IKEA Billy cage

[Gemma_xo]

Being a huge fan of ErinsAnimals on Youtube, this video popped up in my Subs feed a day or so ago.
I wanted an IKEA detolf cage for THE longest time but on my first ever visit to IKEA, I saw the length of the Detolf and it just wasn't practical at all, Erin recently spoke about changing her Detolf Cage for something smaller and uploaded this.
IKEA Billy Cage tutorial (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qy-GKabRQdY)

I have decided this is the cage for Pixie, it looks so much better then an IKEA Samla bin cage in my opinion and the Billy cage thingy will fit in perfectly with my IKEA square shelves which the cage lives on top of.

The reason I'm writing this post is because I'm a total DIY newbie, I have no idea where to start and since I'm going to have to do this alone since my friend doesn't understand why I want Pixie out of a storage bin (knowing that was always temporary!) so is refusing to help at all.

Ideas or tips or general know how things & any do's or dont's would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you :)

[Hammy_]

I would just follow the instructions and then maybe get a parent or sibling to help along the way

[Kiki_3173]

Being a huge fan of ErinsAnimals on Youtube, this video popped up in my Subs feed a day or so ago.
I wanted an IKEA detolf cage for THE longest time but on my first ever visit to IKEA, I saw the length of the Detolf and it just wasn't practical at all, Erin recently spoke about changing her Detolf Cage for something smaller and uploaded this.
IKEA Billy Cage tutorial (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qy-GKabRQdY)

I have decided this is the cage for Pixie, it looks so much better then an IKEA Samla bin cage in my opinion and the Billy cage thingy will fit in perfectly with my IKEA square shelves which the cage lives on top of.

The reason I'm writing this post is because I'm a total DIY newbie, I have no idea where to start and since I'm going to have to do this alone since my friend doesn't understand why I want Pixie out of a storage bin (knowing that was always temporary!) so is refusing to help at all.

Ideas or tips or general know how things & any do's or dont's would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you :)


I have a Billy Extension IKEA Hack cage that I built several years ago. To be perfectly honest...this was the easiest DIY cage that I have built yet! Even easier than my bin cage. The hardest part was maybe the lid, but that wasn't really all that hard. I've seen Erin's tutorial and it is the same as my instructions post and Flutteri's. I'd just follow Erin's tutorial.

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s208/Kiki_3173/17470B35-A3B9-42EA-9AEC-0AB982847215_zpsi5ut9shb.jpg (http://s153.photobucket.com/user/Kiki_3173/media/17470B35-A3B9-42EA-9AEC-0AB982847215_zpsi5ut9shb.jpg.html)

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s208/Kiki_3173/IKEA%20Billy%20Hack/DSC_0263_zpse3nyx8mh.jpg (http://s153.photobucket.com/user/Kiki_3173/media/IKEA%20Billy%20Hack/DSC_0263_zpse3nyx8mh.jpg.html)

Side Note: PLEASE tell me that Pixie is a Chinese or a Dwarf hamster. This cage is quite small and would not be suitable home for a Syrian or the accessories a Syrian needs.

[Hazella]

It looks pretty straightforward! Just take it one step at a time. Ikea furniture is generally pretty easy to put together, particularly something small like the Billy shelf extension. I have assembled Ikea furniture before and have found a rubber mallet to be handy, gentle taps can help push pieces together. With only three pieces though your hands should be enough!

You could even add silicone along the inner edges where the wood meets to strengthen the connections and keep gunk from building up in the corners/edges for easier cleaning.

With cutting the wood pieces for the top door, just be sure to check your measurements and you should be fine. The store which you purchase the wood strips might even be able to cut them for you (here in the US the big corporate home renovation stores do so, I don't know about in the UK).

Also make sure the nails you use are are not longer then the width of the wood you use for the door or they can poke through the wood on the opposite side; a staple gun would be easier if you have access to one. I remember making that mistake on one of my first woodworking projects and had to start all over!

Good luck on your project! If you can, post some photos when you are all finished, I'd love to see how it turned out!

[Baby Grrr]

YAAAAAAAAAAAS your a fan too? Awesome! :D :D :D

[Kiki_3173]

I ended up putting the peel and stick laminate tiles in the bottom of the cage and sealing around the edges. It helps protect the wood laminate floor from urine and SO much easier to clean.

I also put hinges on the back of the lid to make for easy opening.

[Gemma_xo]

Side Note: PLEASE tell me that Pixie is a Chinese or a Dwarf hamster. This cage is quite small and would not be suitable home for a Syrian or the accessories a Syrian needs.

Pixie is a Hybrid Dwarf from P@H, I okayed the Billy extension cage because of her size, I think I will continue down the Dwarf line in future too, if for whatever reason I do get a Syrian, a cage change would happen before the Hamster was brought home.

YAAAAAAAAAAAS your a fan too? Awesome! :D :D :D

:D I am :D, forever watching her stuff!

You could even add silicone along the inner edges where the wood meets to strengthen the connections and keep gunk from building up in the corners/edges for easier cleaning.
The store which you purchase the wood strips might even be able to cut them for you (here in the US the big corporate home renovation stores do so, I don't know about in the UK).
Good luck on your project! If you can, post some photos when you are all finished, I'd love to see how it turned out!

I was considering adding silicone on the inside, thanks for seconding that idea :D. Also, I know one DIY wood shop here would cut the wood given the lengths, so I just hope there's one close enough to me :).
And I will do, IKEA want an INSANE amount of money for delivery, so I'm waiting on a lift to my local store to get the stuff myself :), but pictures will follow as soon as I get the cage started.

I ended up putting the peel and stick laminate tiles in the bottom of the cage and sealing around the edges. It helps protect the wood laminate floor from urine and SO much easier to clean.

I also put hinges on the back of the lid to make for easy opening.

I was thinking that about the sheets, now been added to my to buy list :). Hinges also sound like a viable option, just need to up my DIY savvy-ness first :D


Thank you all :).

[Gemma_xo]

I would just follow the instructions and then maybe get a parent or sibling to help along the way

Just seen this, I'm 25 next month & live alone :D
No parents or siblings on hand lol.
Did make me chuckle though, I wish I had parents & siblings to hand :D
x

[Hammy_]

Just seen this, I'm 25 next month & live alone :D
No parents or siblings on hand lol.
Did make me chuckle though, I wish I had parents & siblings to hand :D
x

Hahahaha just wondered

[Kabutte]

wow such a beautiful cage.

[Pebbles82]

Just seen this, I'm 25 next month & live alone :D
No parents or siblings on hand lol.
Did make me chuckle though, I wish I had parents & siblings to hand :D
x

Just grab some bloke to come and help then ha ha :mad:

[DrropS]

Hi guys,

I'm really new hamster owner, a bit unsure about everything still.
But I built this Billy cage and since it's my first DIY cage and also never been using silicone before, the finishing is not quite smooth with the silicone part. Should I just remove the silicone and do the job again? Im a bit worries she will try to chew the silicone and will get some serious problems

[CMB]

You could remove the silicone and try again. As the silicone is drying smooth it out and remove the excess before it is totally dry.