Is this cage safe?

[ProudChinOwner]

Sorry about the 3rd thread guys but it is something different to the other two!

So basically i have come across these and would be much cheaper then building my own cage. Besides the obvious plastic tray is the cage itself ok? I will be buying two and stacking them and making into one big cage!

http://www.zooplus.ie/shop/dogs/dog_cages_carriers/carriers/metal_cages_and_boxes/146551

Then decking out with wooden shelves and all that.

Thanks for yer patience with me but i would like to get this right this time and not have to buy more stuff!

PCH

 

[Brittany]

It's hard to tell from the picture, but the bottom grate looks too big. Double check the size, the spacing should be no bigger then 1/2" x 1/2" or else their little feet will get caught (can lead to broken bones etc...). That would be my biggest concern.

 

[ProudChinOwner]

It's hard to tell from the picture, but the bottom grate looks too big. Double check the size, the spacing should be no bigger then 1/2" x 1/2" or else their little feet will get caught (can lead to broken bones etc...). That would be my biggest concern.

Besides that is it ok? I can cut out the bottom grate and use different wire myself which i would gladly do if it came to it!

 

[Rickman]

Don't know what's available in the "Mother Land", [I'm 1/2 Irish] but I've been covering wire floors and ramps with 1/4 x 1/4 'hardware screen' for about 10 yrs. with great sucess - double it at the edges, wrap it around the bottom, and secure with pliers.
Available at hardware or home improvement stores, reasonably.

 

[ProudChinOwner]

Don't know what's available in the "Mother Land", [I'm 1/2 Irish] but I've been covering wire floors and ramps with 1/4 x 1/4 'hardware screen' for about 10 yrs. with great sucess - double it at the edges, wrap it around the bottom, and secure with pliers.
Available at hardware or home improvement stores, reasonably.

Thanks for that! I have wire already from another base i did in the cage they are in atm so the bottom grate is no bother. Its the cage itself i'm more worried about

But hello fellow well half irish man :hug2:

 

[shubbles]

ive kinda had the idea of using a dog or cat cage for my chinchilla, it looks like it would be good the only thing is you couldnt put any long shelves on the front of the cage but thats super minor and it has wheels maybe?? probably can take off though.

 

[ProudChinOwner]

ive kinda had the idea of using a dog or cat cage for my chinchilla, it looks like it would be good the only thing is you couldnt put any long shelves on the front of the cage but thats super minor and it has wheels maybe?? probably can take off though.

Yeah you couldn't but you'd work around it with smaller shelves and hammocks ya know? There is always sides and back for the longer ones! Excuse my ignorance, but what is wrong with wheels? I'd imagine they would lock, if there was an active dog in it they'd have to lock or he'd be halfway across the room lol

 

[Ash]

Most dog or cat cages would have wire spacing too large. The chins could get out.

 

[shubbles]

Yeah you couldn't but you'd work around it with smaller shelves and hammocks ya know? There is always sides and back for the longer ones! Excuse my ignorance, but what is wrong with wheels? I'd imagine they would lock, if there was an active dog in it they'd have to lock or he'd be halfway across the room lol

ya i was just imagining the chinchilla in the cage and rolling away in it but chinchillas are so light i dont think 10 of them could push it

 

[Spoof]

Most dog or cat cages would have wire spacing too large. The chins could get out.

I'm not targeting you in particular but a number of people I keep reading that do this on these threads.... please quit replying to these threads with "heresay". We want to hear your experience, or see links to products/information.

It says the spacing is 2.7cm = roughly 1", great for anything other than a very young chinchilla, and you can use washers and wood screws to bolt things to the sides. It also says the tray and the grid are removable if you ever wanted to get a regular pan to put in.

To the OP, this would make a very nice cage with Rick's suggestions. These are very similar to the ferret nation cages that are popular in the states.

Overall a nice find. )

 

[Ash]

I wasn't talking about the link in specific. I was going by the dog kennels that most people are familiar with that you see in pet stores. I honestly didn't even realize there was a link, I just saw "dog kennels" and thought of the ones you see in pet stores.

The one in the link would be fine.

 

[threewingedfury]

I'm not sure that the cage would even need more wire in it. From what I'm looking at, the pan looks like its about an inch deep. You could use shavings or even a fleece liner in the cage with no problem. It would be messy, but it could be a cheap solution. Now, assuming your chinchilla isn't a kit and you wouldn't have kits running around in it - I think it would work just fine.

I actually have a cage that's very similar that my ferrets used to be in. The difference is the pan and the door. The bar spacing is very similar to the FN as Spoof said. Many times I thought about using it as a pet chinchilla cage if I ever needed to. With ledges and hammocks - I think it would make a decent cage.

