Chinchilla cage: how to choose, how to make it yourself

Before buying a chinchilla, you need to take care of where it will live. Usually, for this purpose, a cage is chosen, inside which a house and other accessories are installed.

How are homemade cages and houses different from those you can buy in a store? Almost everyone. After all, they will definitely be filled with warmth and care for the pet. Here you are the designer and performer. Any idea, any size plus a little effort – done! Nothing compares to something like this.

In this article we will look at how to make a cage for a chinchilla with your own hands, we will look at the best materials to choose and what ideas and manufacturing technologies exist.

Requirements

When choosing any item, there are special things that you need to pay attention to, the same with the cage. What kind of cage should a pet be comfortable in?

Primary requirements:

• spacious. Chinchillas are very active animals; they love to jump and run. Therefore, cell size is an important criterion when choosing. The pet should be comfortable;
• Made from non-toxic materials. An important criterion is the choice of material. It should not be plastic or similar materials (with the exception of a pallet);
• safe. There should be no sharp edges, wires or other dangerous elements inside the cage. Even a small wire from the wall bars, bent inward, can injure the animal;
• it should be possible to easily and safely install shelves, drinking bowls, toys and other items that your pet needs so much;
• have good ventilation;
• sufficient lighting;
• It is desirable to have a tray, this will make it easier to clean inside.

Where to put the cage

Once the cage is ready for the furry to move in, you will need to choose a suitable place to install it. This point is very important, since chinchillas are very sensitive to environmental conditions. Therefore, when choosing a place to install the cage, you need to consider the following recommendations:

1. The room should be cool. The optimal temperature for keeping a chinchilla is +18-22ᵒС. When the indicator increases to +24-25ᵒC, the pet’s well-being noticeably worsens. Chinchillas naturally live in the mountains, where the climate is quite harsh, so they do not tolerate heat well.
2. The air humidity in the room should be between 45-50%. The fact is that chinchillas have very thick and dense fur, which instantly gets wet in high humidity. At the same time, the fur coat of fluffies takes a very long time to dry, which often becomes the cause of colds.
3. Chinchillas are very timid, they fall into a stupor at every foreign sound or at the sight of a stranger. Therefore, it is better to install the cage in an isolated, non-passable room, where no one and nothing will disturb the pet.
4. It is necessary to protect the chinchilla cage from direct sunlight. Chinchillas are crepuscular animals and prefer to sleep during the day. Therefore, it is better to place the cage in a shady room. If this is not possible, it is necessary to protect the windows with thick curtains or blinds so that the sun does not interfere with the animal’s rest.

It is also worth considering that the activity of chinchillas increases noticeably at night. Therefore, people who are sensitive sleepers should avoid installing a cage with a pet in the bedroom.

To ensure that your chinchilla always feels comfortable, it is recommended to install a split system in the room with the cage. You just need to install the air conditioner in such a way that cold air does not fall directly on your pet.

Main varieties

When looking for a home for your pet, you can find different variations of cages. They differ in appearance, price and quality.

Let's look at the most common options.

From metal rods

This is the most common and very budget option. At the bottom of such a cage there is usually a tray with sawdust, which is easy to clean. It is easy to attach the necessary accessories for your pet to the mesh. But this design does not dampen noise at all; any movement in it will make sound.

Display cage

The material usually used is wood, although other models are also available. Such a cage is a real work of art and the pet becomes part of this composition. It will easily fit into the interior and complement it.

From old furniture

Masters can give a second life to any item. Unnecessary furniture in their hands turns into a beautiful display cage.

For breeding chinchillas

This design is a metal cage divided into several sections, each of which houses a pet.

Dimensions

As mentioned above, size is important. How comfortable the animal will be depends on it; its health directly depends on it.

For one animal

It is advisable to choose a cage with dimensions of 80x80x50 cm. With such dimensions the pet will not feel cramped. But still, acquiring a more spacious living space will only be a plus.

For two chinchillas

The size of the cage must be at least 140x140x80cm.

For breeding

The size of the cage should be much larger than normal. Such farmer cells are an amalgamation of smaller cells. It is desirable that each such cell be 50x50x40 cm in size. It is necessary to build a corridor between them so that the male can calmly pass to the females. At the same time, isolate the females from each other. This can be done by putting special plastic collars on the females.

