Goosemoose Pet Portal

Here's my FN, after cleaning it today... soooo easy to clean, fast and fun. I love decorating that thing every time. Is it wrong to look forward to cleaning day?  ;D

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/jorats/Cages/smFN.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/jorats/Cages/smFNtop2.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/jorats/Cages/smFNtop1.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/jorats/Cages/smFNbottom1.jpg)

And this last one is for Shelagh!

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/jorats/Rats/smBijouMisterball2.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/jorats/Rats/smBijouMisterball2.jpg)
I want this cage decoration.  Send it to me NOW.

Mister has got to be one of the most appreciative, tender-hearted rescues ever.

The rest of the cage looks great, too. :)

I "oooohh-ed" out loud and scared Tosca who was climbing up my leg to say Hi.  ;D

Awww...Mister and Bijou   :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart:  I could cry at how happy and content they both look.  :')

I want an FN now!  *stamps foot*  They look sooo easy to clean and decorate!  If I had a cage like that I would look forward to cleaning day with more excitement then resignation... :yelcutelaugh:

I need to find a Ratty Sugah Daddy!  Heehee!

Heres Mine Heres Mine.  I agree cleaning day is not a chore anymore.  I now want another one for my girls.

(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/OldsGal/DSCN0625.jpg)

(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/OldsGal/DSCN0624.jpg)

(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/OldsGal/DSCN0554.jpg)

(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/OldsGal/DSCN0553.jpg)

(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/OldsGal/DSCN0551.jpg)

(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/OldsGal/DSCN0550.jpg)

Those cages are cool, I hate to ask how much they run lol

I got mine for $190 off ebay.  And honestly they are very sturdy cages and well worth the money.  I got to thinking about it and these cages could also be used for puppies, cats, ferrets, or birds if I ever got out of rats (ya right)

Staci

In Canada they are $300. But I too believe they are well worth it. Very sturdy. Anyone had these for a couple of years? How do they stand up to all the scrub downs and weekly cleaning?

Hopefully my crew gets used to the hanging running ball or even comes to like it  :P  As it stands now, no one's caring about it, and I've yet to actually see anyone IN it.  I put Dwarfie in it, but he wasn't really that amused and just walked out of it.

Okay, here's my FN in a couple different set ups:

Yellow...

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/bosworth0/fnyellow.jpg)

Pink/orange...

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/bosworth0/fnclean.jpg)

Pink...

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/bosworth0/fnclosed.jpg)

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/bosworth0/fn.jpg)

Green stripes...

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/bosworth0/fnstripes.jpg)

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/bosworth0/fnstripestop.jpg)

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/bosworth0/fnbottomstripes.jpg)

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/bosworth0/fnbottomleftstripes.jpg)

*sob* As far as I know, mine hasn't even shipped yet! *sob* But I'm getting ideas, keep 'em coming guys. :D

I'm stuck with an aquarium for the time being, unfortunately. I read a book on keeping rats and it said they were the best for them so they don't chew the edge of their cages, but these look SO much better.  :hyper:

The book you read is a decade behind on the times..

Aquariums are not so nice on ratties because of the buildup of ammonia from their pee, nor provide them room to run, jump and climb.  And I've never had a rat chew the edge of their cage ever.

This site (http://www.rattiusmaximus.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=83&Itemid=252) has alotta info about various cages for rats..  and if you explore more of her site, proper food and play.

On the subject of Ferret Nation cages..  I was contemplating buying one before Christmas, but wasn't sure I wanted to spend $200 on a cage yet.  Most of my cages were $70 or less.

*crazydaisy* Petsmart carries the Ferret Nation; if you get lucky one near you may actually have one set up for you to take a look at.  The bar spacing is 1", which is what is holding me back right now.  This is the cage that my friend keeps her dwarf bunny in, and he *loves loves loves* it.

!!! can someone give me the bar spacing info? especially in comparison to a martin's cage?

I envy those cages, I could actually decorate one of those so my ratty baby's cages don't look so empty (it's hard to hang all the stuff my guys like. since  most of them ignore ground stuff and like hanging stuff). but my rats are SMALL and could get through the bars of most FN cages I've seen.

Here is my FN I just got on Friday. More pics in the cage decorating thread. My cage is blah, I need help to spruce it up a bit. I have five 2 year old boys in it.

(http://www.adsensetoday.com/rats/fncage.jpg)

I like how you have your top shelf on the opposite side then the bottom one. Looks great!!

I didn't intentionally set it up that way, but I do like it. I am going to clean it out today and maybe do some rearranging. One day I will get it just the way I like it!

I love the way you have yours set up, its pretty and colorful!

All of the ones on here look great!  I used the rolly ball idea, and my little girls in their smaller cage LOVE it.  I think it is easier to all pile on top of each other, where in a hammock they were in danger of falling out! :yelcutelaugh:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/texsusie/Pets/DSC00980.jpg)

 I keep switching things around, but the contents are pretty basic. 
Top section
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/texsusie/Pets/DSC01010.jpg)

Bottom section
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/texsusie/Pets/DSC01007.jpg)

here's mine

(http://www.belovedfreedom.com/rats/2007/cage012307R.jpg)

(http://www.belovedfreedom.com/rats/2007/cage0123072R.jpg)

Here's mine--it's decorated really lame because I could only use it for three weeks at home over spring break and I couldn't bring home too many accessories. I miss my FN. :'(

(http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/7666/1210203gl8.jpg)

Sorry, I don't have a pic of a Ferret Nation cage, since I don't (yet) have the cage.  But I have a question maybe some of you can answer:  I love the sturdy look of the cage, but can your rats climb the sides?  I like the fact that my girls can really climb on the sides and top of my Martins cage (they "monkey-bar" across the top).  How hard would it be to attach smaller mesh wire to the inside of a Ferret Nation cage?  Are they easy to tear down?  I'm considering either expanding my Martins (which I love) or buying a new, larger cage.  (if you think I have GGMR syndrome, you may be right!!!!  I currently have 3 girls in my Martins and one in QT....... )

  S.

Check this (http://www.goosemoose.com/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,118/forum,rat/topic,4015984.0) thread out for info on climbing the sides.

It'd be very easy to zip tie hardware cloth to the inside of the cage--I think a few people have done it on the outside of the cage to make it baby-proof.

Wow, great job everyone with your FN cages! You have all given me a lot of ideas. Where do you keep your FN cages? Is the bar spacing one inch? Keep on posting pictures, LOVE IT!
Sandi

Bar spacing is 1"x5" I think. Definitely 1" wide though. I keep mine in my tiny bedroom: :yelcutelaugh:
(http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/4799/1210234uh8.jpg)

I keep mine in my bedroom also.  The ONLY problem I have with my cage is the bar spacing.  Baby/young ratties can't go in there until they're about 3 months old for boys and about 5-6 months old for girlies.  :P  Here's a shot of the FN in my bedroom.  It also has the corner of my Martin's playpen in it.

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/bosworth0/room-1.jpg)

Awesome! You cages look nice in your bedrooms. Maybe ours could go in my daughter's room. I like the Martin's playpen! Do you like it?
Sandi

Great decoration ideas!! Keep em coming!!

I'll be doing another reno on the weekend and will post more pics then. I've got my Dearpie hammocks to add in there now!!

I can't figure out how to post pics with this new computer I have but I cut the sleeves of a fleece jacket I got at goodwill for cheap , and attached them to the ceiling.  They make great ratty hangouts in the roomy fn.

New pics... after easy cage cleaning... I took some pics of mainly the bottom part because I changed a few things around since I was adding a new little guy to the group.

Here it is in full:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/jorats/Cages/smFNfeb307.jpg)

The bottom part with doors closed:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/jorats/Cages/smFNbottomclosed.jpg)

Doors open with new little guy Sebastian in the front:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/jorats/Cages/smBottomFNfeb307.jpg)

In this one you can see the great Dearpie double decker in the bottom... looks great!

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/jorats/Cages/smBottomFNFlea.jpg)

Again, Seb in the bottom:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/jorats/Cages/smBottomFNSeb.jpg)

Wow! Looks like a fun, colorful jungle for the monkeys!!  :thumbsup2:

Oohh, I love the cage this time around, Jo!  I really want to steal that buggie double decker.  I love the fleece!

For you guys that absolutely stuff your FN full of fun stuff.... do you have to wipe everything down and switch stuff out every couple of days?  I'm assuming it can't be left for a week or it would smell horribly.

I've got a FN sized cage and since SoA inspired me to switch to fabric bedding and fill it with this and that I've found it doesn't get all icky or smelly at all as long as I put towelling washers where the boys sleep and change them every 1-2 days, wipe the giant food tile with vinegar/water every night and spot clean the stray poopies in the morning and before bed.

I've got EVERYTHING anchored in some way with the binder clips that the handles fold over, pegs where they can't go, the tiles, pavers and rocks. This way the only thing they can drag around and pee on is the loose washers... which the current trend is to 'put the lab blocks to bed' with. Silly, cute boys.

The rest of the bedding is rotated out as needed so usually a single thing gets replaced every 3 days.

EDIT: forgot to mention: just keep a spray bottle of vineger and water near the cage and something to wipe with and give things like igloos, toys a wipe as needed, though really they don't get as gross as you might think. It might seem like a lot of work, but I prefer it to huge weekly cleanings and ratties need some sort of daily cleaning anyway.

I follow my nose. I've got a good sense of smell and if it's stinky, it comes out. But I put in extra cut up fleece and they seem to do their business on those and I just change them when needed usually every second day. But the toys, the hammocks, wood chews, don't get peed on at all. I must be lucky!

Dumb question:  -- Is that mid level all solid so that the effect is two cages?

What do you use to keep the fleeces and bedding towels down -- just binder clips?  (That's a good idea!)

Yes the middle level is an entire floor.  There is a small square cut out in the corner for the ramp and access to that level from the bottom.  The nice thing is that the ramp that attaches those to levels lifts up and clips so that you can shut off the two levels from eachother.  So yes you could use it for two seperate cages.  I like to do this when I am cleaning the cage so that I am not fighting my little guys to clean.  Before when I had them in the Super Pet I would have to drag out a spare cage to put them in or close them up in the bathroom while I cleaned. 

The way I attach the fabric to the levels is two ways.  First if I am just using towels on the large pans I just fold them over and tuck them under the pan.  The rats leave them alone.  If I am using bath mats on the level I try to tuck them as best as possible and again the rats leave them alone.  The fabric on the two smaller shelves I just lay up there and then reposition it whenever I am at their cage which is all the time anyway now that it is so easy to open up the doors wide open and play with them.  But you could easily use binder clips. 

Staci

Fank you, Auntie Javakittie for our speshul FN liners and covers!!  The boys want to show em off.

Beanie says, "Dis is pwetty!  And comfy on da feet!"
(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c355/dolcilady/Feb%2006/Jan192007058.jpg)

Darwin says, "Dis is niiiiiiiice!!"  My dubs Auntie Kat!   :heart:
(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c355/dolcilady/Feb%2006/Jan192007022.jpg)

Leroy says, "Dis is pwetty, nice tablecloth to leave block dust on, Mommy!"
(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c355/dolcilady/Feb%2006/Jan192007050.jpg)

And lastly, SugarBaby.  "Wook, Mommy.  I made a peepee and marked it good!!!  Dis nice liner from Auntie Kat is ALL MINE NOW!"
(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c355/dolcilady/Feb%2006/Jan192007034.jpg)

And for general principle, the entire cage.
(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c355/dolcilady/Feb%2006/Jan192007143.jpg)

Robin

Just ogling the beautiful setups of your FN's and saw little Sebastien...had to awwww!    :heart:

Yay!!! I'm so glad yew like dem, muh boyos!! Dahwin, yew wook sooooo happy!! Auntie Kat wikes makin da Dahwin happies!! And Beanies and Lewoy, and Sugah-bebe, too!!!

Glad they turned out so well and that the boys like em, Robin!  That color looks fabulous on them! ;D

Here's our FN... Its still kind of bare right now since I have a ton of rat laundry to do!  :confused: I'm also getting a full shelf liner set from SoA!  :hyper:

These pictures where taken this morning after it was cleaned.

(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b137/Unlimitedears/FNtop.jpg)
Top half before the girls attacked.  :wink5:

(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b137/Unlimitedears/FNbottom.jpg)
Bottom half after the girls attacked! They pulled the blankie off of that top shelf and bunched all the other blankets around. Silly girls!  ::)

I LOVE seeing FN pics. I wish I could post ours! As I said in my FN thread, though, our camera is broken! A new camera will be bought in about a week & a half. Not soon enough.  :crybaby2: Hopefully, though, we'll order our liners from SOA and have even better pics then if we had pics now (did that make sense?).  :hyper: The boys are doing well with the blankets - better then other cages - but they still like to rearrange. ::) I love how roomy it is, even though we've got SO MUCH STUFF in there. :BlueDumboSmile:

Keep the pics coming! :poke:

I am in love with all of your FN's :love10:
I want one so MUCH! But I live in the UK  >:(
I'll have to make do with the pics...So keep posting them so I can envy you and wish I had one :police:

If we can get them over here in Australia now I'm sure they must be in the UK? Just email them and find out if and who they're importing through. In our case it's Masterpet and you order in through a petshop. We can't get the extra shelves here yet, but once we can I am determined to have one... though hopefully the price will have dropped.

Lookin great everyone!

There are some pretty impressive Ferret Nation decorators here! I see a lot of ideas I'd like to incorporate into my two FNs.

 Question -- in the last photo, what is the shelving/double decker thing on the right? I saw it in SoA's pic too. What is it, where did you get it, etc.

-Melina

It looks somewhat like one of those shower caddy things. I know my Home Depot carries a simple double shelf with a little towel rack like thing on the sides.

You can get them in the UK, but they are NOT CHEAP!
Here's one on ebay for £185:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rat-Ferret-Chinchilla-Ferret-2-level-sturdy-Cage_W0QQitemZ190079765117QQihZ009QQcategoryZ46307QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rat-Ferret-Chinchilla-Ferret-2-level-sturdy-Cage_W0QQitemZ190079765117QQihZ009QQcategoryZ46307QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
If you do a Google search for UK pages I'm sure you'll find other prices too.
I live in London and aspire to own a FN cage one day....!

Gorgeous decorations, by the way, everyone!

It is stackable shelving from walmart. I have it in my own cage. It comes in different sizes in the kitchen dept of walmart.

I forgot that I got mine at Kmart instead of Walmart  :P  What I got can be found here (http://www.kmart.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=155324&No=60&Ne=471&Nao=60&pCategoryId=471&N=521&Nty=1&categoryId=521&gpCategoryId=466).  I honestly don't like them very much and ended up taking out one  :P

Heeey! I could afford that! I think...Ill have a talk with my mum  :thumbsup2: Thanks for that  ;D
Thing is....At the moment...I only have one rat  :( I know, its bad, but he is (slowly) getting better from a respirotory infection and we don't want to introduce yet, till he is better :)

SoA, what don't you like about that shelving thingy?

Robin

Since all I can afford at the moment is to live vicariously, I've found one a bit cheaper, the price includes postage. 
http://www.redmap.co.uk/ferretsabout/acatalog/Ferret_Nation.html (http://www.redmap.co.uk/ferretsabout/acatalog/Ferret_Nation.html)
Even a lone ratty can never have too much space, and think what fun you can have filling it with friends for him when he's better...

Aww fuzzybee thats great, one day I will end up getting a FN from that website  :) I could just about afford the actual cage right now, but i'd want to buy loads of new stuff to furnish it with like fabric for the bottoms and new hammock fabric and stuff. Im 14 so it will take me a while to get enough money, heh, and I get quite a lot of pocket money every week as it is so its not really fair to ask for more  :) And when I get one I will be taking a lotta tips from here thanks to you lot!

Mine just came yesterday. It's pretty sparse compared to everyones. You guys gave me some good ideas. I can't wait till my two boys are old enough to go in it. They are about 8 weeks old now. Thanks everyone for sharing your great ideas.

(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w118/tara7884/DSCN0832.jpg)

They're too small to put anything good on  :P  The only thing they're good for are soda boxes.  They took up too much space considering the fact that don't hold a whole lot.

It looks great the way you have it all color coordinated! Your two boys will love all that room to run around in!

Wow, I love the paw print design, looks great, I also like the idea of making the fleece/cloth go all the way down from the second level, looks very sharp!

Thanks for the compliments :) I credit my cage to all the wonderful ideas I got off this site!! And I love my FN cage so thanks for that too! ( As a new rat owner, I had no idea where to start in making them a comfy home.)

Another cleaning day and more pics. Still love my FN... cleaning it is just so easy.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/jorats/Cages/smFNFeb10.jpg)

The bottom part with the wonderful wonderrodent palace!!

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/jorats/Cages/smFNbottomFeb10.jpg)

And a pic of my sweet Bijou in a wonderrodent cube!!

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/jorats/Cages/smBijouCube.jpg)

YAY!!!!
So how long does it take you to clean the FN?

Right now, it's taking me about an hour but that's because I'm having so much fun decorating and trying new stuff, changing stuff around. But eventually, it should take me about 30 minutes for the big once a week scrub down. Keep in mind, I do daily clean ups and I also only have 7 rats in there right now. I'm sure if I had the 12 allowed, then it would be a little more.

Yeah, it's not the actual clean-up that takes long, it's the redecorating!!   :yelcutelaugh:  It takes longer to wash the igloos and toys than it does to sweep and scrub the trays, shelves, and ladders. 

Robin

Drat you all!  I just got a Martin's, and can't get another cage, but now I've got GGFN!!!  I saw one at Petsmart, and was so tempted to walk out with it. (for $220  :o)  Argghhhh!!!

I'm the same! I spent 2 hours on just one half once :P all because my inner perfectionist kicked in (also I hadn't blocked the boys off from the half and they 'helped' and rode the cloth around the entire time). I then spent probably a total of another two hours lecturing the ratties on moving the furniture and placemats around. It's fun, it's hell, but I just can't stop perfecting it all!

I'm loving all the red in that cage jorats. It makes my eyes dart all over the place. *must get waffle houses this week  :BlueDumboSmileTongue:*

OH man.. I'm VERY Tempted to get a FN now, but not for the little rats, for the BIG rat!   Matisse's cage is a midwest ferret playpen, and it's getting old (it's older than him by a year, so it's almost 5 years old).  He's chewed the heck out of the thing, and at first I wanted to make a cube cage for him like my two bunnies have, but he's so clever and destructive, that I had decided against it. 

Is this cage good?  Does it have a lot of floor space?  the martin's ruud isn't long/wide enough for the 'Tisse. 

Dog crates aren't big enough, and I'd rather have the height as well as a decent width/length (something wider and longer than the martin's basically.  the midwest cage is fine as far as that goes, though).  Also, the bars need to be thicker than the martins cages have.. heh

OMG....I didn't even think about Matisse and this cage!  I personally think this cage could be perfect for Matisse.  The only thing you might have to worry about if he is a big chewer is that he could chew the pans that are the full floors of the cage.  However their are bars under it so he would not escape if he did.  This cage is so unbelievable sturdy I can't believe how well made I personally think it is.  The bars a definately stronger than martins wire.  I have bar chewers and they have not ruined the coating on the bars yet.  And can you imagine being able to throw open the doors and play with Matisse!  Other's can give their opinions too but I think it would be a great cage for him. 

Staci

Absolutely, it would be a great cage for Matisse!!! It's got so much floor space and a full second level with two balconies, he'd be running all over the place in that thing. It's also super sturdy.
Here's one exemple that my mom had noticed, a big Silent Spinner in a Martins and the whole side will wiggle when you have a strong runner but in the FN, the side doesn't move at all, super sturdy.
Before buying the FN, even though I drooled over the pics on here, I went over to ferrret forums to lurk and read up on what they think of the FN, and they all loved it as well as their ferrets. So I knew it was a good cage.  ;D

I think Matisse would love it, too.  My best friend has her dwarf bunny in one, and he bounds all over the cage.  The only thing she had to do was reinforce the shelves with cable ties.  One of the shelves wouldn't seat well in the slots, so if he bounced on it too hard, it would fall off.  The cable ties have taken care of that problem, though.  And that's only going to be an issue if the shelf has problems anyway.

i wish i was older i cant afford a new cage for my girls  am not even old enough to work so i cant afford a new cage and my mom wont buy me one :crybaby2:

YEAH!!!! I picked up my FN cage on Friday and it is fabulous!!! I love it. I can already see how much easier it is going to be to clean. I love the wheels on the bottom and the space is unbelievable. I was somewhat taken aback by the size of the whole thing but don't regret getting it for a second! In fact, I'm going to buy another first chance I get!


Now I'm suffering from GGM FN Stuff!!! Got some cubes on the way & am getting there. I re-arranged my huge Martins cage today, so I've got more stuff to decorate the FN!

Just my opinion, but all shelters, rescues etc. should have these cages! Imagine a wall of FN separated into sections for different groups of ratties!  I just wish there was a rat version with smaller bar spacing so that I could buy one form my girls.

So far Aidan & Steve are loving the top floor. Can't say who the bottom is for (it's a secret)  :wink5: and eventually, I want to move in Peanut, once I can manage a successful intro.

Weeee! Notamuised, how wonderful!! I've been wondering all weekend... did she get her FN yet? Does she like it? Why is she not posting pics...lol
What do you mean a secret???? Do tell girl!!

Don't want to jinx it so you'll have to be patient & wait!!!! (Insert evil laugh here  :cheeky:) Perhaps we shall reveal the secret next weekend? Maybe, we'll have to wait & see!  :-X

My family keeps asking, "Why is it sectioned off? Who's the bottom for?" I just tell them I haven't decided yet. They shake their heads in GGMR disbelief and wander away. But they keep looking at the cage and then looking at me like I've gone absolutely bonkers.  ::)

I highly recommend the flight cages found on ebay. See a couple (incl mine) here: http://www.goosemoose.com/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,118/forum,rat/topic,4016851.0

And here are ebay links to the ones pictured:
small: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=017&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=270065673961&rd=1&rd=1
large: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=017&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=270045609231&rd=1&rd=1

Ditto!  :yelcutelaugh:

I feel like a terrible ratty owner..seeing all these amaizing cages makes me want to send my ratties to you guys so they can live it up. ARG, I need an FN and some crazy sewing abilities!

here's mine, i'll be re-decorating once i decide on the new theme :p

the top
i can sew(the tubes, sleep sack and hammock and double decker hammocks are made by me, i'm thinking maybe a corner hammock or 2nd wheel..)
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a172/unglued9/myferretnation/DSC00114.jpg)
the bottom.
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a172/unglued9/myferretnation/DSC00100.jpg)

the whole thing

(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a172/unglued9/myferretnation/DSC00127.jpg)

Unglued, that looks great!! What's the little thing on the top level? There's even a rattie in it!

that green dome thing? it's form ikea! i can't find it on their website though..

Any idea what it's original use was? That's so cool looking!

it was sopposed to be hung up with the flat end againse a wall, so you can use it for storage.. there's a bottom layer to it what zips up, so i can pick it up and everything in it.

What a great idea to use it in the cage.
I'm feeling an IKEA trip coming on...lol It should take me only 5 hours. lol

Unglued, I love the colors in your cage! I have those Ikea thingies too--the rats love 'em! I wish they had other colors than neon yellow right now though. :P

You know there's a guy who bought up a bunch of those from Ikea (where they're like $3) and is selling them for $20 or so on eBay as a "unique" ferret toy. I keep seeing them listed when I'm browsing for stuff for the rats. Cheating jerk. >:(

i hate you all!  :'(  (JK)

I want one of these  SOOOOO bad, I'd have to wrap it in ugly green 1/2 x 1/2 wire, so the new small guys and the girls couldn't get out.

