Hidey house

[LoveBug]

i did ask this question before, but only one person answered so i don't wanna do it and it not be right.
so to color the house, what do i use?
i was told sugar free kool-aid.

 

[ChinnyMom]

yep, kool aid. just the packet that you would normally add sugar and water to if you were to make it to drink. don't go for the diet or 'sugar free' variety, as those can contain artificial sweeteners that aren't good for humans, never mind chins!

 

[LoveBug]

okay.
so i just mix the kool-aid mix with water and dip the wood in it or pour it on the wood?

 

[ChinnyMom]

to be honest, i haven't dyed wood with kool aid (yet! lol), but i would think for a hidey house you could pour it on in small quantities and brush it in? not sure on the drying time either. hopefully others that have done it will chime in.

 

[LoveBug]

okay, well if they don't chime in i can always do test runs lol

 

[ChinnyMom]

this is true! i'm thinking about dying some of Rhino's pine shelves here soon, using kool aid, so any info anyone can share is much appreciated. i figured i'd do the pouring and brushing method, but if there's a better way then that'd be great!

 

[LoveBug]

yes it would. anyone that has dyed their chinnies hidey house. please pipe up and tell us how.

 

[LoveBug]

i really wanna try using stencils and using the brush to create designs on the house. but i know wood absorbs quite a bit.
hmm i guess we'll see.
if no one has a better way, then i'll do some test runs.

 

[ticklechin]

Dyed shelves and houses can transfer the color to the chin if it gets wet from pee, just a FYI you may end up with a colored chin!

 

[danilinn]

awesome! a punk rock chinchilla!

 

[LoveBug]

haha hmm well i might rethink it then. since she'll be mosaic..

 

[ticklechin]

I had a p/w who drug his colored toy into his house and used it as a toilet-dude was multicolored on the chest!

 

[LoveBug]

hahahahah thats funny. well i guess it'd work for easter, instead of having a colored bunny have a colored chinchilla.

 

[ChinnyMom]

ooooh, i could change my fuzzy little master's name to Rainbow Rhino! hahahahaa!!!!!!

 

[LoveBug]

hahahahaha

 

[LoveBug]

"I use a food grade dye. You can use the Wilton brand food dye, they sell it at Walmart. It has bright colors and is easy to use. I mix it with a little bit of water and it is easy to paint on the wood. A little goes a long way. I tried the Kool Aid thing also and it did not work very well for me."

i got this information from classycritters and i thought i'd share my new information with you, especially if you want to dye something of your chins
i hope it helps you
and she said that the color holds well (meaning it won't come off on your chin)

 

[danilinn]

i am curious, Love Bug, since you've obviously done your homework. how/why did you decide to go with the popsicle-stick house instead of a ready-made wood one or a fleece one?

 

[LoveBug]

i'm getting her a two fleece ones (since she has two levels) but i'm making a wood one (not popsicle sticks, actual wood like i will the shelves) incase she doesnt like her fleece one. and i'm making my own wood house and shelves, due to it is cheaper then buying an all ready made one.

 

[Godofgods]

i'm getting her a two fleece ones (since she has two levels) but i'm making a wood one (not popsicle sticks, actual wood like i will the shelves) incase she doesnt like her fleece one. and i'm making my own wood house and shelves, due to it is cheaper then buying an all ready made one.

I made my own house to. Unfortunately the wood pieces i was able to fine (poplar) weren't wide enough. (since standing on their side, the house wouldn't be tall enough) So i had to get some extra woods, and use make shift dowels to connect them all.

Both houses are the full size of a FN shelf, and my chins loves em. Thats their safe spot, and usually the main sleeping spot.

The house wasn't the focus of that pic, but you can see it just fine. And you see the slight color variation on the woods where the pieces were connected.

The only thing i would suggest if you decide to make a wooden house that big (lol) is to make the dimensions with plenty of room on each side, or very snug on each side. Other wise you end up with chinchillas doing this, and scareing the heck outa ya!

 

[LoveBug]

:rofl: hahaha that is great, yeah i'll be sure to make it snug up against the cage.