Hazardous Cage?

[Sunnyastounded]

I am currently using Prevue's Critter cage. The bottom of the cage has a wire bottom to it that divides the chinchilla from the litter pan. This, at the time of purchasing it, was very appealing due to the fact of dividing the chinchilla from the waste. Now after buying two of those cages, running me well over $300, I have learned about bumblefoot. This dearly terrifies me, and I have noticed my almost two year old Snickers has somewhat calloused feet (not even close to chinchillas I have browsed through that have bumblefoot). Is somewhat calloused feet expected at this age? How common is bumblefoot, and how worried should I be? I do have a chin-chiller slab, a nest box, and many shelves for Snickers to rest on, but is that enough?

Here is the cage: http://www.petco.com/product/113675/Prevue-Hendryx-Earthtone-Dusted-Rose-Rat-And-Chinchilla-Cage.aspx?CoreCat=ChinchillaHPCagesHabitats

Please post any ideas you have to fix my cage dilemma. I would prefer to not have to purchase new cages altogether, so any ideas are helpful. I have read about fleece bottoms, would I be able to just lay it over the wire bottom and leave it as that? If that a safe fix, where would I buy these fleece bottoms? If I must remove the wire bottom, I do run into an issue. The wire bottom is removable, but when I remove it there is a slight gap between the cage and the litter pan, and the pan is plastic, so is there a custom metal base pan vendor out there?

Also, what are the health hazards for solid metal ramps and ledges? I do see that everyone uses wooden ledges which makes me wonder. I provide enough safe chewing material that the extra wooden ledges wouldn't benefit my chinchilla in that category. The metal ramps and ledges are much more durable, but how safe are they actually for the chinchilla's health?

SORRY FOR ALL OF THE CRAZY QUESTIONS!

 

[Twilight Chinchillas]

I'd look at getting fleece to cover the wire bottom, get some wood to cover the top of the metal shelves and bolt them into place with wingsnuts and washers. Cut the metal ramps out. I wouldn't want a chin to get their leg or feet caught on one of them. Maybe some more wood ledges.

 

[Sunnyastounded]

So, I can just put these fleece covers right on the wire and it will solve the bumblefoot issue just like that? Where can I buy these fleece covers? How do you clean these fleece covers, and how often? For two chinchillas in separate cages, how many fleece covers are recommended? And, what is your reasoning for covering the metal ledges?

Also, the ramps are solid metal. There is no place for the chinchilla to "get their leg or feet caught on".

 

[Twilight Chinchillas]

It should help. There are some that do use wire bottoms but have lots of ledges, but fleece can help cut down on the mess too from shavings etc. Look for someone that makes Fleece liners for cages. They are 2 layers of fleece with an absorbent layer in between.
You could even perhaps get a little box made out of wood or whatever and place it in the corner and your chin might use as a potty. (filing the box with shavings)

I would cover the ledges for the same reason I mentioned taking the wire ramps out. To keep them from getting caught up on the wire if there are spaces between, but caught that they are solid metal. I was thinking from the cage picture link, that they were mesh like. I'd still recommend some pine shelves though in addition to what you have. This gives them another place to rest, and of course chew up!

 

[greychins]

I personally think as long as you have enough items for the chin to get off of the wire, you should be ok. With the exception of two spare cages, all of our in-use chinchilla cages have wood shelving... and our chinchillas' feet are calloused. I can't compare ours to yours without seeing both, obviously, but they can get bad even if they're not on wire.

The fleece bottom you suggest would work fine, I think, and I imagine you would just lay it on top of your current wire.

I actually adopted out a chin to someone with that cage a few months ago. I would personally take out the ramps, but I told the lady that I though the ledges were fine to leave in. As you stated, they are metal, so I didn't see any cause for concern. In the lady's cage, we put in two more shelves (pine wood shelves) and took out the ramps. She also had a hammock in the cage and a hidey house, as well as a few leap-n-ledges... and I thought the chin had plenty to keep the chin off of the wire. While I was at her place, chatting and watching her new chin in the cage, the chin hardly stayed at the bottom at all. She did have her hidey house at the bottom, but she had a piece of tile under the hidey house so the chin was not sitting directly on the wire.

 

[Sunnyastounded]

I personally think as long as you have enough items for the chin to get off of the wire, you should be ok. With the exception of two spare cages, all of our in-use chinchilla cages have wood shelving... and our chinchillas' feet are calloused. I can't compare ours to yours without seeing both, obviously, but they can get bad even if they're not on wire.

The fleece bottom you suggest would work fine, I think, and I imagine you would just lay it on top of your current wire.

I actually adopted out a chin to someone with that cage a few months ago. I would personally take out the ramps, but I told the lady that I though the ledges were fine to leave in. As you stated, they are metal, so I didn't see any cause for concern. In the lady's cage, we put in two more shelves (pine wood shelves) and took out the ramps. She also had a hammock in the cage and a hidey house, as well as a few leap-n-ledges... and I thought the chin had plenty to keep the chin off of the wire. While I was at her place, chatting and watching her new chin in the cage, the chin hardly stayed at the bottom at all. She did have her hidey house at the bottom, but she had a piece of tile under the hidey house so the chin was not sitting directly on the wire.

You have brought much relief to me. I plan on buying a pine tunnel house to fill in the top left, a fleece bed to go under the nest box and possibly a few more pine shelves.

 

[midgemidge2000]

If u have enough wood ( untreated pine) That the chin can rest their feet anytime want and they will be free of bumble foot unless something very unusual happens and they get it.