Bin....er.....hamster show transport!

[Holly]

Having found the cages we transported our hamsters to Lymm in to be inconvenient to say the least (the Rotastak Pods had to be taken apart to get them out each time we needed to) I wanted something different for the next show - and also to use for vet trips etc.

I'm also very impressed with all the home-made bin cages I've seen but haven't really felt confident enough to make my own.....so I decided to make a bin cage style carriers/transporters. I reasoned that they wouldn't need to be as big (ie expensive) if they went wrong and they wouldn't need to be quite as escape proof given that the hams would be in them for short periods only and we'd be with them to see if they started trying to chew their way out!

Here's one of them (I've made five in total):







They just have holes drilled in the lid, holes drilled along one side as well as an extra water bottle hole...plus the other long side has piece cut out and wire mesh attached for added ventilation. The boys really enjoyed cutting out pics of all the hams and colouring in their "name-tags" as well.

I'm really pleased with the finished product - and it wasn't really as hard as I thought. Obviously a proper bin cage would need the mesh (reachable mesh anyway) to be fixed with more than just zip ties - but I'll bring along spares and keep a close eye on the hams - if they look like chewing their way out I'll re-tie and replace with screws or rivets for the next show.

What do you think????

[souffle]

Brilliant work holly and wils. Our hams are jealous as they only travel in £1 bins for shows however they are colour coordinated at personalised!!!

[Holly]

Thanks Souffle ...it was actually your bins that really gave me the idea - they were just so much easier for you to get your hammies out of for a start. And then, once I started, it just seemed the thing to do to cut out a window and add the mesh. I think I just wanted to see if I could do it - in case I ever need to make a bin cage!

[Jane]

Oh wow I love them Guess who has ideas now How big are they? Where are they from? How much did they cost? Sorry for the questions :P I actually have a little tub that was joined to Jelly's cages before she died but never used it for anything because it has a hole for a tube...maybe I could cut that side out and put mesh over it then wa la :P I'm going to/was going to take charlie in his carrier to the show on saturday but now im not sure :P (he's only entering pets)..hmm..I don't have any mesh atm though :P

[Holly]

Thanks Jane - they are 40cmx30cm and I got them from a local shop for 3 quid each. I've seen the same thing in Wilkinsons for slightly more - different sizes as well, though I like this size as it's easy to carry without being too cramped.

Our three for the pets class will be in these as well, though many people bring them in their own cages. I found breaking open the cages and scrabbling around for the hamsters a bit stressful though - I think using these will be easier. In between their class and the racing our hamsters just slept so I'm not worried about the lack of space.

Good luck if you go for it - the mesh was in our garage but you can buy small sheets of it for a couple of quid from garden centres (and Wilko's I think).

[Jane]

I have one here which is around 30 x 38cm. It already has holes drilled in the lid so I guess that's a plus :P I just had a brain wave...I have an old wire cage, I could take a side off of that (it's useless now anyway - I cut a big hole in the side for a tube holder).

Are cable ties okay to use or should I use something stronger?? Just worried he might chew through it... Do you mind if I copy your idea...I feel bad :P Hey, I might even stick his name on it if you don't mind XD

[Holly]

Originally Posted by Jane

Are cable ties okay to use or should I use something stronger?? Just worried he might chew through it... Do you mind if I copy your idea...I feel bad :P Hey, I might even stick his name on it if you don't mind XD

LOL - I think the boys would be delighted to know someone likes what we've done enough to make one themselves ...using the bars from your old wire cage sounds like a good idea - I've seen this done with proper bin cages in articles online.

I really don't know about the cable ties - I'm hoping they'll be ok (it seems very secure) but I'm bringing some spare ones with me in case they start chewing. I don't think they'd be ok for an actual cage that the hamster will be in without you being with it but for this I'm hoping they will be enough. You could always rivet or screw the bars in place - that's what I'll do if the cable ties don't seem to be holding up well enough, but I think/hope they'll be ok.

[Jane]

Originally Posted by Holly

LOL - I think the boys would be delighted to know someone likes what we've done enough to make one themselves ...using the bars from your old wire cage sounds like a good idea - I've seen this done with proper bin cages in articles online.

I really don't know about the cable ties - I'm hoping they'll be ok (it seems very secure) but I'm bringing some spare ones with me in case they start chewing. I don't think they'd be ok for an actual cage that the hamster will be in without you being with it but for this I'm hoping they will be enough. You could always rivet or screw the bars in place - that's what I'll do if the cable ties don't seem to be holding up well enough, but I think/hope they'll be ok.

Okies...you sure they wont mind? Feel bad for stealing their idea :P Okies, I'll bring a pocket full of cable ties with me...one last question, what did you use to cut the hole?

[Basia]

Wow - Good job Holly & Will

[Jane]

Hmmm...any ideas how you get one of the sides off a wire cage :P