Pros and cons of a homemade cage

There is a wide range of cages in stores, but sometimes even there you can’t find anything suitable. Making a cage for a chinchilla yourself is an excellent option for craftsmen and simply loving owners. A chinchilla's cage must have a certain size. Knowing the manufacturing technology, you can make it in just a couple of hours.

Any homemade item has pros and cons. Let's pay attention to them.

Pros:

• low cost;
• confidence in the quality of materials;
• the ability to design the design, dimensions and material of the cage yourself;
• can be made from available materials.

Minuses:

• to quickly build a cage, you need to have some skills;
• you will have to buy consumables.

What to pay attention to

• Chinchillas are quiet animals and prefer to be nocturnal;
• they are easy to train, it is advisable to try to train them;
• care must be taken to keep their fur from getting wet. Rodents with such fur do not dry out completely, and the fur may become moldy over time;
• the chinchilla's cage should be in a quiet place so that nothing interrupts its sleep;
• this rodent is susceptible to stress;
• You should not feed your chinchilla human food;
• require children to handle animals carefully and, if possible, monitor this;
• remember the rodent's protective reaction to stress: hair loss, biting and splashing urine.

Metal mesh cage

A cage made of metal mesh is the simplest option that you can make yourself at home.

Required materials and tools

To create such a house you will need the following:

• metal mesh (roll). Must be galvanized;
• metal tubes for the frame;
• fastening rings;
• bolts for locking;
• self-tapping screws;
• aluminum strip (corner);
• aluminum wire;
• scissors for cutting metal;
• centimeter tape measure;
• pliers;
• screwdriver;
• latch;
• loops.

Dimensions and layout

The minimum length and width of the house must be at least 50 cm. Its height must be 70 cm. The distance between the rods must be no more than 2 cm.

If two pets will live in the house, then it should have a place for sleeping, playing and active movement. There should be enough space to accommodate all the necessary elements for a comfortable life for pets.

Care and maintenance at home

When you decide to get a chinchilla, it is important to first learn how to care for your pet at home. Proper care and rational feeding are the key to a long life for an animal.

Pet cage and house

Before purchasing a chinchilla, you need to purchase a home for your future pet. It is preferable to keep the animal in a cage, the main criterion for choosing which is spaciousness. The chinchilla is a mobile, active animal that requires enough space. The minimum cage size for one individual is 50x60 cm, excluding the play area. The choice should be made in favor of high cages, since the rodent is characterized by jumping ability.

It is worth paying attention to the material from which the rods are made: they must be metal. The pet will quickly chew through wooden or plastic grilles and run away

Since the chinchilla is flexible, you should not purchase a cage with a large distance between the bars, as this also risks the animal escaping.

Metal cages with a plastic tray are the best solution when purchasing a house for a future pet; they are easy to clean and inexpensive. However, they are not soundproofed; this will be especially noticeable at night. As an alternative, pet stores offer to place the animal in special glass display cases made like an aquarium.

Disadvantages of the showcase:

• the wooden frame absorbs unpleasant odors;
• inconvenient to wash;
• The walls and floor swell from moisture over time, resulting in the need to replace the display case.

Inside the rodent's home, it is necessary to install a wooden house in which the animal will sleep during the daytime and hide from the outside world.

Delicious dinner!

How to maintain?

Keeping a chinchilla will not be particularly difficult if the pet owner takes care of purchasing a spacious cage furnished with the necessary accessories. The animal must be kept clean and always have access to clean water, hay and fresh food.

It is important to monitor the thermal regime; exceeding the air temperature of 25 degrees is fraught with heat stroke for the animal. You can beat the seasonal heat with frozen water bottles placed in your cage.

This will cool the temperature inside the animal's home. It is under no circumstances recommended to install a fan or humidifier in a room with a chinchilla.

In addition to the house, feeder and drinking bowl, the cage must contain a special salt stone on which the animal will grind its teeth. For entertainment, you can equip the cage with a system of manholes and tunnels, which can be purchased at a pet store.

How to toilet train?

Chinchillas are easy to train; if desired, you can accustom them to a tray that serves as a toilet. Preference should be given to the corner option, this will save space in the cage.

