Opinions, please!

[riacat]

Hello!

First of all, let me start out by saying that on August 1, 2011 I will be getting my lovely little chiller.

This is him:
http://i52.tinypic.com/9lfree.jpg

Anywho! I'm working on cage set up and all of that at the moment. I use to have a Ferret Nation 142 but I sold it. Honestly, I wasn't a huge fan. (and surprisingly, neither was my chiller at the time).

I guess I'm willing to try it again but I just want to know your opinion on whats the best type of cage I can get for my situation.




◄I'm only going to have one chiller. (at least for a while).

◄I'm going to keep him in my bedroom with me.

◄I have both a cat and a dog in my house. (though the cat never comes in my room).

◄I have carpet.

◄In the process of chinchilla proofing my room, so he would spend a lot of time out of his cage.

^ I think those are some things to take into consideration! Just curious to know what you guys think! Thanks!

 

[caiti]

Well, I have one chin in my room and I also have a cat. Works out fine for me. I have my chin, Chloe, in a homemade cage, but she has a FN 141 as a temp cage (when I went to school I bought it so I could bring her home on the weekends). It's not too loud and I sleep through her cage rage most of the time. Both cages (FN and homemade) are pretty equal in noise.

I like the FN because it is above the ground, which makes me feel safer if my cat goes in the room. My door is usually shut, though and my cat is 11 and on a sedative for her epilepsy so she's not prone to try and eat Chloe. My mom likes the FN more because she can fit her fingers through the bar and scritch Chloe easier. Also, I have to sweep more with the FN as the Bass pan I got is not as deep as the base I made on Chloe's current cage. With a carpet, you'll have to vacuum, so look for a cage with a deep base if you can.

I think the important things are to avoid cages with plastic and make sure they will last, as you'll have the chin for it's entire lifetime. Less durable, plastic cages may seem very appealing because they are cheaper, but trust me, you'll likely wind up buying the better quality one later and now you've spent more money. FNs are sturdy and have a good design. There are some other cages out there that are high quality, but I've only ever dealt with an FN. You could try making your own cage, if you want. It's nice because you can customize it and it's pretty fun and rewarding but can be hard.

 

[Chin_Parent]

I'd get a quality cage townhome or mansion. They come with wooden shelves and a metal pan, so you don't have to replace anything. They also have a variety of setups, so you can get one with a wheel included and things like that, or just get a basic package. http://qualitycage.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=129_142

Also, you said that your chinchilla is going to be out of the cage frequently. Just make sure that when he's out you're supervising, rather than letting him free run. Even a chin proofed room can still cause problems for chins if they're left alone.

 

[Anfsurfer]

I concur on the "Quality Cage Townhome or Mansion". I've had my chin for three weeks now. When searching for his cage, I was very skeptical on the QC cages because of the price. In the pictures they look like they're made out of Chicken Wire. I decided to get the QC Chinchilla Mansion Starter Package which with shipping, came to right about $400. Yes, a loft investment. HOWEVER, I will say I don't regret it in the slightest. the cage and everything that comes with it is quality. I can use my flagstone perches with the cage, and they are heavy! Not chicken wire at all! Plus I love the fact that I can replace the wood shelves easily and inexpensively on their website.
I will note note though...that if you intend on using an exercise wheel, you'll probably get more noise from the QC cage just because of how it's constructed. Especially if you're using the cage guards. The wheel is silent, but once your chin starts running...the cage and guards will rattle. I believe a Ferret Nation would most likely be more solidly jointed together, and therefore quieter. I mention this because the cage is going to be in your bedroom.

 

[riacat]

Thank you!

I'm seriously considering making a home-made one. (My Dad is a contractor and my brother is an electrician, it should come naturally, right?)

The first chinchilla I owned didn't really like the FN cage. I thought it was odd, but he huddled in the corner and wouldn't wander around or anything and was always eager to get out. Which is unusual because he never acted like that in his old cage. It was brand new, too, so it couldn't have been due to other animal scents. :/

I didn't like it because the knobs to open it always gave me a million and one issues. I liked that it was off the ground, but at the same time I couldn't just open it for my chinchilla to go back in.

As for home made cages, would you recommend using the same material as Quality Cage Company, or wooden like a few of the cages I've seen around here?

Thankssss!