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Nancy_Rat
Sun Apr 10, 2005 7:54 am
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I'm making a wooden rat cage (just worked on it for like 5 hours) and I'm putting some plastic board over it, and it's not nailed down so I can take it out to wipe it clean. I'm also going to have newspaper/bedding over that and all of my other levels to avoid the wood getting stinky fast.
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God is like soap...Aren't you glad you have Him? Don't you wish everybody did?
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slipperyandfry05
Thu Apr 14, 2005 7:32 pm
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| doors |
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any good ideas for latching and hinging doors on homemade cages?
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LittleWillow
MODERATOR & RP Supporter
Thu Apr 14, 2005 10:37 pm
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Hmmm... C clips? at a push, strong wire twists? What's the frame made of? If its solid you could probably use proper hinges. Fastening it, I would again say it depends on how the cage is made. My cage has springs attached to hooks that keep it firmly shut, but I don't know if you could get something to do that.... maybe take a look around the hardware section of a store and see what they have, and what looks appropriate for the job!
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Andy & The Rats
 ~ Darwin ~ Maisie ~ Ella ~ Zak ~
 ~ Finn ~ Malachi ~ Azrael ~ Newton ~ Charlie ~ |
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bluerattyrat
Thu Apr 28, 2005 1:17 am
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Andrea14
Sun May 22, 2005 9:56 pm
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| Buildling a Cage Out of Playpen Material |
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There are small animal playpens currently at my Wal-Mart store for $10 each, and I had the idea of using them to build a cage, by using 2 of them. (Of course if I didn't build the cage and just used my aquarium still, the rats would have a nice large play area with them.) Can that be done? I would think it would be fine.. the panels are a good size.
EDIT: I built it! Seems like a nice size. I was so surprised how high it got to be.. 26"! I'm hoping to possibly make it larger, if I redo it at a later date. For now the boys really love all the climbing space. ^_^
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Happy New Year from Myself, Dumbledore, and Harry! |
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Jill
RP Supporter
Wed May 25, 2005 7:47 am
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| Combining two R-670s |
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I was wondering if anyone has had any luck combining two Martin's cages of the same size. My girls currently have an R-670, which is getting too cramped for the big girls, so instead of buying a whole new cage, we've decided to buy them ANOTHER R-670 and combine it with our current one. Now, I want them to end up as a single cage, so just cutting room for a tunnel wont' work.
These are the three options we have for combining the cage...
1) Stack the second cage on top of the first cage. This will give them a lot of room to climb (which they love to do) but will make it easier to fall (though I'll take precautions, of course), and will also not be as good for them as they age.
2) Attach the cages side by side. This will give them lots of room to spread out sideways, but won't add any height for climbing. On the bright side, they'd have enough room for their igloo to go back in their cage (it sits outside at the moment during the day for hoarding purposes because I decided they didn't have adequate floor space). The ceiling in our room is also short, and doing it this way would keep us from having to find a shorter table to put their cage on.
3) Attach the cages front to back. This gives spread out room like #2, but would make their cage floor a lot roomier instead of just wider. This would also give me a nice open space in the center with the way I would attach it.
I should point out that #2 and #3 would require me to mutilate their plastic trays. Has anyone done that? I'm a little nervous since the plastic is so thick, but we have lots of tools here, and I'm sure it could be done. Though I'm not really sure what we'd reconnect them with (though duct tape comes to mind!).
So, any opinions on which of these would produce the happiest ratties?
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KatysPerson
Wed May 25, 2005 5:48 pm
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| Wanting to build a Cage..... |
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I would like some suggestions on building a corner cage for my girls. I already have a bit of a plan worked up, but it seems to not be big enough for my 7 girls. I will see about getting a picture into the computer of my drawling, but no garuntees.
I also would like to know what the experiances have been with wooden cages. What do you use, or what do have in them to keep the smell factor at bay???
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kalynhanna
Wed May 25, 2005 6:07 pm
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Well never had a wooden cage myself but I did read somewhere that wood would soak up rat urine and would be contenuasly stink ( spelling?).
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KatysPerson
Wed May 25, 2005 6:45 pm
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well.. I have read that useing killz primer is good to seal it and to also use calk... I'm still reading past posts..... I'm still in the beggining stages and am looking for some pointers!
*EDIT*
Here's the Basement and Level #1....
I do have the shelves and open part mixed up in the picture for level #1. I will have the shelves on the right hand corner.
And here's Level #2....
One more thing... I'm also considering wheather or not I want the cage to be all open, or if I want the back 2 sides to be a solid peice of wood board. I think that the pricing of this total build will depend on what I use. Still.. any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!
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alfeoandbeppe
Sun Jul 24, 2005 9:30 pm
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| Custom Cages |
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Hi, I'm Savannah, I'm new here. I have two female rats, a Champagne Hooded(Chancey), and a Black Variegiated(Gypsy). I'm getting two more female rats in late August. My current cage is only big enough to house two rats. I'd like to Custom Build a cage. does anyone have any instructions or ideas? My mom thought of a cool idea, she called it a 'Rat Condo'. She said we could buy all kinds of bird cages and line em up and stack them and connect them with pvc pipes. i thought it was a pretty cool idea. any other idea suggestions? Thanks
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yourRumor
Sun Jul 24, 2005 11:40 pm
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Welcome to RP. 
Have you read through this thread and viewed the cage gallery? There's loads of ideas! Custom built cages are nice but can require a lot of work and time. Bird cages would work as long as you add in some type of shelving (baskets, wood, wire, etc). My girls love PVC so I'd definately recommend some of that! 