To train an animal to relieve itself only in a tray, you should fill it with a special wood filler and regularly collect the animal’s pellets in it. Feeling the smell, over time the chinchilla will understand that the tray is a special place for excrement.

When training your pet to use the toilet, it is important to adhere to the basic rules of training - reward while visiting the litter box and scold for defecating on the floor.

Bathing

The rodent's soft coat requires regular bathing in special seliolite sand, which can be purchased at a pet store. This procedure allows you to clean the animal’s fur from dirt.

Bathing a chinchilla should be carried out in a special bathing suit, on the bottom of which sand is poured in a layer no higher than half a centimeter

It is important that the product is securely fastened to the bars of the cage, so that the vigorous movements of the rodent do not lead to the bathing suit turning over

Bathing a chinchilla

How to care for a sick pet?

Chinchillas, like any representative animal of the animal world, can get sick. The main signs of animal illness are:

• inactivity;
• apathy;
• increased sleepiness at night;
• excessive salivation;
• moans;
• refusal of food;
• pressing the ears to the head.

Any of these symptoms is a good reason to contact your veterinarian. You should not try to treat the animal yourself; only a doctor who will give basic recommendations for caring for a sick pet should make a diagnosis and prescribe a treatment regimen. The owner’s main task during this period is to strictly follow the veterinarian’s recommendations.

Step-by-step instruction

Drawing up a drawing

The drawing must be drawn up taking into account the dimensions of all parts. It is important to calculate how many aluminum profiles will be needed in length and how much mesh will have to be spent on the side walls. Be sure to calculate the dimensions of the upper part of the structure. You also need to decide on the number of shelves.

Frame assembly

Assemble a frame from metal tubes according to the drawing. Spread the net on the table and use a tape measure to measure the distance corresponding to the height. Cut out the sides from the mesh and align them.

Connecting elements

Using fastening rings, attach the mesh to the frame. Cut out the roof and bottom from the wall. Attach them to the frame. At the bottom you can lay a piece of tin with sawdust, which will serve as a pallet.

Door installation

Involves performing the following actions:

1. To make a door, just cut a window in one of the walls. The edges of which need to be sanded and then trimmed with aluminum strips.
2. The mesh cut to the size of the window must also be trimmed and attached to the hinges. This design closes with a latch.

Another, more simplified way:

1. Cut a window in one of the walls. Trim the edges.
2. Attach the mesh cut to the size of the window onto hooks made of aluminum wire.

Attaching accessories:

One cage is not enough for a comfortable life. The pet needs a house, a bowl, toys, a tray, a bath, and a teeth sharpener. All this can be installed on shelves that can be easily attached to the mesh wall using small metal corners or screws. A hammock in a cage with metal rods can be hung from hooks from the ceiling. The drinking bowl and hay box are simply attached to the walls.

A display cage can be incredibly unusual, because there is no end to the design possibilities. It looks much more beautiful than a regular cage. In addition, this model creates virtually no noise. To find out how to make a chinchilla display, you can look at the drawings on the Internet.

Main rules for keeping chinchillas

You should know that chinchillas practically do not shed, and if they do, it is only from fear or some kind of excitement. There is no need to wash the fur with water. Nature intended that chinchillas clean their fur with volcanic dust. At home, of course, there is no such dust, but it can be replaced with sand. It can easily be placed in a cage.

The advantage of chinchillas is that fleas and ticks do not like their thick and dense fur, which means they will not bother either the animals or you.

Chinchillas do not smell, while many other rodents require constant bedding to keep the smell from getting stronger.

Do not take chinchillas from random breeders, as no one will guarantee that the animal is healthy. The best option is to take the animal from a nursery.

Display cage made of laminated chipboard

Such a chinchilla house can be made using laminated chipboard as a basis. It is important to remember that the area must be dry, have sufficient lighting and good ventilation.

What the result should be, look at the photo below:

Required materials and tools

To build a display case for a chinchilla, you will need the following:

• laminated chipboard;
• pencil;
• centimeter tape measure;
• wooden slats (or aluminum profile);
• wooden boards;
• glass;
• galvanized mesh (mesh size 1.5×1.5 cm);
• PVC tape;
• hinges for doors;
• screws;
• latches;
• drill;
• self-tapping screws;
• screwdriver;
• drill;
• jigsaw;
• saw.

