Wire Mesh

[jazz456]

I have just ordered a cage and awaiting it to arrive so i can pick my chinchilla up, but the whole of my cage is wire mesh as in the platforms. Will this affect my chinchilla or is there something i can put on there to stop it?

 

[AZChins]

The platforms and floor of the cage should be fine if the wire mesh is small enough to prevent the feet from falling through and getting caught. If there are enough wires to support the feet, there won't be any real pressure points on the foot to cause issues. If the wire openings on the floors and shelves are 1/2" x 1/2" or about 1 cm x 1 cm, you will be fine. Anything larger than that may not be safe. A lot of cage makers use the 1"x1/2" for floors and it's a little too large to be completely safe.

Wire mesh on the sides and top and bottom of the cage is just fine because it will provide excellent air flow and circulation in the cage.

 

[fanofdmb84]

If you want to put solid surfaces on the shelves/platforms you can always use pine, fleece, or even tile to give them a smooth surface to rest on.

 

[Shahna]

I am not a big fan of wire mesh shelves/platforms in the cages, but as AZChins stated as long as it's 1/2" x 1/2" or less, you will be fine.

I know alot of people swap out wood shelves for the wire (I like the wood shelves because it also gives them something to chew on).

 

[pudding]

I always use kelin dried pine shelves instead of wire mesh. I guess they feel more comfortable to stand, play and chew on wood material.

 

[Cuddlebug]

If you choose to go with wood and don't feel like taking the cage apart, you can just attach the wood right on top of the shelves.

 

[Baron Sciarri]

They keep saying that the chin will be fine but "fine" isn't really the mentality to take with your new baby. I would definitely cover the wire with something that will be easier for your chin to hop on and nap on and spend time on without having to walk on wires for no reason. You could even put the cooling slabs on the wire shelves so that you can just take them out and wash them easily if you have to.

 

[AZChins]

I have my chins all on wire floors and they don't have any issues at all. I've had them in wire cages for nearly 15 years without any foot issues. It's just as easy for them to run across a wire floor as it would be a solid one. I prefer the wire floors because droppings and other waste falls down so the chin doesn't come into contact with it and doesn't make a big messing throwing litter everywhere. Smaller openings mean more wires are supporting the feet and not creating pressure points on the feet.

The foot problems that I see are chins coming into rescue. They normally have problems because they sat in a dirty cage right in their own messes for an extended period of time. It's important to keep chins clean regardless of the type of cage being used.

 

[Lillybabe]

I also think many cages sold for small animals have way too large of a mesh for chinchillas. Many of the meshes are more than 1/2 inch and can cause chinchillas feet to be caught or get pressure points. If you decide to go with the mesh make sure your mesh is small. Also depending on the age of the chinchilla their feet might still be able to get caught. I can't imagine putting my girls on even a 1/2inch by 1/2inch grid with them only being 8 weeks old. Their toes could easily get caught as well as their back feet. I think even 1/2inch by 1/2inch is a bit large and 1/4 inch by 1/4inch would be better. I wrapped my cage in hardware cloth that is 1/2" by 1/2" and I honestly still wonder if it would be a hazard especially on levels and ramps where the chinchilla is leaping on and off of them potentially at more of an angle. I also think wire mesh is a pain in the butt to clean. It gets coated with urine and has to be scrubbed clean. With bedding or fleece it can be changed once a week to a couple times a week depending on how large a cage and how many chins. If your bedding or fleece is absorbant the chinchilla isn't really sitting in their own messes. Not unless it's allowed to get nasty.