Has Anyone Used This Cage For Chins?

[ssalcedo]

I am wondering if anyone ever used this cage for chinchillas. I found a used one in like new condition for a really good price. It measures 47" W x 20" D x 65" H without the stand. I would take out the plastic shelves and ladders, and put pine shelves and ledges in there. Are the plastic tunnels okay for them? Whats every ones thought on this cage?

 

[tunes]

I know of several people who have used them. Some leave them with the plastic shelves and have no problems, others replace them with wood shelves. The wood shelves also help to sturdy up the cage.

They are a pain in the butt to deep clean because you have to lift that entire top out to get to the bottom try for a good scrubbing. You can shop vac it and wipe it down with the top in, but if stuff gets behind the bars, then it's hard to get it good and clean without taking the top off.

 

[kimbt622]

I would think the tunnels are probably not okay because its likely the chins would overheat if they stay in them too long.

 

[Riven]

The tunnels would be hard to clean, and poss. over heating, although I like to think that chins are smart enough to say holy moly it's hot up here lets move down... but they'd probably pee and poop in there making it a sanitary nightmare.

And I second the hard to clean that Ms. Tunes stated.

 

[ssalcedo]

I decided to get the cage, because of the size. Plus I think my boys would have alot of fun in it. If I notice the tunnels being a problem, I will take them off. Thats not a problem. They only pee on the bottom one corner of the cage, but poop everywhere:wink3:

 

[Spoof]

I don't use the tunnels, but have two cages like that. I've put in all wood shelves. They are extremely easy to clean because you can lift them out of the base... take it outside and scrub away.

 

[ssalcedo]

I don't use the tunnels, but have two cages like that. I've put in all wood shelves. They are extremely easy to clean because you can lift them out of the base... take it outside and scrub away.

Is there a way you can take a picture of the cages and post it? I would love to see how you set them up

 

[Spoof]

1. Go to lumber store
2. Measure Length and Width of cage
3. Cut!
4. Install at various angles, hang from corners and make things interesting!

 

[ssalcedo]

That looks real nice. How did you cover the 3 openings on the top and sides were the tubes went?

 

[tunes]

Tara - You're telling me that with 25 or 30 pounds of wood in that cage, you consider it easy to just "lift right out" and clean? I have my rats in super pet cages half the size of the OPs new cage, and they are a complete pain in the butt with the weight of just plastic shelves and toys. They get wobbly with time because the plastic connectors stretch, the little handles that lock them down on the bottom fall off or get stuck. They are a constant annoyance and you are the first person I have ever heard of who has said they are in any way easy to clean.

 

[StevieP]

I used to have a cage like this but it was 1/2 the height. My chins loved the tubes. They did chew the part in the middle that is inside of the cage, so for that reason I would take them off and cover the holes.

It will be a nice cage if you fill it up with wood ledges. They will help to make it sturdy and reduce the cage from rattling if you put a wheel in there.

 

[ssalcedo]

Well I bought the cage, so I cant back out of it now. I am very happy to be getting it though. It will be alot better then the cage they have. I think I will keep the shelves in, and if they start chewing on them I will remove them, and put pine shelves in it. I will keep the tubes in too, and if I notice a problem with them I will remove them. It does have 2 front doors, and 2 smaller side doors which is nice. I think my chins will really love this cage because its so big, and has fun stuff in it.

 

[ticklechin]

I had that cage and it was a pain to clean with the small doors, I had it in black with the blue base.

 

[Spoof]

That looks real nice. How did you cover the 3 openings on the top and sides were the tubes went?

You probably can't see it but I'm using a white side panel off of this same type of cage for the top. One of the sides has a door, the other has a big piece of wood blocking it.

Tara - You're telling me that with 25 or 30 pounds of wood in that cage, you consider it easy to just "lift right out" and clean?

Are you calling me a wuss??

It weighs less than the two bags of feed, bag of alfalfa cubes, bale of hay and bag of sweet PDZ I unloaded - in 111 degrees yesterday.

They get wobbly with time because the plastic connectors stretch,

This is true, this cage and it's connectors are over 10 years old, some have been replaced with crab pot clips, hog rings, or fencing wire. The panels do bend and if I'm having a real bad day I'll get one that bends out over the edge. I only pull it off the pan and hose it/scrub the shelves once a month. I also use pelleted bedding, if I filled it up with shavings and those got strung all over I probably wouldn't be as happy.

the little handles that lock them down on the bottom fall off or get stuck.

These didn't come with those - the weight of the cage holds it down pretty securely.

They are a constant annoyance and you are the first person I have ever heard of who has said they are in any way easy to clean.

Compared to the other bizarre stuff I get with surrenders these are a godsend. There is nothing that attaches them to the base, they are all interchangeable, and the panels have held up better than any other cage I've owned. They are the only ones that made the trip south - everything else (including a Quality Mansion) had started to rust and after 8 years of hard use were not worth bringing down.

I will admit that they are not the most attractive and I'd rather have custom built wood cages but I can move these by myself. The Ferret Nations are on wheels but I can't pick one up to haul it up and down my stairs into the house. That's the main reason I haven't built myself some nice custom wood cages. Have to build a deck with a ramp first.

 

[Spoof]

Gosh, I'm a retard - I realized after looking at everyone else's photos I've always put the "base holders" at the top and hooked things to them. The space in the upper left is for a hammock.

Heh, my suggestion is to either cut the base holders off or flip the panel upside down.

 

[tunes]

Are you calling me a wuss??

Ummm.....you do realize the average person doesn't drag around 100 pounds of feed for entertainment??

Seriously though, you are the only person I have ever heard say those are easy to clean. When you have wood shelves and hammocks and chubes and all the other crap associated with large cages, if you're a little person NOT used to hauling around 50 pound bags of feed, etc., that cage is not easy to lift and clean. Then there is the height issue. It's awkward and unbalanced. I'm 6 foot tall. To me? No, it's not a big deal. But since I seem to be an Amazon among Liliputians on here (not that I'm mentioning anybody specifically like you or Dotty or ON <snort>) that's something else to figure into the mix.

 

[fanofdmb84]

I have that cage (minus all the tubes). My first chins came with it, and I liked it for its size, but after a few weeks I started to hate it because it was a pain to clean and if the chins didn't want to come out, it was hard to catch them through those tiny little doors. I soon got a FN and now the superpet cage is in the basement in their "play room", so they still use it, but only at play time. But, if you are coming from a smaller/lower quality cage, I can definitely see it as being an improvement.

 

[Nickv0195]

i would take the tubes out , but other than that and hard to clean it looks pretty good