Chicken wire or just drill holes?

[DazzleTheHamster]

Hello!, Im thinking of making a bin cage for my syrian hamster. I have seen people just drilling holes into the lid of the cage. Would it be fine for me to drill lots of holes into the lid of my bin cage of should I use chicken wire? Joshua

[SKB_Hamsters]

Drilling holes alone isn’t sufficient ventilation and can cause humidity to build up in cage which isn't safe.. The top needs to be meshed. Make sure the mesh isn’t galvanised

[mariashiomi]

What about making a mesh out of the bin lid? I mean cutting small squares? Is the hamster able to chew the plastic lid if it has square holes in it? Like a loose basket weave?
Also why not galvanized?

[SKB_Hamsters]

Galvanised mesh is steel mesh that been coated in zinc. Zinc is harmful if ingested in large quantities so if the hamster can reach and chew on the mesh they being exposed to zinc - as some mesh will have blobs of the galvanised zinc coating increasing the risk. I personally rather not take the risk with my own hamsters. This is why stainless steel mesh is best to use. As it going to be used indoor and not going to be exposed to water there is no need for it be galvanised either.

Cutting squares or just drilling holes will never provide sufficient ventilation. Firstly, drilling that many holes/cutting a number of squares can cause the plastic to become brittle - so higher risk of cracking the lid and is easier for hamster to chew through. It far by easier to cut a square out without cracking the plastic. Even when drilling a few to secure the mesh stress cracks began to form if the drill speed was too slow.
Secondly, the surface area of open holes will be far less than mesh so their will be less ventilation and air flow into the cage - causing a build up of humidity and less air circulation into the cage.

[mariashiomi]

Omg, i just made my bin cage with galvanized mesh

Lowe's, here I come...

[SKB_Hamsters]

This a resource to read through regarding galvanised mesh it is regards to bird but it can be useful. I didn't realise myself when I built my DIY cage many years back until my dad told me so bought stainless steel mesh.


Zinc and Birds. Before you go out and buy new wire check if it electroplated as from this link it will be safe. Its the Hot dipped that isn’t.