Play Area Pics

[Eckish]

I've seen the FN Club thread, where everyone is showing off their fancy cage designs. I thought it might be nice to see/show off some of our crazy play area setups, too.

Here is Tuffy's play area:

He might be a little spoiled with all that room =)

The caging is made from Marshall Ferret Playpens. He is able to jump clear of a single set, so I have 2 sets on top of each other, attached with zip ties. There are 4 linked together to cover the whole perimeter, so 8 playpens in total. A little pricey, but well worth the peace of mind.

Some close ups of my recent woodworking:

It is made of aspen. The first jump is a foot high and each hop to the next is 6 inches higher. He uses each step on the way up, but likes to skip a few on the way down =)

I haven't decided what I'm going to build on the other side, yet.

The middle pillar with the blue fleece is a sort failed project, so far. Back at my old apartment, when I would let him roam my room, my furniture made natural chinchilla sized gaps. He loved to wedge in there and shimmy up to the top. I tried to recreate that for him in his new room, but so far, it isn't a popular attraction. I'm not sure if the texture on the material is too smooth and he can't climb it or if the gap isn't the right size... I'll keep working at it, though.

Looking forward to seeing the way others spoil their chins =)

 

[comtnmama]

Oh my goodness! Do NOT let my girls see this!

Does he pretty much have his own room??? Lucky chin!!!

 

[Sandi]

That is a great play area!

 

[Chin_Parent]

Ha, I noticed the remnants of a willow tunnel on top of the cardboard box. Impressive destruction, lol.

That's a great set up, my chinchilla is just let out in the bedroom, where he enjoys climbing a wicker chair, running across the bed, and looking out the window. I love the ledge tree (name I made up for it, lol) in your set up too.

 

[greychins]

Don't let my chins see that! They already think they're the coolest chins on the block with their playpen... which pales in comparison:

 

[Eckish]

Does he pretty much have his own room??? Lucky chin!!!

Yes, he is very luck, lol. That room is an additional room off of my dining room. It is in view of the living room, so even when I'm not hanging with him, he can still see me and watch TV with me. =)

Ha, I noticed the remnants of a willow tunnel on top of the cardboard box. Impressive destruction, lol.

It started as 2 willow tunnels. He loves to devour them.

Don't let my chins see that! They already think they're the coolest chins on the block with their playpen... which pales in comparison:

I don't think it pales. It looks like a lot of fun for them!

 

[xcdnchinx]

IT looks great but you should take out the plastic ball in the first picture. That is not safe for chins.

Love the wood towers!

 

[Eckish]

IT looks great but you should take out the plastic ball in the first picture. That is not safe for chins.

Thanks. The ball is never used as a ball.

Some friends of mine had ferrets. They gave me all of their ferret supplies, when I moved to the new house. I knew the balls were a danger for overheating, so I've never used it as such. It goes in there without both ends off of it. So, it is just another thing for him to jump in and out of (which he loves to do). As long as he doesn't start chewing it, I'm fine with it that way.

The plastic tube in the 3rd picture also came with those supplies. I'm probably going to get rid of that. I thought after he got used to it, he would start to use it. He doesn't even touch it.

 

[CrazyForChinchillas]

Don't let my chins see that! They already think they're the coolest chins on the block with their playpen... which pales in comparison:

Which play pen is that and where did you get it?

 

[ticklechin]

Mine, play area 1

Play area 2

 

[comtnmama]

Agreed! That playpen is awesome. I think it is made by Marshall??? Do you have a cover for the top too? I have one jumper and she would be so out of there, especially with those perches!

Hmmmmm, just got my EBates rebate today. Might have to consider investing.

 

[partygirlha]

OMG – I thought I had a nice set up but my boys are going to munty if they see these photos. I used to have a 12 panel Marshals play pen, but my jumpers are out of control so now we use 6 foot high card board.

Eckish. Other than zip ties did you need to use anything to make that play pen set up user friendly? I have images of it flopping all over the place when I try to fold it up. How many sections wide is it? (I’m beginning to regret giving my 12 panel to my little sister-in-law for her bunny). My play area is within site of my kitchen/dinning room but because of the cardboard I can’t see in and I hate that. – so I love what you’re done. I also love the multi level jumping/climbing wood work. I wish I had the skill or the time to make soothing like that.

Greychins – love your set up but I guess it’s a hassle to fold up that pen. Too bad I can’t leave mine set up.

Ticklechin – I like what you’ve done with the PVC tubes – I may need to steal that idea. I’d love to see a detailed pic of that last photo – that wood climbing area looks really cool.

 

[Eckish]

Eckish. Other than zip ties did you need to use anything to make that play pen set up user friendly?

I used a lot of zip ties around the 'door' area, because when those panels swing open, it puts a lot of stress on that area. However, I only used 3 ties per panel for the remainder of the perimeter. That seems to be enough, so far.

It does get a little flimsy when I completely straighten it out or completely fold it. If you look at my pictures, that's why almost every panel is at a slight angle. That keeps them stable enough.

Oh, and balancing the fences and doing the zip ties alone is pretty difficult. I would suggest getting help for that.

 

[partygirlha]

thanks