BUILT NEW CAGE

[SHEILA1]

i spent my whole saturday turning an old china cabinet into a new rattie mansion, when we got our first she seemed content in the cage we got for her but then we got squeaker. and he is a rambunctious little thing, so i drilled wholes in the back for ventilation and replaced the glass in the door with coted wire. i drilled large doornob sized wholes in the top shelf and added wire ladders to the bottom. should i put the bedding that i use in the bottom of the first cage or just where they decide to sleep. are there any concerns i should have for having this kind of cage.

[Carolyn]

Can we see pictures? I just love seeing other people's homemade cages!

[SHEILA1]

I will post pics this afternoon.

[Lise]

Your male and female should be separated, they shouldn't be living together.  Or soon your two rats can quickly turn into two hundred rats....

[SHEILA1]

my plan for today is to build two dividers for the top and bottom made out of the wire used for the doors. i do not really want a whole litter but maybe just one or two more, its so fun watching them play!!

[fearlessella]

If that is all that is separating them is wire that is NOT going to stop them from creating more babies.  Before you put them that close together I would consider neutering Squeaker.  Then you still have to wait at least a few weeks.  Also, even if you only want a "few more" rats.  Your 2 are more likely to create at least 12 babies at a time.

[SHEILA1]

so a solid barrier would be better until he is fixed?  i havent found a vet that works with rats in my area so i will have to travel a little ways for the surgery. if its not too late!  i could put him back in the smaller cage until then, he is small.

[mandycoot]

Definitely put him back in the smaller cage until a solid barrier is up! You may have to travel a ways for the surgery--I traveled over an hour for my three spays. Try calling around to all the vets in the phone book in your area, and if they don't see rats often, ask for recommendations of a clinic that does.

Just to clarify, have they been put together already?

[SHEILA1]

they have been together for 1 week. when i got him the man at the pet store said he was 1 week past weening.

[SHEILA1]

i feel like such a dunce. i can not figure out how to post a picture for you to see the cage that i built, they are in the photo gallery if you want to see it. from the pictures that i have looked at on this site it seems that my cage is a little untiddy i think i need to take out some of the bedding. i need some advice.

[VegetarianPetLuvR]

Your girl is most likely pregnant then Separate them right away, please, and do start reading to prepare for her pregnancy. Please do not let them together again until several weeks after your boy's neuter. So many rats are homeless, there is no need to make more.

[SHEILA1]

i have seperated them and am hoping that i dont end up with more than i want. i will keep them all if i have to. i did do some research when i brought him home but i didnt know he was a male until recently. just so im rite about this, the testicles show at around four or five weeks rite?

[BaraLahatiel]

Most people who use those types of cages don't use that kind of bedding lol Fleece would be a good idea. Did you seal the wood against pee and so on? If not it is going to start stinking.

I'm glad you seperated them. I hope she's not already pregnant. You could have a Lot of babies on your hands if she is. The usual rule of thumb is for a male to remain seperate for at least 3 weeks after his nueter, if not 4 to be safe.

From the looks of the cabinet, you could add some levels in each section to give them more space and make the ladders less steep. Just a suggestion

And to post your picture, look at the icons above when you are writing your post. After the Message Icon section is where those are located. On my computer the icon you want is in the second row, second from the left. When you put your cursor over it "Insert Image" pops up. It'll being up the forum code and you put the pics url in it.

[SHEILA1]

what is a good sealer to use that wont harm them, i have already done enough damage.

[lindsay-poo]

If you can't clearly see obvious testicles then look for nipples. Females have them and the boys do not.

[Scubbs]

If you can't clearly see obvious testicles then look for nipples. Females have them and the boys do not.

 

Okay, so, I'm immature 

[SHEILA1]

  Thats okay poke fun im new at this. he was just so little when we got him that i couldnt tell at first but i can definetly tell now thanx

[BaraLahatiel]

Well, you can't use melamite coated wood obvoously since it's already built lol but a good non-toxic water based paint would probably seal it up pretty good. You could even use adhesive contact sheeting as well. If you go through the posts here and the cage decorating post, you'll find a lot of the cages are painted every now and then to spice things up for the ratties. The sky's the limit as they say. And linoleum for floors works too, though it might get chewed.