Tips For A Homemade Hide-Out?

[CL19]

Hey guys!

I've noticed on the forum some members suggest a hide-out for chins. I don't have the extra money to purchase anything expensive or costly right now, but I was wondering if you guys had any tips to make a safe homemade shelter.

 

[shubbles]

Non-toxic elmers glue will hold together wood, people say not to use nails, but if they're screwed far enough back, i wouldn't think there'd be a problem, im not sure, but thats just what i think. If you have a saw then basically cut 5 peices, make a box and cut out a hole for a door. I don't have alot of experience, but thats all i got.

 

[Rickman]

I've been using 2 pieces of 1 x 6 - 8 - 10, using drywall screws to put them together at the corners, and 2 - 3 more screws into one edge to stick through the cage bars.
6 to 8 inches long seems to give them enough privacy, and a 'higher' place to hide!
As they chew around the screw heads, just screw them in deeper!
I've never had a exposed point, either.

 

[Parkerspetchins]

I have seen people also use cardboard boxes with a cutout. The chins will chew it so make sure it doesn't have a bunch of dyes on it if you do use it. I have a couple of heavy chewers that I would never risk putting a screw in their wooden house, my other chins do not really chew their house so with them I would feel less stressed about it (I still wouldn't) but I do think you have to gauge your own chinchilla's habits, they are all different. I went to a breeder's house whose chins had literally chewed their rectangle houses into leaning triangle houses lol, so for them screws could be disastrous...

 

[mishellyshel]

if you dont have the 1o - 15 dollars to buy one from the pet store than if you have kiln dried pine or another untreated wood handy you can make one. we do use nails or screws in the ones we make, however; my fiance is very handy and they have never chewed anywhere near them. i cant even see them!

if you do not have wood and are not handy, here are the only things that i can think of.
if your chin is NOT a plastic chewer you could alway "temporarily" use their dust house. no dust in it of course. if you see they start chewing you need to remove it immediately.
another option is the cardboard boxes like capri sun pouches come in. they are not very big though and my boys mostly just rip the paper off or run in and run out. the downfall to any cardboard in there is that they usually pee on it and than you have to toss it.

if you can save your money and purchase a fleece covered tube that is a great comfy place that most chins like to hide out in.

there are a lot of sellers here that make wonderful items. maybe you could even post what area you are in and perhaps you can arrange a pick up to save on shipping.

last option is ebay, freecycle or craigs list.........often people get rid of items for very cheap or free. always good to check there often.
hope that helps.

 

[Carol~Anne]

A cardboard box with a cutout in it works great. It will probably be destroyed and maybe peed on in no time so you'll have to keep replacing it.