Goosemoose Pet Portal

The idea even makes me do this --->  :o

I currently have 1 double level FN and love it so very very much; my 2 rattie boys that live in it. Now I am going to be buying 2 more double levels to create the ultimate guinea pig cage!

The question I have: IF I did do this, I would have to give the pigs the entire bottom level (25in x 108in) and the rats would get the entire upper level (25in x 108in). Is a long cage worse than a tall cage?

I also have to make sure it would fit in my room!  :wink5:

Either way.. Im excited about getting my two new cages!  :hyper:

I think there's a few ppl on here that have two double FNs put together and just that takes up alot of space. I hope you have a big room.

As far as the height thing I don't think it'd be too much of an issue unless you have acrobats that really like clinging to the walls.

If you have the 9 feet to put it together - I'd go for it.  My males tend to be more single level active, my girls tend to be more multi level active.  But, it depends on your boys.

The thing is tho that WOW, that's enough room for 18 rats really, which seems like a lot of room for 2 boys.

I just measured my room. It would fit.. but I would have to take off my door.  :BlueDumboSmileTongue:'

I am debating. Either leave the boys in their double level ferret nation (in the hallway) or take off my door and make a huge monster cage.  ::)

Perhaps I will just make the Double Double FN for the piggers and then add the Ratties one later on. Im not sure.

Woot, I found someone to take the old cage!

I am going to stop by pet-no-so-smart tonight to see if they have it in stock. I still have giftcards left from evil family members who KNOW I don't shop there. Ah well, at least I can put them to good use.

*runs to print off ferret.com page*

I've used a cloth wall hanging or sheets for a door for years.  Still have your privacy, but be able to have your large cage.

Pink

Is there a reason your door has to come off? I don't really understand why it would make a difference if the cage is -in- your room.

They didn't have any but I called a farther-away one when I got home and had them put two on hold. Ill go and get them tomorrow.

If I just do the double-pigger one and leave the ratties where they are, I won't have to do anything with the door. If I attach all three.. it fits on one wall but will semi-intercect with the door way. Let me see if I can make an example image..

ETA:

Here is how it would look (aprox) with two of the FN's

(http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d96/princessfionachanel/Cages/room2.jpg)

Green=Window
Blue=Closet
The door opens inward..

I personally dislike long cages only for rats, as they love to climb high.

Yeah, I was thinking that. For now I am just going to grab the double FN's and set those up seperate from the one I already have. I might add the 3rd, in the future. I just remembered I would have to baby proof the entire upper level of the 3 double wides if I were to connect them.  :eek: Unfortunatly I have small boys who are still able to get through 1in bars  :P

Why not just get single lever than for the piggies. so that was you are useing all the space.

Oh, they are going to be able to go up to both levels :) I have a piggie-proofing plan all ready to be put into action (yay for left-over coroplast).

Technically it will be the bottom 25in x 72in. Then I will have the middle 2 shelves making a 25in x 36in platform. Then another 25in x 72in and another 25in x 36in.

Can't you put them on top of one another too and build them higher instead of longer?

Nope, guinea pigs need loads of floorspace. I have 4 pigs and will be pushing the minimum requirements even just having 25in x 72in as a 'base'.

I am drawing up an example of what it will look like when im finished  :hyper: We are going to go after my final (my finals at 5) to get them.

Tada:

(http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d96/princessfionachanel/Cages/doubleFn.jpg)

woah man just woah..that is just sic  :shocked2: . I LOVE IT> ....how you do the drawing? that is sweet

Thank you, im excited. Can't wait to see the real thing.

I used a free program called google sketch-up.

We are leaving now to get the cages! Expect loads of pics!  :hyper:

 :thumbsup2: That's gonna be an awesome GP cage, Wicked; be sure to post pictures once you have it all put together!

Can your piggies fit through the hole in the two sections? My two girls - who are full grown - wouldn't be able to. I am glad to see it looks like you'll be making sure the pigs can't walk off levels, but what about the ramps? Will you be converting them to piggie-safe ramps? Also, will they be able to get up them? I hope the shelving in the FN will hold the piggies well... I know when my girls popcorn, they wouldn't be too secure on an FN shelf!

