Hazel Nut Current Cage

greysome · 11-24-2015, 09:43 PM

Hi all!

I think I mentioned somewhere that I wanted to take pics of Hazel Nut's current cage (as I had none) before I eventually dismantle it for scrap pieces while I build her (and separately, Chublet) a new cage (well, cages including Chublet's).

I finally got around to taking pics of it and figured I'd show it here in case it gives any other DIYers ideas. Not the prettiest but it served its purpose and calmed her down considerably where she rarely tried to chew the bars she did have access to even when she knew where it was (all her previous cages, from bin cage to another DIY, had her chewing bars). And considering all the black you see is contact paper as the original table was birch-veneer...well, yes.

greysome · 11-24-2015, 09:47 PM

As you can see in the first pic, space is not an issue when it comes to making a break for freedom....and the second is what I consider the activity section of the cage.

You'll have to forgive the mess of the entire cage--since she'll be getting an entirely new cage (just waiting on two things to arrive before I get it all together), I've been more lax in cleaning.

greysome · 11-24-2015, 10:02 PM

Aaand now some pics (with captions!)

Hazel Nut began doing this thing a while back where in the evening, as she wakes up, she sticks her head up out of one of one of the holes leading to her burrow and just stays there as she determines whether or not she's feeling up to starting her day or if the day (erm, evening/night) can wait while she grabs another hour or so of sleep.

As Hazel Nut is at least partly to blame for the Hamster Resistance Network, she thought you should all have a look at the hard times she has been forced into because of her mean mommy--erm, that is, the mean and unjust judge.

...I mean, just look at that! That's not one, but TWO empty food bowls!

However, Hazel Nut would like her supporters to know her spirit is not easily broken! As you can see, she is a cheeky girl (...and not just because of those cheeks--which are totally not full of the food in the previously mentioned bowls!) who does not allow her forced and demeaning labor of rock climbing just to get to her water OR her toilet to get her down.

As you may have noticed in earlier pics, Hazel Nut is still strong in spirit--and though the establishment may thwart her quest for freedom, she remains adamant that one day, she will succeed in a possibly Shawshank Redemption style escape! After all, just lookit this face! Is this the face of a quitter?

cypher · 11-24-2015, 11:14 PM

lol! she really is a spirited girl, lovely with it too

I love her cage, ham fun over prettiness wins the day for me & it looks as though there is just so much to do & explore in there!

Shannonmcn · 11-25-2015, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cypher

I love her cage, ham fun over prettiness wins the day for me

Absolutely agree! I just spent a good 5 minutes exploring that with my eyes, I'm sure it's great fun for Hazel Nut!

Stay strong Hazel Nut!

Pygmypuff · 11-25-2015, 03:44 AM

The cage looks fantastic! It looks really entertaining and there's lots to do and explore

Lol, bless her, goodluck Hazel Nut!!

greysome · 11-25-2015, 08:09 AM

Thanks guys--though honestly, wishing Hazel Nut luck in her escape attempts--I'm hurt..then again, I'm the mean ol' warden to Hazel Nut.

She was unhappy and stressed lately with all the commotion/to do with the new hammie and gerbil as well as moving Skippy, Patch and Chublet to their new cages and I had to take away a hide that was normally by her wheel as she could climb it for easier access to the bars for chewing. I say hide--it was more a stash house for a quick pick-me-up/snack while running on the wheel. Fortunately, things have somewhat calmed down for the time being and I was able to give her lots of attention and cooing/awwing the last couple of days which has calmed her down now and she's back to ignoring the bars (then again, it may be because she's more interested in the second wheel I added in front of the bars than she is in getting to the bars) although I've noticed her by the bars as if just waiting to chew when I interact with the other furries.

Hazel Nut is my little Diva--she's like the first/older child who is having difficulty coping with the new addition(s) to the family although in her case, she's been this way since I came home with another hammie the first time around over a year ago.

Pebbles82 · 11-25-2015, 09:09 AM

She's a real character! Pretty too. I love the cage - did you say you made it out of a table?

greysome · 11-25-2015, 10:22 AM

Yes, it's an IKEA LACK hack. It's the large LACK coffee table (actually, I think pretty much all my IKEA hack cages (unless you include meshing a samla) are from the LACK line, measuring 46 1/2" x 30 3/4" x 17 3/4" so 118 cm x 78cm x 45 cm, although I had leftover parts of LACK tbl legs from another hack so increased the height to I think, 23 or 24" (the "platform" her wheel is on is ~12 in" high and leaves just enough room to just comfortably hang a carolina storm wheel from the "window").

If anyone has the room and interest, I would definitely recommend it! Although I would suggest some alterations--for instance, both sides of the cage is plexiglass although I wished I had thought to have at least part of both sides (if not the whole--or at least one whole side) be something sturdier/more solid that could handle having shelves/ledges mounted on it to make better use of space. I loved the visibility of the plexiglass sides but it made it so levels/shelves couldn't be mounted, taking up floor space (unless you hung it from the top ala the large tube I had there) Also, I would recommend sturdier doors (again, I went with just plexiglass but I wish I had made a frame for it to make it heftier and easier for me to open as I had to velcro it shut to prevent Hazel Nut from being able to "shimmy" a gap big enough for her to slip through)