I've been keeping an eye out on Craigslist for quite a while, as well as looking just about everywhere else. Well, this weekend I responded to about 5 ads on CL. One wrote back. It was for a large birdcage. The guy was asking a little more than I wanted to pay, but since I haven't seen anything else I decided to go for it.

So here it is, and these are his pics:



It's going to need a couple mods. Where the tray pulls out there's a gap that I'm sure the guys can get through, but it shouldn't be too hard to fix. Plus, I need to paint a few spots. I'll also be working on adding levels and all that next week.

Very nice!  I hope you'll post pictures when you've gotten it all decorated.  Lucky ratties!

Thanks! It's slightly bigger than a 695... though in person, I don't know if it's an optical illusion or something, but it doesn't look that big. I had to measure it about 6 times to make sure! lol... I ended up paying $100. I tried to get it for less, but the guy was firm on his price because it was his parents' cage.

So here's what I did on Day 1. I cut the hardware cloth for the levels and ramps, and arranged them in the cage with twist ties the way they'll go when it's all finished. I had to take out the feeder doors firs though. They were getting in my way while I was putting the wire in.


3/4 upper level and ramp.


Full Middle Level


Bottom Half Floor


All of it together


Wire under the tray

I put all the hardware cloth under some heavy boxes to flatten it out. I still have to file down the sharp edges of the hardware cloth, and it'll be painted (as will the whole cage) before it's put in. Tomorrow I'll be filing down the edges and cleaning the whole cage. My dad will be home tomorrow too, so he could help me out. I may start painting as well.

i guess i just have one

you can get the corner shelves at petsmart and such and the dome top is great for hammocks.

that cage new was more than the feret nation 

sigh.

I know, and I wish I hadn't paid so much for it (the guy was really firm in his price)... but I couldn't find any other cages I liked that would work for me. I checked ebay and watched CL for a while. I went to Martin's and the other cage sites and couldn't find anything. Plus it was starting to get dark when I went to look at it and I didn't see all of the rust then. 

All that got done today was filing down the sharp edges on the hardware cloth. We started late and it was too windy to paint anyways.

I'd LOVE an FN, but they're too expensive for me, and I'd have to mod it anyways because my boys will get out. I'm hoping that the Rat Nation will be available before Christmas... and my parents will let me get it. lol

Anyways, today I gave the whole cage a scrub-down. I also started painting. It wasn't as windy today as it was yesterday. I painted (most) of the tray, and I painted part of the wire that was going under the tray. Hopefully, tomorrow will be nice too, and I can get the rest done.




The color I picked is called Jade, and it's in the Painter's Touch line by Rustoleum.

Great cage, and nice colour. It should be fun to decorate the cage!

Did you make sure that the paint is non-toxic? I'm worried your rats might nibble on the paint a bit.

I have a flight cage somewhat like yours and the modification that I did for the gap was to find a piece of wood about 1/2 in. thick and cut it the length of the cage...I drilled 3 holes of each end and used pipe cleaners through the man-made holes and up around the cage wires and it holds the strip in place.  Although there is a little gnawing...not much...both my boys and girls leave the strip alone and the wood doesn't look bad at all...it's almost like it's not there.  I'm going to try put up pictures of my cage and put it up tonight if I can...look for it under happy rat if your interested.

Today was really nice, so I got out there and painted! I'm now covered in Jade. It took a lot more paint than I thought it would (probably because I kept finding little spots I missed and had to go back and touch up), but I'm mostly done. I ran out right when I had only one little section to go. Guess I'm going back for paint again tomorrow. Anyways... will post some pics in a minute.

Cool color.  It's looking nice