How to Build an Octagon Cage for a Chinchilla

Chinchillas originate in the mountainous regions of South America. They grow to about 1 foot long and live up to 20 years in captivity. Known for their soft fur, chinchillas shed a lot. Chinchillas eat primarily grasses and need dust baths to keep their fur conditioned. Hunted nearly to extinction in the wild for their fur, they are now a protected species. Chinchillas need multilayer cages that imitate their mountainous habitat so they can jump.

Things You'll Need

  • 11 16-inch deep plastic-coated wire shelving units, 4-feet long
  • Zip ties
  • Marker
  • 4-by-4-foot melamine board
  • Measuring stick
  • Circular saw
  • Screws
  • Wide washers
  • 1-by-12-inch boards
  • Hacksaw
  • 2 lobster-claw snap hooks
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Instructions

    • 1

      Lay two wire shelving units side by side on the floor. Wrap a zip tie around both the shelves' wire backbones that are lying next to each other and zip it tight. Repeat every 6 inches.

    • 2

      Connect another shelving unit to the first two with zip ties. Continue until you have connected eight wire shelves.

    • 3

      Stand the wire shelves on end. Curve them around to form an octagonal shape. Connect the end units with two zip ties.

    • 4

      Place the shelves on top of the melamine board. Straighten the shelves so that each opposing side is parallel and all the angles are equal. Check the distances with a measuring stick.

    • 5

      Draw a line on the melamine inside the wire shelves. Have an assistant hold the shelves steady.

    • 6

      Cut the melamine board along the lines with a circular saw. Fit the shelves over the cut board. Put a washer over the screw and screw it into the edge of the melamine board. The washers will capture the shelving wires, securing them to the melamine base. Leave one section free to serve as the door.

    • 7

      Clip through the two zip ties that held the door section shut. Place a board on top of the cage and trace the shape of the inside of the cage. This will become wood platforms for the chinchillas to jump on. By tracing the shape, you account for any variation in the wire shelving units used to construct the sides of the cage.

    • 8

      Make platforms for inside the cage. Cut the 1-by-12-inch wooden board with the circular saw. Check that it fits inside the cage and make any adjustments necessary. Cut several more platforms, at least three total, one for each side and one for the back. Sand the cut edges of the platforms. Put the platforms aside, while you finish the roof, to allow you room to work.

    • 9

      Place a section of wire shelving on the top of the cage. Mark the shelf where it extends past the top of the cage. Cut the wire with a hacksaw. Cut the roof sections one at a time, connecting the pieces to the sides of the cage with zip ties. Once all the roof pieces are in place, put at least one zip tie between the roof sections to tie them together.

    • 10

      Attach the wood platforms to the sides of the cage. Use the screw-and-washer technique you used to connect the wire shelves to the melamine bottom of the cage. Put at least two screws and washers in per side to support each platform. Stagger the heights of the platforms. Do not put a platform across the doorway.

    • 11

      Fasten the door with two lobster-claw snap hooks.