Doing some stuff with a Knuff

[Scarlett Empress]

I don't remember seeing if anyone has done this before so apologies if I am wrong!

I got hold of some Ikea Knuff magazine holders the other day and I have cut one in half to try and make some shelves for my Alexander cage. I love the shelves it comes with but have only got one of them in, and I simply can't lift the top of the cage off with the size and weight for a proper clean out!

So I thought if I had some easily removable shelves I could either take them out so I could lift the cage top, or just remove them so I can access all areas through the top door of the cage.

This is still WIP but basically I have cut one of my Knuffs in half, painted it, and drilled holes through so I can bolt the shelves onto the cage -







I could do with longer bolts really but Wilko only had 12mm or REALLY long - 12mm just about works but a few mmm longer would be easier.

The plan is to take the big shelf out, and replace it with two of these at different levels - I just thought I would try one for size before I go any further.

I've ordered some wooden dowels to make a barrier round the front, so that I can put different sorts of substrate in the shelves - a bit of aubiose, dried green forage, stuff like that.

[BorisPasha]

Oh that's a really nice idea Scarlett Empress, it looks really good

I love that little star you have hanging above it too, it's very cute

[Scarlett Empress]

Thank you BorisPasha! Hopefully it will all work out how I want, once I've got my dowels to finish it off.

The star was part of a Christmas garland I think from P@H, I drilled some holes in so I can poke sunflower seeds in - but Marty is a bit lazy about getting them out, I don't think she likes to work too hard for her food!

[BorisPasha]

Oh that's a good idea, some of my boys are a bit lazy like that too lol.

I hope you'll share some pics when the shelf is finished and that it works out how you want it

[cypher]

That looks really nice, great idea, I've always had problems lifting the top off cages when I've attached way too much to them & easily removable shelves like that is a really good solution.

[Fluffagrams]

That is a really great idea.

I might have to give it a try.

[Scarlett Empress]

I'll definitely show more pics BorisandPasha! I don't think my dowels will arrive till Weds or Thurs, had to get them on eBay as I couldn't find a big pack in the shops, but as soon as they are here I will be sticking them in place.

Thanks cypher! Yes lifting a cage top with a lot of stuff attached is a pain, I need a hand to be able to do it but it's not always convenient! When I decided to get the Alexander, I had seen a video with what looked like a wee slip of a teenager lifting the top off hers with ease, so I thought I would be able to do it - but I think she probably had longer arms and a stronger back!

Thanks Fluffagrams! It's not too tricky to do - well, it would have been easier if someone had held the Knuff while I was sawing it, then I might not have sawn into my little finger...but I like that I will have four shelves once I have sawn the other one and I will probably use all four.

[Drago]

Looks very nice! I like the "floating shelf" design, that's what I've always used with my hams as I learned it from the Chinchilla community I really like your cage setup!

[dreamtree1234]

Ooh, what a lovely idea, Scarlett Empress! I totally love it and hope to try it out sometime soon if possible. Thanks for sharing. I love the entire cage setup, too. LOL, Marty being too lazy to get the sunflower seeds out from the hanging star.

[chesca_27]

The Knuff looks wonderful, as does the rest of Marty's cage . You are very talented.