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Old 07-04-2019, 08:20 PM   #1
10Minutes
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Join Date: Jul 2019
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Default DIY Bin Cage

Hi, I'm new. I've been checking out DIY Bin Cages and I am in love with them for their size.

I'm worried about my hamster cutting herself on the edge of the sharp cut plastic/ wire mesh, or escaping (Roborovskis are small and I presume she can be good at squeezing through a tiny gap between the cable ties securing the mesh).

She will die if she escapes because I have to go to work (hey, I need the money to buy her more treats and toys Can't sit around all day!) and she'll probably run out of the house and get eaten by some alley cat. To make matters worse, I think a stray kitten does sneak into the bottom floor of my house sometimes. My baby is locked upstairs in my room all the time, so predators can't come in, but if she escapes and goes out... that will be quite disastrous.

To prevent all of those worries, I was thinking of cutting the ventilation at the top only, and a little smaller (with a huge margin on the sides), so that my hamster can't actually find enough purchase to reach the ventilation area in the first place. However, I was also thinking of keeping a permanent cloth over half of her cage, as her exclusive area of darkness and privacy, so that will cut down on the ventilation area.

Question: What would you recommend as the minimum size for the ventilation window? If you look at my sketch (NOT to scale and just an idea that's open to feedback by you lovely veterans), I'd prefer to leave a huge margin so she can't even get at the mesh area. I'd also have to avoid putting climbing stuff near the window so that she can't climb near it.

I haven't bought a bin cage yet. Still trying to design and consider how its dimensions should be like.
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Old 07-04-2019, 08:25 PM   #2
10Minutes
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Default Re: DIY Bin Cage

In case anyone's wondering, she already has a smaller cage. I was thinking of making a big bin and putting the smaller cage inside it, then tying the door to the cage permanently open so that she can go in and out to explore at her own leisure.

In future, I also intend to alternate between cleaning the entire cage OR the entire bin whenever I need to do a deep clean up, since she still has familiar housing (either bin or cage) that isn't cleaned.

Hopefully the bin (if my idea works) will be set up by tomorrow or the day after that!

Last edited by 10Minutes; 07-04-2019 at 08:37 PM.
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Old 07-05-2019, 01:20 AM   #3
Schwartzie
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Default Re: DIY Bin Cage

You get a great bin cage from IKEA biggest Samla bin size they have. This bin is high and I doubt that your Robo would ever be anywhere near the top lid where you would cut a rectangular shape and place mesh on the underside of the lid. The gaps where the cable ties go are tiny, just big enough for the cable tie to fit through. A Robo or even minute mouse would never get through. Your mesh would have to be a small size.

This is an example of a video you could use but there are tons on YouTube.
https://youtu.be/i5e-2yKLX2Q

You don’t need to make any ventilation on the sides at all if your ventilation at the top is big enough. You need enough ventilation so use the lid to create that ventilation and use mesh.

I have included a picture of a small travel box for my hamster but it’s the same as what you would do for the bin cage.

I am not too sure what you mean by putting a smaller cage into the bin. It might take up unnecessary space? Why not use the space in the bin to create an amazing habitat for your hamster and leave the small cage for a travel cage?
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Old 07-05-2019, 08:02 AM   #4
10Minutes
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Default Re: DIY Bin Cage

Quote:
Originally Posted by Schwartzie View Post
You get a great bin cage from IKEA biggest Samla bin size they have. This bin is high and I doubt that your Robo would ever be anywhere near the top lid where you would cut a rectangular shape and place mesh on the underside of the lid. The gaps where the cable ties go are tiny, just big enough for the cable tie to fit through. A Robo or even minute mouse would never get through. Your mesh would have to be a small size.

This is an example of a video you could use but there are tons on YouTube.
https://youtu.be/i5e-2yKLX2Q

You don’t need to make any ventilation on the sides at all if your ventilation at the top is big enough. You need enough ventilation so use the lid to create that ventilation and use mesh.

I have included a picture of a small travel box for my hamster but it’s the same as what you would do for the bin cage.

I am not too sure what you mean by putting a smaller cage into the bin. It might take up unnecessary space? Why not use the space in the bin to create an amazing habitat for your hamster and leave the small cage for a travel cage?
Wow... I love your travel box, it's just so pretty and sweet! Neatly done too, as if it was factory made and store bought. Mine probably won't look half as nice but I'd be happy as long as it is functional, safe, comfortable. I really can't find any big cages here (the ones for birds or rabbits are not suitable).

Whoa, the Samla range looks great. I've had my eye on one elsewhere but it wasn't that ideal, about 458 square inches only and I was still trying to look up more. I'm so glad you pointed me to this range, now I have better options.