I'd section it off, put the girls in the bottom, boys on the top (like now), litter boxes, hammocks, tubes.....

will you kind  folk start a donation for this poor girl? :puppy_dog_eyes: :BlueDumboBigEyes:

You guys rule  :bow:

I wish I had the money to get one of these, but we are looking at getting a new vehicle, so between payments for that, insurance.....we won't have much left over..... :'(



Edit:

Does anyone have any pics of how the ramp actually "snaps" into place? and would a piec of linoleum work to cover it up so no accidental matings occur (it will prob be like 2yrs before I have the money for one, but it's nice to know anyways)...there would be 3 boys in top and 2 girls in the bottom (which according to the cage calc. with 2.5 cubic ft per rat, you can have 6 rats in each "tier"  :shocked2: )

There is no way they could (or want to!) mate through the ramp opening.  BUT yes, you could easily insert something between the floor and the ramp then fasten the ramp in the up position.  I am keeping my lone boy on the bottom and girls on top.  They like sniffing through the opening, so I haven't blocked it.

oh they'd want to, my girls aren't fixed and neither are my boys. Are there any pics (after just talking to the car guy it looks more like another 5yrs before I can afford this cage :*( )

I have my FN separated in two and I put a litter tray in the slot so there's no access to each other at all.

wow, if I didn't need the danged money for vehicles, I'd go by me one, I just got my federal back..

I see we have more FNs among us.... don't forget to post your pics in this thread. Keep them all together so we can steal ideas from fellow FN owners.  :cheeky:

I saw one at Petsmart yesterday...I was SOOOOOO tempted.  :BlueDumboBigEyes:

I will probably head to Ikea before too long.  Does anyone know if they still sell those cool plastic bag storage things?  They are awesome turned on their back to make a long tunnel with access holes.

I found them on eBay somehow. Searching for 'hanging storage' I think. Mandy got some not too long ago in store too I think? *poke poke* Mandy  :poke: might have been ages ago!  :BlueDumboSmileTongue:

Hmmm...  I wish I knew what you were talking about - got a picture?  I was just in Ikea this week and could probably tell you if I saw any.

I haven't posted in forever since I've been so sick (still am, but slowly getting better!), so here are some FN pictures I took a few days ago  :)

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/bosworth0/fnmulti1.jpg)

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/bosworth0/fnmulti.jpg)

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/bosworth0/fnmultiopen.jpg)

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/bosworth0/peridoubledecker.jpg)

I'm going to be making a couple modifications to the cage, and also investing in a (really cute) vinyl shower curtain for behind the cage, since I didn't realize just how MUCH gets out of the cage and onto the wall with a wire cage (since I had my homemade cage for years).

Along with that, I have about 40 hammocks all cut up and ready to be sewn!  So, those pictures will probably be next once I finish sewing  :)

Stop shaming us Chelsey!! Your cage setups are always droolworthy. Bye bye ferret boat though. :( :yelcutelaugh:


I know what you're talking about and last time I was there (around Christmas) they still had them. I should have picked one up -- my kiddos loooove their crinkle tunnel but those are tons more durable.

I also have the hanging mesh storage organizers from the kids' department that Gemma mentioned. Those are tons of fun and if you get short ones or cut them they fit well in the FN.

SoA, I just love seeing pics of your cage!! Sorry that you are not feeling well.  :(

Mandycoot, what do you mean bye bye ferret boat?  :eek:

Jo, I sold my ferret boat  ;)  It's been a mainstay in my cages for 3 years or more, so I thought I'd see what life was like without it!  I've cleaned the cage since those pictures, and the boat's on its way to its new owner, and let me tell you... I have absolutely no idea what to do with that open space right there.  It's been bugging me insanely, since currently I just have that wooden tunnel (that, in the pictures, is on the top of the cage), and it looks WAAAAY too boring.  I'll have to get creative  ;)

OH NOooooo, no more ferret boat!!! :BlueDumboBigEyes:

Oh, I think you'll come up with something real fun!!

Random question, Jo/Mandy - how do you keep stuff from getting on the walls behind the cage (or to the side of the cage, too)?  Or, if you don't really do anything to keep the walls safe, is there any particularly cleaner you use to get the gunk off?  With my cage/rats, it's pretty much 90% baby food since they get their hands in it, feel icky, and then shake them off  ::)

Hahahaha, you don't. :P

I live in a dorm room so, you know, I just scrub the walls with soap and water and don't care what happens to the paint. ;D

When I'm at home I do the vinyl shower curtain thing (I find that the vinyl is sooo easy to wipe down) and I'll probably continute that when I graduate and move out. I have part of a vinyl shower curtain underneath my cage here and I really love how easy it is to clean (though apparently vinyl tastes delicious ::) ).

I don't care at all about my flooring, since it's Pergo and nothing ever stains it.  I just hate when stuff gets on the walls, and no matter what cleanser/soap I use (okay, I'm lying, I've only used one!), the stuff doesn't completely come off.  So this weekend I have a big rattie shopping list, and a shower curtain is on there (along with that Target cat play gym Jo has, those pop up tents, food for their Suebee's, and tons of other stuff)  :P

Vinegar/water mixture on the walls works magic for pee dribbles.  Don't know about baby food though.  ;D

Succubus: Underneath the FN are those towels?

I ordered my Ferret Nation on the 16th, Its supposed to be arriving on the 26th. I cannot wait! I already bought most of the fabric for it. I am just making room in my bedroom for it, I have a lot of cages! lol

Well, I did run down to the store, but I couldn't find either item.  I did find cute stuffed animal rats for $3 and an adorable cat tent that the cat LOVES and the rats would probably like too for $7.  I love that store.  Will go back and check again.

The bag storage is pictured here- the blue thingy

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/texsusie/Pets/DSC00502.jpg)

Wow I am jealous of everyone with their FN's.  The way everyone has decorated them is awesome!!  What a great job everyone.  Its too bad I have 2 Martin's 690's or otherwise I would make a change.  Enjoy!!!

Yep!  I have 16-18 big bath towels for the ratties, which neatly fit underneath the cage in the storage section.  :)

How do you like the towels? I was thinking of using towles as part of the fabric I use in the Fn when it comes. I found very large bath towels, and many wonderful colors at my Walmart for $2.50..and I think they would stand up to my messy girls!

It just came and I got to decorate it with all the hammocks I've made over the past week. So much fun!  ;D

(http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1604/8211409/15355445/232640827.jpg)

(http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1604/8211409/15355445/232645571.jpg)

Oh I love it! Can you get a pic of the whole cage with the bottom stand and all?

Whoa, you found large bath towels at Walmart for only $2.50?  I usually buy mine from Target, and they're $3-$4 there.

I love using towels.  I've been using towels in my cages for years, and they fit in the FN perfectly with some folding here and there  :)

Oh yeah, I love my walmart! lol. I love the fabric department too.

By the way, I LOVE your cage! And you have a very beautiful room (Coming from an amatuer enterior designer ;)).

I usually get my big bath towels from Kohl's when they're on sale for $2.99 each (which is pretty much always--nothing is every full price at Kohl's!). They're my favorite for both the rats and me!

I have a couple of those stuffed rats.  My 5yr old named them - Ratters and Ratters II. :D  I'll definitely look for that bag storage thing next time I go; it looks awesome.  Are the holes big enough for the rats to fit through?

Mandy, you either buy a LOT of bath towels, your rats never chew, or you just use new ones anytime you take cage pictures  :P  I never see ANY holes or stringyness.

We never see chew holes on your towels either!  :poke: :yelcutelaugh:

But that's only because I have fifty billion things in my cage  :D

Actually SoA/Chelsey or anyone with these ingredients: organiser cubes, FN, zip ties. I'm wondering if you could test something for me. If you were to zip ties one of those wire squares to the rear corner of the cage does it work out as a stable shelf or does the unsupported corner sag? You could then stick a lino tile to it and then a washcloth or whatever and bing, extra shelf.

Reason I'm asking will be revealed in due course! But I thought it might also be a good way for all you FNers to add in an extra step up/shelf to the side without the half shelf on it. I found the wire cubes here in several shops, but didn't want to spend the money to have the experiment fail  :BlueDumboSmile:

gem_max, I did try that with another wire grid and the one corner did sag. I suppose you could add a chain and hang that corner to the top?

Thanks jorats! *goes back to her evil masterminding... err thinking*

Everyone more pics! :hyper: come on time is money  >:(

Here's another pic of the top part of my FN. I decorated it like I would if I had younger rats in there. Right now I have two older rats and their back legs don't work so well anymore... but I wanted to have fun with it... so here's a pic of the decorated for younger generation top part of the FN:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/jorats/Cages/TopFNNic.jpg)

Ok, people, now I have a real dilemma. I have been coveting a FN because of all of YOU!  Except, that I just bought a new 695, and didn't think it was right to buy another cage so soon.  Plus, at Petsmart, it was $220.  I just got a lovely card yesterday from my lovely Gramma with a lovely check for $1000.  :hyper:  So, do I assume my Gramma wants me to do whatever I want and buy a FN, even though I know it will drive my mother bonkers? (I'm an adult with kids, but live with my mom.)  I'd literally have to get rid of another cage, since she would be scared I might fill up an empty cage with more rats.  Hee hee.  Probably right.  But the one cage I have is such a pain to clean through the little doors that I drool everytime I see one of those FNs with the doors wide open.  What do I do?  :poke:

Aren't Grammas wonderful!!!

How about you sell your almost new 695?

I actually like my 695 better than the other cage (which is bigger), because my new 695 has a flip top and bigger bottom door, which makes it easier.  I probably could split the FN and put the 2 boys in one part, and 4 boys in the other, so I would only need one cage.  I'd probably get rid of the older cage, and keep the new Martin's, though.

I love my Gramma.

I dunno.. Everyone is like obsessed with ferret nations.. I had one about a year ago and absolutly hated it. My ratties would just throw everything all over the floor with it.. the bottom pan was to thin to hold anything in it... and they would chew on it.
I think i wound up selling it on craigslist for like 40 bucks.  :-\

I find that no matter what kind of cage I have the rats throw things out of it and onto the floor.  The bottome pan doesn't need to hold anything more than a towel or rug for me and I guess I am lucky I don't have rats that chew.  But then again I provide them with an overwhelming number of things that they can chew on besides the bottom pan.  But to each their own I guess.  You couldn't pay me to own a Martin's personally.  If one was donated to me or I could get one cheap I would take it as a rescue cage but I would never keep rats in one permanently.  Waaaaaayyyyyyy to much upkeep and work to clean.

Staci

Stuff is always getting thrown from my FN.  That's going to happen with ANY and EVERY cage, though.  Even with my homemade cage, stuff would get on the floor from just the front doors of the cage.  It's what happens  :P  Of course, it happens a LOT more with the FN, but if you spot clean a couple times a day, they don't kick out nearly as much food/crumbs/poop.  Cordless hand vacuums are your friend  :)

Gem, that's actually a really great idea!  I didn't even think about doing that!  Even though Jo already tried and I'll probably get the exact same outcome, I'm going to try it too  :D

I totally love the Martins cages too. The only thing that's got me so excited with the FN is how easy it is to clean.  :P

Jo, I just noticed in your most recent picture of the top half of your FN... is that a modified snake to be like a huge double decker?

Yep... I twisted Astrid's arm and begged and begged for her to make me a huge snake but in a way tha I could have holes on top instead of the side.

Ooo, what a nifty idea!  How do the rats like it?  :)

They totally love it. In my big Martin's cage, I have 16 rats in that cage and sometimes they will all be inside the snake. I think it has a lot to do with the holes being at the top instead of on the side, there's no opening where they sleep. Once in a while, you will see one pop his head out of the top and go back in. It's so funny, I could almost play wackamole with them!  :yelcutelaugh:

If I were you, I'd totally get an FN and use a lot of the money for bedding, toys, houses, etc etc. :D But that's just me. ;)

 :'( after seein all these beautiful FN's and how you've all set them up....i don't want the Martins 695 i just ordered  :(

Don't you hate that?  I had just gotten my new 695 when this whole FN thing really took off.  Now I want a FN.

Slowly but surely, I am getting FN envy too!
All your cages just look awesome. Also, the FN seems so sturdy. Too bad, my girls have a whole room so I don't really have an excuse to buy a FN.... :P

I can just imagine myself opening the FULL doors, and easily and quickly sweeping a few raisins out, and easily and quickly switching out the bedding and hammocks.  You know, EASILY and QUICKLY, which really is tempting today, because I need to clean both cages, and not sure my cage cleaning/decorating yoga is up to snuff today.

I have to thank all in this thread!!  My husband was watching over my shoulder while I was browsing the pics contained in it, and said "Wow, that is SO much nicer than our cages!!  When we get into the new house let's get one of those and have some neuters done and put them all together!!"  I dream of the days of only cleaning one cage (not having to contort myself to get into the tiny Superpet doors...not having the infamous pee rivers) and having all the kids together - we only have four so the FN will be a mansion!!  YAY Ferret Nation thread!!   :bow:

Stacey

    ok... so I'm a convert too.  I just put mine together and I'm already considering a second.   I realized what a difference it was from my big Marchioro when I was putting a hammock under the the shelf in the bottom half. I only had one door open and I was reachin wasy inside with my forhead pressed on the other door. I was having trouble reaching and I couldn't really see.  Then I had a :doh: moment.  I opened both doors and my whole head and shoulders fit in and I was able to decorate without pain or contortions.
   

And don't forget, those doors come right off too!!!

So two FNs put together... =24 rats!!!!

Ok, now you're killing me!!!  :BlueDumboBigEyes:

I didn't realize the doors came off!   :shocked2:   I just popped one off and carried it into the the other room.  I was so excited to show my friend, but I don't think she understood why I was making a big deal about it.  I love this cage!  I'm so glad you guys got FNs and talked about them so much. :bow:

I cleaned mine today so I thought I would post some updated pictures.

(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/OldsGal/DSCN0828.jpg)

(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/OldsGal/DSCN0829.jpg)

(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/OldsGal/DSCN0830.jpg)

What's that pink thingie at the bottom with the perfect rounded hole? Sweeeeet!

Refer to this post here to find out what the pink thingy is and the perfect hole is thanks to my handy hubby with a garage full of tools.

http://www.goosemoose.com/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,118/forum,rat/topic,4017914.0

What the? How did I miss that thread? I practically live in Home Squeak Home.  :doh:

Oooh, must get a handy hubby, got the shed full of tools already. lol *looks around to see if hubby is reading over her shoulder* lol

Maybe I'll just do what I usually do, ask my dad!

Ummm...it's the first and the last. :yelcutelaugh:

HAHA, Jorats, I have the same problem... thank goodness for Dads!

I tried all the zip tied stuff to add all kinds of fun things, but every morning, one of the turds has chewed through the zip ties and the tunnels and toys are on the floor.

Anyone know where to get those simple metal hooks?  Also, any other good suggestions for securing tubes and toys that isn't so chewable?  Guess I could use a wire of some type.

Petsmart had ferret tunnels clearanced for $3 and the ball thing that connects to them for $3 too.

TexSusie, are you talking about the metal shower curtain hooks?  If so, you can get those at Walmart.  Look where they keep the curtain hardware, not in the shower section. 

I'm getting one!!!  I finally decided.  I'm going to use part of my Gramma's gift to get a Ferret Nation.  Whee!!!  Is the general consensus that the Ferret Store is the best place to order them because of the customer service?  And, some of you fine folks, please see my question about Obi over in Rat Care Corner.  Thanks!

Ok....decisions made  :yelcutelaugh: i'm callin Martins to re-order my canceled order  :doh: but have the 695 customized like Joannes  :thumbsup2: and then  :cheeky: in May (as a b-day present to myself *hehe*) the baby boys will be 3 months old by then & i will order a FN! I can always use the Martins for the future baby ratties  :thumbsup2: *my partner thinks i've gone nutz!*  :BlueDumboSmile:

Care  :BlueDumboSmileTongue:

We've all gone nutz!!  :BlueDumboSmile:

A very good kind of nutz! :BlueDumboSmile:

Not anymore...they raised the price a crazy amount due a package deal and no longer accept price matches because of that. I had wanted to order because of their customer service but wasn't about to pay an exorbitant price. :P I got mine off Amazon through Revival Animal Health and many people have gone through the eBay seller with no issues at all, or if there were any they were taken care of quickly.

Ah!  Thank you very much!  So how much should one cost? My Petsmart has one for $220.  :shocked2:

I got mine from the Happy Dogs ebay person.   I paid less that $192 including shipping.  It came really fast and I had no damaged or missing parts.  There's a cheap ferret nation on ebay right now that's "pick-up" only in Virginia if anyone around there is looking.

I just checked that Happy Dogs guy, and it's $141 for the cage and $50 for the shipping.  Didn't someone on here get extra shelves and things directly from Midwest?  Yoohoo!  Who are you?

Yippee, instead of waiting until we are in the new house, we went and bought a Ferret Nation last night (out of necessity - the girls have destroyed their cage)!!  I can't wait to put it together tonight, I have a feeling we will end up having to wrap ours in hardware cloth.

Stacey

Yay this means more FN pics!

Any chance you could post pics of the destroyed cage too? I'm REALLY curious  :BlueDumboSmileTongue:

More pics everyone! Less gabble more photo!

*hopes to add pics soon too*

*runs*  :hyper:

gem_max... are you keeping something from us?

Meanwhile... still waiting on Tarrbot!!!! Where are those pics?

You guys are probably getting sick of my FN pictures by now  ::)  I kind of over-compensated this time around, since the past couple cleanings I felt really terrible and just wanted to quickly get done, so instead of the normal 15+ hammocks, there were only 5 or 6.  This time around, there at 17 hammies!  Three cubes, three standards, six pockets, two double deckers, one tube, and a couple others I've forgotten.

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/bosworth0/fnclosed-1.jpg)

This picture shows 9 out of 10 of the ratties that are currently in my FN (still waiting on Fergie and Emma to get big enough to be spayed!).

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/bosworth0/nineoutoften.jpg)

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/bosworth0/leftside.jpg)

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/bosworth0/rightside.jpg)

Here's my Peri girl, showering off her new cube that I made a few days ago  :)

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/bosworth0/perinewcube.jpg)

The fact that your previous cage decorating pictures are "sparse" is really astounding to me. :yelcutelaugh:

Signed,
Another Hammock Ho

SOA you are killing me!!!!  I love your pics.  Here is my measly cage :rattysmiley:

(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i236/quigll/P2120144.jpg)

(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i236/quigll/P2120159.jpg)

I didn't post pictures of my sparse cage since I felt embarrassed!  But, since the cage is no longer sparse, I don't feel as bad about posting pictures and showing what my cage looks like when I'm, for once, actually not up to decorating  :P

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/bosworth0/bare.jpg)

OH, THE HORROR!

the scary thing is..... it still looks good :P

My husband just gave me permission on Suday to get a second FN!  This one for my Girls.  I currently have my boys in a FN and my girls in a SP.  I was scrubbing my SP and glaring at my husband and he asked me what my problem was.  I used to love my SP cage but each time I have to clean it I hate it a little more and a little more.  I have been spoiled by my FN.  However, I have to save up for it.  I am estimating I can have the money scraped together in about 2 months.  I don't know if I can make it that long LOL!!!!

Staci

Ooooh!! I love them!!
SoA, you had the logs in there... what a great idea!

Quigll, it looks great with the waffle houses and that triangle hammock, I have those too and it hangs so perfect in that cage.  ;D

Yay!!!  Good for hubby...and great for you!!  :thumbsup2:

Well after a bit of bloodshed and some naughty words being uttered (you know golly, darn, etc) our new cage is together!!  I don't recommend putting this together on 3 hrs of sleep - I had the first level together and realized I had the door upside-down...argghh!!

I currently have the middle ramp up, separating the top and bottom, w/the top empty and the boys in the bottom.  The thought is to cover the top portion  (and middle shelf) with hardware cloth...and forming a solid barrier between the top and bottom so we can stick the girls up top until neuters are done.  Hs anyone tried this successfully??

Well it's very sparsely decorated, and I'm definitely not an interior decorator - but here are some photos:

(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/slo3933/Rats/newcageboys.jpg)

I definitely have some sewing to do in the next few days, good thing I went nuts at the Joann sale last week.  A couple of questions...the boys were completely freaked when I put them in, they seem to be calming down, but are boxing and showing more than usual dominance/submission - is this normal for a new cage?

Gem-max - the destruction was to the base of a Superpet cage - they chewed 3 inch holes in two corners despite many attempts to deter them (including greatly increasing out time).  Well, yesterday I went out for 20 minutes, there was no hole when I left, when I got back there was a HUGE hole in another corner and the girls were out, so instead of putting more money into cages we don't plan on keeping, we picked up the awesomeness that is Ferret Nation :-)

I hope at some point I can get this cage looking half as good as some of the cages on here!!

Stacey

More lucky ratties!!
And more upside down doors!  :yelcutelaugh:
It seems to be quite the trend when putting this beast together.

Slo, when I needed a solid separation between my two cage halves (Leroy began nipping toes if someone laid on the closed ladder above...and for some reason the rats LOVE to lay on the closed ladder), I just slipped a plastic placemat under the "L" section of the tray. 

But, another fix, to keep your girls and boys from meeting at the "L" (with the ramp up), just move the boys shelf to the left side of the cage instead of the right.   ;)

Here's a pic of the modifications done by Tarrbot for Anita where he added mesh to her FN.  http://www.goosemoose.com/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,118/forum,rat/topic,4015148.msg4158687/,#msg4158687 (http://www.goosemoose.com/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,118/forum,rat/topic,4015148.msg4158687/,#msg4158687)

Robin

Here is my Ferret Nation, its changed around and more is added..lol, I add more things and change it around daily!! But heres it a few days ago:



(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b235/Punkygirl0101/Rats/Cages/IMG_2166.jpg)
The bottom shelf

(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b235/Punkygirl0101/Rats/Cages/IMG_2162.jpg)
The top

(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b235/Punkygirl0101/Rats/Cages/IMG_2149.jpg)
All of it before more things were added.

I love it! :)

Dolcilady - thanks for the link to the modified cage pics - that'll definitely help (my husband is already grumbling - but he did the 2 Superpets).  :doh: Moving the shelf, why didn't I think of that!?!?  Thanks again :-)

Stacey

Punkygirl, how do you like those extra white shelf things in the cage? Do the rats like it?
What do yo have in that deep burgundy container in the bottom part?

wow  :eek: those ladders look so steep Punkygirl. I'm planning on getting a FN in May (i just got 2 rittens and they won't be able to go in until then.) i'm wondering if they're too steep for ratties that age?

Care  :BlueDumboSmileTongue:

I love the white shelves, and so do the girls! They are actually now hanging from the top to add more levels and not take up floor space.

In the brown cat litter box there is aspen, and in the hot pink (I guess it looks burgandy in the picture) there is shredded paper towels.

I keep hearing about the steep ladders, but my girlies are young and are like monkeys, they don't even use the ladders on both levels, they climb the sides to get to each level.

JadesDream, young ratties will scale anything. lol and the levels can be moved lower as well to avoid that. Or if you like the level that high, you can always put something under the ladder so it's not too steep. Another great thing about this cage,the ladder can be placed where you like it on the shelf, in the back, middle or front. So if you put it at the back, you could always tie wrap it to the back of the cage so not to make it so steep and give the ratties a little jump down.

