Is there such thing as too much space?

[ahappycamper]

I know this seems like a strange question but I had to ask it anyways. I have a FN142 for my chins and I'm thinking about adding a third level to each of my cages, possibly a fourth level, without a divider, for more vertical leap space. Has anyone ever come across a chin that feels uncomfortable with too much space, or can anyone think of any negatives to having too much space, besides an extra duty of having to clean up the other levels.

 

[cindyv3737]

My only concern about that much height, is a chin falling off of a ledge. 4 levels are a long way down.

 

[tunes]

Yes, actually, there are some chins that panic with too much space. Generally they come from ranches where they are used to much smaller cages. When they get taken home and thrust into a monstrous 5 foot cage, many of them will hide in the very bottom of the cago, bark, and not venture out from there for a long time, if ever.

I would not want a 4 stack high FN with my chins, whether they were used to it or not. They don't need that much space and I would be very concerned about them falling from the top to the bottom. A 2 level FN is a very nice sized cage and, IMO, there is no need to go larger.

 

[Essentia]

I agree with Peggy, a 142 is more than enough space for a few chinchillas. I have a 143 set up, but each section is separated into a different cage.

 

[caiti]

I think it would be hard to access the top doors on an FN with 4 units. You'd have to have a ladder just to clean it!! And I don't know how structurally safe it would be having four cages stacked on top of eachother. I'm not sure, though, since I don't own an FN. It would just be a thought of mine. You would have to put a lot of shelves, ledges and hammocks to make it safe and probably one or two of those dividers with a cutout in it.

 

[greychins]

Yes, actually, there are some chins that panic with too much space. Generally they come from ranches where they are used to much smaller cages. When they get taken home and thrust into a monstrous 5 foot cage, many of them will hide in the very bottom of the cago, bark, and not venture out from there for a long time, if ever.

We have a chin like this. She was from a breeder that used runs, and we stuck her in a larger cage... and she hid under the bottom shelf for the first three days she was with us. Put her in a smaller cage (still not tiny like a run, but not 4' tall either) and she's fine.