Hmm. Your comments make sense. I'll think I will put the cage in the bin first so she can acclimatise at her own pace... She is very very new and had quite a stressful move-in. After that, I will have to reconsider leaving it in permanently once she's gotten used to it. But how do I clip on the water bottle if I remove the cage and there's no wire/mesh on the sides of the bin? In fact, the gaps of the mesh I am planning to use is a little small so I can't clip anything on it.

h and yep, the mesh should be the small type, that was a bad drawing of mine, sorry! I know why you suggested putting the mesh on the underside, because she won't be able to push against it and escape that way. But if the mesh is on the underside, I'm worried the ends might be a tad sharp... I will try to file them down of course but I'm quite paranoid about doing something wrong. How do you treat the ends of the mesh?
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Old 07-05-2019, 03:03 PM   #5
Schwartzie
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Default Re: DIY Bin Cage

Quote:
Originally Posted by 10Minutes View Post
Wow... I love your travel box, it's just so pretty and sweet! Neatly done too, as if it was factory made and store bought. Mine probably won't look half as nice but I'd be happy as long as it is functional, safe, comfortable. I really can't find any big cages here (the ones for birds or rabbits are not suitable).

Whoa, the Samla range looks great. I've had my eye on one elsewhere but it wasn't that ideal, about 458 square inches only and I was still trying to look up more. I'm so glad you pointed me to this range, now I have better options.

Hmm. Your comments make sense. I'll think I will put the cage in the bin first so she can acclimatise at her own pace... She is very very new and had quite a stressful move-in. After that, I will have to reconsider leaving it in permanently once she's gotten used to it. But how do I clip on the water bottle if I remove the cage and there's no wire/mesh on the sides of the bin? In fact, the gaps of the mesh I am planning to use is a little small so I can't clip anything on it.

h and yep, the mesh should be the small type, that was a bad drawing of mine, sorry! I know why you suggested putting the mesh on the underside, because she won't be able to push against it and escape that way. But if the mesh is on the underside, I'm worried the ends might be a tad sharp... I will try to file them down of course but I'm quite paranoid about doing something wrong. How do you treat the ends of the mesh?
I have attached a picture of the rabbit cage I bought. It was cheaper than the biggest samla bin at IkEA. It’s 100cmx50cm...I used bendy wire mesh to put over it. I cut along where the doors were etc.

If you search on this forum attaching water bottle to bins you will come up with threads that cover that. If you can’t find anything look on YouTube. Your hamster shouldn’t be anywhere near the top of your lid where the mesh would be because it’s high up. If you are worried sand them down a bit.

Please send pictures of what you decide to do...so exciting!
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Old 07-05-2019, 04:50 PM   #6
Pebbles82
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Default Re: DIY Bin Cage

You should be able to mesh side vents without sharp edges ok. If the mesh overlaps the outside of the cut plastic and is the mesh edges are then stuck down with masking tape.

The cut edges of the plastic you can easily smooth with a bit of sanding paper - would only take about 10 minutes. Have a look at some of these below for ideas. I actually think you do need ventilation front, back and top - ventilation is really important.

Even without tape over the external mesh edges, a robo is very unlikely to be able to get out between the mesh and plastic if fixed with cable ties. Our robo is in a barred cage (7mm bar spacing) and wouldn't be able to get through the bars.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ha...w=1366&bih=604

I'm guessing you're in the US? Our robo is in this cage (without the metal grid shelf). It's a very good cage and I like the big front opening door - makes it easier to interact with the hamster. It's not cheap though.

https://www.amazon.com/Lixit-Animal-...y&sr=8-1-fkmr0
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Old 07-05-2019, 10:23 PM   #7
10Minutes
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Default Re: DIY Bin Cage

Hi everyone! In a bit of a rush now trying to get supplies for my little Louise - quick question, is this mesh ok, ventilation-wide? The gap is a little small but it's actually for humans to sleep under to prevent mosquito bites.
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Old 07-05-2019, 10:27 PM   #8
10Minutes
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Question Re: DIY Bin Cage

This mesh, is it fine? Sorry forgot to attach.
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Old 07-06-2019, 02:12 AM   #9
Schwartzie
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Default Re: DIY Bin Cage

Quote:
Originally Posted by 10Minutes View Post
This mesh, is it fine? Sorry forgot to attach.
I personally would go for mesh that is the biggest size that is safe to use for a hamster without it getting out to give it as much ventilation as possible. That’s my personal choice. There might be members who have used this mesh and can advise. Can’t wait to see pictures ☺️☺️☺️
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Old 07-06-2019, 02:22 AM   #10
AmityvilleHams
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Default Re: DIY Bin Cage

I would use actual metal mesh. That looks like plastic, and if it is more plastic-y or like a soft fabric type mesh you really shouldn't use that as it could get chewed through. Another potentially unsafe mesh would be vinyl coated mesh, since the vinyl coating can be chewed off and that isn't digestible.

While it isn't widely known with hamsters, using mesh that is too small has caused serious harm to other rodents such as gerbils since teeth can get stuck and potentially even pulled out if the spacing is too small(whether mesh or cage bars).
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