Chinchillas are an excellent pet that you can keep around your home. They are not expensive to maintain, but you will have to provide them with superior housing. This statement means that the animals are great climbers and jumpers and are claimed to reside in the Andes Mountains, South America. These animals are soft, less aggressive, just like guinea pigs.
Therefore, if you plan to have these little friends, prepare to get them suitable housing. This article on how to make a chinchilla cage will help build one if you have the necessary tools and other supplies.
Step by steps guide on how to make a chinchilla cage
Before you start building a house for your chinchillas, there is a need to understand that they need spacious housing with many toys, allowing them to play comfortably. These animals are always happy in a large cage, but you should build a sizeable cage for your little one depending on space.
So I will take you through a simple guide and make your cell right at home. Housing for your pets is simple, but you will have to gather the necessary tools and materials.
Step 1: Assembling essential materials and tools
The first thing to do is to ensure all materials and types of equipment are there with you. Work will be more comfortable when you work with available tools. Some of the tools include screwdrivers, claw hammers, nails, wood supplies, plexiglass, shredded or pelted paper, a bale holder, etc.
Step 2: Constructing the base of your cage
The base of your chinchilla’s cage will act as a litter tray frame. So, combine 2×4 pieces of wood and attach them to the cage’s back and sides using screws. Try to build a structure that is 4 inches deep.
Furthermore, you should cut the front piece and spare a gap at the cage’s base where the litter tray will slide in. the hole should be something like 1 inch, but it is not limited because everyone may choose to build a different tray litter’s front edge nature.
Additionally, you may attach handles to the available litter tray if it doesn’t have any. You can do so by making holes in the tray’s front before attaching a handle. Remember, you can get these handles from a nearby hardware store.
But, choose a handle that will be sturdy and convenient for comfortability and easy to handle.
After that, attach a thin wood piece at the bottom of the cage’s bottom using screws. Doing so will allow the base to keep your litter tray in position comfortably.
Step 3: Building the panels
Your cage will be incomplete with such features, and therefore, you will have to use not less than five pieces for the back, sides, front, and top of the cage. Here, it would help if you were careful when measuring so that the panels correctly fit the sides.
These panels should look like a rectangular frame; for example, a 1×2 board is suitable for such scenarios. The rectangular frame should feature a vertical form attached at the middle to offer extra support.
Step 4: Fitting and stapling the mesh to the panels
Now that you have your firm rectangular frame panels, the next step will be to cut the mesh correctly and attach it to every board. I stress the word ‘correctly’ because silly wiring may harm your chinchilla. So, you should try as much as possible to fill down all wire ends that your pets can reach.
More so, this does enhance not only the safety of your chinchilla but also the wellbeing of the cage. These animals are rodents, and they tend to chew any hard material.
Therefore, you should position the mesh wire to the interior surface of the cage. Doing this will hinder the pets from getting closer to the wood and chew it into small pieces.
Step 5: Screw the front, back, and side panels together
The next step will be to fasten the above panels; you will get a four-sided box but open at the bottom and top. The cage will have a nice look when you use the right measurements. The back and front sides should flush.
Step 6: Fastening the assembled panels to the base of the cage
After screwing the side panels, the next action is to attach the assembled panels to the cage’s base. There are two different ways to achieve this, and therefore you should make a choice. One way is through direct countersinking screws, while the other method is to begin by drilling holes at the base before screwing 5 or 5-1/2-inch screws.
Step 7: Install shelves
I hope you understand that chinchillas are in love with jumping and climbing. So, your pet needs shelves to mimic its natural mountain environment; they will be doing exercise.
Therefore, you need to get a brace angle with a thin piece of wood, fasten/screw it to your chinchilla’s cage’s back or side wood frames. This will act as a shelf, and a little friend(s) will enjoy the environment.
Moreover, it would help if you did not forget to smoothen the shelves’ edges and surfaces to reduce your pet’s injuries. You can do this with the help of sandpaper.
Step 8: Connect the top to your cage
This should be the last step when housing your chinchilla. You can use hinges as long as they have a hatch on the opposite side.
Frequently asked questions
Why should you be careful when attaching the mesh to the sides of thechinchilla’s cage?
Positioning the mesh wire to the cage’s interior surface will hinder the pets from getting closer to the wood and chew into small pieces.
What are the two ways to attach assembled panels to the base of the cage?
One way is through direct countersinking screws, while the other method is to begin by drilling holes at the base before screwing.
Conclusion
There you have an incredible look housing for your chinchilla; as simple as that. The only thing you should be kept is to take correct measurements and use the right materials. This handy guide should take you through the process comfortably on how to make a chinchilla cage.
There is a need to provide your little friend with perfect housing so that it enjoys. The cage should have several features and toys because they are quite active, jumpers, and climbers.
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