Hhahaha I laugh at the froggies everytime Punky. It kind of looks like your girls are bouncing around all over the place. Must be entertaining!

And slo that must have been a hair pulling moment and a half when you found the hole! My boys have managed to chew a bite sized hole in a plastic container and that's it. Girls must be so much more resolute (and boys with an attention span the size of an ant- literally).

And Jades scroll back a few pages in this thread. Lots of things like ladders, shelf positioning etc are discussed. It's all up to the ratty slave.

someone else mentioned using hardware cloth to modifyu the cage. That is what I did with my FN.  Home depot has a 3 x 5 feet roll of coated 18 guage wire.  I cut it to size and used zip ties to secure it to the cage.  I am paranoid about my girls getting hurt so I felt it needed to be attached to the INSIDE of the cage.  here is my reasoning.  I was afraid if the 1/2 1/2 inch was on the outside that still left the possibility for one of the littler girls to slip thru and 1 inch bars and get stuck between the cage and the added hardware cloth.  If it is on the inside then they cant even begin to get thru the 1/2 x 1/2.  Also the zip ties are relatively cheap and easy.  Once in awhile one will get chewed off but I keep extra right next to the cage and fix it up when I notice.  I check over the ties when I do the routine cleaning.  I will get some pics posted so people can see.

For my bigger girls I added the hardware cloth to two sides of the cage jsut for climbing!!!  So my rats now have a climbing wall!!  They love it!!

Toni

Would someone mind posting pics of their modified FN?  I have 2 girls who maybe able to get through the bars.  I would love to see how they were modified.

SoA...did you make those rat ropes? they are soo cute & colorful  :BlueDumboSmile: how do they stay together at the ends without coming undo though?

Care  :BlueDumboSmileTongue:

I tried home made ropes once and wondered what the yucky smell was. Yep... the ladders were some trendy new boy toilet. "See Who's Pee Soaks Up the Rope the Most!"

Cherish your pee-free pretty ropes SoA! Tried the cubey shelf thing yet? Another failure?

OK people next we need a purple inspired cage. And jorats HOW COOL IS THAT SHEEPY FABRIC!

Lucy, like five or six messages up is a link showing pictures of a modified FN.  :)

Tonivan, putting the cloth on the inside of the cage is a GREAT idea.  I'd be paranoid that they'd get stuck between barriers, too.

Robin

messy girls *needs a lot of work*
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y61/LivingPinCushion/fuzzbutss/ratzzzz015.jpg)

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y61/LivingPinCushion/fuzzbutss/ratzzzz014.jpg)

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y61/LivingPinCushion/fuzzbutss/ratzzzz012.jpg)

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y61/LivingPinCushion/fuzzbutss/ratzzzz010.jpg)

and for CUTENESS factor
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y61/LivingPinCushion/fuzzbutss/ratzzzz013.jpg)

Awesome! A purple FN... looks so ROYAL.

I love it when the shelves are halfway like that. It looks balanced. What are the hammocks hung with? I can't find steel shower hooks so need ideas :P Paperclips rust...

^^ thanks they are hung with these black clips that are used sometimes as keychain clips.

gem use plastic ones, you can find them in kmart in the shower curtain section they dont rust and you canwash them easily

Wow, you all have great pictures, and great toy ideas, and great cages!  I have many cages, but I am currently making two new cages out of storage cubs for my four boys, and three girls.

Great job everyone!

knowing that my boys would be big enough for one of these is not helping me. lmao.

EEEEE!!!  Mine arrived yesterday, so I'm going to assemble it today (with my 6 yr old daughter's help).  I'll post pics when I'm done!!  Yay!!!!!

Yahoo!  It's all put together!  There were a couple bits that were bent, but I was able to bend them back, so no need for replacement parts.  My daughter helped me...I don't know how people would do it without an assistant.  So, without further ado...my FN decorated by my daughter (she wanted the honor of doing the first decorating). Ta da!

Doors closed:
(http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w216/JR1030/FN1.jpg)

Doors open:
(http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w216/JR1030/FN2.jpg)

I have ordered two more shelves from Midwest...one for the top, and one for the bottom, but those haven't come yet.  So, when they come we'll have even more decorating to do.  So far I haven't decorated the bottom, so just have Tango and Cash in the top.  I'm planning to move the new boys into the bottom, though, at some point.

Aw...here's how I found Tango and Cash about an hour after they got into their new FN:
(http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w216/JR1030/FNHappy.jpg)

Wonderful! You've done a great job and your daughter is a great decorator!
What is that thing the ratties are sleeping on?
Oh and I can't wait to see pics with the extra shelves!

That's a kind of woven basket from IKEA.  There were 4 in the package...a large, medium (as modeled by Tango and Cash), and two small ones (which are now in my bathroom).  They're meant for storing things in the bathroom, makeup, washcloths, or whatever.  They're soft, and the tops can fold down or stay up.

Oh poo! I need an Ikea! You've guys get such great things from Ikea and Target.

My smaller girls are harrassed by the alpha in the FN.  I think they would just be happiest in their own FN when they are finally big enough.  Problem is, where would I put a second FN??  Wonder if Midwest will start making a model that isn't quite as deep, oh and with smaller bar spacing so that I don't have to modify it?  Say good for 6-8 females..LOL  Guess I should just look at flight cages, but I LOVE MY FN!!

I got back to IKEA and found the bright green dome storage thingy and the mesh hanging storage things.  They also had under the shelf storage racks that I made extra shelving out of.  So much stuff there!

Jorats, can you shop IKEA online?

http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10103&storeId=12&langId=-1&productId=25721 (http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10103&storeId=12&langId=-1&productId=25721)

Didn't someone just get something that is similar to a FN, but smaller?  Feisty Ferret?

I could order from Ikea Canada!!! Now...must go browse...

Oh, we're not going to see her for a while!  :wave2:

Ok, so I decided (with some help) to put the new boys in now, rather than trying to wait until Obi's neuter kicks in.  I thought I would try it and see, and then take them back out if it wasn't working.  They've been in for an hour or so, and it seems to have calmed down...Obi is no longer rushing madly about rubbing himself on everything.  Although the upstairs and downstairs neighbors are quite interested in each other, they can't reach one another.  I put a thick, flexible cutting board over the ramp area, so no toes or tails can get nibbled from below.  So, here are the new pics:

Here's the whole thing now:
(http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w216/JR1030/FNWhole.jpg)

Here's just the bottom:
(http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w216/JR1030/FNBottom.jpg)

Here's the bottom two minutes later:
(http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w216/JR1030/FNBottom2.jpg)

Because they were doing this:
(http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w216/JR1030/Munchy.jpg)

*Edit to say that the bright colored thing is part of Gerber freeze dried bananas and strawberries...not some evil artificially colored thing.*

So far, it's amazing!  I love the big doors, and how easy it is to hang hammocks and such.  And now I can have one cage instead of two, even though my two groups don't live together.  Yay!

Your FN looks great! I love the pink vs blue. Your daughter definitely has some taste too and has placed things so sensibly. And the first thing I noticed is it loks airy without looking empty!

What is that paper stuff they're digging through? I wonder if we can get it here. I've got some crazy diggers who take to litter flinging.

Can't wait to see regular *hit hint* JR1030 FN pics.

*blush*...I'll tell my daughter she did a great job.  The paper stuff is called ECO-Bedding.  It's basically just little zig zags of paper for small pet bedding.  I got mine at PetSmart here, but you might be able to order from somewhere.

I still haven't gotten my two extra shelves for the FN, so when those come in, I'll redecorate, and post new pics.  ;D

i love your cage!  But was wondering, if you might pm me where you got the small hammock cube thingy?  I need to make some of those.  And your daughter did a very good job, better then me with any of my cages, and i'm 14 lol

Another cleaning day...Another round of pictures.

(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/OldsGal/DSCN0870.jpg)

(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/OldsGal/DSCN0868.jpg)

(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/OldsGal/DSCN0869.jpg)

Doors Closed

(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/OldsGal/DSCN0871.jpg)

You know, I've read a couple of times that people's ratties like to poop at the end of the ramp, hence the box at the bottom of each ramp.  I thought "gosh, that's weird", and didn't think anything more of it.  So the first day in the FN, I was looking for stray poops to put in the litter pan, and where did I find a whole pile?  Right under the bottom of the ramp.  What is that about???  Is there some kind of secret rat communication??  ("Hey dude, don't forget to poop at the bottom of the ramp...hee hee hee.")

LOL rebecca! Mine always mess up their ramps! You're cage looks great! I loved seeing your guys in my hammock. You've got some handsome boys! I love the pink ones you got too, prob. from Chelsey right? They look adorable! You made me want to go redo my cage with all new hammies :)

Hee hee...now that I have my wonderful FN, I feel like I might need some more hammies, too!  ;D

That's a nice lookin' pipe Olds  ;D (no really, something about that pipe...)

Sigh... no Ferret Nation for me yet. I've been hinting at it, Jo cottoned on too. My eBay seller and I have been scheming away for the last 3 weeks as she waited for her account to be opened with Masterpet, the FN importer here Downunder. Well today I got my quote and it's $500 (starting price) because they're not coming direct from Midwest  :'( steep hey... My seller is lovely and she's pooey about it too. Stoopit Mast.. yeah.

I'd budgeted for $300ish, but even with the discount I was offered I think theyre just too much for me. I dunno. What do you guys think? Are the FNs worth sub $500? I could save up for one, quite easily, but I'm a student so I could uum and aah about the sensibility of spending so much forever. And because I have not had a vet visit in my first 7 months of ratty ownership so I'm always paranoid something big and $$$ is going to happen to my boys. Plus I just bought a new laptop  :shocked2:  :hyper:

So keep posting pics everyone and I shall live vicariously through the awesome set-ups until that day I go insane after dislocating my shoulder reaching the top poop corner and splurge on my very own FN. Dammit I wanted to be the first Aussie with one! *shakes fist*. InjectionOfYou the honour must go to you, get one for your boys! 

lol if i win a million dollars ill buy one for me and one for u  :yelcutelaugh:  ;)

(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c355/dolcilady/Rat%20Room%20Redo/March10001.jpg)

(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c355/dolcilady/Rat%20Room%20Redo/March10002.jpg)

(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c355/dolcilady/Rat%20Room%20Redo/March10012.jpg)

(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c355/dolcilady/Rat%20Room%20Redo/March10005.jpg)

I think it needs more toys and a lot more rats!   :BlueDumboSmileTongue:
Robin

Wow Robin, that looks great!! I love how it looks and matches the room too!!

Robin that cage looks awesome in your room! 

Oohh, I love how the cage matches the room, Robin!  Pie did a great job with those hammocks  :)

Here's my cage for the next few days, since I just got done cleaning it.  Hopefully the next time I do a big cleaning, I'll be doing it for the double-wide FN!

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/bosworth0/fndifferent.jpg)

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/bosworth0/fntopsies.jpg)

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/bosworth0/fnbottomsies.jpg)

SoA, your cage makes ME want to move in there...lol And when you get your double FN, there will definitely be room for me and the rats.  :hyper:
Now don't forget, this thread is also for double FN pics!!!
I was thinking of adding a third level to my FN but I'm now waiting to see how yours turns out and I may do the same as you.

All the cages on this page are not helping my GGa($500)FN :P

They look awesome. I just want to come and stare at them  :yelcutelaugh:

Ok I have a question for you Chelsey....

We all know you are a hammock ho!   :BlueDumboSmile:      But my question is do you ever have any problems with your ratties getting tangled up in your cage at all?  And are they able to run around and play with all of those hammocks hung up?  I just imagine how my crew would handle it and some of them really have problems getting in and out of the hammies let alone having 40 cagillion to manuver....And even though they are pretty lazy during the day I know they are running around like mad men at nigh cuz I hear them.  With that many hammies in the way I wonder if they would be able to do that?  Just a few ponderments that I have been wondering.   ???

Staci

Can someone take a picture of the bottom pan and the shelves before covering it with cloth? 

I second that motion. Lots of close up pics of the shelves, fastenings and doors would be great. And maybe some side pics?

Hi Lise,  This Link (http://Can someone take a picture of the bottom pan and the shelves before covering it with cloth)
is one that shows pictures of the pans and all that when I first got the FN last year..  hope this helps  :)

Ratsamongus, that link don't worketh.

Robin

Oops.. try this

http://www.goosemoose.com/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,118/topic,4003703.0

It's an old thread but you can see the pans and things up close. 

Also this page (http://www.petmarket.com/ferret-nation-habitat-625h-p-2186.html) has large close-up images of parts of the cage.

that looks like the version I have.  where the verticals are all welded onto the frame, but not all the horizontals are.  See what I'm talking about?

Robin

No way!  My rats are obsessed with all of their hammocks and zoom in and out of them.  Plus, I don't really feel like any of the space is being taken up - at least not any of the usable space.  If I only had 2-5 hammocks up, there would just be bar space by the ceiling that no one would end up using since ratties can't really climb the FN.  Plus, my crew's all about napping  ;)

Oooh good eye! I never even noticed that.

That's annoying, though. :P How 'bout we switch? ;D You know you'd love a road trip to Wisconsin...

Hey, not sure if anyone's asked this already but... how do you guys keep your cages so nice??  My ratties are quite the little pee-sprayers and poo-flingers.  They have no concept of "this is where you do your business, no where else."  My dad and I noticed however that our oldest rattie (Gracie, almost 27 months) is the real culprit - she marks EVERYTHING. 

Unfortunately, I know I'm now running on borrowed time with Gracie, and once our time is up, I'd like to switch my other four (2 of which are very occasional markers and the other two are fixed males) to a set-up more like those seen in this thread, with a litter area and lots of fleece.  How would I do that?  I've been starting with a litter pan but they still, in a pinch, will pee wherever.

I'd like very much to get a ferret nation, if I ever move beyond the capacity of my 695.   :eek:

Litter training them isn't for pee, just poop. Some rats will take to peeing in the litter box as well, but it's rare from what I've seen. The idea is the fabric soaks up the urine so they're not walking in puddles on solid floors or cascading down through the bare wires.

Yep mine are definatley not litter trained at all.  I poo pick at least 2 times a day and put it in the litter box and then change out the pee soaked fleeced every 2 - 3 days or as needed.  I then run a load of rat laundry about once every 2 weeks as I have enough fabric to last that long.  But the nice thing is that with these cages they really can't get any pee on the bars unlike other cages that seem to have pee all over the sides come cage cleaning day.  When I do change out the fleece I just take a pan of hot clorox and dish soap water and wipe down the 2 shelves and the trays before putting the new back on.  Easy Peasy and only takes like 15 min to do compared to my 1 hour it takes me to do my Super Pet Cage.

Staci

I see no pictures on this page of the thread  :poke:

Ok, picky, picky!  ;)
Here are some photos since I got the extra shelves.  I'm noticing I'm severely lacking good shelf liners and tray liners.  I might have to go shopping, or order some nifty new stuff. :cheeky:

Up top:
(http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w216/JR1030/FNup.jpg)

*edit to add -- I noticed the snake is in the way of seeing what's there...there's an igloo and litter pan behind that.

Downstairs:
(http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w216/JR1030/FNdown.jpg)

Whole thing:
(http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w216/JR1030/FNupdown.jpg)

There ya' go!  ;D

JR, how many rats live in your FN? Do you find that having those extra shelves really add to your cage for the rats? What I mean is... do you think it's a must have purchase for the FN?

Top
(http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u139/Pricklypear_photos/000_0179.jpg)

Bottom
(http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u139/Pricklypear_photos/000_0180.jpg)

Full cage
(http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u139/Pricklypear_photos/000_0189.jpg)

Sweeeet!! there are rats in the food bowl!!! lol
I really like that green in the cage, looks great!

I only have 2 upstairs and 4 downstairs (GGMR!).  And they're separated.  I had it for a bit before the extra shelves arrived, and I have to say I really like the extra shelves.  I think I would always want either the shelves that are meant for the FN, or rig up extra shelves out of something else.  It gives a lot more floor/play space...and also more attachments to hang things from underneath.  I really like it with two shelves in each section.  But, of course, now I don't have enough fabric to cover everything!  :P

I think 6 ratties in a FN is brilliant JR so good for you. I'm all for doubling the minimum space requirement from 2 to 4 cubic feet/rat. It's amazing how much room the little boogas need for their constant bouncing and flipping of buddies. I'd imagine if you combined a hairdresser's with a gymnastics centre and build it out of bars, you'd have yourself the equivalent of an FN  :yelcutelaugh:  :hyper:

Keep the pics coming guys. I have made up my mind I will get my horribly indulgent FN in winter as a teaching interbship present to myself (as if my laser eye surgery and laptop isn't enough just beforehand... yep SoA I'm afraid it's an excessive year for us both LOL *runs before Pie dishes out spankings*).

And can I just say flying moons and cows rock! How is everyone finding the chew factor in the FNs? Like are the ratties so amused with bouncing that they don't chew as much or even say kick their poops out of the cage *hopeful eye*?

Ugh, well I gave both sets of boys a digging box with ecobedding, and when I moved the cage, there was a horrible mess of ecobedding and poo behind the cage.  Nothing a little sweeping couldn't take care of! :D  But, I will not be giving them ecobedding anymore.  It sticks to everything!

lol... that's one thing I've noticed with the FN... lots and lots of sweeping! :yelcutelaugh:

Jo - post new pictures of your FN!

Well, I just joined the ranks of FN owners out there!  :o

Petsmart price matched The Ferret Store's price of $157!!  So I couldnt say no to that price!  Although I wont be posting pics for quite a while, I dont think I will set it up completely quite yet.  Just take an inventory to make sure nothings missing/broken.  I have to wait until QT is over for my two little boys and for them to grow bigger before putting everyone in there.  So maybe a month or so before I set it up.  Im pretty excited.  And if the ojai thing pulls through, I want to have more cages available here in Colorado to put in more rescue rats so I can transport more to Chicago in May. 

 :thumbsup2:

Whoa - wait.  Petsmart matches prices?  So if I brought in a print out of the Ferret Store's FN page, they'd bring it down that much?

Yup!  I went into Petsmart yesterday and they had one FN.  I asked how much - $229.  Then the lady told me they price match.  So today I brought in a printed sheet of Ferret Stores price and they matched it!

Holy crap!  Thank you for mentioning this, otherwise I would have spent another $250 for an FN!  Wee, so excited now!

Hey, hey, hey!  Did anyone else know about this?  You mean I could have just gone to Petsmart and gotten that one without waiting for shipping, and saving money to boot?  ARGH!

Wow! That's the best, most convenient thing I ever heard!

Now I want another one just to take advantage of that! :yelcutelaugh:

I never would have known either!  But she mentioned it, I never even asked her if they price matched.  I wasnt tempted to get one for $229, but when I figured I could get one for $150 I was all over it!  Thats like 1/2 the price my Ruud cost me!

I knew they price-matched for their own website, but not for others!  I hope it's not just your Petsmart that does that  :P

OMG, that is SO awesome. Our Petsmart JUST got FN's in (suckage that it took 'em so long). So when we get a second, we are so doing that.

I mean, providing they all price-match. I hope so.

Not all Petsmarts will match everything.  Ours matches their own online prices and Petco.  It's up to the manager on duty to match anything else.  Just be forewarned in case they won't do it.

Whoo boy.  Did that PetSmart person realize The Ferret Store is an online store and the price didn't include shipping?  Something tells me that was a fluke on her part!  LOL  So...hurry up and everyone get a 2nd one before the employees catch on!   :cheeky:

When I went to PetSmart last week, I didn't even look to see if they carried FN's.  The FN I just ordered is being delivered to Staci.  So, it'll be a little while longer before I do "The Beast", after all. 

About the extra shelves, I will never NOT have extra shelves.  It adds an incredible amount of usable running room.  Without them, I think the cage is quite lacking and not worth the price.  Sure you can  add homemade shelves, baskets, and whatnot, but that's not my cup of tea.  My boys don't or can't climb the bars, so for my crew, the 'real' shelves are the best option.

Robin

Yes thanks to Robin I am getting my 2nd FN almost a month earlier than I anticipated!  I am soooooooo excited.  It is suppose to arrive on Thursday!  My first FN houses my boys.  This one I am getting on Thursday will house my girls!  Oh the waiting is killing me!

Staci

oh my... i will definitely have to see if Petsmart will price match in my town... that will be an awesome convenience if they do.

I had never noticed that you had the extra shelves as well. lol  ...so went back and checked it out and it looks great. You only have the second one on top?
Did you order direct from Midwest? I wonder if they would sell me some being in Canada.   :-\

Robin, the employee isnt the one who Okay'd the price match, it was the manager.  I told her it was an online store.  She looked at the piece of paper and approved it!  Yay for lucky day!

^ and wouldn't it be interesting if I walked in there a few days later and said the exact same thing?  :cheeky:

lol, you should!  I went at approximately 11am this morning, so you should go at around the same time, haha!  The sooner the better because if she mad a boo boo then she might not approve it the next time.  I only saw one box there anyway, not sure how often they order them. ;)

I've had extra shelves as long as I've had the cage!  LOL    My two original shelves arrived broken.  The Ferret Store contacted Midwest who sent me replacements.  At the time, Midwest was not yet selling extra parts, but now I believe they are.  But with some rigging  (lotta zip ties), I can still use the original shelves...for a while.  All the pics of my FN show the extras, woman! hehe

I did take the wobbliest original shelf out the other night, it needs some more reinforcement before I put it back.


Robin

I was gonna mention about the shelving.  Those that haven't bought one yet, you really do need to buy more or rig in other types of shelves.  I am using racks made for the pantry that are white PVC coated from Walmart that fit great right now.  Without more shelving I wouldn't keep more than about 5-6 rats in the whole thing.  Also if you plan to separate the levels, one section is really pretty small, so maybe 3 rats total in each.

They do kick out a lot of food and poop, but it is easy for me to clean with the hand held vac and hard floors.  Not sure if I would want to keep it on carpet, but that goes for any cage with me!

Mine are also only chewing on the pans slightly.  I do have one small hole in one, but they are usually too busy with other stuff to worry about chewing there.  They probably don't equate that as an escape route.

Yup, I just called Midwest and ordered two extra shelves.  They'll also sell extra ramps, but it didn't seem worth the price + shipping to me to get the ramps.

Robin,

Do you know someone who welds?  Maybe they can fix those shelves for you so you don't have to zip tie them.  If not maybe I can talk to hubster about it.  He welds some.  I can see if he thinks he could fix them and maybe you couls ship them to me to have them fixed?  Just a thought.

Staci

ScOA: Any more updated pictures of your cage? :)

Anyone have any more updated cage pictures? I just moved my boys into the FN (13 boys, I know..over the top but I am working on a third tier VERY soon and they are getting extra out of cage time, for 3 hours in the bathroom and hallway).

I will take some updated pictures when I clean it tonight.

I moved 14 out of my 15 girls into the extended ruud (chinchilla cage onto the ruud, can house 18 male rats). ANd will get some pictures of that once I girl it up lol. I want it to be very bright and pink for my girlies!)

By the way, I think this thread should be bookmarked! (Like the other cage picture thread)

Personally, I don't think 13 is over the top in an FN, especially if you make good use of the dead space. Not only rigging extra shelving but I think hammocks, cubes, balls, baskets and such also make good use of the dead space and thus allowing for the FN to become full of happy ratties. I had 5 in the bottom of my FN, it honestly, I could have easily put in another rat and this coming from the most cage anal person on this planet...so that's pretty good.  ;)

See, thats why I think its overcrowded. I like giving them tons of space, and not putting the maximum rats in there.

