Bin cage question

[_buzzandkt]

Hi everyone! I'm new here and firstly wanted to say how helpful all of your information has been in getting me prepared for my first hamster, so thank you!

I got my first Syrian male hamster Buzz about 6 weeks ago and he has settled in so well I'm so happy! I got him a cage that is 78 x 48 cm which was the biggest I could find. He initially climbed the bars and bit the bars for the first 3 weeks or so as he settled in, but this has 98% stopped now and he only very rarely does this if he doesn't have time out of the cage (when he very occasionally wakes up very late.) In the first few weeks while he was biting the bars I began to look into bin cages. Even though this behaviour has stopped now and he seems so happy, I am still thinking of putting him in a bin cage as I think the extra space would be nice. I found a massive one in B&Q, it's the 134litre really useful box. My concern is that if I move him into this one and he becomes distressed, how would I know as there is no way for him to express this or 'let out the stressful energy' by climbing/biting the bars (as there won't be any!). I suppose what I don't want to do is move him from his cage now where he seems to be very happy and is no longer bar climbing/biting to a bigger cage where he might actually be more unhappy but id never know! Would the fact that there are no gaps (no bars) feel claustrophobic to him? Sorry that was very long, thank you in advance!

[Ria P]

Hi and welcome to HC!

You would need to add enough ventilation to a bin cage by meshing the lid, a big front window and a back vent otherwise he would be living in a plastic box he can't see out of. I have converted these 145l really useful boxes but didn't know that B&Q stocks them, Wickes does. B&Q stocks a large box but i think its the Kaze which is not as easy to work with as the rub. I've made many bin cages.
The 145l rub costs £35, the mesh £6/10 and the cable ties £5 (B&Q cable ties are the best) and decorative tape is £3 if you want to use it. You'll need an electric drill for the holes, a wire cutter and a cutting tool, i use a Dremel with a cutting disc attachment. So you're looking at roughly £50. You can buy a Savic Plaza for around £75 or a large Zoozone 2 if you prefer a tank style for £55 at Jolleys petshop but the lid would need meshing which is easily done.

What kind of cage is he in now? That's not too bad a size and not all hamsters want a big space. Is there space for a big wheel and a big house plus plenty of enrichment? My two Syrians live in the Alaska cage and get lots of out of cage time which works well for them.

My dwarfs used to live in large bin cages with meshed lids and lots of windows and vents but i've moved them all into Hamster Heavens. The big front doors make interacting with them so easy and i don't need to worry about ventilation in the summer.

I think you would know if your hamster wasn't happy. They have a way of letting us know when things aren't right for them, no matter what type of cage they're in.

[_buzzandkt]

Originally Posted by Ria P

Hi and welcome to HC!

You would need to add enough ventilation to a bin cage by meshing the lid, a big front window and a back vent otherwise he would be living in a plastic box he can't see out of. I have converted these 145l really useful boxes but didn't know that B&Q stocks them, Wickes does. B&Q stocks a large box but i think its the Kaze which is not as easy to work with as the rub. I've made many bin cages.
The 145l rub costs £35, the mesh £6/10 and the cable ties £5 (B&Q cable ties are the best) and decorative tape is £3 if you want to use it. You'll need an electric drill for the holes, a wire cutter and a cutting tool, i use a Dremel with a cutting disc attachment. So you're looking at roughly £50. You can buy a Savic Plaza for around £75 or a large Zoozone 2 if you prefer a tank style for £55 at Jolleys petshop but the lid would need meshing which is easily done.

What kind of cage is he in now? That's not too bad a size and not all hamsters want a big space. Is there space for a big wheel and a big house plus plenty of enrichment? My two Syrians live in the Alaska cage and get lots of out of cage time which works well for them.

My dwarfs used to live in large bin cages with meshed lids and lots of windows and vents but i've moved them all into Hamster Heavens. The big front doors make interacting with them so easy and i don't need to worry about ventilation in the summer.

I think you would know if your hamster wasn't happy. They have a way of letting us know when things aren't right for them, no matter what type of cage they're in.

Thank you for your reply, that's very helpful! He is currently in a Ferplast Criceti 15 cage, here is the link https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/p...5-hamster-home

I think this box might be new at B & Q. It is a bit narrower than the 145litre but very long (it reminds me of the detolf but not quite as long.) The external measurements are 120 x 49.5 x 35 cm

There is enough space in his current cage for a big wheel, he has the 28cm wooden trixie wheel. He didn't like any houses that had a bottom but he loves his bendy bridge as a house in a corner and he tends to sleep in a burrow in one of the corners. He has a sand bath and then chews and tunnels, but I feel like once this is all in there it takes up a lot of space, especially the wheel so not sure if it leaves him much space to just 'use' if that makes sense.

I've seen a lot of bin cages that just mesh the lid which is what I was thinking about doing as the bin is only 35 cm high so was hoping as it isn't too high up the ventilation from the big lid would be enough (it is 120 cm long). Do you think meshing the sides are crucial?

Thank you again!

[Ria P]

I wouldn't say meshing the sides is crucial but living in a plastic box without a window won't let him see or smell the outside world. Most hamsters are naturally nosy and want to know what's going on. A window also helps to interact with them.
Personally, i wouldn't have a bin cage with a meshed lid only but that's my opinion and that's all it is, an opinion.
A low bin couldn't have a large window because the substrate would fall through so i'd put a long one in fairly high up.
They do like to be able to look out as you can see here.

[_buzzandkt]

Originally Posted by Ria P

I wouldn't say meshing the sides is crucial but living in a plastic box without a window won't let him see or smell the outside world. Most hamsters are naturally nosy and want to know what's going on. A window also helps to interact with them.
Personally, i wouldn't have a bin cage with a meshed lid only but that's my opinion and that's all it is, an opinion.
A low bin couldn't have a large window because the substrate would fall through so i'd put a long one in fairly high up.
They do like to be able to look out as you can see here.

aww what a cute picture!! Thank you again for your reply! If I decide to do the bin cage I will try and do a long one high up on the side as well as the top! Thank you so much for your advice! Thank you for putting the prices of the DIY items in your previous post as well, that's so helpful x