Broken Cage?

[Chinmama]

ZZ loves his wheel and runs ALL night long, every night. Last night I heard him running, but it was louder than usual, and was making this really odd noise. I got up and looked and he was fine, wheeling away.

This morning I was able to pull his cage out and see that he has run so hard that he has literally broken a row of wire loose on the back of his cage where the wheel is.

It is a QC Mansion, and he's had it for 5 years with the wheel in the same spot with no issues. Now I'm wondering if we can move the wheel to the other side of the back (it isn't broken all the way across), or what? We can put it on one of the sides, but the way the cage is built, the sides aren't very sturdy (not for a maniac runner anyway!). I'm wondering if we can put it on the side and add a long shelf above it to support the side of the cage? Or, if we move it to the other side of the back wall, is there any way to add some sort of support? Anyone else ever had this issue?

I cannot believe he's had this cage for 5 years and it's broken already. It isn't the end of the world, but how hard is he running to break the cage? Dang... Maybe he did it on purpose because he wants a Ferret Nation?...lol I thought I was the only one who did things like that!

 

[Tanya]

ZZ is one smart chinnie! It's just too funny! :rofl:

 

[PaperMoon]

Maybe he did it on purpose because he wants a Ferret Nation?...lol I thought I was the only one who did things like that!

I've never heard of a broken cage from running too much :rofl: I guess he wants a FN bad!! Go ZZ! :rofl:

 

[EveningChin]

That is really funny!

I would not put it against any part of the back, because it has already been weakened by the breakage else where. Your best bet is to put it on the side some where. Just a thought.

 

[Mt. Zion Chins]

I have had 2 cages that becames broken because of my chins running like crazy - Boith times it was a flying saucer. I fixed the cage with hardware cloth (it is wire - no idea why it is called hardware clothe) and put a brick under the 'arm' of the wheel - That way it doesn't 'flop' so much. If you notice when they run the wheel goes up and down and makes the side of the cage move. When you put a brick under the arm that really cuts down on the side moving

 

[Chinmama]

A brick is a good idea! I never thought of that. I'll have to give that a try.

I think I'm going to order more shelves too, I think it will make the side wall a little more sturdy and I've wanted to add some extra shelves for a while now anyway.

 

[Rickman]

To repair the cage, take the plastic off a blue wire connector, [like for electric wires] and crimp both above and below the break - HARD!
Just today fixed the throttle cable on a craftsman riding mower that way - it works!