My Old Ferret Cage Example : http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u146/threewingedfury/DSC_0012.jpg

 

[ProudChinOwner]

ya i was just imagining the chinchilla in the cage and rolling away in it but chinchillas are so light i dont think 10 of them could push it

:laughitup: very funny if you think about it! :rofl:

It says the spacing is 2.7cm = roughly 1", great for anything other than a very young chinchilla, and you can use washers and wood screws to bolt things to the sides. It also says the tray and the grid are removable if you ever wanted to get a regular pan to put in.

To the OP, this would make a very nice cage with Rick's suggestions. These are very similar to the ferret nation cages that are popular in the states.

Overall a nice find. )

Thanks for thumbs up. Kind of what i was looking for. But i think those measurements are only for the grill (the ground one?) Now unless grill means the actual cage itself? I have emailed the company just to be sure, cause as the previous poster said dog cages are generally too big as i have a dog crate here that i was thinking about using but would have to re-wire it :banghead: I hope you are right though that they are like the ferret nations i'll be sooo happy if they are.

My Old Ferret Cage Example : http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u146/threewingedfury/DSC_0012.jpg

Thanks for your input. I would be using paper or shavings on the bottom. I am a fan of the fleece (well in the last few days since i joined lol) but i don't like the fleece lining idea, but thats just me. I do have 2 kits (born Sept 11th) but by the time i got this cage and up and running it will be a month or so and the kit i plan to keep will surely not escape, will she? I don't plan on having more kits but if i did i have the old cage to transfer them to. Thanks for the link to your cage it does look very similar

 

[Ash]

Thanks for thumbs up. Kind of what i was looking for. But i think those measurements are only for the grill (the ground one?) Now unless grill means the actual cage itself? I have emailed the company just to be sure, cause as the previous poster said dog cages are generally too big as i have a dog crate here that i was thinking about using but would have to re-wire it :banghead: I hope you are right though that they are like the ferret nations i'll be sooo happy if they are.

Like I said, I was going by my own knowledge of dog kennels. Most of the larger kennels, I can fit my hand through the wire to pet the dog (My boyfriend has one for his husky), and if I can get my hand through it, it's definitely too big.

 

[ProudChinOwner]

Like I said, I was going by my own knowledge of dog kennels. Most of the larger kennels, I can fit my hand through the wire to pet the dog (My boyfriend has one for his husky), and if I can get my hand through it, it's definitely too big.

I know was backing up what you said. Funny you say that though the crate i have was being used by my husky back when i had him

 

[Ash]

Haha then it'll probably be too big spacing-wise unless the crates over there are made with smaller spacing than ours.

 

[threewingedfury]

I do have 2 kits (born Sept 11th) but by the time i got this cage and up and running it will be a month or so and the kit i plan to keep will surely not escape, will she?

If it's gonna be a month before you have it up, a 3 month old is most likely not going to escape that cage, but you want to be extra cautious. I held a 2 month old in my Ferret Nation at one point and had no problems, but she was a fairly large kit at that (350g by that time). ****This does not mean that every 2 month old kit will be safe in a cage with that large of spacing**** Plus, I made sure I had hammocks everywhere just in case she did fall, which was my main concern with using the FN. If you plan to have any more kits at all, I would definitely line that cage with 1/2" x 1/2" wire.

 

[ProudChinOwner]

Haha then it'll probably be too big spacing-wise unless the crates over there are made with smaller spacing than ours.

Just as well thats not the cage in question.

If it's gonna be a month before you have it up, a 3 month old is most likely not going to escape that cage, but you want to be extra cautious. I held a 2 month old in my Ferret Nation at one point and had no problems, but she was a fairly large kit at that (350g by that time). ****This does not mean that every 2 month old kit will be safe in a cage with that large of spacing**** Plus, I made sure I had hammocks everywhere just in case she did fall, which was my main concern with using the FN. If you plan to have any more kits at all, I would definitely line that cage with 1/2" x 1/2" wire.

Thanks for the heads up. Will put them in and watch her for while before hand and see does she try. Tempt her with a treat and stuff to see. I'm planning on getting hammocks and stuff too for it. Be a proper cage compared to the basic one they are in now. Going all out he he. I don't plan to have anymore kits as the two i have now were not supposed to be here lol as mammy was pregnant before i got her. But thanks :thumbsup:

 

[ProudChinOwner]

Actually.. While on the note of Chins getting out of cages etc, i know every Chin will be different but what space roughly can an adult get out of? :hmm: I realise once their head is through their body will

 

[Rickman]

I just had a pair escape from a 2 x 2 hole - apparently a wire broke off while moving the cage, and they found it! They're both over 700 grams!!