I'd never thought of using an FN for cavies. I much prefer their C&C cage, especially since I can modify it anytime. :) But if it works, that'd be interesting.

I'm looking at my piggie's cage (2x4 grids - 30"x50") & my FN and not seeing that a double FN will really big big enough for 4 (since with piggies, it's the full level that counts, all other levels are just bonuses). Ahh, I see above that you said it wasn't big enough (since 4 should have 30"x76"). I hope your piggies get along and LOTS of "out time"! :puppy_dog_eyes:

I hope it works out for you, though. :wave2:

They do get along well. Currently they are housed in a 3x5 alternative C&C cage but no worries- its going to be plenty pig-proof.

If nothing else, I can separate them- 2 in the top, 2 in the bottom.

Cool - Can't wait for the photos when all is said and done. Though, we do love in-progress photos, too!

I managed to get one of the cages put together..

(http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d96/princessfionachanel/Cages/DoubleFN003.jpg)

Nothing special about it, yet. It took me a few hours to get it together. I couldn't convince anyone to help me and I was being griped at the entire time.

1 down, 1 to go.

I swear I am going to cry when I have to saw off the middle parts..

wow wicked after i used that program you must me TALENTED to do that. I did finally get my room on there though  :)

Is there no way to just remove the side panels and zip tie to to cages together? It seems like that would be better then cutting the cage....

For some reason, I didn't know that FN shelves went all the way across the cage. I thought they were just in the corner, lol.

I had a friend (~Fala~ on here) suggest trying to take off the side pannels rather than cut it. Im really not sure- I am pretty worried about it being unstable that way. However, I am going to try putting together the 2nd one tonight without the pannels. If it works I will redo the 1st.

Oh and thanks ratman :) I have been working with the program for a while trying to figure it out. I finally managed to it to do what I want.  :thumbsup2:

 :bow: i'm not worthy i'm not worthy............well anyway minimuffin you relize the "shelves only go across half..but since he will have 4 shelfs he will just use 2 and 2 that way they do go across one whole cage. If you look close to wicked's awesome pic you will see thin lines running were the shelves will begin and end. *stay cool*  :icon_rr:

Oh yeah, I noticed that, but I didn't think that each shelf actually touched the front of the cage, in pictures of the cages with doors open it always looked like they ended before the front for some reason. I see that they don't though.

Blah- Im stuck here (work) for 4 more hours and then I get to go home and build my cage  :hyper:

I really want to have it finished by my birthday (tomorrow).

It's a little wobbly at first - but once you get them attached together, they are sturdy.  BTDT.

2.5hrs left.  :o

I really hope it will be ok with no side pannel- I don't want to kill my pretty, new FN's.

may the piggie gods be with you  :BlueDumboSmile:

1hr 3mins. Im going crazy waiting.

Unfortunatly my grandfather refuses to cut the sides tonight so I have to wait until the morning. I couldn't even guilt-trip him with the: "But graaannndppa.. its going to my birthday tomorrow".

So.. its put together but still needs to be cut and bolted together.

Currently:

(http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d96/princessfionachanel/Cages/DoubleFN007.jpg)

ETA:

I can't just not add the sides- I wont be able to add the shelves.

Is there no other way to secure the shelves up? Secure on the front and back and just not use those two doors? I would never be able to cut apart a cage...

Another member here used to have a double FN (Scubbs I think), and I don't think she cut hers in order to put it together.

She did, actually- I saw the pictures. My Grandpa said he can saw it so that we can put it back together- if need be, in the future. It wont be as perfect but still useable (seperate or together).

If there was another way, I would do it. Honestly I would much rather have the sides sawed off then not be able to use the doors. That was one of the main reasons I got the cage!