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--;[Dannie/]
Ratties: Kina, Cessi, Nerissa and Dare |
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LittleWillow
MODERATOR & RP Supporter
Sun Jul 24, 2005 11:48 pm
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alfeoandbeppe, welcome to RP.
Like Dannie said, there's lots of ideas here in this thread, and also check out this post for the cube cage that she's just built.
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Andy & The Rats
~ Darwin ~ Maisie ~ Ella ~ Zak ~
~ Finn ~ Malachi ~ Azrael ~ Newton ~ Charlie ~ |
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bluchimom
Mon Aug 22, 2005 11:28 pm
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| question about building a cage |
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Hi all I have a 3 shelve cabinet that I want to make into a rat cage. I was wondering, it does have a solid back but would I need to put wire down so they can't chew out? or could I just put it in the front of the "unit" Thanks!
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bluerattyrat
Tue Sep 20, 2005 5:08 am
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I make a grotto for my rats and they love it! My only suggestion would be to use waterproof paint and to cover all levels with some of the kitchen-type flooring that comes in the big rolls. The flooring gets chewed eventually but it sure takes hours out of weekly cleaning time because it is removable and easier to clean than painted wood. Make sure to get the 1/4 inch by 1/4 inch wire instead of 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch because it is a lot easier to make it stay in the shape you want since it is a bit thinner. Plus, another good thing, the rats will no longer be able to put thier hand out and pull your favorite sweater in for a chewing session...lol...we've all been there! Accidents happen. Good luck with the cages!
_________________
Loving Arms Rattery (LOVE)
Home of the sweetest rats on earth!!!
http://www.freewebs.com/loving_arms_rattery/ |
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Tim150
Thu Sep 29, 2005 12:41 am
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| Chewing problem |
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Yeah so i just finished my cage and its really cool, but the problem is my 2 ratties find that the braces holding in my removable panels are very tasty and like to take little nibbles at them. what could i do to prevent this? thanks
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Celynny
RP Supporter
Thu Sep 29, 2005 2:42 am
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| RE: Chewing problem |
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Prevent them nibbling by finding braces made out of metal...
I've discovered that once a ratty has it in his (or her) head that it wants to chew something into oblivion that it will ALWAYS suceed....
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Tim150
Thu Sep 29, 2005 8:56 am
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| RE: Chewing problem |
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would nailing sheet metal over it work? cus its all custom made and all, impossible to get metal stuff like that. also since the floors are made of wood, which are shelac'd what would be a good thing to put over that? i heard of those thin kitchen tiles but i was thinking something like a piece of carpet? whats you're thoughts on this?
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Kate
ADMIN & RP Supporter
Thu Sep 29, 2005 9:57 am
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| RE: Chewing problem |
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For floor covering ideas, see http://www.ratpalace.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3871
_________________
Kate & the M.O.U.S.
If you saw a man drowning and you could either save him or photograph the event ... what kind of film would you use?
~ Anonymous |
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killinjoke
Wed Oct 12, 2005 12:07 am
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Tails
Mon Oct 24, 2005 3:33 pm
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| How to build a "Grotto" cage |
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This weekend, I spent a few hours putting this plan together, based on both the "Grotto" from The Dapper Rat and my girls current cage.
I'm very proud of it  because I never took technical design in school, and I think it looks quite professional (please excuse me being vain  but I really am proud of it, lol)
The link to the RASCALS page or the direct link to the .pdf file - last link needs Adobe Acrobat Reader.
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Tails and her RAM byting Rats
Linux & Apple Mac
 Maxie & Pepper |
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Ellies_girl
Mon Oct 24, 2005 9:15 pm
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| RE: How to build a "Grotto" cage |
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It does look really nice! And your site is really well organized.
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Rosie
* * *
I miss you Tut, Goldy, and Raoul |
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Tails
Tue Oct 25, 2005 12:01 pm
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| RE: How to build a "Grotto" cage |
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*gets all puffy proud* Thanks Ellie's_girl!!!
_________________
Tails and her RAM byting Rats
Linux & Apple Mac
Maxie & Pepper |
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Ellies_girl
Wed Oct 26, 2005 2:28 am
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| RE: How to build a "Grotto" cage |
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My mom said that if I build a grotto style cage my self, she will pay for it, and if I build it in time, Raoul wont have to live in a 10 gallon aquarium.
Does anyone have any advice for building a small grotto style cage?
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Rosie
* * *
I miss you Tut, Goldy, and Raoul |
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Tails
Wed Oct 26, 2005 12:17 pm
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| RE: How to build a "Grotto" cage |
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Hmm...how about modernising my plans to have only the one door and not both levels? Then you could just add a whole bunch of platforms, tunnels, hammocks, and ladders. And you'd still have the storage space. I havent looked through all the posts in this thread, but I'm sure there's also a small design somewhere around here Good luck, and when you're done, you better post pics
PS: If you use my designs, and something isnt clear, just ask and I'll be happy to help Also, there is a pic of my cage in the gallery called The Rookery Nook
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Tails and her RAM byting Rats
Linux & Apple Mac
Maxie & Pepper |
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BigBossPants
Sun Oct 30, 2005 7:40 am
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| My Cage Concepts |
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Hi!
I've been looking around at all the home made cages people have, and it's inspired me to design my own. I have a wee case of MGMR hehe and plan on adding a few females to my menagerie next year, and hopefully breed a few good litters.
Anyway, here's a link to my concepts, let me know what you think!
http://www.freewebs.com/ratpatch/cageconcepts.htm
They look a bit funny unless you view them full sized.
Happy viewing!
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Making the doors openable was the biggest pain.