Can Metal Ladders Be Covered In Fleece ? Safe ?

[grace]

A friend of mine has two Chins - Her Computer is on "Strike", so she asked if I would post a question for her.......
She has a type of Ferret cage, where as there is a hole to get from the lower level, to the upper level. Learning that metal ladders were not safe, she took hers out. Now the kids are having difficult going from one level to the next. She can not use leaping ledges, due to the way her cage is made.
Her question, can she put Fleece over her ladder (s) and still be safe ? Any specific type of fleece ? Thank you !

 

[Spoof]

Now the kids are having difficult going from one level to the next.

Give them a few days. I have males that can jump into a vertical pop hole 20" strait above them. Babies can make it when they are a week old. They just need time to catch on.

If you really insist on using something as a ramp, I'd go get a big piece of wood and wedge it in there. ) Chins love wood, and I know you can find all kinds of interestingly shaped sticks at the store, or in your backyard.

 

[KristinC1983]

Other options...

Lava ledges are great-when my chin was younger and I worried more about him falling, I put one between shelves so he could jump to that and then to the next shelf. It's also fantastic for their teeth and nails, plus a little entertainment. Mine bites, scratches, rolls in the dust and crumbs that come off, and then does it over and over again throughout the day. Now that he's older, I've made them a shelf of their own that he jumps to and sits on to chew on his door (wood) or something. He uses it a lot. He has 2 and 1/4 at the moment

And yah, I just found the other thing I was looking for-I always forget if it's from Petco or Petsmart, lol.

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2754305

I don't know if they still have more than one size, but they used to have a small and large. I believe that's the size he has. Yes, it is very unsafe how they sell it for a chinchilla, but I fixed mine. I put a think peice of safe wood so iit'd cover the platform, then screwed it on (make sure no screws stick through to poke a landing chin's foot) with those round things that go at the base of the screw to hold it in place (so sorry I can't remember what the heck they're called). Then I tightened the hooks where it hooks to the cage so it isn't bouncy. It's a little harder to move that way, but safe for the chin. Do not use a heavy peice of wood-as thin as ply wood is better or it'll make it bouncier as well-I made this mistake at first and had to fix it when it bounced off when he was going wild one day-I also tightened the hooks more after that. Now they're totally safe, though-he has 2. And if the chin(s) are crazy chewers, you just replace the wood, but the metal will last forever. It just fit just about any cage. I still LOVE the lava ledges more (and my chin would strongly agree, lol), but I think they screw on the same as leaping ledges, so they may not work.

The chins should get a hang of the big jump eventually. Mine does over a foot jump in his cage sometimes, or uses the side of the cage to boost him up, or another ledge. But if they don't the 2nd option should definitely work if done right (like I described). Younger chins sometimes take a little longer to 'get the hang of thinngs', too

 

[KristinC1983]

Yeah, Spoof's wood wedge would also work! I'd stay far away from ramps, but especially wire ones!!!!

 

[Jenn]

I had wire ramps originally in my chin's cage that I covered in fleece by sewing it securely in place. It worked great for my seemingly lazy chin. Eventually, when I had enough ledges, I did take out the ramps and filled her cage with ledges and her cage seems much more spacious now and she adjusted immediately without the ramps.

 

[grace]

Thank you all !
I guess the problem is that she can not use ledges to attach to her cage - The way it is built ? Her cage is put out by A & E - I have never "seen it in person" - As sounds funny, we have never actually "met" (Phone and E-mail" Chin friends) (When her computer was working... Smiles)
So, without the use of ledges, I supose she use a wood ramp (One kid has 3 legs) - Any "special" fleece recommended to cover a ramp, or is that just a "no-go" - I read where Jenn did. I am just trying to give her good info, that which is in the best interest of her Chin kids. Appreciate all info, as will call her this eve !

 

[KristinC1983]

Fleece will work-I'd double it and wrap it all the way around so it cover all the metal-it'll look prettier this way, lol, and it will be much harder to get off if it's sewn like a sleeve around it, but she NEEDS to make sure they cannot get the thread. Walmart sells fleece for like $4.50 a yard. I use a rasberry colored in my chins cage in his hidey house to cushion the floor-I think as long as it is flleece, its safe-it isn't stringy so safe if ingested, but mine never puts his mouth near his unless he's mmoving it around-I doubt it's fun to chew

Jenn's suggestion should work, or Spoof's! I'd love to see her cage, lol-I'm very curious!

 

[LilanChilla]

I made a bridge with the two ramps that came with my FN. They hook on the side then are attached with wire in the middle. Both of them are covered in fleece except for the last rung which is where the wire holds them together. Then I tied fleece around that so there is no wire showing. Need to take a picture of it to show ya'll.