I have 1 Syrian hamster in a rabbit cage! ;)  and my lone male mice are all to themselves in large hamster cages. I just prefer them to have more room!

I need a hero cookie I think!!! I not only put together my ferret nation cage alone BUT i also mastered my sewing machine and made some awesome Toronto Maple Leaf covers and hammocks :)

Full cage
(http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l28/tequillasmom/2007_0311randomnes0194.jpg)

Top
(http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l28/tequillasmom/2007_0311randomnes0197.jpg)

Bottom
(http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l28/tequillasmom/2007_0311randomnes0196.jpg)

Itchy givin it a sniff with Peewee behind him eating
(http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l28/tequillasmom/2007_0311randomnes0198.jpg)

Mr. Kissy (Bitey's brother) investigating while Chocolate grooms himself
(http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l28/tequillasmom/2007_0311randomnes0199.jpg)

Scratchy LOVES the new hammock
(http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l28/tequillasmom/2007_0311randomnes0200.jpg)

Mr Peabody isnt too sure
(http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l28/tequillasmom/2007_0311randomnes0202.jpg)

BTT begging for food... new cage but he never changes...
(http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l28/tequillasmom/2007_0311randomnes0205.jpg)

BTW if they look kinda wet its cuz everyone had a bath, nail clipped,ears and tails cleaned before entering the new cage

That looks great! I love the maple leaf fleece and how color-coordinated it is! I also think it's hilarious that you have two brothers named Bitey and Kissy. :)

Wow!! That looks great!! The blue and white really looks wonderful in the cage. I love all the matching fleece. Mmm... I wonder if I cover my cage with TO Maple Leaf, maybe hubby will help me clean it once in awhile. lol

I really love the blue leaf theme!  And that's awesome that you mastered sewing too - it's really easy once you get the hang of it!

Wow! You put it together by yourself, AND sewed liners? All hail!! :bow:

Thats awesome!  I need to pick up some nice fleece too!  You are a pro :)

For those of you who got extra shelves, how much did Midwest charge you for them?  I thought it was something like $10 a shelf, but they wanted $17 per shelf, and $14 shipping to Colorado.  Thats a lot of money for just two extra shelves.  So I am debating if its worth it or not. 

I think it was something like that here, too.  I was originally going to get extra ramps, too, but it was way too expensive to get the ramps, so I just went with the shelves.  I think it was worth it, though, now that they're in.  More space for the ratties, and more attachment spots to hang things underneath.

Ok, so I finally caved in and joined The Ferret Nation Sensation! But who could resist at the price I payed? I was innocently walking through the Pets Unlimited an hour away from me (actually, Fredricton, NB lol) and did what I always do; walk over, open doors, sigh and point it out to my friends. Then I saw the price. It had been reduced from $289 to $144.50 (CND)!!!!!  :o :o

Do you think two girls is too much for a two story FN ?  :BlueDumboSmileTongue: They're loving it. I'll get pics when I have some more things made for it. It's VERY bare since I wasn't planning on getting it for close to another year or so! Now, to resist GGMR (but on the other hand why bother? It's not like I don't have the space....)

What an amazing price! You've got two girls in heaven, I'm sure!

Wowow!! Why was it so low? Your girls are lucky lucky ratties!!

So I assembled the FN anyway because I couldnt wait to do it!  I only set-up the lower half though.  Anyway, I think two shelves are a MUST.  I will probably order two more when I assemble the other half, at the end of the summer.  Here is how I set it up, ratties to be added in 2 weeks or so, after QT for the new boys is done.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v220/aphoeniceus/Ratties/DSCN4842.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v220/aphoeniceus/Ratties/DSCN4843.jpg)

That looks great and there's still tons of room for hanging stuff even with the extra shelves. Very nice!
I think I'm going to try to order a couple of shelves and a couple of ramps too... keeping my fingers crossed that they will ship to Canada.

Ok so many of you know that I already own one FN for my boys that I got right after Christmas and LOVE it.  I love it so much that I was really starting to HATE the cage my girls were in.  They were in a SP Ferret 4 story thingy that is taller than me.  Well my husband told me I could get another FN since every time I had to clean the SP I got really cranky around the house LOL.  So I was saving like mad for one and had half of the money saved up but ddn't think I could get one for another month.  That was until.......

Auntie Robin came to the rescue!!!!  I owe her big time!  Robin donated the remaining money needed to get me my FN and she even ordered it and had it shipped to my door.  Then after the fact she lets me know about it!  I was shocked and surprised and giddy all at the same time.  Thank you Robin so much for your generous donation.  Even though my personal rats get to enjoy this cage for now, it will go a long way for me to be able to help rescue other rats who need rehomed.  I will be able to lock off the two sections and use half for resues or I can lug out the SP and use that for rescues.  It is a win win situation all the way around.

Ok so what you really want to see.  My girls cage.  I is a little bare since I wasn't expecting it soo soon.  I didn't stock up on anything for it so I scrounged around the house for what I could find.

(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/OldsGal/DSCN0883.jpg)

(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/OldsGal/DSCN0884.jpg)

(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/OldsGal/DSCN0885.jpg)

Staci

Yay!!!  I'm so glad everything worked out.  It looks great.  Did ya find a place for it yet? hehe

But wait, something's wrong, it's missing something....RATS!   :yelcutelaugh:

Lots of love,
Robin

I know that a lot of people wonder how big the cages really are since we post close up pics of just the cage.  So once I reconfigured my living room and made room for the 2nd one I decided to take pics to show everyone what these cages really look like.

Both cages in one shot.  The closer one is the girls and the one in the back corner is the boys.
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/OldsGal/DSCN0886.jpg)

The girls cage
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/OldsGal/DSCN0887.jpg)

The boys cage
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/OldsGal/DSCN0888.jpg)

And finally a shot of the girls cage with my tote cage and my prevue cage in the shot as well so you can see the massiveness of this cage next to other cages.
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/OldsGal/DSCN0889.jpg)

Oh wow, that looks awesome, Staci!  Love the two FNs  :)

I called my local Petsmart, and they totally price match other stores/websites!!  I'm so excited.  I'm getting my 2nd FN today (making the monster cage tonight if I can clean/reorganize fast enough)  :D

Yup, they're big.  That's why I love mine!!  Mine, though actually takes up less space because I have 2 separate groups of boys who were living in two separate, pretty big cages.  At least now I have them all in one, but separated up and down.

Can't wait to see the monster cage!

Looking great!!! I so wish I could get another FN! Just don't have the funds!

Love the pictures everyone! :)

Wow Staci, that looks great!! I love the shot of the FN with the other smaller cages. lol

SoA... I can't wait to see your monster cage!!!

Way to go staci!!!

I'm happy to see it set up...Thank you Robin for that...Staci does an amazing job of rescuing rats...she takes such good care of them.  I got three little girls from here a couple of months ago and they are darlings.

Ps.  I recognize some of those blankets you use as hammocks...my dollar store carries the same ones... ;)

I can't wait until after easter so i can go buy some clearance baskets....lol

Finally got around to taking some pics of the new cage. What a beast, I love it :D. I really love how much better the interaction is with the girls.

The cage in my room with the doors closed.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/reachthestarsxx/Ratties/fncage01.jpg?t=1174169144)

Cage with the doors open
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/reachthestarsxx/Ratties/fnopen01.jpg?t=1174169346)

Top half
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/reachthestarsxx/Ratties/fntop01.jpg?t=1174169412)

Bottom half
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/reachthestarsxx/Ratties/fnbottom01.jpg?t=1174169459)


Like I said earlier, I wasn't expecting to get the cage, so I had nothing made to fit it, I had to improvise with what I have. Next week it should look better, once I have a chance to make some liners and other things.

Very nice Reachthestars! I love the colors! And you have lots of Fabric! :)

I bet the girls love it.

Wow!! The full shot of it with the doors open...just wow! It looks so big and great.  :hyper:
It looks like a fun happy cage! And we see the rats too! What a bonus!

LOL, Punky, my friend lovingly call me "fabric whore" because I'm always dragging them into fabric stores! I'm not working or going to school at the moment, so I figure I might as well sew! Plus I get so bored looking at the same hammocks week after week...

Jo, it dominates my poor little room! My room's only 10' by 9', I don't even get a double bed. Bloody lucky rats. (I had to take the full cage shots from the door)

Oh wow, I love your FN setup, RTS!  Very nice  :)

Aw wow your cage and whole entire room looks awesome... so funky yet cozy.

Those 2 girls must go bonkers in all that space. I love that you have a ladder going to the roof... are the girls roof danglers? :P

Everytime I plan a date to order my FN something else comes up! Last thursday I planned to put my LASIK back to december, then I woke up the next day with an allergic reaction to my contact lens solution, so it's the beginning of the end with contacts for me and my LASIK has been brought forward to May when I was going to get the cage. But at least I'll be able to see the antics of the ratties from the bed now.

These FN pics are a good distraction, keep em coming.

Gem where in Aus are you? I am also in aus, Melbourne, and work for a huge pet chain and therefore we get a really good discount with masterpet.
I then get everything through my work at cost price, so if your in Melbourne let me know and I can work something out for you if you like?

That cage is bare?  Wow!  I think it looks well supplied with stuff.  It looks like it has enough hammocks and boxes for everyone to play/lounge, etc.  But not so over crowded that the poor ratties seem to be struggling to find any open space.  I think you cage looks great!

Is it wrong that I'm having trouble waiting for cleaning day so I can attack this beast with hammocky goodness?  :help: I think there's something wrong with me!

Updated FN pics! (I never did post pictures of it when I transferred the boys to it). By the way, its fabric cleaning day..Which is why my puppy and frog fabrics are not in there..and why theres little fabric! (The blue and pink blankets i got from the dollar store!! Such a bargain, and they are not small either! :))

(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b235/Punkygirl0101/IMG_3089.jpg)
TOp shelf (Whatchamacallit DID knock that double decker thing down lol Fatty!)

(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b235/Punkygirl0101/IMG_3091.jpg)
Baskets the boys cram themselves in..lol, you can see a lot of them crammed in the green one!

(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b235/Punkygirl0101/IMG_3093.jpg)
Bottom shelf, lacking the most fabric..but oh well, I am doing laundry today..and I NEED more fabric!

(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b235/Punkygirl0101/IMG_3094.jpg)
Larry's favorite shelf

(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b235/Punkygirl0101/IMG_3097.jpg)
The hamster cage..the boys love that!

(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b235/Punkygirl0101/IMG_3098.jpg)
And the whole thing (hope you can still see it. I usually have very large pictures, but I have to make them smaller now or else it takes forever to load to photobucket.

Very nice, Melanie!  I aslo really like the hamster cage in there - neat idea!

It's funny - I'm such a cage ho that I have a folder for cage pictures on my computer (other people's cage pictures, not mine!), and then sub-folders for all the different brands/models.  My Ferret Nation folder has a whopping 141 pictures in it!

Punkygirl, great ideas in your FN, I also like how you have the ladder going the other way like that so it's easily accessible for the other two shelves.

It wouldn't let me edit the other one :(.

But I uploaded a much larger all of the Fn picture, so its easier to see things:

(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b235/Punkygirl0101/IMG_3098-1.jpg)

:)

I can hardly look at these pics without getting crazy excited! I triple checked the delivery tracking on my 2 FNs(1 double decker for the 9 girls and one single decker for the 2 boys)! They'll be here on or before Tuesday!! I have all the mesh and everything just have to clean my room to make the space! I simply cant wait! :D

SOA! Post some of those 141 FN pics!! I'd love to see! I cant seem to get enough of looking at these! :D

Okay, yesterday was a major cage cleaning day for me so I thought I would finally put up a few pictures.  Nothing fancy or color coordinated, lol.  But clean!  This is good :)

I have added extra shelves to both FN cages, mostly to reduce the incline of the ramps as all of my kids are older now.  Here are the pics...

This is the beginning of the rebuild, lol.

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/ratsamuck/03250736.jpg)


Here are a few full cage shots after adding linens..

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/ratsamuck/0325071.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/ratsamuck/03250737.jpg)

And some of each of the levels..

Bottom


(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/ratsamuck/03250754.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/ratsamuck/03250742.jpg)

Middle

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/ratsamuck/03250738.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/ratsamuck/03250739.jpg)

Top


(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/ratsamuck/03250745.jpg)

 :heart: Weeeeeeee!

wow, the three level FNs are HUGE! How tall are you? My two level is taller than me but I'm just 5'0. I can't even imagine having a three leveL!

It is tall, even for me.  I have to stand on a stool to get to the back of the very top shelf and I am around 5'11".   The inconvenient thing about having a third level is the innability to wheel it through the door, without turning it sideways.  But unless it will be moved from room to room it's not too big of a deal. 

Wowowow!! I love it!!
You have two triple FNs!! I'd love to get a third level to my FN. It looks great but it would be much too tall for me. But... I suppose I could always remove the bottom feet and rack? That would make it a wee bit shorter?
Great job for the oldied. How many rats do you have in each, is one for the boys and the other for the girls?
What a great idea with the cube shelving next to the FN. Keep your linen handy.

It definately would be easier to reach without the stand on the bottom.  Honestly, I don't really use the shelf on the bottom, except to store things I'm not using very often.  I have three boys in the one FN  and two girls in the other.  I had four boys and four girls but lost one of my boys and two of my girls (unfortunately one from each of the girl groups, leaving my girls alone) the last month or so.  My girls are separated with one having the top part and the other having the bottom two parts.   The cube shelving turned out to be pretty handy. :)

Woah!! You have two girls in one three tiered FN!?!? LUCKY ratties!! :)

I got all my beddings in from MaevePotter and I FINALLY got my cage all set up :) I love it... my boys are like "woot woot! new stuff to pee on!!" LOL Without further talking, here we go  :balloon:

Whole cage
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o99/kristin_insley/2007_0327randomnes0437.jpg)

Top
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o99/kristin_insley/2007_0327randomnes0438.jpg)

Bottom
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o99/kristin_insley/2007_0327randomnes0439.jpg)

Mr Kissy (Bitey's brother) checking out the roof of his cube
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o99/kristin_insley/2007_0327randomnes0441.jpg)

MooMoo and PeeWee in their new hammock
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o99/kristin_insley/2007_0327randomnes0445.jpg)

BTT posing on his nice soft shelf
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o99/kristin_insley/2007_0327randomnes0457.jpg)

Itchy and Scratchy playing
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o99/kristin_insley/2007_0327randomnes0460.jpg)

MooMoo still in his hammock
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o99/kristin_insley/2007_0327randomnes0463.jpg)

PeeWee trying to flip the pyramid
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o99/kristin_insley/2007_0327randomnes0481.jpg)

Still trying
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o99/kristin_insley/2007_0327randomnes0484.jpg)

Frogger in his new hammie
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o99/kristin_insley/2007_0327randomnes0485.jpg)

PeeWee learned you go in the pyramid...
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o99/kristin_insley/2007_0327randomnes0491.jpg)

And now wont let BTT in
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o99/kristin_insley/2007_0327randomnes0492.jpg)

So- question- if one were to be able to get PetsMart to match prices with online retailers, what exactly IS the best online price for an :poke: FN to ask them to match?

I  :heart: this thread!! I always come to look at all the nice FNs. I can't wait till we move in April because after we're settled I'm gonna join the FN community and get one for my boys!! I'm sooo excited. I saw FNs on ebay going for $140 & then shipping to PA is an additional $50 so I'd be looking at $190 total unless I can find a better price. How much did everyone get their FNs for & where?

190$ for a double FN? That is a FANTASTIC price! I got mine for $220 all together!! :)

I find myself looking at the FNs everythime I do full cage cleanings! It gives me great ideas! I even have a list going of things I want to buy for the FN.

Oh wow, it looks amazing!

I'm seriously smitten with that teepee/pyramid looking thing  :P  I want one (or ten)!

Thanks Chelsey, I just loved how the pyramids came out too. Wait till you see the other ones..

Thanks sooo much for posting Kris!! I love it! Your boys are just the cutest things ever!! I love your nekkid boy, PeeWee. I am glad he figured out the pyramid LOL. I also just want to snuggle with MooMoo and BTT. What big old squishies! That adorable picture of Frogger getting his belly scratched is so cute!!

I can't wait to see the other two color schemes hehe. :) Pee boys, pee!

I had Petsmart match TheFerretStore's price, which is $156.99 - as opposed to the $229 regularly at Petsmarts  :eek:

I got mine for $144.50 (CDN) which works out to be $125 (USD) from a local petstore. I think I may have gotten the best deal so far...

Jesus... $125 for a double FN?!  That's insane!  I'd probably end up purchasing ANOTHER one if I found a price that low  :P

P.S. - post more pictures of your ultra-colorful cage, RTS.

Tequillasmom... love the cage, I like your colour choices too. Looks great.
BTW... I may have to come and get BTT... what a gorgeous little guy!! Oh and Mr Kissy too...  :heart: :heart: Ok, the other guys as well.  :heart: :heart:

Lol, I wouldn't blame you at all, SOA! It wouuld be nice to have one in storage as a 'just in case' cage.

I'm actually screening it in right now, so I've got all three girls together is the old Martins, but I have a picture of the setup I had for Siam.


I had her just in the top half because she was overwhelmed enough with just that!
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/reachthestarsxx/Ratties/siamcage01.jpg?t=1175086138)


And this shows the size difference between the FN and R-695. And how disgustingly tiny my room is.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/reachthestarsxx/Ratties/martinsvsfn01.jpg?t=1175086216)

I just found out some great news that I'm sure everyone will be interested in!!  Petsmart currently has free shipping on orders over $50 and the Ferret Nation qualifies.  Not only that, but they pricematch to other online websites (must be exact same product and quantity which I'm pretty sure the Ferret Nation is the same at all sites).  They said if you call to place the order they will check out the other site and give you that price.  Or you can mail them the order with a copy of the webpage!!! 

So you can get a Ferret Nation for $157 including shipping!!! 

I wish I had the money right now but in a few months hopefully they will still have free shipping (they've had it for months now) and I can get it.  Just wanted to let everyone else be able to get this deal!

Wow I hope they do still have that after we get moved in April because I'm sure I'll be posting back asking for advice on where the good deals are sometime in April.. lol
And here I thought Ebay had the best price at $190 plus shipping for the double FN here to find out there may be some better deals out there. Super!! I'll def. be doing some price searching before I get my FN next month. I'll have to def. keep my eye on this thread too.. haha

Shipping will not be totally free on the FN. Did you read the fine print? There will be an extra charge for heavy or oversized items. A double FN is 90 lbs and quite large so there will be some shipping charge.

Lol Darn knew it sounded too good to be true. I wonder how much extra they'd charge to ship the FN. Because if they do match prices you'd still be able to get it prob. much cheaper depending on where you found the other cheap FN, but then you'd still have to consider if Petsmart or the other place had the cheaper shipping.

If you email them with your zip code they can tell you what the shipping would be.

I went to the checkout to see if there would be an extra shipping charge and it said the shipping was $0 for the FN.  I don't know if they add it in later, but it should be adjusted when I specify shipping, which I did.  I guess you'd have to call to find out but I went as far as I could on the website without actually ordering it.

Hey all. I just ordered a FN from Petsmart with a price match from TheFerretStore.com price of $156.99 and got the free shippping. There was no extra charge for it being so big and heavy so my total was $163.62. with tax.   :shocked2:  They said it should be here in 4-5 days so the shipping should be quick. I can't believe it.  :BlueDumboSmile: I asked about price matching For Happy Dogs on ebay price of $139.95 but they couldn't do that. I just wanted to share with everyone.

Did you just call the 1-800 number and place the order over the phone fuzzypeach?

That deal is almost too good to pass up.  It would be under $200 Canadian shipped... and the cheapest I can get it locally is $320 CDN!

 *still paranoid that I'll order it and the rats will chew the pans and levels apart*

I just called the 1-888 (I think that's what it was) number from the website. Easy as that. It is way to good to pass up. :thumbsup:

OMG I'm soo excited.. lol I told hubby about the deal at Petsmart so he's gonna call to make sure they'll match the price and what the shipping will be and if they will match the price and offer free shipping I can get it!!!!!!!!  :shocked2:

EEEEHHHHH!  I might be getting an FN now!!  I have been talking to my fiance about it and always saying.... "oh well in the future."  He now says that since we have a bit of money that we were not counting on that I might be able to get one!  I have to sell my current cage though to afford it so we'll see.  But oh it would be so great!!!  Of course then I will have to get money to decorate and get the liners but at least I'd have this!!! 
*fingers crossed*

Selling the old cage is an awesome idea... I still have mine, now the FN and old cage, plus an inherited Martins all have lotsa rats in them..  ::)

I just called PetSmart and they said that they'll match the price of a FN I found for $142 and I'd get the free shipping!!! Just gotta figure out where I'm gonna pull the money from.. haha

$142? Link?  ;D

Thinking about an FN for the boys now that the price with shipping would be the same as the big flight cage, but can't decide... bar spacing is so big...

Here's the link they let me use to order:
http://www.everysell.com/ferret%20nation_W0QQcdZ15QQsbZ7-17-5-78009 (http://www.everysell.com/ferret%20nation_W0QQcdZ15QQsbZ7-17-5-78009)

I'm soo very excited I found it soo cheap & their letting me use that to match the price soo low and also giving free shipping on such a heavy cage.  :party:

New cage design! I rearranged it today, cause the fleece was cleaned, and my friend got them a present!

(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b235/Punkygirl0101/PicturesfromBirthday394.jpg)
The top level.

(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b235/Punkygirl0101/PicturesfromBirthday396.jpg)
Here you can see the blue camoflauge ferret tunnel my best friend got the rats. They love it so far, I can tell cause I found a few raisins in it lol.

I had to think of an idea to make the cage, mainly the top floor, more elderly rat safe..because Harry is completely blind now..and still has the really nasty eye infection!! So i put the hammock in a certain spot so if he fell from the top floor, he couldn't get hurt.

(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b235/Punkygirl0101/PicturesfromBirthday398.jpg)
Bottom..Also a hammock so if Harry falls from that level.

(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b235/Punkygirl0101/PicturesfromBirthday401.jpg)
Whatchamacallit. Don't mind the gross brown stain on the "Dog Waterer bed".....I can't get that thing clean!

(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b235/Punkygirl0101/PicturesfromBirthday400.jpg)

And the whole cage, don't mind the angle..lol..

(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b235/Punkygirl0101/PicturesfromBirthday403.jpg)

Soooooooooooo... guess what Matisse is getting by the end of next week hopefully.... a two story ferret nation weeeeeeeeee!!!  I'll be getting it from Petsmart probably, and get it price matched, hehehe...  but still, I've been buying some  cool fabric prints to make the new hammocks and covers and such for the 'tisse when I get it (don't want to make the hammocks yet, though, not sure how big to make them yet).  I still need to buy some heavy-duty litter pans for him.  I"m thinking of just getting some plastic storage bins and cutting out part of a side so he can back into them to pee/poo.  HOPEFULLY he'll take to the new litter boxes, lol.  Rats can pee a lot.  a Matisse can pee as much as 5 rats together, lol!

