Bin cage project - your ideas please

[SpaceMouse]

I have two same size samla bins and one samla lid. Ideally I'd like a two tier cage for my new chinese, Latte.

However I'm rubbish at DIY and can't think of a feasible way to attach the two bins and still have access to both without having to buy and mangle a shop bought cage.

I have mesh, tape, hot glue, cable ties, and an assortment of tools, so please hit me up with ideas ☺

[Piebald]

Hi SpaceMouse. I guess two-tier means stacking and one lid means directly on top. I haven't done it myself but I have seen tubes adapted for joining bins but tubes seem to lead often to a lot of other problems. I would think that especially for a Chinese an interior ramp might be the better option. You would need to find something to use or make a ramp with first of all; maybe a long bendy bridge or craft "popsicle sticks". I think the ramp should have a railing although Chinese are good climbers. The trick with a ramp in my mind is how to keep the top substrate from falling down the hole. I think if you build a fence around the top hole (once again with a bendy bridge or popsicle sticks) and have the ramp come out over the top of that fence problem solved. Attaching the ramp and fence may take some experimenting and needs the advice of other bin-cage experts of which there are many here-- not me! But I am imagining using some kind of bolts to the side of the cage and/or mesh.

Anyone else think this might work?

[racinghamster]

Okay, here goes! Stack one Bin on top of the other. Make sure the `lip` of the upper bin sits in is secure and solid and doesn`t wobble around or show any gaps. Give it a jiggle about just to be sure.

Looking at both stacked, decide what you want to do. Mesh the front of both bins for good ventilation and visuals of your hamster and ease for hanging a water bottle in both upper and lower floors? If you done that, you may not need to mesh the lid itself and just clip that on. Or mesh the lid as well but it shouldn`t be necessary if you measure two oblong squares at the front, making sure you leave the lower bits deep enough for your substrate not to spill out!

That should be it really. I would use small bolts, nuts and washers though on the grills to make them very secure and have the flat screw on the inside and the poking out bit on the outside unless the screws are very neat and short. Also have the mesh fitted to the outside of the Bins as any sharp edges won`t be near the hamster. I`ve seen some people use duct take around the edges but if the mesh is on the outside (cut it bigger than the hole it`s going over) it will be safer.

You will also need to measure and cut a square in the upper floor for a ramp to go up to. Just measure a square, mark each corner with a pen and melt holes using a metal knitting needle heated on a gas ring. Then use a hand held blade or craft knife to remove the middle section. Go slow with this though and take your time.

Make a long plywood ramp and secure two hooks in the top of the wood. Melt two holes at the top for the hooks to fit into and you have nice wide wooden ramp. Think it through before you do anything. Take your time and just do a but at a time, probably starting with meshing the front panels. x

[racinghamster]

Here is a good example of someone who has taken the front grills from small cages and placed the grids (with doors) onto Bin cages! This is what I would do. I`m not sure about the long vertical tube running down the side though. An internal ramp would be better, although I suppose you could experiment. x