Larry-Jasper's thread

[chesca_27]

So I ordered the presents a few days ago. I finally settled upon the chicken Tigeria Sticklettis, a wooden bendy bridge ladder, 2 nibble grass trays (one for the guineas, one for Jas), a pink and purple Sputnik, the Leif Cabin House (had my eye on that since last year), the wooden climbing frame Fluffagrams and Cypher suggested, pea flakes (mainly for the guins, but hey it's their birthday soon and I'm not going to be able to afford another Zooplus order) and a Trixie wheel as I want to try a closed wheel design.

I think I will also try my hand at a little DIY. I would love to make a few adjustments to his cage to give him some more enrichment for his birthday. At the moment, he is in the Ikea Billy, which I built last year. Now, I won't be allowed to get rid of that cage because I spent so much time and money building it, so modification is my only option.

I would love to get a Kallax unit to go below the cage, partially for storage, bit partially as a cage extension. I'm trying to think of a way to use one cube (of the Kallax unit) as an entire burrowing section, while having good access to it and ventilation. Ideally it would have a plexiglass front and back, with the white wooden sides, possibly mesh at the top on one side. There would need to be a tube or bendy bridge to get up and down, but I would say he is good at climbing for a Russian (not with bars though) so I think he'd be ok with that. I'm trying to think of a way to get good access to the Kallax area, without bedding going everywhere and without cutting a giant hole in the bottom of the Billy cage. Hope that makes sense. Any suggestions?

Another DIY project I think we are definitely doing is building custom shelves for the cage as part of my enrichment present. If anyone has seen ErinsAnimals new cage and adorable little Iodine, you will know she build these incredible custom shelves, which have really inspired me (Video of the shelves). I am still playing around with ideas, but I really want some steps up to a shelf with potentially a bridge to another shelf. Maybe there will be some other bits, but it depends if I can get the right tools to make them and if it will fit in the cage. I might incorporate some shelves into the the Kallax idea as well.

Fingers crossed I can convince my Dad to build all this stuff for me and Larry .

[BorisPasha]

Sounds like Larry-Jasper is getting a nice selection of goodies for his birthday and nice that you are getting some things for Oreo and Pemba too

Not having done any hamster DIY I'll leave suggestions and tips to the experts though your plans for extension sound really interesting and I'm sure you'll find a way to make it work. I think I'll have a peek at the video you liked though as I enjoy seeing what people come up with

[cypher]

That's going to be a nice zooplus haul chesca
Love the sound of your DIY extension/enrichment ideas, sorry I don't really have any helpful suggestions either really but I'm sure you'll make it work.

[Hamsterita]

Wow that order sounds amazing! It would be nice to see the order when it arrives!

I'm sure Larry Jasper is going to love the presents.

I'm not very good at DIY and I think you're very brave for trying, so I can't help you with any suggestions.

[chesca_27]

Originally Posted by BorisPasha

Sounds like Larry-Jasper is getting a nice selection of goodies for his birthday and nice that you are getting some things for Oreo and Pemba too

Not having done any hamster DIY I'll leave suggestions and tips to the experts though your plans for extension sound really interesting and I'm sure you'll find a way to make it work. I think I'll have a peek at the video you liked though as I enjoy seeing what people come up with

Yep, thanks .

Originally Posted by cypher

That's going to be a nice zooplus haul chesca
Love the sound of your DIY extension/enrichment ideas, sorry I don't really have any helpful suggestions either really but I'm sure you'll make it work.

Thank you . I will definitely share the progress of the DIYs.

[chesca_27]

Originally Posted by Hamsterita

Wow that order sounds amazing! It would be nice to see the order when it arrives!

I'm sure Larry Jasper is going to love the presents.

I'm not very good at DIY and I think you're very brave for trying, so I can't help you with any suggestions.

Thank you Hamsterita!

[chesca_27]

I think I've finalised my design idea and materials. I will share it, but I don't really want anyone to copy it and make it into a YouTube tutorial or something because it's my idea that I'm using for my channel. It is kind of in note form as I typed it quickly on my phone. The bottom part has my materials list. Hopefully I can start sourcing everything in a couple weeks time, starting with the Kallax unit.

Kallax current idea
Put a Plexiglass back on one Kallax square. Leave the sides intact (no adjustments). For the front, use 2/3 plexiglass at the bottom with a 1/3 mesh door at top for cleaning access. Door will be lockable to prevent escaping. Mesh will provide adequate ventilation. Leaves around 20-25cm for bedding. There will be a hole drilled through the Billy unit and the top of the Kallax unit to connect them. A tunnel or bendy bridge with provide access between them for Larry-Jasper.

1 4 cube Kallax unit
2 sheets of Plexiglass, measuring approximately 33cm by 33cm and 33cm by 22cm
1cm square mesh (33cm by 11cm)
Billy cage
Screws, washers and nails
Cuprinol Garden Shades white paint
Drill with circular drill attachment
Tunnel or bendy bridge
Wooden beams (for door)

Does this sound doable and would it be ok for Larry-Jasper?

[Thin Lizzy]

Oh that's some list. Larry-Jasper is one very lucky boy.

[chesca_27]

He certainly is . What's the point of having pets if we can't spoil them ?

[Thin Lizzy]

Absolutely agree! I can't stop with Harvey, I always think of Harvey whenever I'm shopping, sometimes I say out loud 'oh, Harvey would like that or that's so Harvey.'