I am not sure how much Matisse chews stuff but you might want to check out Lilspaz's post about her cage in which her hoard of girls destroyed her plastic pans that came with the cage.  So you might want to also start planning for something for those if Matisse does chew.  But the good news is that there are cage bars under each pan so no risk of escape.  And you MUST give us some great pics of Matisse in his new cage when you get it!  We demand them.  You don't keep us stocked with nearly enough Matisse pics and vids!   :BlueDumboSmileTongue:

Staci

Weeee... we want pics of Matisse and the new FN!!!

Wow, Im glad that I accidentally found out about the Petsmart price match!  Now tons of people can afford them! Wheeeeee!!!! ;D

I was informed that I was derelict in my duty and never posted my FN pics...LOLOLOL

Here it is with the Pritty Kitties ;D from Kat, the pink Horde hammie from SoA, the blue fleece and blue check hammie by ratlets, and the blue tube at the bottom by unglued.   ;)
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/rattiluv/cages%20toys%20and%20misc/PrittyKittyFNfromthebottom.jpg)

bottom
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/rattiluv/cages%20toys%20and%20misc/bottomofPrittyKittyFN.jpg)
top from waaay up high (naughty Adia on the door :))
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/rattiluv/cages%20toys%20and%20misc/PrittyKittyFNfromwayuphigh.jpg)

LilSpaz, your bottom pan in your FN looks like it has sides. Did you get a diff. pan or modify the existing one to have sides like that? I'd like to do something like that when I get my FN.

Btw everyone I just ordered my FN from PetSmart about a half hr. ago for only $142 w/ free shipping!! It'll be here in about a week hopefully. Only thing that's gonna suck is I can't set it up till we move to the house in April. It's gonna bug the hell outta me not being able to tear it open and set it right up.  :hyper:

Lilspaz's hoard decided that the bottom pan was very nummy and destroyed it.  She used an extra Martin's pan she had laying around and some Corplast to modify a replacement pan for her cage.  She posted pics in a seperat thread!

Staci

oh eep!  Yeah, well... Matisse destroys rather easily.  He's currently in a midwest ferret playpen, which has a plastic bottom and heavy duty plastic levels.  He had three at one point of time, then four, now two since he chewed two into oblivion a couple years ago and I just never replaced them (since I figured he'd destroy them again).  He hasn't touched the two remaining plastic levels though in those couple years, so maybe he's over his chewing, hehe. 

I'll just have to be sure there's extra wooden toys in there. 

Hey all again. I just wanted to give everyone a heads up. When I called Petsmart.com to order my FN I directed them to the ForHappyDogs site on ebay (best price-$141.95) but they wouldn't match that price for me because it was through ebay. So instead they matched TheFerretStore.com price of $156.99. Well then I come back on here and see that others have gotten it for $142 so I called them back and explained what others were getting it for and directed them through the everysell.com site (which shows several sellers and brings up the $142.95 price) but again I was told no :doh:. Not a big deal (I still got a heck of a steal :BlueDumboSmile:) but I just wanted to let everyone know that some of the people who answer the phones there are not going to match that price so you may want to have TheFerretStore.com site and price as a backup it they won't match the other. I would still direct them through everysell.com first and hope you get lucky. :cheeky: Good luck all. :thumbsup2:

 :doh:

We demand Matisse!!!

Love the cages everyone!!

(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c355/dolcilady/Smilies/hijack.gif)

A pic of my FN taken two days ago...
I've decided to try towels on the bottom pans. So far it's great, absorbs well, dries fast. Then again... I've only got two rats on the top and two rats in the bottom.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/jorats/Cages/smFNmar29.jpg)

I like the way you did the ladders, Jo.   What kind of igloos are those?

Robin

Yay me!!!   ;D  I just ordered the Ferret Nation from Petsmart!  I got it for the $141.95 price and had a $15 gift card left from Christmas so am only getting charged $126.95 (I like to think that I actually got it for that price ;)  yes, I lie to myself a lot!).  I am so excited.  They say it will be here in 5-7 business days.  Pretty good for free shipping!  EEEHHH, then I can post my pictures (and eventually get the liners and post more pictures!).
Way too excited to contain myself right now!

I think I may take the FN plunge!  :o But I need help modifying it for young rats- could you FN experts check out my modding FNs thread and give me some advice?

Jo, is your FN two seperate cages? Love it! Love the colors...you have a TON of those puzzle house things! I saw a ton in your thread with the Treat video! Send some this way ;)..lol

Robin, those igloos are from the Savic igloo collection. This one's called the Savic Cocoon.

Punkygirl, I found those Snap Inn houses when I took a shopping trip to Toronto one year. As lilspaz will attest, when I spotted them and on sale, I simply loaded my cart with them. lol

Has anyone tried fitted crib sheets on the FN pans?  It seems like they might be the right size.

I havent yet but that's a good idea! The FN pans are about 35X23" (with a 6"X9" hole in the one in teh middle) I'd be willing to try crib sheets, are they cheap?

I haven't bought one in a long time...most of them aren't thick enough, but if you put a layer of fleece, and then the sheet to hold it on, it might work.  You could probably get cheap ones at consignment shops or garage sales.  I'll try one of my son's and see what happens.

All the ones I'm finding seem way to big - in the 50" to 52" range on length.

The easiest thing I have used to line mine with are bath rugs/mats that have the rubbery bottom.  They can't scrunch them all up and don't chew them up so quickly.  They cost a little more than a towel, but I think they are lasting a lot longer too.

It's about time I posted my cage in this thread  :cheeky:  These pictures are from early this morning once I got done cleaning.

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/bosworth0/cages/caaaage.jpg)

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/bosworth0/cages/cageleft.jpg)

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/bosworth0/cages/cagerightrats2.jpg)

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/bosworth0/cages/cageleftupper.jpg)

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/bosworth0/cages/cagerightupper.jpg)

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/bosworth0/cages/cagerbottom.jpg)

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/bosworth0/cages/fergienewcube.jpg)

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h311/bosworth0/cages/polkadietcoke.jpg)

I LOVE IT!! So colorful, and fun! lol

I love how is the first pic, pre rats, the food is all in the dish, and then further down, presumably AFTER ratties, the food is scattered :D Dont we just love how our ratties terrorize the beautifully clean FNs? :D

SOA, how many rats did you have in the FN before the rennovation? I think you had quite a few, and was wondering if it seemed crowded? I have 9 in the 2-level right now and it seems ok, but 6 of them are only 6wks old.

i have a couple questions

number1- where did yall get them and how much?

number2- you all have the little homes that look like big plastic puzzle peices. where did you get them? 

Read over the entire thread and you'll find out everything you need  :cheeky: plus some.

I order my own FN this week people!

Oh and SoA who is the little ratty doing a pony impersonation in the 3rd pic (cube top floor)? Looks so cozy!

There are a few different companies that make them.  I can't remember who makes the waffle houses I've bought, but they sell them at Wal-Mart for quite decent prices!  (At least here in Canada they do... so I'd imagine they do in the USA as well.)

OK People,

Thanks to this thread and the one about SOA's double FN, I ordered mine, today. Petsmart would not match the Happy Dog eBay price, so I got mine at the Ferret Store price of $157 + tax with free shipping, still less than $165 total. I knew as soon as I saw the first pic of this cage that I wanted one, now, I'm on the way to having one.

I swear, this cage is the biggest thing to hit the rattie community since pocket hammocks!!!  I sure hope this cage lasts :)  I can't wait until mine comes.  :hyper:

Everyone just needs to email them and ask them to make a Ferret Nation with smaller bar spacing! Even 3/4" would be awesome. If you email the customer service on Midwest website, they will forward it on to the design team.   :thumbsup2:

it was in the pet section?

Heh maybe someone should even email them and add a link to this thred. If they see just how many ratty parents have an FN or 2 then they just might make a RN (Ratty Nation)

I love the look of these cages, tho i only have 2 girls (yay getting a new baby on the weekend) and there is no way i could justify to my BF on spending that much money on a cage when the one i have is just fine... Tho i think when i need a new cage then ill deffantly have to talk him into it.

The good thing about having only two when ya get it is that you can get more and have the room :D Easy way to justify GGMR.."Well I have enough room for..12 ratties and only have 2..I should give this adorable lil one a home where he/she has room and love and..awww.." :D

The US sells Waffle Block Houses, can be found at most major pet supply stores. Canada has the really nice looking ones, and they're called Snap Inns. Although I'm sure Waffle Blocks can be found in Canada, Snap Inns can't be found in the US.

Yup, our petstores carry both Snap Inns and Waffle blocks ;). It's too bad the snapp inns aren't available in the US, because they're so cute! I love the look much more than the Waffle blocks.

In regards to calling the company about the FN's, I did call and talk to them before I purchased mine.  I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask them if they were considering or had a 1/2 bar spacing cage in the works.  They have no clue that the rat community is using the FN for their rats, or least they didn't. I basically told the girl on the phone that I was very disappointed, because I didn't have male rats and girls are smaller and could possibly go thru the bars.

I didn't think it was a right to email them with any links from here, because permission should be asked for first.   Emailing them would be a good idea to let them know that people are very interested in a "RN"!  And, since they sell the FN at full price on their website it may not be a good idea for them to know that stores are price matching and stuff.

I emailed them telling them I love the FN, but I use mine for rats..and told them it would be great if they could make a line of them with 1/2" bar spacing.

They emailed me back and said they sent my suggestion to the design team! :)

Everyone should tell them that suggestion, and hopefully they start making the Rat version!

That would be awesome if they made one with 1/2" bar spacing  :BlueDumboSmile:  The only reason I'm reluctant to get an FN, is because my girls can definitely fit out of the bars, and I know they won't hesitate to! I know I could line the doors with wire mesh cloth, but from my experience so far it doesn't look too appealing to me and it makes visibility of the inside of the cage more difficult. Perhaps with 1/2" mesh... but I'd rather not have to modify! My sister works at Petsmart and can get a discount on the cage if she buys one... hmmm.. Considering it, but unsure still. But for the size, the price is awesome.. and I'm loving the large doors. I have a modified bird-cage right now with two huge doors that are the size of the cage, and I love it!

All your cages look so amazing.. I'll have to wait and see what cage we'll get next. I've been through a bunch of different ones, and am still on the look out for the perfect cage.  ::)

Edit: Just sent an e-mail to the company! Hope that with more requests, they may consider it! :D

New Arrangement! I can't stop changing this thing around! And cleaning it is so fun!

(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b235/Punkygirl0101/PicturesfromBirthday475.jpg)
Top (that cat thing is the bottom of a cat treat jar..my friend knocked it over and broke the lid, so it has a new use! I loved that thing too..currently looking for another!
You can see the size different between fat Whatchamacallit and little Zeke (The hooded boys)

(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b235/Punkygirl0101/PicturesfromBirthday480.jpg)
And Bottom

Punkygirl: Oh, I adore those hanging storage shelves you put on the bottom floor! They remind me of a bunkbed , and with that cute stuffie..  ;D  Where did you get them from?

I really want to get an FN now... Forums are bad for my health, everytime I go back to them I get a new cage  ::) Not that the ratties don't mind! But I keep going bigger and bigger... Nothing ever looks like it has enough space!

I got a response from the company! They are fast to get back to people, I like that :)

Yay!  Keep emailing people. :)

I just got my FN today. Unfortunatly I can't get it set up till we move in another week. But I was just wondering that if I like the FN as much as I think I'm going to we're thinking after we move of possibly getting the top add-on & some extra shelves since a friend of ours owes us like $1300. What I was wondering is where do you order the extra shelves and ladders from?

Sent my email!  They forwarded it to New Items Department also  :)  They replied super quick, so then I sent along some pictures of my double FN for them to see  :P

I called the customer service number and they took my order for an extra shelf and ladder. 

I can't wait to hear what they think of that!

That chick needs to ease up on the ellipses and learn how to form real sentences  :yelcutelaugh:

At least she likes it!  ;D

Lol, you'd think the people they hire for customer service would be, you know, better at language in general.

Haha I remember my ellipse whore stage in high school. It was just so much cooler than a comma when pausing on MSN!  :icon_rr:

My FN is coming next week yay! I wonder if I'll be the first Aussie FN owner? My ratties have my eyes to thank. My prescription became unstable suddenly so no Lasik for me for a year means uber-spoilage for the rats now.

Keep the ideas coming guys  :thumbsup2: I really need to load up on hammocks and hanging things by the looks of it.

I did it! I just ordered my very own FN (my tax refund came  :rattysmiley:) and a wodent wheel to go in it. Now I just have to wait until JUNE to set it up!  :hyper:

Thanks Lucy  :wave2:

Yay Saydrah!  You are going to love it!  I only have one level set up on mine right now and I cant wait until the end of the summer when I can put the second level up :D

As with anything demand needs to be proven for them to create a Rat version, so everyone should consider e-mailing/sending pictures otherwise they may think only a few people out there are doing these modifications.

We just moved our rats into a ferret nation :)  no pics since I still have issues putting pictures on this site... 

Yay more FN crazy people!!! lol
More pics!!

I sent an email as well as pics of my cages even though I already own 2 of them and probably won't be getting any more.  But this way maybe it will help others.

Staci

ok, this is not uber decorated like I like it, but I just cleaned it quickly, so here is a pic of my ferret nation since people have been bugging me for it hehe..

(http://x98.xanga.com/9afd650ad9035116856905/m83798258.jpg)

Aww, I'm so jealous of you guys with such pretty looking cages!!!

I don't have any recent pics, but here's one I took in December:
(I'll get a new one once everybody's all settled in after QT)

Oh, and that's Fat Bastard telling me to put down the camera and give her cuddles!  :BlueDumboSmile:
(http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/queenbellaloca/rats/Girls/ferretnation.jpg)

Did you put the top floor in backwards?  :P

lol. I guess so. but it works. :D

It says on the directions that you can put it in either way, whatever works best for you!

It does?!  I had no idea!  I guess that just goes to show you how well I read directions  :P

That's backwards?? That's the way mine is lol. I didnt even notice tehre was another way. :P

Ya know.. and now that I think about it.. It would probably be easier to hook up the middle ramp to close the level, if the hook was in teh front! Ah well, I dont ever use it, hardly. And I'd have to take it apart to get it the otehr way and I'm not up for that! :P

I just grab onto one of the bars from the middle level and the ladder at the same time. doesnt hurt my fingers as much that way. lol

I will have to take a pic of mine coz I always have a darn hard time getting the ladder pulled up and secured. I usually lock everyone upstairs when I clean the bottom half and vice versa or they try running off w/ my stuff.. lol

I'll be sending them an email shortly with my suggestions too.  I won't be rooting for 1/2" spacing though, I find it too small for my liking.  I much prefer 1"x1", I've had problems even getting certain water bottle nozzles or certain toys through the spacing on my Martin's cage, and that's 1"x1/2"...

Oh wow, I didn't know you could have the bottom floor in any which way!

I myself prefer the 1"x1" too... easier to clean.  :cheeky:

I have my top floor with the opening in front, too.  My boys don't live together, so the ramp is always closed, and it's easier to make sure they can't nibble on anyone's tootsies if the opening is in front where I can check it and make sure it's covered.

Yes, easier to clean for sure!  I loved the 1" spacing on my last cage, it was heaven compared to the wire on my Martin's!  I suppose if I constantly had tiny rats it might be an issue, but my petite Amelia never was able to squeeze out of it.  :)

Does anyone have a third level on their FN?  I have four rats in my two level FN but I will eventually add three more(When they get bigger).  Is it too tall and too difficult to clean?

Well, I have the bottom half of my FN all screened in, so that's what the girls are living inatm. 3 girls for a half an FN? Sounds pretty good, huh? I have to get the top half finished now *sigh*.

Opened up
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/reachthestarsxx/Ratties/fnhalf01.jpg?t=1176400298)

All screened in ;)
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/reachthestarsxx/Ratties/fnhalfclosed01.jpg?t=1176400725)

Close-up of the screen and grommets
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/reachthestarsxx/Ratties/fngrommets01.jpg?t=1176400793)

Wow, that screening looks great!  I'll have to remember that if I ever get little ones.  I'd miss being able to scritch them through the bars, though.  Cash gives great eskimo kisses through the bars!

I do believe that is the best screening job I've ever seen, and it looks like it's 100% easily removed, too? You rock! Love the idea of using grommets.

Great idea with the grommets and screening!  I did screening once before, but it was a huge PITA!  This looks like it's not only easy to install and remove, but it can be stored, then re-used if you get itty bitty ones again!  Great idea!

Looks awesome!!! Grommets are a super idea for that!!!

Well I've finally broke down and got my FN put up and figured I'd get a picture on here since I just got my order today from ferret.com w/ stuff for the boys new cage. It's still a bit sparse as it's not finished yet, but here is what I got so far.

(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a335/Mommy_Ashten/100_2823.jpg)

(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a335/Mommy_Ashten/100_2855.jpg)


*Edited to add the pic of the cage closed.

Thanks guys, but I got the idea from Odysseydesign  :cheeky:. She wa sthe first to screen in her FN and gave me all the tips to make it look so lovely.

Hehe, you should have known you'd cave TruPitBull! I concidered waiting until my move in August, but knew I couldn't live with that wonderful cage sitting all alone in it's box!

Haha I know I was bit by the FN bug!! I think the ferret.com items like the ball, tent and cube just made the cage look a lot less bare!! Even tho I'd still like to add more. Mine doesn't even compare to some of yours on here which I wish to be able to work my way up to sooner or later.

Aw wow these all look great guys! Very inspiring.

My FN arrived bright and early this morning so after a substantial breakfast I'm off to clean our room and gets a building (bugging the sleeping fiance to help me out  :cheeky:).

I finally found my camera cable so here are some older pics of the set up of my FN. The boys is really bare.. still trying to figure what to put in it. :P

I've re-modeled since these were taken so when I clean again I'll get more pics. :D

Top of the girls'
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a384/hoglana/Mooch018.jpg)

Bottom of the girls'
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a384/hoglana/Mooch019.jpg)

The boys', which I am planning on adding the addition on to soon, They're just too crowded after the rescue, 5 big boys and 2 babies in a single level FN.
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a384/hoglana/Mooch017.jpg)

Reachthestars, you're super smart with that nifty looking mesh work. I absolutely love it and you may have just solved my on going dilemma of what to do if I were to have babies again. (rat babies that is... :yelcutelaugh: :yelcutelaugh:)

Trupitbull, love the tent in the cage, the ball and that huge igloo! Your pics are so clear, I love how close up the pics are!

kaycejonesgrl... omg... I love love love your fleece work with all the fringes. It looks like the perfect rattie jungle in there!!! Great idea with the crate in there...

Wow, you guys are just blowing me away with all your great ideas for cage decorating!

Thanks! :D They're just No-sew hammocks, made like the No=sew blankets and pillows and such. :D They're really fun to make. I also make No-sew liners for the boys cage and am making some for the girls very soon. They'll be two sided, different patterns on each side so I cam flip it over and have a diferrent pattern. :)

I'm considering selling them if anyone would be interested, just havent had time yet. Would be a good way to fund the rescues I've been taking in, and any that come through the shelter in the future. :)

I know I've got my own thread with mucho pics, but I'll post the pics of the levels here, too. :)

The top level:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/vandora/fn%20redo/0001.jpg)

The bottom level:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/vandora/fn%20redo/0010.jpg)

Weee... I was hoping you would add your pics here!

It's my turn! I can say so far the cage is definitely worth the expense, the wait and maybe even the building (which I did by myself except holding the top because it's taller than me) :BlueDumboSmileTongue:

-We have a two story place with slippery stairs and the rats reside upstairs with us. Instead of risking back injury I spent forever ripping the box open and made a few gazillion trips up and down the stairs with the bits. It was great exercise.
-Building started out ok. I got so into it I started skipping lines in the instructions and didn't realise I'd used the roof where the first shelf should have been  :doh:
-Encountered another speed-bump when one of the rectangle level connectors slipped too far then refused to come out. I wasted ages trying to pull it out when all I had to do was level the visible hole with the screwdriver...  :-[
-The rest of the issues came with aligning this and that and forgetting to add some bolts.

-Decorating was tonnes of fun. The ratties would take turns riding my arms between cages as I wiped their things and added them to their new home.

So here's how it looks! Similar set-up to the cat cage with some more hanging things:

Whole cage:
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/178/458778587_bac24b870b.jpg?v=0)
I gave them a snack to keep them occupied during picture time. They discovered the floor wasn't that far down from the bottom and kept 'falling' down...

Top half:
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/246/458762550_5eb6d57f79.jpg?v=0)
My guys don't use hammocks much though I might order some pocket ones or try rig another shelf. They love their hanging tents though!

(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/199/458777833_814097c394.jpg?v=0)

(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/175/458762778_432c5f55d2.jpg?v=0)

That box has been granted and confiscated twice now due to loud ripping.  >:(

Bottom Half:
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/214/458761688_a0ef4ff728.jpg?v=0)
Could definitely do with another shelf too I think. I'm actually amazed how sturdy the shelves are. I wasn't game enough to put the pavers on them, but so happy that bathmats fit them perfectly!

(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/174/458761870_68653bbe46.jpg?v=0)

And some cute shots for fun:
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/245/458761298_bdc606fa70.jpg?v=0)
Wulfman, charming as ever. Bear in mind he's actually lying on a huge marinated chew hole... sigh. But I couldn't resist knowing that and capturing the text on the box  :yelcutelaugh:

(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/217/458776989_584f93bcdf.jpg?v=0)
Wulfman and Ravill. They used to drive one another insane but are now buddies. And Ravill, despite his drama queen habits, has grown into a wonderful little buddy.

Changing of soiled bedding and litter will be tomorrow, with a major clean two days later. But it was such a dream to be able to swap out Oreo's marination igloo cloths (a daily torture... gag-worthy) and the boys are loving that they can be in their cage, but I can get in there too without banging the front bars and scaring them. I wiped the entire cage down before decorating as I'd gotten grease everywhere, so I'm definitely not dreading major cleanings so much now.

Cheers guys  :thumbsup2:

Gemma

Ooooh, I love how you have it decorated :D. Are you the first Aussie to get the cage? That's too awesome, and it's totally worth every penny spent.

I think I might be unless a few city Petstocks are carrying the cage. My local one hasn't got it in any of their supply catalogues and my eBay seller (whom I got my last, equally sized cage from) hasn't yet put them up for auction. I'd asked a few months ago if she could get them in and turns out she'd just made arrangements to become a FN seller! So I waited and saved and finally decided to go ahead and order. A week later I was enjoying my own FN TV.

Then it turned out my eyes weren't yet stable enough for LASIK so I had a bit of extra cash yay!

gem_max... FINALLY!!!
Isn't it grand? I love your cage, it's got quite a natural feel to it with the rocks and logs and such. I love how you have the piping going across. And those hanging baskets. How do the rats like that bird rope? I was thinking of getting some.

They love their 3 birdy ropes. During their 'mad tear around' hours of the night you'll often find someone perched on one or doing chin-ups. I used to have them attached to the front which is the only downside to the FN so far, but I can get some long thick perches off eBay that should be able ot go wall to wall as a way between levels.

I've been going CRAZY  :o watching this post, with all the wonderful decorating and modification ideas!! I am having a similar experience to kaycejonesgrl who said
I got a bad attack of GGMR, and there were a couple of rescue litters needing adopters. What can I say? I now have five new baby girls living temporarily in a Chinchilla cage and my eight older girls who have been living in two connected Martins 695s. I can't possibly add five to the eight without upgrading, which gave me perfect justification to go out and buy two FNs!! :hyper: :hyper:

The boxes weigh a ton. I had to make two trips to get them, because my little car wouldn't hold two at once. I haven't even gotten them out of the garage yet. I will have to do what someone else did; haul the pieces upstairs a few at a time. But before I do that I have to clear some space!  I think I need a day off. Work gets in the way of responsible rat-mothering. :wink5:

Stay tuned. By next weekend there will be photos!

