How to Make a Wooden Perch for a Chinchilla

Building your own wooden perch for your chinchilla will make it more comfortable in its cage, as well as giving it a clean and convenient sleeping platform to rest on. A type of rodent native to South America, chinchillas like to roost on elevated perches. While their teeth never actually stop growing, they therefore need to continually grind them down by chewing on wood and other materials. Building your perch from birch or pine lumber will provide a comfortable resting spot for your pet, as well as a very necessary chew toy.

Things You'll Need

  • Birch or pine solid plank (3/4 inch thick)
  • Ruler
  • Jigsaw
  • Sandpaper
  • 2 wood screws (2-3 inches long) and matching washers
  • Screwdriver
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Mark a square onto your sheet of plywood measuring about 5 by 6 inches. Adjust this size depending on the size of your cage or the size of your chinchilla. The chinchilla should be able to comfortably place all of its body mass onto the perch.

    • 2

      Cut out the measured square using a jigsaw.

    • 3

      Sand the surfaces of the wooden square smooth using sandpaper.

    • 4

      Hold the short edge of the plank against the inside of the chinchilla's cage, about halfway between the top and bottom, then screw two screws with washers placed over them through the wires of the cage and into the edge of your wooden square; space the screws about 3 to 4 inches apart. Tighten the screws until the perch is securely held against the inside wall of the cage.