How to Make a Homemade Hamster Bin-Type Cage

Most store-bought hamster cages are expensive and don't seem to stay together very well anyway. In this article, you will learn how to make a bin-style hamster house.

Things You'll Need

  • Opaque plastic bin with locking lid Razor blade Snips Galvanized steel cloth, holes no larger than 1/4" Sandpaper Metal file 15 machine screws 15 washers 15 nuts Drill Drill bit (width corresponding to width of machine screws) Vise Hamster water bottle
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Instructions

    • 1

      Choose a sturdy plastic bin for your hamster's cage. Although you will likely be unable to find a one made of completely clear plastic, by shopping around you should be able to find a bin of murky opaque plastic that will allow in limited light. Pick the sturdiest, thickest plastic possible. The walls should be smooth and flat, and the lid should have a locking mechanism. The bin should be tall enough that your hamster---even when standing on its furniture---cannot reach the lid.

    • 2

      Cut a hole in the lid. Remove the lid and, using a razor blade, score the edges of a large window in the center. Leave at least 3 inches of plastic around the outside of all four edges to maintain the lid's structural integrity. Once you've scored the outline, patiently cut deeper and deeper into the outline until the plastic center can be removed. File the edges to remove sharp plastic shavings.

    • 3

      Using snips, cut the galvanized steel cloth. Cut off all sharp, pointy pieces, and then smooth their stumps so that the galvanized steel cloth is an exact rectangle with an unbroken edge. The dimensions should be roughly 1 1/2 inches larger than the opening on each side. When finished, sand the edges of the galvanized steel cloth with a metal file, to prevent your hamster from hurting itself on rough edges.

    • 4

      Drill 12 holes into the lid, one at each corner and two on each side, approximately 1 inch from the edge of the window. Putting one screw in at each hole, secure the galvanized steel cloth to the inside of the lid. The nuts holding the screw in place should be on top of the lid.

    • 5

      Drill holes in the sides of the bin for ventilation. File the edges to remove sharp parts. Do not drill the holes low enough that your hamster could reach them from the ground or by standing on his furniture. Many hamsters will chew on the holes and, given time, could widen them enough to escape.

    • 6

      Secure a wire through one of the ventilation holes. Do this by tying one end of the wire to an extra screw, and then threading the wire through the chosen ventilation hole. The screw will serve as an anchor to hold up the wire. Tie the wire to your hamster's water bottle, to dangle the water bottle in place.

    • 7

      Fill the bin with your hamster's bedding, furniture and other accessories. The bin is now ready for your hamster to live in.