Stages of creation

When everything is prepared, you can begin the creation process.

To do this you need to do the following:

1. First take your measurements. Build a drawing.
2. Draw the walls and bottom of the required dimensions on the chipboard, cut them out.
3. Cut out windows in the walls, which will then need to be covered with mesh (they will later serve as ventilation).
4. Use a drill to drill holes in the tray, then use screws to secure the back and side walls.
5. Secure the walls together.
6. Stretch a mesh on top as a ceiling. It will act as ventilation. It will also be convenient to attach accessories for your pet to the mesh cells.
7. Mount the glass (with specially treated edges) to the cage using special hinges that allow you to do without drilling.
8. Install the latches.
9. Using self-tapping screws, attach shelves and stairs to the display cage. Close the screw caps with caps.
10. Cover the edges with PVC tape.

Basic requirements for cages for chinchillas

For normal well-being and development, animals need suitable conditions. The following requirements for cells are distinguished:

Sufficient size. In an ordinary apartment, it is advisable to increase the dimensions to at least 50 by 50 by 70 cm for one chinchilla. It is recommended to add more space for the play area. These sizes are multiplied by the number of animals. If there are more than three, you need to think about another cell

The size of the home is important for the movement and health of pets. When choosing a regular metal cage, pay attention to the distance between the rods. It should not be more than 2 cm

Otherwise, the chinchillas try to get free and get damaged. Small animals run away. The home should be warm and dry. Good ventilation and light are important. If the floor is made in the form of a retractable tray, it is easier to wash it and fill it with sawdust. Sometimes they are specially modified. Strength of any structural detail. Flimsy meshes, glass, etc. lead to injuries and escapes of pets.

Showcase made from old furniture

An old unnecessary cabinet can be converted into a wonderful display case for your pet. In this case, you will save money and get a display cage that only you will have.

Materials and tools

To build such a house for a furry pet, you need to prepare:

• the closet you will be remodeling;
• pencil;
• centimeter tape measure;
• glass;
• glass lock;
• saw;
• screwdriver;
• galvanized mesh;
• plywood;
• self-tapping screws

Procedure

Next you need to proceed according to this scheme:

1. If the cabinet does not have glass doors, then first of all remove the old doors and install glass in their place.
2. Attach a special lock to the glass.
3. Cut out large windows in the side walls of the cabinet. Cover them with mesh. (This will serve as ventilation.)
4. Cut out plates from plywood and make holes in them. Such a simple structure will help the chinchilla move. Set the plates at the desired height.
5. Attach the shelves to the back wall using self-tapping screws.
6. We place other accessories for the pet.

Do-it-yourself housing for a chinchilla

Often breeders decide to make a chinchilla cage with their own hands.

If you have a desire to tinker, then here are a few instructions to help you. First, buy the necessary materials for the job. It is better to give preference to wood. The frame will be made of bars, lining, boards and many shelves. Chipboard or plywood are also suitable. To close the holes, you need a metal mesh.

The following tools will be useful:

• hacksaw;
• jigsaw;
• hammer;
• drill and wood bits;
• stationery knife, marker;
• metal scissors;
• ruler.

To begin, prepare a drawing, taking into account the size of your room and the size of the desired pet house. Then start making the base, which needs to be covered with clapboard.

Next, the cage frame is built from the bars.

The bars are attached to the corners of the base using self-tapping screws or nails.

Using a metal mesh, the walls of the cage and its roof are tightened.

To make cleaning easier, we recommend making several doors on different sides.

Then you can install various shelves and place the accessories your animal needs on them.

It is best to cover the back of the cage with a sheet of plywood.

Finally, it is necessary to treat the house with a protective impregnation.

If you show your imagination, you can use old furniture and other available materials. An old cabinet is often used:

1. The doors are removed from the furniture and the inside is repurposed for animals. Some of the shelves are cut out to allow animals to move freely.
2. You need to cut a hole in the top of the closet and stretch the mesh so that the house is ventilated.
3. In place of the cabinet doors, you can make frames from wood and tighten them with a metal mesh.

A do-it-yourself chinchilla display “from scratch” will require a little more time and skill.

So, you will need:

• metal tubes for the frame, or wooden yards;
• corners to connect parts;
• cogs;
• metal mesh;
• door hinges.