I'm not sure how he intends to saw it... the wire panels are attached in 2-3 places on each side of the wire, which is a good thing, but in order to get at those places, you'd have to somehow widen the amount of space between the frame and the wire.  It'd be neat if he could find a way around that, but I doubt he'll be able to.  But, who knows, maybe I'm wrong!  Either way, at least with the remaining sides from both FNs, you have the ability to scale down to one FN in the future, like I have.

I have no idea what he is going to do.. honestly. He said he could do it so we could put it together again (cable ties).. Im not sure.

Anyway.. If nothing else I could just use mesh to create the missing side. I know I will eventually want to use these cages for loads of ratties in my own rescue. Years and Years from now, probably.

Yeah, that was my thought originally too.  Just saw off the connections, keep the wire panels to connect with zip ties later.  That didn't work out as planned...

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

:P

lmao, yeah, I saw that. Couldn't find the saw, right?

I got this entire idea based off your thread.  :bow: Thank you!

30mins until its officially my birthday. I should be sleeping. Oh well.

This is me -->  :hyper:

I am planning on doing this in a few months but using three fn for my ferrets

 :party: Happy Birthday, Wickedrodent! :party:  Any new cage progress?

Thank you!

My grandfather sawed off the sides but we don't have the bolts needed to secure them together. We are going to get them tomorrow. I might set it up and take pictures, just beacuse I really really want to see what it will look like finished..  :cheeky:

That looks like quite a project! It will be awesome when it's done!

It's amazing how versatile FNs are. I've seen they work well for chinchillas too.

Here is what I have so far..

(http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d96/princessfionachanel/Cages/DoubleFn018.jpg)

The ramps are proving problematic. The 2 sets of ramps leading up from the main levels to the mini-levels are going to be fine, I think. I am not sure about the one in the middle.. I might have to figure out another way to do it or separate my herd into 2 groups.

 :thumbsup2: :thumbsup2:  Looking good, Wickedrodent! :thumbsup2: :thumbsup2:  My piggies are seriously jealous now...and are eyeing my ratties FN with much deviousness!  :yelcutelaugh:

 :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: OMG WICKED IT IS>>WICKED!             I love that thing. Would it be a bad thing to seperate them into 2 herds? and whats so problematic about the ramps maybe we can help.

Thanks guys!  :BlueDumboSmile:

The problem with the middle ramp is the way the entire thing is placed in the cage. The piggies have backs that are totally different than ratties and it makes it hard for them to swing their bodies around to go down a ramp.

Im thinking about making a mini-mini-shelf RIGHT under that top main level so they can *hopefully* hop up and down and then go down the ramp. Maybe.

Alright.. im off to go buy bolts, ill be back with new pictures later!

Sorry to bring this up again, but how exactly do the shelves attach? I still don't see why the sides needed to be cut rather then left off...

It looks really great so far!

That looks amazing! I can't wait to see it with the piggies in it. I don't have any suggestions about that ramp though..

Im FINISHED!!!!

(http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d96/princessfionachanel/Cages/finisheddoublefn006.jpg)

No bolts. Me being the impatient person that I am: I decided not to wait another day.. or week.. for my grandfather to go buy the bolts and attach it. It works fine this way. I have the wheels locked- Its not going anywhere.

For now my herd is in 2 groups. Daphne and Delilah are on top; Divinci and Donet are on the bottom. I tried to color/separate.. I was going for a pink theme on top and purple on the bottom. :)

I love it!  Very nicely done  :)

Psst, zip ties work also :)

lol, yeah. Unfortunatly, I am out of those as well. I ended up using twisty ties and a ribbon to attach the barrier and side to the ramps. So far its working..

Update on Ramps: Daphne (top level) has been going up and down fine, So has Do (bottom level). Delilah will go down the ramps, Im not sure about up, yet. Divinci will probably never go up or down, hes a lazy boy.  :P

Mini: Sorry, didn't see your question until now. The main framework (side) has three holes on each side. The levels have hooks that they attach into. I will try and get a picture later.

That's so cool!  What happy piggies they must be! 

And,  :balloon:  :balloon:  :party: Happy Belated Birthday  :party:  :balloon:  :balloon:

Awesome! :thumbsup2: Looks like piggie paradise.