How to Build a Wood Chinchilla Cage

Chinchillas are popular pets that require a little maintenance. Because they are such active pets, they need large living spaces with multiple levels. They can have ramps--but once adults, chinchillas rarely need them and simply jump from level to level.
These instructions are for a cage that is 2 feet high and 2 feet wide, though you can customize your cage to whatever size you want. This cage also features a removable litter tray to make cleaning much easier.

Things You'll Need

  • .75 inch square galvanized welded mesh, 16 gauge (8 meters long by 24 inches high)
  • 28 lengths of untreated pine or cedar (3 inches wide by 1/2 inch thick by 24 inches long)
  • 2 length of untreated pine or cedar (1/2 inch wide by 1/2 inch thick by 3 inches long)
  • 1 length of untreated pine or cedar (1/2 inch wide by 1/2 inch thick by 24 inches long)
  • 1 plank of untreated pine or cedar (24 inches wide by 1/2 inch thick by 24 inches long)
  • Several planks of untreated pine or cedar large enough for your chinchilla to comfortably perch on
  • 1 liter tray (24 inches long by 24 inches wide by 2 inches deep)
  • 14 mm staples
  • 4 penny nails (4 penny refers to the nail size, not the number of nails needed)
  • 6 penny nails
  • handle
  • superglue
  • 2 small hinges
  • 2 hook and eye closures
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Instructions

  1. Litter Pan Base

    • 1

      Start by building the litter pan base. Using 6 penny nails, attach 2-foot-long lengths of wood to the 2-foot by 2-foot sheet on three sides. The best way to do this is by driving the nails through the bottom of the sheet into the lengths, which should stand on their side so they are raising 3 inches about the sheet. Then drive nails through the bottom of the sheet into the small 3-inch lengths, one on each side of the fourth side of the sheet.

    • 2

      Turn the sheet over, and on the three sides with the 3-inch wide lengths, lay another 24-inch long length on its side so that the outside edge lays against the top of the lengths you already nailed. Nail these in place. Make any length alterations you need to make the lengths lay flat.

    • 3

      Nail the thin 24-inch length on top of the thin lengths in the front. Staple a 2-foot-by-2-foot section of mesh over the opening in the top.
      Superglue one of the 24-inch-by-3-inch lengths to the front of the liter pan, then superglue the handle to the front. Slide the tray into the base.

    Cage Body

    • 4

      Attach four 2-foot lengths of wood vertically to each corner of the base with 6 penny nails. You will use 8 pieces of wood for this, two on each of the four sides. Use 4 penny nails to make sure the corners stay together.

    • 5

      Attach two lengths across the top on opposite sides with nails. Cut a 2-foot-by-2-foot section of wire and attach it to the two lengths with staples. Hammer two more lengths to the other opposite sides, overlapping the lengths you have already attached. Reinforce the wire by stapling the mesh to the bottom of the new two lengths.

    • 6

      One foot from the base, attach a 2-foot length horizontally on each side for reinforcement.
      Staple one edge of the mesh to one corner and begin working the mesh around all four sides, stapling the mesh to each piece of wood as you come to it. When you run out of mesh, you should be back where you started.

    • 7

      Cut a hole large enough to remove your chinchilla in the center of the front of the cage, and set the mesh disc aside. Staple small cuts of wood around the edge of the hole. Staple small cuts of wood to the edge of the mesh you have set aside.
      Attach the cover to its hole with hinges, and attach the hook and eye closures to the other side.

    • 8

      Use nails and staples to attach the planks of wood to the sides. sand the edges down so they aren't sharp.
      Pull out the litter tray and add litter or bedding. Replace.