Weeeeeeeeeee!! Godmother is in the FN club!!

Lol that's why I bought my FNs. I had purchased the momma and litter of feeder ratties. :D

We have REALLY shallow Steep stairs here and I was just too lazy to them up piece by piece, so I just stuck one end near the stair and rolled it up, then I went back down and did the same with the other one. :D Now I'm going to be getting ready, possibly, to do it again with an add-on. :P I did that for my 2 level and single level in one afternoon. :D Then I stayed up until 3am putting them both together and covering them with mesh. :D

jorats, I know I'm soo in love w/ the tent myself. It was soo worth getting for the boys cage & they love sleeping in it just as much too. And the big ball and igloo they just think big is better.. lol
As for the clear & up close pics thanks they better be after spending $350 on a digital right before christmas.. lol It's awesome for capturing wonderfully clear pics of the ratlets. I'll be posting some general rattie pics in Mug Shots just here in a bit taken last night.

My mom and I look foward to cleaning the cage all the time. :BlueDumboSmile:Our rats  dont though :BlueDumboSmileTongue:

I woke up to a smelly cage this morning so it's cleaning time already yay! Time for the beige and blue decor... wait should I be cheering???

And I just paid for my Dapper Rat order... exciting!

How LONG is this thread! How many of us have FNs now? Can someone poll-ify this thread? Not that other cages aren't uber too, just that the FNs have become an epidemic... I think we all need help  :hyper: :yelcutelaugh: ::)

More pics tonight woot  :balloon:

Cleaned the cage and decided to go with a blue theme in honor of getting my little blue girl (pics to come in rat tails).

(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/reachthestarsxx/Ratties/fnhalf02.jpg?t=1176774766)

Ohh, looks great, reachthestars! Colorful. :D

I can't get over just how neat and clean it looks with the mesh. Can you take a side pic?
That was a big worry for me, in case I ever wanted babies again. At first I was thinking I would have to store away a martins and then use the FN when the babies are big enough. I really didn't want to mess around with chicken wire... but that screen mesh with the grommets, looks so nice...  :bow:

looks great reachthestars!! Where do you and others get those little mini shelves? What are they called? I would like to add one to my cage.

Thanks guys, it was (is... still have the top to do) alot of work, but so worth it. I just put my new 7 week old baby in there, and it's holding her!

Jo, I can get some pics of the side and back for you tomorrow ;).

Maeve, I got my shelves at Walmart in the storage section (same place that has those cubes).

Ok Jo, here are the side and back pics you wanted :D.


Here's the right side of the cage.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/reachthestarsxx/Ratties/fnside01.jpg?t=1176829351)

And the Back
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/reachthestarsxx/Ratties/fnback01.jpg?t=1176829448)

Close up of the back grmmets. I put too much space in between the back grommets (3" instead of 2") and that was how Willow kept getting out, so I added some smaller zipties after.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/reachthestarsxx/Ratties/fnback02.jpg?t=1176829478)

Oh that looks great!! That's exactly what I'm going to do when I have babies. I like you you can see right through even with the mesh.

New storage solutions!  Top of the cage - green bin is for cleaning supplies and hammock hooks, first pink bin is for extra (small) toys, third pink bin is filled to the brim with treats for BunBun and the rats, and I haven't figured out what to put in the last bin  :P  For the purple storage containers, one is for hammocks, and the other is for smaller towels/braided ropes/fabric placemats, et cetera.

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/petlove0/Bedroom/Picture129.jpg)

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/petlove0/Rats/April%202007/Picture138.jpg)

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/petlove0/Rats/April%202007/Picture144.jpg)

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/petlove0/Rats/April%202007/Picture139.jpg)

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/petlove0/Rats/April%202007/Picture147.jpg)

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/petlove0/Rats/April%202007/Picture140.jpg)

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/petlove0/Rats/April%202007/Picture146.jpg)

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/petlove0/Rats/April%202007/Picture148.jpg)

ooo-- SOA do you still have that red heart hammock fleece??

*deletes her original reply*

Okay, I'm dumb!  I completely forgot about the heart hammock in the second-to-last picture  :doh:  That one's gone, unfortunately.  I got it around Christmas time, and only got half a yard, since I just wanted to make a couple new hams for my crew  :P

More pics! Have had 2 more changes since the first 'decking out of the new FN'. Have learnt I definitely need:
-2 more floor rugs + more bathmats (thanks for chewing holes in them Beta...) to make a total of 3 bedding changes. I'm thinking a brown one... with the old cage I had 3 changes, but now I use 2 rugs at a time so...
-Extra shelves! I don't quite want full half shelves I think... more half half shelves. Shall have to hit the hardware store methinks.
-More hammies! Not that my guys use them for anything but trampolining (Ravill) and bridges, but they make me smile when I see the cage first thing in the morning  :-[ :BlueDumboSmile:
-More little boxes. They keep eating them!

OK here was the beige way with a Dapper pocket hammie and tube:
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/205/466185876_ca8b6af7a2.jpg?v=0)

(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/232/466191865_226db4bb2a.jpg?v=0)
Don't mind the litter. The flash exposed more poop than I thought was in there haha. Oh need more litter too...

Now tonight's blue/green with Dapper hammies.
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/223/466186536_a046a5c9ae.jpg?v=0)
Haha have just noticed the position I got Beta in on the ladder  :eek: the weirdo he is. Pseudo was running around on top in that shot, later to be rescued wedged between the side and the wall. WHY DO THEY DO THAT?!  :doh:

(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/189/466186240_195fc1c3f8.jpg?v=0)
Ha there he is! Little bugger and his altitude obsession.
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/185/466192259_334b339020.jpg?v=0)
What is it with Beta and awkward positions?

And soem fun pics:
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/190/466186972_0f8488e348.jpg?v=0)
Even with all that room they still spill out...

(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/184/466186800_10b00b3053.jpg?v=0)
Pseudo prays for more cool bedding and furniture while I realise that hammock has been in there a week now...

(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/167/466187160_05ab3d987f.jpg?v=0)
Ravill, Prince of Odd Expressions

and:
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/206/458762094_0050c11e2b.jpg?v=0)

and:
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/217/458776989_584f93bcdf.jpg?v=0)

My name is Gemma and I'm obsessed with taking photos featuring the FN...

I just love all these pics!!

gem... how do you get that pvc to stay in place, that is a great idea!
lol @ Beta and Pseudo... and I love the look on Ravill!

Rocks 'sort of' anchor the PVC. For some reason the pipes are the only things they leave in place. I woke up today to find the arrangement of the cage all out of place except the PVC. The box is dangling, cloths are thrown about, there's a rat sleeping in the litter... and the rest are playing dead in the open just to make the shelves look that extra bit messier.

Hmm... need new rocks too...

I did a massive cleaning of both of the FNs today.  I stripped them bare and started from scratch.  I did get a bit of decorators block and it took me over an hour to decorate the girls cage.  I came her and got some inspiration and then began tackling it again.  So without further ado the newest photos of my cages.

Boy's Cage

(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/OldsGal/DSCN1043.jpg)

(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/OldsGal/DSCN1044.jpg)

(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/OldsGal/DSCN1045.jpg)

Girl's Cage

(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/OldsGal/DSCN1040.jpg)

(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/OldsGal/DSCN1041.jpg)

(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f147/OldsGal/DSCN1042.jpg)

Staci I loooove that hat in the boys' cage!

Here's mine!

Kind of barron compared to other cages on here. ;)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/kimmyizme/cage001.jpg?t=1177217453)

The top

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/kimmyizme/cage002.jpg?t=1177217598)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/kimmyizme/cage006.jpg?t=1177217875)

The bottom

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/kimmyizme/cage003.jpg?t=1177217633)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/kimmyizme/cage005.jpg?t=1177217748)

Looking up from the floor.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/kimmyizme/cage004.jpg?t=1177217665)

Finn & Charlotte enjoying their new home

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/kimmyizme/cage036.jpg?t=1177217938)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/kimmyizme/cage037.jpg?t=1177217951)

My hubby doesn't care for the rats so I thought if I decorated the cage in a way he would like, that maybe It could help change his opinion......It didn't work  :yelcutelaugh:

A video of Whatchamacallit enjoying the FN bar spacing! lol. Mommy can stick her fingers in the cage to give him scritches:

(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b235/Punkygirl0101/th_Picture3464.jpg) (http://s20.photobucket.com/albums/b235/Punkygirl0101/?action=view&current=Picture3464.flv)

SQUEAL!!!!!! Melanie, that is too adorable! I love him :) How cute how patiently he sits there just loving on you!

He looks so zoned out... was relaxing just to watch it!

Olds I'm definitely stealing that hat idea :P... no sewing maching here so big thanks  :thumbsup2:

And Kim that whole cage is too cool... I love the hanging baseballs and little cut out in the cube. What a great way to have even more ratty fun.

Bleh supposed to be typing up a paper. Stop distracting me you lot!  :yelcutelaugh:

Hes my little love bug!

Oh, and the sound in the background is the fish tank! my friend said it sounded like someone was going to the bathroom ;)!

Staci, are those towels on the pans? You can definitely see the room in that cage!

Kim, wow!! love the hole baseball theme. That's a great way to get hubby to at least look at them once in a while. lol  That cube with just the part of the ball cut out, I love it!!!

Punkygirl, that is one reason why I don't really want the bar spacing changed. I love how we can just go in real quick and give a cuddle. Your little guy just loved it up!

Thanks all for the hat compliments.  My ratties I have learned really love hats.  I had fleece snow hats in thier and faux fir winter women's hats in there but with the weather warmimg up I wanted to find something lighter.  I found these little kids beach hats at the Dollar Store and so far they love them.

Jo:  Yes those are towels in my cage.  I found them in packs of 2 at the dollar store for $5 per pack so I picked up a couple packs.  I have kinda given up on the rug idea.  They are not flexible enough to fold under  the middle level where the cut out is in the pan for the ramp and I don't like cuting the rugs cuz then they fray.  So I switch from towels to fleece and back and forth.

Staci

When I first got my FN, both my mom and sis helped me put it together. (thank god) But they were still not really sold on the FN. I'm always gushing about that cage and getting them to come upstairs (we live in a triplex) to show it off each cleaning day. But still, they both were firm, they prefer their Martin's.
In the last rescue, Nic got an FN at such an incredible price, she couldn't pass it up plus, she would need it to keep the 7 new rescues in.  :cheeky:
Nic has had it for over a week now... and she LOVES it!
We cleaned it last Thursday and she was decorating it... she kept saying it looks so bare. lol Yep, that's cause it's sooo big!
But she managed to put it together nicely:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/jorats/nic%20rats/FullFN.jpg)

Top part:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/jorats/nic%20rats/smNicFN.jpg)

Bottom part:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/jorats/nic%20rats/NicFNbottom.jpg)

See, I'm a little girl and I can't get through the bars:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/jorats/nic%20rats/smPrison.jpg)

I love dangling toys in my FN:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/jorats/nic%20rats/smToy.jpg)

What's you got there sis?

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/jorats/nic%20rats/smToy2.jpg)

Ah... an FN and a Wonderrodent Triangle... what more could a girl ask?

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/jorats/nic%20rats/smtriangle.jpg)

Hehe kimmyizme, your cage is great!  I love that you tried to make your husband like the rats by turning them into little Red Sox fans! Just watch out for cage riots after a big game  ;)

LOL thanks Embryodb, I want to make a sign to hang on it and call it

THE BATTING CAGE

Only I want to make 2 more sets of "stuff" for it, one a Dallas Cowboys theme and the other a Boston Celtics theme, hubby's other favorite teams.

Been a long time since I've posted FN pics.  This is old man Leroy's half (with "his" babies).  The downstairs neighbors are basically on paper towels right now for medical reasons, so no pics of the bottom section.

(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c355/dolcilady/April22018.jpg)


Robin

OMG I luff ya all.   :BlueDumboSmile:
I saw all of these and I thought, 'I WANT ONE!' 
I asked my mum if I could save up enough then I could get one for the rats,
she said maybe. 

!WOOHOO!!!
I'm going to show her these pictures later on.   :BlueDumboSmile:
THANK YOU JO!  :hyper:

Oooh it looks so good with the extra shelves... that adds another 50% more running room. MUST GET!

And thanks for that pic with the igloo on top. My guys love their igloos in that exact spot and I was worried it they were too high. They also love to marinate in that exact spot so the FNs doors have been a nosesaver.

Clean, shiny, fresh smelling ratties all week round.

I'm definitely going to be looking into extra shelves as well!

I love having the extra shelves.  My FN was up for a few days before the extra shelves arrived, and it was a huge difference.

Did you get your extra shelves direct from Midwest?

Yup.  I was originally going to order two shelves and two ramps, but I remember thinking it was too expensive, and the ramps didn't seem necessary.  I can't remember exactly what it cost, but I did think it would be worth it for the extra shelves...and it was!  They ship each shelf packaged separately, though, so shipping might be a little high.

Thanks!!

Shelves were $16.30 + S&H when I emailed recently.

Also, for the people who used screen, was it just window screen that you can buy at Home Depot-type stores?  And someone referenced directions/instructions for doing this (I'm sure I can do it myself just fine, but having someone else's observations about the process could be useful).

I'm also consideirng just using hardware cloth, if I can find it in black.  It looks like the person who used hardware cloth secured it with zip ties about every 4" in squares?

Just thought I'd post a recent pic of the boys FN. I got these woven lookin rugs at Walmart for only 2.50 for the big ones and .86 for the smaller ones for the shelves and their nice and thick. Love them and so do the boys. Though my cage isn't decorated as nice as some of the amazing cages on here.. lol I hope to add more soon. I buy little by little to add to their cage.

(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a335/Mommy_Ashten/FrontFN.jpg)

(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a335/Mommy_Ashten/TopFN.jpg)

(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a335/Mommy_Ashten/BottomFN.jpg)

Those rugs really liven up the cage!!
Have you washed them yet? Do they go in the machine or hand wash?

Lol Yes they do liven it up alright lol It gives the boys some color and their soo absorbant and soft for them to lay on too and mighty durable w/ them chewing on part not to mention a decent price. I haven't washed them yet, but I do have 2 more I'm gonna be washing today I will let you know if they fall apart on me or not.. lol Coz I'll be sticking them in the washer and not sure if I'll hang them out to dry or try them in the dryer.

Aw! Trupitbull, your babies are soo pretty! I love your cage. It looks very colorful and fun for them. Those of you with ropes.. do your rats use them?

The one blue one I have hanging on the top part which is blue fleece I made into a rope and the hubby said that he sees the boys playing w/ it ever so often batting it around, then they'll popcorn around and come running back to it and the littlest guy has attempted to climb it already.

Oh I forgot! I took pictures last night lol..

I bought a couple new liners for the cage from the dollar store. I just loved the monkey and cow fleece blankets and the receiving blankets.
Green and Puple hammies made by me..
(http://x42.xanga.com/94c8237334da8121514307/m87601622.jpg)
(http://x66.xanga.com/fe68356101118121514222/s87601559.jpg)
(http://x2e.xanga.com/fef83465340a8121514155/s87601500.jpg)
bottom- little plainer but I haven't had time to sew up their new hammocks.
(http://xb0.xanga.com/4fbd7640d4733121514388/m87601694.jpg)
(http://x24.xanga.com/ba6d415146630121513766/m87601183.jpg)
Owen says mommy, I think you made this too small! I is a big boy!
(http://xd9.xanga.com/2ced734766c33121513369/m87600848.jpg)
Tussle over the yummy sachet lol. They kept going joink! and a new one would have it  :yelcutelaugh:
(http://x61.xanga.com/e4b8056a32c39121513113/m87600625.jpg)

I LOVE cows!! I swear I have got to make a whole farm themed set for the cage..
(http://x3b.xanga.com/94e8336132669121512721/m87600290.jpg)

and the RUDD and FN side by side..  :thumbsup2:
(http://xa8.xanga.com/56383b7331248121512200/m87599829.jpg)

Aww I love how their all lined up in the one pic! And those blankies are too cute I never thought about checkin out a dollar store for baby blankets to use I usually search through Walmart for goodies.. lol

Here's my second  cage theme, hubby still doesn't like the rats though :doh:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/kimmyizme/celticscage001.jpg?t=1178707196)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/kimmyizme/celticscage003.jpg?t=1178707244)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/kimmyizme/celticscage006.jpg?t=1178707272)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/kimmyizme/celticscage014.jpg?t=1178707336)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/kimmyizme/celticscage018.jpg?t=1178707393)


(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/kimmyizme/celticscage032.jpg?t=1178707429)


(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v190/kimmyizme/celticscage029.jpg?t=1178707467)


I added more hidey houses the next day which Finn and Charlotte didn't care about but they babies will love when they are big enough to move in.

Holy smokes, that looks just great! I like the bamboo mat, good idea! and the corner shelves, do the rats go there a lot?
Oh wait, there not corner shelf but a a hole little unit... what a good idea!!!

Kimmyizme that Celtics cage ROCKS!  It's like seeing a home-makeover decorating show for rat cages!  hee hee-- How cute is that corner unit?!  The NBA circle with the butt and the tail (*dies*) --that was priceless!

Your husband doesn't like the RATS? Even though they are sports fans?  :BlueDumboSmileTongue:   Time for a divorce.  LOL! 

(kidding of course)

Do you have step by steo instructions for the screening? where did you find the grommets? What tools did you need? Have your ratties chewed through it? Thanks!

I just ordered mine yesterday from petsmart and had them pricematch ferret.com . shipping was COMPLETELY free (no heavy item charge). With tax it was right saround 160.

Thanks guys  :)  I don't know how to add people's quotes so I will just answer your questions here.

jorats: Charlotte uses the corner unit alot but I have never seen either of them use the corner hammock. I'm sure the babies will though.

rastandcats: The corner unit I got at Marden's for $3.99!

WS: Nope, my hubby doesn't like rats. He really REALLY doesn't like them. He won't even touch one! But he loves me so he puts up with them, somewhat. I used to keep the rats in one of the spare bedroom but they never really got enough attention. Now that I have the FN, the rats live in the livingroom! Yay! Hubby doesn't like it and I have to clean the cage every 3 days (completely) to keep the "rat smell at bay, but he does like how I have decorated the cage first the Red Sox theme and now the Celtics, I'll be doing a Dallas Cowboys theme next. I'll post pics when I do.

That looks so awesome!!!

PSSst, Trupitbull, is one of your ratties' hammocks actually a little black thong?? 

 :yelcutelaugh: :yelcutelaugh: :yelcutelaugh:

There's a Marden's in the next town where I find lots of goodies for my ratties; I will have to look for that corner unit as it would really look good in my FN cage!

Maybe your hubby will learn to like rats, mine did! When I brought my first cage of rats home from the shelter my hubby was not happy, but he didn't say much. A week later I brought a second cage of ratties home and when he got home from work and saw them he was not happy, in fact he was very unhappy and he told me I had to take them back to the shelter and give them to the other foster mom who already had 20+ ratties we rescued from a home in Acton. I told him I had to keep them for a month because she was on vacation which was partially true as she was on vacation, but only for a week.

He would not go near those rats or even look at them, when I would take them out of the cage and let them crawl all over me he would look at me in disbelief with his eyes bulging out of his head - I think he was afraid of them. He didn't like the $$$ for the vet bills and he said "so every time one sneezes we have to take him to the vet?"

Long story short it took about two to three months or so for him to fall totally in love with them and we ended up keeping all of them mainly because no one wanted to adopt them.

Now he plays with OUR rats every day when he gets home from work, he buys them toys/treats and any time I want a new cage he buys it for me and he's the first one now to suggest when they need a trip to the vet which is good because we had about $1,000 in vet bills last fall between two tumor surgeries and 3 cases of URI.

So ladies who are reading this - There is hope for your man to learn to love ratties!!

aw thats so cute ratsandcats!

It's been 8 years, I kinda doubt they're gonna grow on him anytime soon LOL
It's OK though, there are plenty of things he likes that I put up with, like basketball, football, golf, tennis. It's all sports all the time in my house! I think we're just about even.

It's about time I post more pics of FNs... so here are a couple of pics of my sister's FN:

Top part:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/jorats/nic%20rats/smNicFNtop.jpg)

Bottom part:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/jorats/nic%20rats/smNicFNbottom.jpg)

Love the pictures, as always, Jo!  I've been meaning to :poke: you for a while for new pictures  :P

I know... I kept ooowing and awwing at everyone else's but I've been kind of down with my FN. The bottom part was not in use.  :eek:  :yelcutelaugh: But it is now so I'll be taking pics again!!

Wow 8 years and he hasn't fallen totally head over heals in love with them?? Do you walk around with ratties on your shoulder in front of him? I did that with my hubby and their cute little faces melted him............

Even my ex, who at first was like "if you open the cage, I'm leaving!", now will actually pet a boy if I get him out.

When I decided that I would like to get a rat as a pet, I invited my husband to come with me and meet some to see if he would be comfortable with them in the house. We went to the house of a woman who was part of a rat rescue, so there were a lot of rats. When we were ready to leave, my husband said, "When are WE going to get OUR rats?" I was very surprised.  :yelcutelaugh:

Well, it's here and it's assembled and the girlies are LOVING it. I haven't screened it in yet so here's crossing my fingers nobody escapes tonight! ::) I don't think they will though. Only one girl I'm worried about but she's not very adventurous so I don't think it will be a problem. Anyways, Here are some pictures. I need to make ALOT more bedding and have quite a few more things i can add in but don't want to add them all in one day.
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/195/501780780_966b740418.jpg?v=0)
Here's the full view. That's fern up on the top, I think it's Kaiya going down the laddar, patches is the one in the very front, Charlotte is next to her, and mumble our one and only dumbo and youngest is in the litter box.
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/201/501780788_571c5eb835.jpg?v=0)
Here's the top part of the cage. Charlotte is at the water bottle, patches our picture hog is in the front, and fern is to the right.
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/195/501780800_ac1f68b2ec.jpg?v=0)
Here's the bottom. Patches is of course in the middle, nubby (she had an injury to her tail prior to coming to us as a rescue) is to the right, and I *think* it's fern behind patches.

The girls and I are so happy!!!  :BlueDumboSmile:

That looks great! Nice job on the bedding. :) What's the neat red thing hanging in the cage?

The pink thing is actually a kids bucket hat i found for 50% off at joann's!

Looks great and fun! How many ratties live in that place? It's so funny to see the rats in that cage, they looks so tiny.

My smallest female in my FN is 190 grams. I'm sure if she really wanted to she could squeeze out but so far she hasn't tried it.

There are 7 girls in it. all my girls are pretty small. I know they CAN get out, but so far they haven't really tired. I'm gonna give it a few days to decide whether to screen them i or not. I love being able to reach through the bars and pet them though, and i think they like it too. I'm getting 2 more babies soon though, so might need to screen it in then. :(

Yeah, my sister has a Super Pet ferret cage, and I like petting her rats through the bars so much that I am not going to cover my FN unless I find I really have to!!  :yelcutelaugh:

These cages are really beautiful! I wish I heard about the FN before I ordered two custom built cages for nearly $300 a piece. Ugh. They're a gorgeous gold/black powder coated color, though!

