Little Escapees

[whiskeyBee]

My chinchilla, Marley, just had a set of kits a night ago. They are really good at escaping the cage. i've put cardboard around the cage, but they still manage to get out.

Does anyone have any ideas of how i cant keep the kits and Marley in the cage?

 

[Lillybabe]

What kind of cage do you have? Most cage bars are too wide for kits and they can easily slip right out. I know several people here have attached hardware cloth to their cages in order to reinforce the sides and keep the babies in. I will be doing so shortly with my FN.

 

[renRaining]

we actually turn our FN cage into a baby proof cage. We bought chicken wire from home depot then cute them into FN wall size. We secure the chicken wire at the each corner with two .25 washer and machine screw.

 

[jbcstratton]

Get a baby safe cage, 1/2 inch x 1 inch bar spacing. One level or one with no ledges. If your kits get out for an extended time they could die.

 

[Cuddlebug]

If you choose to cover the cage, use hardware cloth, not chicken wire. The spacing on chicken wire is too big. You need the wire to be spaced 1 inch by 1/2 inch or 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch. either one will do. You will nee to cover the entire cage, including the top. If you don't the little boogers will climb to the area that is not covered and escape from there, even if it is the top center of the cage.

Renraining: Your picture shows hardware cloth, not chicken wire. Right product, wrong name.

 

[renRaining]

Thanks for correcting me =). I was unaware the product name. My apologies.

If you choose to cover the cage, use hardware cloth, not chicken wire. The spacing on chicken wire is too big. You need the wire to be spaced 1 inch by 1/2 inch or 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch. either one will do. You will nee to cover the entire cage, including the top. If you don't the little boogers will climb to the area that is not covered and escape from there, even if it is the top center of the cage.

Renraining: Your picture shows hardware cloth, not chicken wire. Right product, wrong name.

 

[VolunteerChin22]

You must cover the entire cage - they will climb to the top and escape from the roof.

 

[starrynight0621]

This reminds me of this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBznpqBO3KY&feature=player_embedded

A chinchilla escapee

 

[whiskeyBee]

Thank you very much. I will do this asap.

I also have another question. when i bought my original chins i was told they were both boy at the pet store that i bought them from. Obviously not. It seems like Shumani(daddy) is quiet depressed in his new cage, and eats only alfalfa, marigolds, and treats if i give them. Along with that Marley(mommy) seems to have diharrea as of today. I have not changed either of their diets and not sure what to do for them. Any suggestions?

 

[Cuddlebug]

Give the daddy some time to get used to the new arrangement and he will be fine. Pull mom's pellets and feed her just hay for a few days. You can add acidophilus. It might help her tummy. If the diarrhea does not go away in about three days, take her to the vet.

 

[VolunteerChin22]

I would stop the treats until the diarrhea is gone also. That could also be the problem - what kind of treats are you feeding them? Do you filter their water?