Then follow the instructions step by step:

A do-it-yourself corner display case for a chinchilla is quite popular, because it can significantly save space in your apartment. To make one, show a little imagination and dexterity, and the result will definitely please you!

Where to place a chinchilla cage

Take seriously the choice of place in the apartment where the cage with the animal will be placed. It is better not to change the location of the cage throughout the animal’s life.

Here are some tips for you:

• the room should be dry and light;
• direct rays of the sun should not enter the cage;
• drafts should not be allowed;
• the air temperature where the animal lives should not exceed +23° C.
• the cage should not be placed next to electrical heating appliances;
• It is not advisable to place the cage on the floor;
• the cage should not be placed next to loud devices (equipment);
• Since chinchillas are very active at night, you should not place the cage in the bedroom. It's better to put it in the living room.

Cleaning a chinchilla's cage or display case

It is not enough to simply make a house, choose a place for it and move your pet into it; you must also not forget about caring for your pet’s home. Once a week you need to do a general cleaning, and at this time the animal should be placed in a carrier. The house can be wiped with a wet cloth and even vacuumed. At the end of cleaning, you need to wipe the cage dry. Disinfection (if necessary) is carried out using specialized products purchased at a pet store.

Making a house

Chinchillas are burrowing animals; staying in secluded places is inherent in them at the level of instinct. Therefore, the house is one of the most important accessories in this animal’s cage. This is her refuge, a cozy corner, a place of rest. She may ignore the house at first. But this is only at the adaptation stage, then the animal will get used to it and will be happy to be there. Let's look at how to make a house for a chinchilla with your own hands below.

Materials and tools

To make a house, you will need to prepare the following:

• wooden boards 1.5 cm thick;
• pencil;
• ruler;
• metal corners;
• emery (or sanding machine);
• hacksaw;
• drill;
• dowels.

House parameters

The size of the home should be such that the animal has room in it. The average size of a simple house for one pet is 27x18x15.6 cm.

Simple

The chinchilla house has only one floor. It is relatively small in size, with a hole for a pet and all the necessary accessories.

The instructions for making such a dwelling are as follows:

1. Draw a drawing. Here you can experiment with the design, for example, making round windows or embossing the name of an animal above the door.
2. Cut out the walls and roof. On the front wall draw an entrance and a window. Draw windows on the side walls.
3. Cut out all the drawn holes.
4. Sand the edges of the finished parts, including the windows and entrance. The edges should become smooth.
5. Drill holes in the walls and roof for the dowels and use them to fasten the parts together.
6. To disinfect, wipe the house with a cloth soaked in water with a few drops of alcohol or vinegar.
7. Cover the edges with metal to make the house last longer.
8. Dry the resulting home and ventilate it. Install in a cage.

Double decker

You can even make a two-story house with your own hands.

It will be a structure of two floors, where one (lower) floor is almost twice as large as the second. That is, if the part located on the second floor measures 27x18x15.6 cm (for one chinchilla), then the lower one should have a size of about 60x51x48.6 cm. You can reduce the dimensions slightly, but so that the animal fits freely inside.

For a two-story house you need:

• wooden boards 1.5 cm thick;
• pencil;
• ruler;
• emery (or sanding machine);
• hacksaw;
• drill;
• dowels.

Stages:

1. Draw a drawing.
2. Make two houses of different sizes based on the first method.
3. Connect them together (preferably using dowels).
4. Disinfect with a solution of water + a few drops of alcohol or vinegar.
5. Dry and ventilate. Install in a cage.

A more original design is a house in the form of an arch. It looks incredibly beautiful and is easy to make.

Arch shaped

To build a dwelling in the form of an arch you will need:

• wooden boards 1.5 cm thick;
• small planks (3 cm wide and 2 cm thick);
• compass;
• ruler;
• emery (or sanding machine);
• drill;
• dowels.

Manufacturing stages:

1. On the board, draw a circle with a radius of 15-17 cm using a compass.
2. Cut out a circle and divide it into two equal parts.
3. On one semicircle, draw a window and an entrance, cut it out. This will be the front wall.
4. Sand the edges of the parts, including the window and entrance
5. Cut the boards into pieces 17-21 cm long. Sand
6. Drill holes for dowels on the slats and along the circumference on the walls at distances of 3 cm.
7. Build a house.
8. Disinfect. Dry. Install.

Arrangement of the cage

In order for a chinchilla to feel comfortable, the cage must be properly equipped. To do this, you will need to install the following accessories inside:

• House . In natural conditions, chinchillas are nocturnal and spend time during the day in rock crevices and burrows. Therefore, they need to have a shelter where they can hide from the sunlight and take a nap. Today, pet stores sell both plastic and wooden models. The first are more practical, the second are environmentally friendly. Therefore, if possible, you can buy a wooden house and change it every 2-3 months.
• Drinker and feeder . You can use regular metal or plastic bowls as dishes for your chinchilla. However, the animal will constantly carry them in its teeth, scattering food and spilling water. Therefore, it is better to buy specialized feeders and drinking bowls at the pet store, which are firmly fixed to the cage.
• Sennitsa – hay forms the basis of the chinchilla’s diet. Therefore, it should always be in the cage in unlimited quantities and freely available to the animal. An inverted running wheel attached to a cage frame is usually used as a hayride.
• Equipment for exercises . During wakefulness, chinchillas do not like to sit still. They are on the move, playing, exploring the world around them. Therefore, to prevent the animal from getting bored, it is necessary to install a so-called play complex for it in its cage. It can include a running wheel, ladders, tunnels and just small wooden toys. Also, the cage must have 3-4 wooden shelves - chinchillas simply love to sit on them.
• Hammock . So that the fluffy can take a little rest after active games, it is recommended to hang 2-3 hammocks in the cage. If desired, the chinchilla can even take a nap in them.
• Mineral stone . Chinchillas' teeth grow continuously, so they need to be constantly ground down. In nature, the animal sharpens its teeth on twigs and tree bark. And for these purposes, you can put a special mineral stone in the cage, which is sold in any pet store.
• Bathing suit . Because of their thick fur, chinchillas never take water treatments or even lick their fur. In order for your pet to be able to remove dirt and hairs that have fallen out of its coat, it is enough to place a bathing suit covered with sand or volcanic ash in the cage every day for 20-30 minutes.
• Tray . Chinchillas are quite smart animals. Therefore, with some effort and spending very little time, you can train your pet to go to the toilet in the same place.

Also, when keeping a chinchilla, you will have to buy food and litter on an ongoing basis. The latter should be in the form of corn pellets or sawdust.

Just under no circumstances should you put pine filler into a chinchilla’s cage, as it can cause allergies in the fluffy one.

The choice of food must also be approached responsibly. To ensure that your pet always feels good, you should give preference to specialized mixtures for feeding chinchillas, consisting mainly of herbs.

What kind of cage should a chinchilla have, how to choose and how to make a house for a pet with your own hands - all these questions need to be studied before purchasing a pet. Then the owner of the animal will have time to carefully prepare for the meeting of a new family member.

Making sennitsa

A drinking bowl, a feeder and a hay box - these three things will provide the chinchilla with a complete menu. It’s quite easy to make a chinchilla hay stand with your own hands. The main thing: do not ignore certain requirements. Sennitsa is a place where an animal can get the necessary hay, which will give it important nutrients.

Requirements

The pet's health directly depends on the hay. After all, it contains food with which many beneficial vitamins enter the body.

Requirements for the sennik:

• made from non-toxic materials;
• holds the hay tightly inside;
• closed enough to prevent animal urine from getting onto the hay;
• have a window from which the chinchilla can easily pull out the required amount of grass for food.

Necessary materials

To build a canopy you will need the following:

• galvanized metal mesh;
• pliers (or scissors for cutting metal);
• iron lids for glass jars.

Step-by-step instruction

When the materials and tools are prepared, you can begin the process of creating such a product:

1. Cut the mesh and bend it around the diameter of the lid, making sure that the bars parallel to the lid are on the outside.
2. The mesh should make a tube, along the edges of which the caps act as plugs.
3. We attach a small strip of mesh to one edge of the tube, which will be used to attach the hay to the cage.
4. We install the sennik.

So, we can summarize. If you wish and even have the most basic skills, you can build a cage, a house and a kennel for your pet - that is, the things he needs most. And by following the step-by-step instructions presented in the article, the manufacturing process will become even easier.