Anyone else here think there is a difference in 1" vertical bars vs 1" horizontal bars.  I have ratties who I know could get out of a SP cage but don't get out of the FN?  I personally think it has everything to do with the fact that the bars are different.

I agree with you Oldsgal, though none of mine are small enough to try, but even with the boys noses you can see not as much fits.

I think it is probably too much work to try and flatten, go sideways and then shimmy through, whereas with a superpet all they need to do is flatten and shimmy.  When sideways I bet gravity isn't helping them either!

Our new ferret nation arrived last night.  After a flurry of screwdrivers, a bit of cursing, and a lot of decorating, Here it is!  (Not the greatest pic ever.  It was taken with my phone's camera.)


Mandrake the camera hog up front.  I think his brother Acer is asleep in the tube.
(http://www.thephonecam.com/mms/pics/users/070518091622.jpg)

Very nice! Cracking up at camera hog. Seems we all have one of those!

I love the matching hammies! And what a sweetie there!!

It occurs to me that I haven't posted my FN pics yet...

(http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b87/lauramcconnell/100_3139.jpg)
(http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b87/lauramcconnell/100_3140.jpg)

Ok... can we say I love FNs???

Do I have enough do you think? 1 triple, 1 double and 1 single... gotta have one of each...  :confused:

All three together:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/jorats/Cages/FNgroup.jpg)

The triple FN:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/jorats/Cages/sm3FNclosed.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/jorats/Cages/sm3FNopen.jpg)

Top:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/jorats/Cages/smTop3FN.jpg)

Middle:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/jorats/Cages/smMiddle3FN.jpg)

Bottom:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/jorats/Cages/smBottom3FN.jpg)

The double FN:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/jorats/Cages/sm2FN.jpg)

The single:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/jorats/Cages/sm1FN.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/jorats/Cages/sm1FNopen.jpg)

Strangeduck, that looks great! I love getting all the ideas from everyone here!!

Jo...I'm in such FN envy...I'd love to have another level for my boys and an FN for my girls... :puppy_dog_eyes: That cage fund isn't growing quickly enough :'(

Jo, I like how you doubled up the stand on the single. :)  Do you know if there is any way to put casters on the bottom of that triple w/o the stand?

Yep, if you put on four connecters, screw in at the second hole, leaving it long enough to slide in the casters and voila... a rolling triple FN.
I'm missing two connecters and that's why I couldn't do it. I may be ordering extra shelves from midwest and I'll ask for the connecters then.
I had them on the casters before I put together the single FN... but I needed the connecters to be able to double up the racks. When it was on the casters, it made the cage a couple of inches taller... *gulp* For now, I've put on sliders/gliders and it moves quite easily.

I am not worthy, Jo. That is a set-up I couldn't be more jealous of! I love it. I love how you double the shelves on the 1-story.

Now I'm thinking, for my ratties, maybe I'll get a single FN and have 1 double and 1 single. Hmmm.

Kimmy, you have my boyfriend absolutely DROOLING over those setups. He's a Mass. boy, so he's a huge Sox, Pats and Celtics fan! You could DEFINITELY make a business out of that!

I'm very excited because I think we may be investing in an FN when these little boys we just got grow up!

Awww :)thanks! Poor hubby all the way in California with out his Sox, that's enough to make any New Englander cry. Lemme know when you get your FN and I'll make him some Sox stuff for it. Celtics fabric is near impossible to find so I had to settle for St. Patty's Day fabric. Luckily I had some old sweetshirts and T's that I was able to cut up and use.
My hubby is a Dallas Cowboys fan so that is my next project!

OMG wow. I decided to not visit the thread for a bit and let pics build up... such cool surprises!

Jo that FN jungle of yours looks fun... chuck out the TV you dont need it now!

Jo those look fantastic! I'd been thinking about taking off the storage shelf on my double; glad to know it can be done easily!

Jorats has out-caged SoA!

I am in AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWE, Jo  :shocked2: :eek: :o :o  :thumbsup2: :thumbsup2: :thumbsup2:

Chelsey, I never would have thought that out-caging you was even possible!

I'm not sure...we might have to have a cage-off!  :boxing:

Ha! That's the same boat my boyfriend is in! That is too cool for you to even offer - I'll be sure to PM you when we get it. Although, being a Yankee fan, it'll be tough for me!  :-X Still, I LOVE the themed decorations!

I don't know... 2 double FNs seems to be the winner still.
I've figured out a way to put 2 double FNs together without hurting the cage. You would need 8 of those crossbars with the two holes in them. So instead of putting the side panel, you put the holed crossbars. I wonder if Midwest would sell me just the crossbars.   :dontknow:

LOL I know, it was YOUR hubby I was referring to! LOL My hubby is here in Maine and gets all the Sox action he needs, and then some!
Maybe when you get your FN we could do the Sox theme on the top half and, slap my mouth for even saying the words, Yankee theme on the bottom (I'm going to hell). :yelcutelaugh:

Jo, I just LOVE your cages!

I need to take some updated FN pictures!

I've done it.  My FN should be here Friday.  Now I just wish I hadn't cut up all the fleece I have into smaller squares.  Oh well, I those will just have to be for hammocks.  We do have a FN at my work for any exotic boarders that come in without a suitable cage.  We got it because it can house ferrets, rats, bunnies, and if we take out the shelves, some birds.  (We had a couple of Umbrella Cockatoos that came in to board in small dog crates.  They couldn't stretch their wings without getting caught.  Hence the purchase of the oh-so-versatile FN.  We also often have ferrets and rabbits come in without suitable cages, though we tell people to bring them.)

The planning begins...

Wow, congrats!  And what a great cage for a rescue!  It really is so versatile.

Well, I haven't posted pictures of my cage in a while, but it's for a good reason! I've been working 40 hour weeks to PAY for the rats :P. But to make up for it, I have pics of the last three cage cleanings :D.

You can see my foster boy Bruce's nose peeking out from the top half  ::). He's gone back to the rescue now.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/reachthestarsxx/Ratties/fnhalf03.jpg?t=1180015826)

Went with a pink theme for the girls
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/reachthestarsxx/Ratties/fnhalf04.jpg?t=1180015927)

The lastest (that will be cleaned today) was a purple/blue theme.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c62/reachthestarsxx/Ratties/fnhalf05.jpg?t=1180015964)


As you can see, I haven't got the top half screened in yet. I have a week off work, so that will be my project for early next week.

frostywolf: CongRATS on the cage!!

Reachthestars, your ratties haven't tried to chew on the screening? Is it just regular window screening?
You're making really good use of cage space with all those hammocks.

Well, Willow 'sampled' it but only the edge where it was folded back on itself. I think the sharpness of it discouraged her. It's aluminum, so it can be quite pointy. I'm hoping to get Willow fat so she won't be able to slip out, since she seems to have stopped growing (at 3 months old Belle weighs 250g compared to Willow at 7 months weighing 270g  ::)).

Thanks! I'm a big time fabric and hammock 'ho, so the girls always get decked out with tons of fabric-y goodness.

In the first picture, is that Willow trying to do gymnastics/work out on the shelf liner handle?  :yelcutelaugh:  As always RTS, I adore your cage and all the hammocks you put up!

I haven't posted pictures in a while either, so these are from this morning:

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/petlove0/Rats/May%202007/May24063.jpg)

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/petlove0/Rats/May%202007/May24062.jpg)

Left half...

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/petlove0/Rats/May%202007/May24060.jpg)

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/petlove0/Rats/May%202007/May24059.jpg)

Top left...

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/petlove0/Rats/May%202007/May24058.jpg)

Bottom left...

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/petlove0/Rats/May%202007/May24057.jpg)

Right half...

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/petlove0/Rats/May%202007/May24051.jpg)

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/petlove0/Rats/May%202007/May24054.jpg)

Top right...

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/petlove0/Rats/May%202007/May24043.jpg)

Bottom right...

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/petlove0/Rats/May%202007/May24044.jpg)

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/petlove0/Rats/May%202007/May24050.jpg)

Squee loves frozen lima beans!

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/petlove0/Rats/May%202007/May24047.jpg)

SoA, it continues to amaze me how you can have so many rats in there and I still have to search and hunt to see even 1!  The cage is stunning, as always, and your ratties are some of the luckiest around (yours and Jorats!).

Wonderful cage as always SOA :D.

Yes, that would be Willow trying to keep her girlish figure. No wonder she won't gain weight!

 :bow: I soooo love your cage SoA!! Once my numbers come down, I'll be doing more intros and I'll set up my FNs like yours.  :yelcutelaugh:

I've been watching this thread for awhile, great cages!  I think the Celtic's themed one rocks!  Jorats and SoA...you guys look like your competing eh?

It's all very glamourous but I'll stay out of the competition and just watch.   :thumbsup2:

Jorats and I competing?  Giggle  :P  Her cages are way better than mine!

I wouldn't say competing... I'm just getting the most out of these cages that best fits my colonies. Right now, it's the triple FN that works best but in time, the 2 double FNs may be what works for me. SoA put hers the way she likes it to fit her room and to make her ratties' life full of fun and freedom.

Even so, nothing wrong with a little friendly competition.  :thumbsup2:

SoA I gotta say that your cages look great in your room, everything fits perfect.  :party:

And Jo, I totally dig your style, TERRACE FN's.  Awesome.  :balloon:

When I can afford one, I might invest in one too.  I hope the price matches I read about are easy to find.  I'd like to spoil my boys and juice up my creativity too  :BlueDumboSmileTongue:

The best one I found that they accepted was at www.ferret.com.  :hyper:

I finally got some update FN pictures. Nothing too special, I like to keep atleast one part of the cage bare since its summer, for air circulation. So the bottom is bare.

(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b235/Punkygirl0101/Picture3876.jpg)
Top.

(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b235/Punkygirl0101/Picture3877.jpg)
Bottom.

NICE! Where did you get those little shelves?

you didn't ask me but I know they can be found at wamart or home depot or target. looks like she has the kind intended for soda cas..anything works really!

I got them from walmart! And yes, they were intended for soda cans and they work great..they used to hang from the top.

Ooh I loooove that basket hanging from the ceiling idea! Must do that with my FN!

I finally got my cage put together! WOO! I LOVE IT! It's so easy to keep clean and it's super roomy.

I have it sectioned off right now: 4 foster boys in the top, and 1 boy in the bottom

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/chipmunck_girl/cage-1.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/chipmunck_girl/open.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/chipmunck_girl/upper.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/chipmunck_girl/lower.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/chipmunck_girl/cutie.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v35/chipmunck_girl/rats.jpg)

I LOVE the bunk beds :P  :heart: :thumbsup2:

I know someone had posted a picture of modifying their cage with hardware cloth in this thread but I can't seem to find it.  I don't want the pic of the modification with screen but with hardware cloth.  Who was that and if anyone can point me in the direction of the pics that would be great.

Was it the one with full directions? That was its own thread. It's probably only a page or two back now.

Got mine put together!  Yay.  I sat in front of it with the doors wide open last night.  I love it. 

Only the bottom tier is occupied right now.  Frank and Spacey are in there.  The top half is for Tazz and Munchkin, my new boys, but they are still in quarantine.  Tazz and Munchkin will feel right at home though, since they are living in our one level FN at the hospital.  Once all four are intro'd, then I will open up the middle ladder. 

I pulled out my fabric and made a couple sets of liners w/matching hammocks.  But I have a TON more fabric to use.  (I compulsively buy fabric remnants.  I can't help myself.) 

Here is the bottom half, anyway.  Spacey is about 2 1/2 years now, so I tried to keep it senior-rat-friendly.  I wanted to put one of my wodent wheels in, but I can't remember what I did with the white axle part. 

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h310/frostywolf1212/IMG_1910.jpg)
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h310/frostywolf1212/IMG_1911.jpg)
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h310/frostywolf1212/IMG_1916-1.jpg)

I guess now I can sell some of my other cages.  According to my coworkers, I am also a compulsive cage collector.  I now have two broken down R695s, a broken down SP cage (but that one makes a good one level hospital cage), a R670 (I think) that I use if I have young 'uns, a very small Martins (don't remember which one) that lives broken down in the trunk of my car, two terrariums (one small 10 gal w/topper, one 55 long), a Coast cage, and two more SP cages that I haven't used in years.  Believe it or not, I have gotten rid of a couple of cages already.   :eek:  Now that I am seeing that list in writing, I definitely have a problem.

Welcome to the cage ho' club! lol

Your cage looks soooo sweet with those liners.

Hee...I'm getting a second FN for my girlies on Wednesday.  I finally convinced my SO...through horrendous deep sighs on cage cleaning day :thumbsup2:   All that room for rumpus girls.  And when Luna and Midnight are done with QT, they'll feel like they've wandered into rattie heaven... :hyper:

While I agree that it would be a great cage for a rescue, I work at a veterinary hospital.   ;)  We offer boarding services to our clients, and while our requirements for 'exotic' boarders is that they come in with suitable housing, many don't. 

Oh, oops.  Hee hee. :P

Okay, I'm finally happy enough with the way my FN looks to post pics.

(http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g236/FuglyZombie/fn001-1.jpg)

top:
(http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g236/FuglyZombie/fn002-1.jpg)

bottom:
(http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g236/FuglyZombie/fn003-1.jpg)

Looks great!!!

I've been trying to see, but it's kinda hard...how do you use the option to close off the levels to have two different living "areas"? Do you just lift up the ladder and click it in place to close it off?

The ladder has an s-hook on it, and you just hook it up.

For people have boys in one section and girls in the other - did you wire the ladder up?  I'm wondering if the S-hook will be sufficient for ratties with the urge to merge.

Hi Folks:
  Here are mine and I have one for my girls and one for my boys so far.  :)

(http://www.lilratscal.com/Carolelinks/Cage1.JPG)


(http://www.lilratscal.com/Carolelinks/FNCage2.JPG)


(http://www.lilratscal.com/Carolelinks/Ferret1.JPG)


(http://www.lilratscal.com/Carolelinks/CageSide.JPG)


(http://www.lilratscal.com/Carolelinks/CageFrizzel.JPG)


(http://www.lilratscal.com/Carolelinks/Cages3.JPG)


(http://www.lilratscal.com/Carolelinks/ANewCage.JPG)

I have boys in both sections, but so far they've not been introduced, and I don't want them to mix until they have been.  The S-hook for the ladder definitely will stop a whole rat from going through, but there's still a rectangle that has only the wires from the ladder separating the upstairs and downstairs.  I covered mine by putting a thick, flexible cutting board under the pan to cover the wire...don't want any tails or feet slipping through!

Oh that's a great idea JR! I have a foster on the bottom who likes to bite feeties and tails that skip through the wire from the top.

Lilratscal,
In this picture, what kind of litter pan is that and is that wire I see on top of it? What is the purpose, to keep the litter IN the box? and do they still use it? and how did you train them to use it? or maybe it's not a litter box at all! LOL
(http://www.lilratscal.com/Carolelinks/CageSide.JPG)

That's the kind of litter pan my friend uses for her bunnies.  It works really well for them, but I can't imagine my ratties liking it.  I'm definitely interested to know how Lilratscal's ratties do with it.  It'd be nice to not have the little buggers tossing poopy litter all over the cage. LOL

Oh, gosh, thanks...*blushes*

I think it would depend on the size of the ratties.
A friend was in the process of doing intros between her older girls and a group of newly adopted baby girls.  She got up in the morning and found a baby girl had gotten from the bottom half of the cage to the female adults in the top half.  Fortunately there were no problems.

Personally, if I were trying to keep ratties in the top and bottom sections apart, I would hook up the ladder and also add a nonchewable solid floor underneath the floor pan.  Especially if they were boys and girls who might have "the urge to merge"    :)

I started a different thread with stp by step directions and measurements.. Search ferret nation of FN modification tutorial.

I had one of those pans with removable powder coated grates from Petsmart and someone on my forum mentioned their rats really liked it and used it. She said that they would use it more over the dollar store square pans so I decided to try mine and see. They definitely use it so I will test more and sure hope it works. So far the girls, not all out of 9 rats are using it. Lucy has head tilt and a few are old too.  

I put yesterdays news in it and it works great because nothing gets all over. I really like that part of it. I was most surprised to see a lot of poop in it too. So they do like using it.

I decided because like Jorats I have my boys cage divided into two sections for now till I introduce them better. So I have just gotten 3 more pans last weekend but will let you know. They show pictures of a rat and 3 other animals on it.  

I still get poop and stuff yet from some, mostly in one corner where I want to put another one because I have 9 girls in it. I am going to move 2 pans around where I find they are pooping the most now because I have not had my FN very long for testing. My rats love those wheels by the way best of all but they have to be 11 inch ones.

It might be a good idea to try one pan first and see what you think. Sometimes I swear that the girls get mad at a rat that goes where they don't think they should. Silly rats.  ;D

The other thing is that because I divided my boys into two cage sections I reversed the big shelves too.

I put plexiglass under the hole and try and hide it.

I think I will try and get something heavy like a heavy ceramic square dish, just the right size and put it over the hole like a little landing to climb onto.
This would also help rats to reach a water bottle too.

You will notice a tree looking stump and it has two holes on it. It is fairly heavy and completely washable. My rats love this and I found it on sale in the aquarium section one day. I almost didn't buy it but it has been very popular with all my rats.

One other tip I found is that with my water bottles I bent the wire hooks side ways to wrap around the post.

Hope it helps someone. Thanks for all your great tips too. Every bit helps.  :)

Oh absolutely and even so if some don't get along and might get hurt too. Well said.  :)

I am planning on getting some more coroplast material too from Rona and put it under the pans any way. I might get some for the back of the cages as well to protect my walls more and also to stop any that they throw out or put in corners. lol 

Well, glad I know that I need to add a solid level.  I figured as much. I have a lot of extra masonite, so I'll probably cut a piece to fit.  (My FN is in a box for 1.5 weeks more.  Setup's so close I can almost taste the smooth shiny powder-coated bars...)

Oh, and thanks for posting the photos with all of the wheels in the cage - I'm definitely going to end up with two in my girl's section.  I've been curious to see how they fit proportionally.

Here's a question.  Can the add-on model function as a stand-alone cage?  I don't really care about the stand, and if the add-on is perfectly fine by itself, I'd rather save money and go with that.

Yes you can buy the add ons seperately. I guess you could sit it on something else if you wanted to.  :)

Alissa thank you and here are a few I took today. You can see what a good girl Tristina is going potty and making her person very happy.  ;)

One other thing if you don't like all cloth or your rats miss some nice fluffy Aspen chips you can try this in the bottom too. I put in a spare Martins pan. A few of mine really seem to miss their Aspen too or if you don't like blankets you can try this as well. Just another way okay.  :)


(http://www.lilratscal.com/Carolelinks/CageDemo.jpg)


(http://www.lilratscal.com/Carolelinks/Potty.jpg)


(http://www.lilratscal.com/Carolelinks/LitterPan.jpg)



(http://www.lilratscal.com/Carolelinks/LargeAspenPan.jpg)

That looks great lilratscal!  I picked up four of those blankets at the dollar store already, looks like they work well and I am going to have to go back and get many more!

What are you holding closed with safety pins?

I fold the corners of the blanket neatly underneath the tray, like doing a present,(or like folding a paper twice around the corner)  and pin each corner of the blanket edges tight so it is a nice snug fit. You can cut one blanket in half then you can do the same if you want to for the shelves.
The shelf holds them as too but I pin the edge near the cage side if needed. I use those big heavy duty safety pins.
  I might try velcrose too but lazy to sew.  ::)
  Lise I also bought some of those dollar rugs and put them on the bottom floor sometimes, a tray for their food dish because the spread it around picking out the best part first, the hammocks too and these were at dollarama.
  They seem to have the best things for rats.

Whoohooo.  Got my cage yesterday, put it together at about 2am yestrday and decorated it this afternoon.  The rats have been playing non-stop since I put them in it about 3 hours ago.  They looove it.  I even put Tevy back in with her old friends -- she has been living by herself for the past few months after they started picking on her.... but this cage has sooo much room with 5 rats in it that I think she can get away easily if they try to harass her.

I'm currently using fleece blankets from the dollar store for the full levels, and auto floor mats for the shelves. 
I also got my order from wonderrodent today -- what great timing!  It looks great in the new cage. 

The whole cage:

(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t139/CrazyRatLady/Ferret%20Nation/FerretNation013.jpg)

The top half:

(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t139/CrazyRatLady/Ferret%20Nation/FerretNation017.jpg)

The bottom half:

(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t139/CrazyRatLady/Ferret%20Nation/FerretNation019.jpg)

And when I was out buying litterboxes for the new cage, I found a small animal kong and decided to try it out.  I put a dog biscuit inside of it and I can already tell this will be a new favorite toy:

(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t139/CrazyRatLady/Ferret%20Nation/FerretNation022.jpg)

 :shocked2: Is that a red Silent Spinner? I love it! I can't find any that colour here.
The cage looks fantastic!! Did your girlies try to escape yet? Right now I'm using very small pans for their litter but I think I'll do like you and get the bigger ones, more room for poops.

The girls haven't made an escape attempt yet, but overnight for the next couple of nights I'm going to wheel the entire cage into the bathroom and close the bathroom door until I'm sure they don't want to come out and party. :cheeky: I have seen one girl put her head almost all of the way through. 

I got the Silent Spinner at Pet Valu, and the litter boxes are the medium sized ones from Pet Valu as well.  I'm so glad my Pet Valu here still doesn't sell any animals!

 :sad11: Bummer, I was afraid you were going to say Pet Valu. Both our Pet Valus here are selling feeders now.  >:(
I haven't gone in there since... :protest:

I bought a similar (cat) litter pan at walmart.  And red silent spinners at a local independant pet store ... so keep looking jorats - they are out there.  lol

Oh how I wish the bar spacing was small enough for ratlets! :'( I'd hate to buy a Martin's and then realize it sucks in comparison. Then I'd be stuck with two cages and $ out the window. Grrrr, what's a girl to do? :BlueDumboBigEyes:

The litter pan, I'll get at Walmart. Not sure about the Silent Spinner... it's not like I need one though. LOL

Alright, after having my Fn for nearly two months I'm finally posting pictures of it. I'll admit that up until yesterday I didn't know how to post picture (I'm an idiot I know :doh:). I'm also pretty satesfied with the way my FN looks at this point. I think I still need to add some hammies and other soft beds, but overall I like it.
(http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t103/cassie_cameron1985/100_1215.jpg)
(http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t103/cassie_cameron1985/100_1214.jpg)
(http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t103/cassie_cameron1985/100_1212.jpg)
(http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t103/cassie_cameron1985/100_1211.jpg)

I've now joined the FN club ;)  We got one on Tuesday, but weren't able to move anyone in until we added wire mesh. So at the moment I have one adult girl with her 6 babies  ;D They love the cage! It's amazing what a difference in floor space can make on the ratties attitudes. They keep running and playing until they are all exhausted then curl up on the top floor in one of the beds we put in  ;D

At the moment we have no fleece.. but here it is on our first day of having rats in the cage. (No escapes yet!)

With the wire mesh (Still have to clip off the cable ties)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27/Spatx/FN/DSCF2029.jpg)
Opened Up
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27/Spatx/FN/DSCF2008.jpg)
Bottom Floor
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27/Spatx/FN/DSCF2024.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27/Spatx/FN/DSCF2027.jpg)
Top Floor
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27/Spatx/FN/DSCF2030.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27/Spatx/FN/DSCF2031.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27/Spatx/FN/DSCF2033.jpg)

Spatx, I bet those babies are having a ball in that cage! I'm adding screening to my FN, not sure how it will hold up with the babies. I'll have to keep a close eye on them.

