Covered playpen...

[Sendra]

So, my chinchilla already gets time to play in our bathrooms, but I thought it would be interesting if I got a large playpen with a cover to place in our living room, or out on our deck at night when the family is visiting. Of course, she would be supervised and since she would be out on the deck at night, it would be nice and cool. Has anyone done this, and does this sound like a decent idea?

 

[laurc19]

I have a large play pen with a top that I use when I want to bring the chins into another room and it works great.

I am not sure about out on the deck. I've always wanted to do that too but I think it depends on a couple things. Like how wide are the gaps in between the wood pieces of your deck floor? Also, they might chew on the wood on your deck. I don't think that would be safe for them. And the thing I always wondered about was bugs, like mosquitoes. I don't know if these affect chins or not.

 

[whiskers387]

NEVER bring a chinchilla outside, they could get fungus or a bunch of other diseases, its just not safe.

 

[Sandi]

What's funny is that I just posted this on another thread a couple of hours ago...

I have a pop-up playpen that I use and LOVE, it comes with a zip top and detachable bottom that you can throw in the wash, here are a few pics of my boys in it plus the stock pic from petco

WARE Deluxe Pop-Up Playpen
Dimensions -Large - 50"L X 50"W X 32"H

My chins don't chew on it. I've had it for a long time but I started using it for my 2 chins since late February I think. I have seen one of them that tries to paw at the mesh windows sometimes but there are no nicks or runs in any of the windows. Its a real stury material maybe canvas, not sure? I use it when I clean their cage once a week. I did notice that one of them peed in it when I left them in there for a couple of hours while I was cleaning and rearranging and adding new shelves in their cage. The bottom part velcroves off of the playpen so you can either wipe the pee off or you can throw it in the wash in the gentle cycle and then let it air dry. It's also very portable, since its a pop-up, you can easily fold it back up and store it in the bag that they provide you with.

As far as being outside, I've never done it but I think that if it wasn't humid/muggy or too windy and under the low 70's, and not in direct sunlight and supervised at all times, and in an entirely enclosed pen or cage, I wouldn't know why you couldn't, but why would you want to go through all of that to bring them outside?

 

[Essentia]

I agree with 3chinsowner. Why go through all the trouble?

I have the same playpen as she does and it was the absolute greatest purchase of my life.

 

[Sandi]

I agree with 3chinsowner. Why go through all the trouble?

I have the same playpen as she does and it was the absolute greatest purchase of my life.

Ha, I just said that same thing to my husband yesterday, even though it was first purchased for our pug. I am so glad I decided not to put it in our garage sale last fall.

 

[Essentia]

Seeing yours is what made me buy mine. The only thing I did differently was take the bottom off. I find it easier to just vacuum after the chins instead of taking the bottom off, putting the bottom on, etc.

 

[whiskers387]

I just ordered one today? DO yall have mediums or larges? I decided on a medium because i got it like $40 cheaper and its only a couple inches smaller, Whiskers is gonna get so much more playtime, instead of only at night she will get to watch TV with me in the TV room!

 

[Sandi]

I'd get the larger one. My boys try to jump/hop and wall surf and they can get pretty high up, 4 to 5 inches can make a big difference.

Crysta, I thought about not putting the bottom part on but I didn't want to chance them peeing on my carpet and it's real easy for me to just fold up the bottom and take it outside and shake all the poop off.

 

[hkkjstwcl]

OMG! Thanks so much for this info! I bought two of them, and they work greatly with my chins in them. I really appreciate your help. I use these playpens for their playtime, and they don't chew or escape or anything!!! They have already destroyed the walls and carpet of my place... but, I can keep it clean from now on. Thanks again!!!

 

[jmdebb]

I just got one too, and I love it for those times I dont' want to just sit in the chin room, I got the large.

But one thing I want to mention, and not saying your chin will do this, but he can, because the bottom is velcrowed on, they can get out. I say that because one of mine is an escape artist and he got out of the pen.

ANd personally I wouldn't chance bringing them outside, they should be kept inside for their safely and health.

 

[xcoronaangel]

I a also thinking about getting one of those so let me know what you think of yours. The only down side is the dog kennel is SO large they get SO much room. I can fit their maze, train and another cottage inside the dog kennel and their dust bath.
But my boys LOVE to figure out how to escape and they always are giving me heart attacks!

As for going outside... mine almost escape so much inside their pen and thats in a chin safe room... id hate him to do the same outside id never see him again... not worth it.

 

[Sandi]

But one thing I want to mention, and not saying your chin will do this, but he can, because the bottom is velcrowed on, they can get out. I say that because one of mine is an escape artist and he got out of the pen

My boys have never escaped from the pen. Escape from any pen is possible but I'm wondering if your pen was placed on an uneven floor? My daughter set up the pen for me once and she placed it on the carpet but a small part of the pen was also sitting on the hardwood floor so it was a little uneven and I could see how they could get to the gap. I use the playpen only when I clean the cage and it's set-up right next to me so I'm always close by while they're in it.

 

[heatherann]

how much do the pop ups cost? i want one!