Wooden hamster cages?

[Pygmypuff]

Hello all!

I have been recently looking online for a new hamster cage and have come across a wooden one. It is a very good size and reasonable price, and is nice in appearance. However, I have several concerns about the actual usage of this product as a hamster cage. If possible, I'd love to have some answers to these questions - I'm sure some of you will have some knowledge on or own wooden hamster cages! Thank you very much in advance

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wooden-Roden...n+hamster+cage

1. Do wooden cages smell? Surely urine will just sink into the wood. Won't it smell awful?

2. How do you clean a wooden cage? Can you just tip out the sawdust and spray it down as normal?

3. Wouldn't the hamster chew through the wood?

4. Would the wood rot and become damp over time?

Thanks again!

[CPalmer]

Ok, I have a wooden habitat. But it is just like a tank. No levels. I plastikoted it all to seal it. I re touch Freyas wet spot with more plastikote as and when I see it starting to dissolve.

I was worried about rotting wood under the wet spots, so I changed the layout when one was getting a bit too big. Also the more substrate you put in, the more protected the wood is. I have a nice deep layer now and the pee doesn't reach the wood at all now before I clean out her spot.

As for chewing the wood. Yes. A hammy could chew through it. I have filled freyas with wooden house, toys, dig box, covered all the corners with something else she can chew. Touch wood that's done the trick.

I find ours very easy to clean. I use a dustpan and brush to pick it all up. I wash it down with hot water. Wipe it with a cloth to dry it. Then I spray it with disinfectant and allow it to air dry.

A big habitat like ours can take an hour to completely clean. 2 if I'm retouching with plastikote. We have a simple bin cage filled 3/4 with substrate and put freyas nesting box in it. she usually sleeps through it all, if not I know she's safe digging.

It looks like a nice cage for an active hammy, difficult to see where you'd put a big wheel in if getting a syrian?

[hols]

Hi!
I think that cage looks amazing I've gone past that many times on Amazon always wondering the same thing.

Me and my sister have had dwarfs hamsters living in a hutch before and never had any problem i guess it really matters if you hamster enjoys to chew as CPalmer said if you get it I'd try putting stuff around the corners to distract your hammie from biting!

[lady jocardi]

I have a similar one. If it smells...we don't notice!! and nobody has mentioned it does!! LOL
Like CPalmer, I wipe it down with water and spray it and leave it to dry. There is a little staining in the pee corner, but I line it with cardboard and it helps. I think I should get one of those corner potty things though.

It is coted with Plasticote too.

Jocardi chews one spot....below the door...where she can feel the air coming in. It looks dreadful...but I check it every day and its holding out. She did chew a lot more when it was new....so my hubby lined it with ply....and that helped lots.

But...its a lovely looking cage with heaps of room. and...very reasonably priced. Let us know what you decide.