Spatx, how is the bedding on the bottom working for you?  Is it flying all over the place?

Only been a day so far and not much bedding outside the cage. I'll know in a week if the bedding stays in the cage or not  ::)

I just did a whole cleaning, and switched my boys.  Since they don't mix, I put the top guys on the bottom, and vice versa.  Here they are:

New top:
(http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w216/JR1030/FNSwitch1.jpg)

New bottom:
(http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w216/JR1030/FNSwitch2.jpg)

What gorgeous FNs!  Now I feel like mine is soooooo boring.  :P  I'll have to wait until I get their new Wonderodent cube and hammocks to take some nice renovation pics.  :)

Finally got some pictures today, after replacing the cage linens but before returning all their toys. I hoped to snap pictures before they started messing up the decor. Ha!

The Big Girls' Cage. That'e Eve worrying about when I'll fill her litter box, and the lump in the corner under the ladder is Jamie making a mess. In other words, business as usual. On the top level is a leopard print oven mitt that Eve simply adores, and the big white thing is a sterilized hunk of bone that makes a great chewie - and a nicely macabre addition to the hunting lodge theme. The pinkish thing Eve is standing on in the first picture is a broken chunk of brick they chew on from time to time.

(http://www.thenexusofweirdness.com/ratimages/FN1.JPG)
(http://www.thenexusofweirdness.com/ratimages/FN2.JPG)

Adam in the top half of the boys' cage. I have no idea why you can't see any evidence that he has a right eye. He does, I swear. That's a leopard print winter hat from Goodweill on the top level, in front of one of my old shirts that one removes from his cage at one's peril.
(http://www.thenexusofweirdness.com/ratimages/FN3.JPG)

Lucas and Zero going their separate ways in the bottom half. I have no idea where Toby is! The "Strawberry Twins" are running Lucas ragged, but in a good way.
(http://www.thenexusofweirdness.com/ratimages/FN4.JPG)

Good idea with the huge pan for the litter! I like that as a digging box too. Love the leopard hat too, very nice!

Everyone has such nice fleece liners! I only have dark navy blue right now  ::)  I really love the themes people put together, it looks so nice :D Okay... my task for today is to go find a source of fleece !

Spatx, you can find some nice fleece at the dollar store!

I've seen Ferret Nation Cages at a local petstore when I was up North and it was only $120 dollars. Not kidding. I'm really considering going there and getting one after the wedding..seeing the hubby thinks that spending that on rats is too much! PAH! You would think he would learn by now!
He also dosnt think they need a bigger cage seeing they have a huge play pen but whatever...I know what my ratties need! And besides...I want to color Cordinate my cage too! I keep 'Ohh' And 'Aww' ing over all thse cages!

I've never seen it there before... I'll have to take a look  :thumbsup2:  Sadly all the dollar stores within walking distance have shut down in the past few weeks, so I'm going to have to wait until I can get a ride. Now only if the rats would be litter trained faster  ::)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27/Spatx/FN/2.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27/Spatx/FN/1.jpg)

So I finally moved into my new apartment and set up my FN!  Woo hoo!  It's still a work in progress, and it's definitely in the testing stage to see what works and what doesn't.

Boys:
They love the corner shelf that has the yellow boa on it - it's their favorite place to sleep, other than the ship.  They can't stand the bamboo placemat, so that's going to come out and be replaced with a fabric hammock.
One of the boys loves to drink from the water bottle while hanging out of the ship.  That's what he's doing in one photo.
For those who saw my thread with the gigantic wheel, it's not in there b/c I need more washers for it to snugly attach to the wide bars.  Once I get more washers, it's going in the boy's cage, and their wire wheel is going in the girls so that they'll have two.
(http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s262/a1issa/IMG_0063.jpg)
(http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s262/a1issa/IMG_0065.jpg)

Girls:
You can't see it very well, but there's a homemade shelf that goes all the way along the back top, and comes around to the front in one spot.  It's covered with linoleum, and the shelf was made from a refrigerator shelf, the side of a corner shelf unit (two of the shelves are wired to the front of the cage to prevent escapes), and a locker shelf.  They're wired on with zip ties.  Also, where you can't see (behind the hanging fabric thing) they have another corner shelf, and a plastic football that's kinda like a hamster ball.
(http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s262/a1issa/IMG_0064.jpg)
(http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s262/a1issa/IMG_0066.jpg)

Finally got some pics of the girls FN.  The bottom's a little bare because I hadn't made their usual "maze" out of spare boxes that goes down there. 


Here's the top with Lucy, the Masked Dumbo, Midnight, the gray girlie, and Sug, the black hooded girl.
(http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b87/lauramcconnell/100_3229.jpg)

And the bottom being modeled by Jack.  Yep, she's a girl, she's called Jack because she looks (and acts) like a little jack rabbit...
(http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b87/lauramcconnell/100_3231.jpg)

Ooh, I love the placemat (?) on the side.  Do they use that to climb up?

Yes, Midnight, Sug and Celie all use it for climbing and Blackberry chews on it...

Here's the whole thing:
(http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l27/devadair/FN6.jpg)
Thanks to the people on this forum for some great decorating ideas.  :balloon:

The top:
(http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l27/devadair/FN2.jpg)

And the bottom:
(http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l27/devadair/FN3.jpg)

alissa,

you already love that new FN don't you?!?!?!  They are the best.  I love the versatility of the FN especially if you have lots of zip ties and hooks!!  they are the best!!

Very nice!

Alissa, what a good idea putting those corner shelves? on the door, it's to deter them from escaping? I also love that ship!

Strangeduck, wow! What a beautiful cage display. I love the colours and great idea with that bamboo mat. I saw them a couple of days ago in the dollar store and tried to think real hard what I could use them for. Now I know!

Madhatter, I love your colour choices, very calming. And as it turns out, greens and blues are the colours the rats can actually see. Very nice!

Beautiful, FUN FNs!!!!!  :thumbsup2: I need to start saving for one! My girls' current cage just isn't big enough for all the stuff I want to cram in there.

strangeduck, your cage is so pretty, I love the color scheme and the idea of using the bamboo mat as something for them to climb on.  But I have a question...in your first picture, on the right hand corner, what is it that looks straaaaangly like a pile of poop  :shocked2:  :yelcutelaugh:  :heart:

I'm going to guess it's a rock under the water bottle to help with sharp nails?  Or else a rather large dog had been visiting the cage. :yelcutelaugh:

Yes, it's a rock that my girls use to hone their nails to needle sharp precision :BlueDumboSmileTongue:

Yep, I'm in love!!  It's so versatile!


It helped with escapes... until last night.  One of the girls (usually a free-ranger) hopped out and came to visit me in my bed.  Then another figured it out, too, and she's escaped several times since.  They've been wiggling out where my custom shelf meets the top of the door.  So today I'm headed to the hardware store to buy some screen.

Yeah, hanging the bamboo mat like that's a good idea- mine won't sleep in it as a hammock, so I was going to try your method.  Glad to hear they actually use it!

Here's something else I wanted to share:  I purchased a piece of curved gutter-guard from the local home supply store, and sawed it down to size.  Then I zip-tied it to the edges of the hole in the floor.  I keep a piece of linoleum over it to prevent pee-waterfalls, poo-rain, and general meet & greets between the boys & girls.

(I had to turn the pan so that the holes in pan & floor matched up, because I needed the space in the other corner.  If you don't have them match up, this probably isn't necessary.  But I don't want to take chances!)

(http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s262/a1issa/GutterGuard.jpg)

Hee hee.  My new boys are messy, so I thought I'd encourage them to be cleaner.

So...

Rubadubdub, boys!

(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a192/ForensicVette/Rats/rats-FNduckies.jpg)
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a192/ForensicVette/Rats/rats-duckies.jpg)

Hee hee.  So far... so good.

(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a192/ForensicVette/Rats/rats-jackhappy.jpg)

My first attempt at making my own fleece liners.  Not to bad.  And they're STILL IN PLACE!   :shocked2:

We'll see how long that lasts!  I'm sure Perry's having a hissy fit as I type!

Eeeeee, duckies!  I love it!

Aww, the ducky print is really cute! I'm in love with my FN now  :heart:  It's soooo easy to clean. My only problems are that

a) The babies are chewing everything  (Including pans and zip ties that hold on the wire mesh)
b) The babies could care less where they go to the bathroom.

Hopefully when they get older they will stop being such little monsters  ::)  They sure are entertaining to watch though, they zip around the entire cage playing with each other. They also love to jump on their mom and wrestle with her, but she doesn't think it's fun  ::) 

Lining the cage with fleece is actually turning out better than I had thought it would. It makes it easy to clean, I just swapped the fleece last night, took some stuff out and rinsed it off. Was quick and painless!

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27/Spatx/FN/pink1.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27/Spatx/FN/pink2.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27/Spatx/FN/pink3.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27/Spatx/FN/pink4.jpg)

Oh wow the duckies!!! That looks soooo fantastic!

Spatx, you've really done up that cage good. Those girls must be having a ball!!

Just a note for anyone that is keeping the top and bottom portions separate.  Chin-chillers (http://www.chinworld.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=CW110009&Category_Code=CW11) fit perfectly over the opening where the ladder goes, and they offer a cool sleeping place for when it's warm, too.  Slide the chin-chiller under the lip of the pan and viola, perfect fit!

So I noticed a few tiny ants in the ratroom over the last few days, upon closer examination, there were more than a few and I freaked out.  :eek:  So I moved the entire gang into the livingroom and dining room so hubby can take care of the ants.  Anyway, since I had to redo everything I got some pictures of the cages.  I am down to two boys in the one cage (left side) and one girl in the right side  :( Here are the pics...  Buddy the rat and Booboo the gerbil live in the large rabbit cage in the dining room.  You can see it in the first picture.   :)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/ratsamuck/6270710.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/ratsamuck/062707.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/ratsamuck/0627071.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/ratsamuck/0627075.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/ratsamuck/0627073.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/ratsamuck/0627076.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/ratsamuck/0627077.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/ratsamuck/06270710.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/ratsamuck/0627078.jpg)

Wow, fantastic cages!  Do you ever get GGMR?

I have had so many losses in the last few months, mostly due to old age.  When they are gone I will wait, regroup and restock, lol.  But for now I am just trying to take it all in and enjoy my babies and the time we have left.  Eventually I will hook both cages together and just have one group of rats if I can.  Thanks for the compliment.  :heart:

Sorry about your losses.  I'm afraid of what will happen when my boys get old...they're all about the same age.  :-\

Wow, absolutely AMAZING cages.  But I have one question...


They don't live together, I hope!  :confused:

Yes, they do.  I have several previous threads about them if you are interested.  Wasn't my doing but they were bonded when I adopted them and I didn't see a good reason to seperate them.  I personally would never intentionally put a rat and gerbil together, not only because they are predator/prey but it makes it very difficult to accomodate them both cagewise since they have different needs!   ;)

Ratsamoungus, i tried searching for your threads on your rat and gerbil but no luck, ot a link for me. i'm curious and bored. LOL

I broke down and set up the FN that has been sitting in the box downstairs since April lol-- I was waiting to do intros but with a death and a few injuries(not intro related) it never seems like the right time. I split it into two for now ---
Top half
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v602/RNPaulie/100_6310.jpg)
bottom half
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v602/RNPaulie/100_6311.jpg)
please excuse the princess fabric- the colors were perfect and since all my boys are neutered they don't care :)

RNPaulie, are you using the pans that come with the FN for the bottom or something else?  I can't see the lip around the edges in those pictures..

RNPaulie, I love how even the binder clips are color-coordinated. :D  The cage looks great!

Those aren't the pans-- I hate them with a passion, they are too flimsy.(esp for my boys who are BIG boys) I wanted something more solid for them to walk on. My husband went to Home Depot and bought two sheets of plexiglass and cut them to the size of the pans and I made pillowcase liners to slide over them. Love it!!

there wasn't enough pink, green and white and I had to use a few blue and orange which is driving me nuts- will get some more to match lol... The green cubes were made by Astrid for my other boys cage but I didn't make enough hammocks for this one so I "borrowed" them until I send Astrid some fabric to make me matching ones haha (no, I am not OCD-- just like my cages to match)

That's a really good idea with the pans... especially since some of mine are getting eaten to bits. lol

That is a good idea for the pans! Mine are getting chewed to bits as well, and I only really need a floor cover. I'll have to get the dimensions and make a trip to home depot later in the week. I'd like to save the pans before they are destroyed, so hopefully I can try something like plexiglass as well.  :thumbsup2:

Just so everyone knows, we needed two sheets of plexiglass -- and they are $30 each!!! (worth it to me but a bit steep)

I have plexiglass on the bottom of my FN under my pans to help catch some of the stuff (poo, bedding, and food) that squeezes between the pan and side of the cage.  The plexiglass I have is not as thick as RN's but it was also much cheaper at a hardware store (ACE).  Was also cut to size which i would think home depot would do also.

Here's mine  ;D

(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c51/diffuse01/Cages/FN.jpg)

Have no idea why this one turned out dark, oh well.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c51/diffuse01/Cages/FN1.jpg)

Top level (with my custom Kat Mats and Dearpie stuff =])
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c51/diffuse01/Cages/FN3.jpg)

Bottom level (with more Dearpie stuff, and a Wonderrodent cube)
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c51/diffuse01/Cages/FN2.jpg)

Your color scheme looks great!  :balloon:

diffuse01, I like how you have the wheel way at the back. It seems to give it more room that way. Very nice setup!

Thanks =] I had actually just put the Silent Spinner in there.. they had been using a Wodent Wheel but I wanted to try the SS.. took them a few days to figure out that *gasp* it moved!

Did you buy extra levels?  :poke:

It looks great! :)

Yes, I bought two extra shelves and ramps- the youngest boy in the cage is 17 months and the oldest is two weeks from his second birthday. I felt that the one shelf and ramp was a bit steep- I have one boy who has a slight permanent head tilt and didn't want him or the others getting hurt or falling down such a steep incline.(we have had a few injuries lately-from getting knocked off ramps and such all trying to be first in line for treats)

So, I decided after my older rat Pomodoro was falling 5 feet down in my big boy cage, that I would buy a one level FN.  He has moved in with a harem of beautiful ladies (no worries, he's neutered!), and is loving it! I no longer have to worry about him falling so far and I like how easily this cage cleans. 

Here are two of my set ups:
(http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6RKKt%3AxxWtUq4PJ-ofrj%3DQofrj7t%3DzrRfDUX%3AeQaQxg%3Dr%3F87KR6xqpxQQo0xQoPxQaexv8uOc5xQQQ0nnGleJnJoqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPeJ%7CRup6G0a%7C/of=50,590,396)

(http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6RKKt%3AxxWtUq4P0-ofrj%3DQofrj7t%3DzrRfDUX%3AeQaQxg%3Dr%3F87KR6xqpxQQo0xQoPxQaexv8uOc5xQQQ0nnGleJnJ0qpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPe0%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442)

I finally caved and bought a FN.  ;D Mine's not as creative or fantastic as many of your guys' cages, but's it's my first time decorating it and I need to go on a shopping spree to fill it up.  :cheeky:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v224/blackthorn45/7-10-07/Picture004Small.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v224/blackthorn45/7-10-07/Picture007Small.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v224/blackthorn45/7-10-07/Picture005Small.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v224/blackthorn45/7-10-07/Picture036Small.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v224/blackthorn45/7-10-07/Picture026Small.jpg)

Blackthorn - Where did you get your litter pans? I like them  :)

I bought them at Pet Supplies Plus.. they were quite pricey - close to $10 each - but they're nifty. :)

I still can't believe those litter boxes cost nearly $10 each!  ::)

i paid 12.00 for my corner pan :o.... but we only have one petstore here so they are realllly expensive.  (my solution: i have fallen in love with the internet lol)

i wish those hangy toys made for parrots wern't so expensive..do the rats even like them? ???

you can buy the smaller versions of the bird toys at target for less than $2 and see if your rats like them....mine do like some.

Hi everybody!

My rats spent the first night in their FN last night. They spent the whole night pulling up everything and trying to get out :( I think they may miss the old *small* cage and sitting in shavings. Hopefully they will come to realize that this cage is better  ;)

Here a picture of it so far... it is quite sparse right now because I'm a little low on funds right now to get everything I want to get.

(http://www.goosemoose.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/21971/DSCF1117.jpg)

I know white feece is a bad idea but feece is little hard to find this time of year at walmart  :yelcutelaugh:

 Target is American tho isn't it

Target is American, yes.

All bird toys from Target, at least that I've come across, are just stringy rope with raw hide  :P  I bought a couple for my rats just to see what they'd do, and they had them ripped down and shredded in seconds.

It's also Australian. :)

Got my Dearpie hammocks and Wonderrodent cube orders in.  Yay!  I put some in Frank and Spacey's half of the FN last night.  I'll do Munchkin's half tonight. 

(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h310/frostywolf1212/Rats/July%2019%202007/FN1.jpg)

I don't think these two will even attempt to get into the corner hammock.  They are both older rats, neither one climbs anymore.  But hey, if they don't use it, it can just stay hanging there since it won't get dirty.

Same thing happens with my corner hammocks. Haha! What is the yellow thing in there? Looks like a neat hidey-house!

Those igloos are great! You can get them at a few online stores. Try here: http://www.kimsarkrescue.org/content/view/38 Kim's Ark is a rescue, so I believe part of the profits from the online store go towards helping rescue rats.

Yup, I got four of those igloos from the Ark.  I gave one to a friend, and never should have because all my rats like that style the best.  They like them much more than the SuperPet igloo (the purple one).  Very easy clean, too.

I put some new hammocks and a cube into Munchkin's half of the FN tonight.

Munchkin's half
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h310/frostywolf1212/Rats/July%2019%202007/FN002.jpg)

The whole FN
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h310/frostywolf1212/Rats/July%2019%202007/FN001.jpg)

So, I decided to join this elite (hehe) FN club and bought my FN from Petsmart a couple weeks ago. They pricematched with Ferret.com. Yay!!!! I finally convinced the roommate to stay home for an evening a couple days ago and help me set up the cage and then last night I finally got to decorating and put my kids in their new home! I was happy that they were all still there in the morning. *phew* I only worried about my little nakey girl, Dilly, since she's the youngest. But so far she seems way more interested in her digging box and biting the cat's nose than she is about getting out. Yay!She is the kiddo in the first picture getting ready to jump from the top shelf directly into the hidey house hole. Silly girl. For those of you keeping up with the Ojai rescue kids, you can see Cian (his name was Lyle) in the 1st pic stretching up tall and in the 2nd pic waddling towards the food bowl. :) Evie (her name was Moet) can be seen in the 2nd pic atop the wooded hidey house, and 4th picture busy pretending to ignore the cat. She's really plotting and waiting for a kitteh paw to creep into the cage. :)

The whole FN. It's hard to believe from this picture, but I really do have all 7 kids in there. The other 3 are exploring somewhere in there.
(http://x53.xanga.com/c7f8260473028137230363/m100751816.jpg)


Top half.
(http://xee.xanga.com/f868230173028137230381/m100751833.jpg)


Bottom half. The weird coconut/beady thing is a bird toy that they love to rip apart. Gives them something to destroy aside from my linens. :)
(http://x26.xanga.com/b7183b3a73038137230390/m100751841.jpg)

Izzy the cat hoping someone will come out and play. She's real brave and is all about sticking her paws in there until one of the rats actually sees her and gallops over. Then she's a real big chicken. BTW, the berky girl staring at her is my rat Izzy. She's also my biter. We'll see how long Izzy the cat's paws/nose stay intact with the new cage.
(http://xa9.xanga.com/ae4d7bf340331137230416/m100751858.jpg)

Izzy, thinking this new cage is the best thing since sliced bread. Way better than TV.
(http://x8c.xanga.com/9358343bd0668137230402/m100751848.jpg)

Josie..."Fank yoo momma for da new digs!!! I wuv yoos!"
(http://x13.xanga.com/b72d74ea20d31137230425/m100751865.jpg)

I know it still looks a little bare, but I'm still trying to find the best way to get all the good stuff in there. I'll take any decorating tips you can dish out!!!! Oh! And I have my ramps covered with sweatshirt sleeves/material. They seem to like it. I'm sure I'm going to come home tonight to bare ramps and chewed up sweatshirts, but I'm willing to make that sacrifice. :)

Thank you for all the inspiration!  I really, really want a FN, but I'm still holding out hope on the Rat Nation.  I eMailed Midwest again today and pointed them in the direction of RR so they could see for themselves the demand.  I got a nice eMail back saying they haven't decided whether or not to manufacture RN, but at least it wasn't the flat out no I got the last time.  It wouldn't hurt for them to get a few more eMails.

It took me 6 hours to clean today since I was so lazy and kept taking breaks  :P  I still need to pick up my room, but at least all the pets are clean! 

For some reason, I've really gotten back into sewing this past week.  I've sewn about 30 new hammocks for my rats and mice, with more soon to come!  So most of the hammocks in these pictures are brand spankin' new  :D  It'll hurt my soul when I find holes in them  :P  I really hope that the addition of Maddie and Faroe doesn't send my rats into a scent-marking spree.

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/petlove0/Rats/July%202007/July26044.jpg)

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/petlove0/Rats/July%202007/July26011.jpg)

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/petlove0/Rats/July%202007/July26031.jpg)

Sweet Russia in the Waffle Block house.

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/petlove0/Rats/July%202007/russiahouse.jpg)

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/petlove0/Rats/July%202007/July26030.jpg)

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/petlove0/Rats/July%202007/July26053.jpg)

Maddie  :heart:

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/petlove0/Rats/July%202007/July26013.jpg)

I wish I had gotten more of this fabric  :P

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/petlove0/Rats/July%202007/July26048.jpg)

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/petlove0/Rats/July%202007/July26054.jpg)

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/petlove0/Rats/July%202007/July26033.jpg)

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/petlove0/Rats/July%202007/July26035.jpg)

One of my favorite new hammies!  I love this fabric.

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/petlove0/Rats/July%202007/July26039.jpg)

This is a "pillow" I made by stuffing it with a whole bunch of random fabric/fleece scraps I found around my sewing table  :)  I will die happy if I find one of the ratties sleeping on it.

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/petlove0/Rats/July%202007/July26037.jpg)

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/petlove0/Rats/July%202007/July26036.jpg)

Oh, and just for fun, this picture's from a few days ago.  It shows all the ratties (sans Maddie & Faroe) at dinnertime  :)  Don't you just love how your rats have to fling their dinner (especially veggies) all over the place?

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u19/petlove0/Rats/July%202007/alleleven.jpg)

Since both Madeline and Faroe love running on the wheel, I'll be picking up a couple Silent Spinners soon.  I just hate how expensive they are!

i love your cages everyone... i wish i could get a FN sooo badly (if only shipping was semi-reasonable to AK ::)). Hopefully ill be getting a Martins r-695 in for my birthday in october. I  bet you'll never guess where my decorating ideas will come from  ;D

SoA, impressive, as usual!  I need to grab some fleece scraps and make some pillows and braids for my guys.  Thanks for the great ideas!

SOA,
What kind of rent do you charge in that sort of thing.  Can I move in?  Ha Ha Ha :yelcutelaugh:

Oh, no, no, no!  You have to get on the waiting list, like everyone else! :cheeky: