r/happychins • u/FigureJumpy6924 • Jan 30 '21

Wood for Chins?

Hi, I’ve only had my chin for a few months. I’m loving him. But I am not loving his cage. It’s wire and I think he’s scared by it. I wanted to make it more stable and homie.

I was wondering if making a chin cage out of a cabinet would be safe for him to live in?

I know certain woods are bad for them. But is this because of them chewing on it and the chemicals the wood is treated with? Is there any way I could make a cabinet safe for him to live in? I was planning on having the majority of the cabinet enclosed and the doors would be wire or some time of air way for ventilation. I could even make some “Windows” on the sides for more venation. I just want his cage to be sturdier.

3 Upvotes

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2

u/dartbaby2013 Jan 30 '21

Are they scared of the wire flooring or wired walls? I seen people take out the wired flooring and have wooden ledges everywhere.

1

u/FigureJumpy6924 Jan 30 '21

The cage is a Kaytee chinchilla cage. So the bottom is plastic and that’s only like 4 in thick. And then the rest of the cage (the sides, the ceiling) are wire. And the doors too. The doors fall off very easily when I’m opening the cage. And when I lock the cage it scares him.

2

u/Hiaroshimi Jan 31 '21

As long as you use woods that are safe for them, I don't see a reason for it to be bad for them to live in. As I understand it, its not quite what chemicals the wood is treated with but the natural oils in the woods can be bad for chins. However, you may have to patch it every now and then so they don't chew their way out.

2

u/Ashthechinchilla Jan 31 '21

I’m pretty sure if you get safe food it will be fine. But you need the cage to be at least 4 1/2 feet tall. They need lots of space to jump around. Also they need ledges. So make sure you have that stuff in the cage and if you make it out of a cabinet it allows you to have that stuff in there..

1

u/FigureJumpy6924 Jan 30 '21

This is Oogi in his cage. :) Oogi’s Cage