Building a metal cage

[Caroline]

Has anyone out there built a metal cage? I want to ask my husband to build something that is a cross between a FN and a Quality cage. How much was spent to construct your cage, do you have any photos? It would of course all be contructed out of powdercoated metal. Metal frame with metal screen sides, floors and top. It would be 2' deep x 3' wide x 4' tall, standing on a metal frame on wheels. Metal floor between the two levels with a door that can be closed for cleaning. Slide out tray for easy cleaning. Metal shelves, wooden ones or both?
If I want to have him make it so that it comes apart to move, what can be used to hold it together, hinges perhaps?

 

[mishellyshel]

my sweetie built me a cage a few years ago out of mostly sheet metal. see the thread below. you have to scroll down a bit to see the pics. i have since moved all my chins to ferret nations. that home made one was just too deep to clean and very heavy.
i actually donated to a pet rescue where they plan to keep cats or little puppies in when they first get them. it was a huge cage and the boys loved the coolness of the metal but it was a bear to clean!

http://www.chins-n-hedgies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6887&highlight=richie+stitch

 

[Caroline]

Ya, that does sound like it would be way to heavy and a bugger to clean. It is nothing like what I have in mind. Mine would be more along the lines of a Ferret Nation or a Quality cage.

 

[Sycamore Chins]

We build all wire mesh cages for our animals.

The last time I built cages (probably 1-2 years ago), the supplies cost about:
18" x 30" x 16" = $65
18 x 24 x 20 = $55
18 x 24 x 14 = $52
*Note these are different shaped/designed cages.
*Cost is cheaper if I build multiples (shipping costs are distributed more)

This includes all the wire mesh, the door hinges, latches, c-rings, also a small portion of the cost of the electric shearer I bought, the plastic pans, shipping costs for the supplies and run holes if they were in the cage.
This does not include my time! It usually takes me 2-3 hours to make one cage.