to unclamp the rings holding in the ledge. That cage seemed to come in a million pieces.

 

[Essentia]

It's not that it's an unsafe cage, just that it needs a few modifications. Unfortunately 90% of cages need modifications for chinchillas. It's just something we all deal with.

For future reference, Martins will take a "special order" for a cage. You can get that same cage without the ledge and ramp, and it will be a bit cheaper and usually a little less for shipping since it isn't quite as heavy.

 

[Sherry Elaine]

It's not that it's an unsafe cage, just that it needs a few modifications. Unfortunately 90% of cages need modifications for chinchillas. It's just something we all deal with.

For future reference, Martins will take a "special order" for a cage. You can get that same cage without the ledge and ramp, and it will be a bit cheaper and usually a little less for shipping since it isn't quite as heavy.

I didn't know Martin's would do that. Thanks for letting me know!

 

[SunshineChins]

Those C clips are very easy to get off. If you have a pair of needlenose pliers or sharp end pliers just grab the ring and twist. They will seperate and you can get them off of the wire.

We own that very same cage (which I keep around for rescues) and sleepin ledges work out great in it.