Adopting a Syrian

[Pebbles82]

A bit of progress - the bolts in the shelf screwed out quite easily with a pair of plyers. Just need OH to find the little saw so I can saw the corners off and shelf will be in.

The house I am returning - I’ve had too many splinters in my fingers tonight. I could sand it all and fix the roof but I think I’d rather send it back. Found a good shoe box instead. It’s not a very glamorous one though!

[cloudy]

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

A bit of progress - the bolts in the shelf screwed out quite easily with a pair of plyers. Just need OH to find the little saw so I can saw the corners off and shelf will be in.

The house I am returning - I’ve had too many splinters in my fingers tonight. I could sand it all and fix the roof but I think I’d rather send it back. Found a good shoe box instead. It’s not a very glamorous one though!

I am glad you are returning the house. It sounds really bad quality.

[Pebbles82]

Originally Posted by cloudy

I would get a refund. You should not have to do so much work on it. I would say it is not fit for purpose. I am very happy with this companies sand boxes and chamber hides.
Hamsters | Happy Henry’s Homes

Yes I’ve seen those and they look very nice. Happy Hamsters linked them. But they don’t do quick delivery. I have a lovely house coming from Rodipet so just needed something temporary this week. With it being a bank holiday week end last week nothing got posted out till Tuesday.

Having a right fiddle tonight. Shelf fits fine but don’t like the fixings - the boltss stick out too far and it’s a hazard. So OH is going to drill some new holes so I can use screws instead.

Shoe box house is no good unfortunately- it is a strange structure inside and has some really sharp edges. Back to the drawing board. Everything else is ready to go in and I have most of tomorrow to set it up with plenty of time.

[Ria P]

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Ria I know you’ve had a few of these houses? Have you had any issues with the roof not fitting as this is the second one I’ve had like that and I know someone else had an issue (which I assumed was a one off).

I have quite a few of the guinea pig size Ferplast sin houses and have never had any issues.
Haven't bought one recently though.

The quality of hamster furniture has deteriorated a lot.
After binning two Trixie bendy bridges from Zooplus i gave up on them. The quality was so poor that i couldn't use them.

[Pebbles82]

I think that is the case. I’ve had two of these before and no issues but it was a few years ago. It’s a Ferplast branded house too so you’d expect better quality. Blame the pandemic I guess - quality control not so good maybe. I gave myself a tight schedule to set a cage up! Which would have been fine if what arrived was ok. Shelves are always a bit of a hassle but once that’s sorted the rest is usually quite easy!

Hmm. Annoying having to buy another temporary house from Amazon.

[Pebbles82]

Right I’m off to bed. Things are not the same as before the pandemic! Buyer beware.

Shelf is sorted - lots of sawing and drilling tonight to cut the corners off and make new screw holes. I didn’t like the large bolts sticking an inch out of the cage - a hazard to anyone walking past and could pull the cage over. I’ve left them at the side and back where they’re against the wall but OH drilled new holes for the front edge and I put screws and washers on there. Except I forgot to plastikote it first and no way am I taking it out again - the bolts were a pain to get on and out. So I’ll put help mat on it and take my chances.

The wheel is no good. I am wondering if it is the wrong joining strip (does anyone know of the 9” silent runner is less deep? Maybe I have the joining strip for the 9” one. This is my third silent runner and I’ve not had a gap before. And the front and back are well pressed together. Biazarrely there is no gap on the outside, just on the inside. It’s very small but I’m not happy with it. A toe could get caught.

So I need another wheel before Saturday. I have one great one but it’s broken! And I have the Carolina storm wheel - that might have to do.

I’ve found another shoe box so it will make a good shoe box house.

I had to smaller shelves I had planned to use bought on Amazon last year originally for Pip’s cage but didn’t use them. I’m a bit suspicious about what wood they are made of. It just said “wood” on the listing. A buyer had asked if they were pine and the answer was yes. But I’m pretty sure they’re not pine. After cutting the corners off and sanding I am sure they’re not pine - smell different. The trouble is then you don’t know what wood it is. I think they were made in China (Zerodis shelves). I am wondering whether to plastikote them and maybe that will seal them. Other people have used them and seem happy but - I’ll sleep on that.

So usually I sort the shelves, wheel and house and everything else is easy and falls into place. But had issues with all three! At least I have a shelf, shoebox house and Carolina storm wheel! Used the silent runner bar fitting plates to attach it to the cage bars and that worked well.

[Ria P]

I have a 12" silent runner and two 9" ones. The 9" ones join without a gap but the 12" one has a tiny gap but not big enough to have me worried. I'll check if the wheels have different depth when i get home tomorrow. I think the joining strips are the same in both wheels but will check that as well.

I find that the 12" silent runner is quite bouncy and wonder if that's the way it should be.

[Ria P]

I'd plastikote the chinese shelves.

I've never seen a hamster chewing a shelf. They may have a nibble to check if it's edible but that's about it.

I think that a happy hamster who lives in a big, well set up cage and gets attention and out of cage time, isn't likely to chew up his furniture.

[Pebbles82]

I think so too Ria. But decided mot to use them anyway as many negative reviews saying they snap clean in half when a per sits on them and dangerous. The construction appears to be 1.5 ish inch pieces of wood glued together to make a bigger piece - rather than a solid piece of wood so I can see how that would happen.

There’s one big shelf already - I’ll do something else.

[Ria P]

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

I think so too Ria. But decided mot to use them anyway as many negative reviews saying they snap clean in half when a per sits on them and dangerous. The construction appears to be 1.5 ish inch pieces of wood glued together to make a bigger piece - rather than a solid piece of wood so I can see how that would happen.

There’s one big shelf already - I’ll do something else.

I've never come across shelves made from individual pieces. How odd. I wouldn't use them either.