Post by greydawnbreaking on Jul 16, 2013 17:36:03 GMT 10
So, my old mouse cage was one of those tiny Habitrail ones, which I found--complete with all accessories, no less--outside by my apartment's recycle bins the day after I decided to start owning mice. 
Nice timing, universe!
It was okay--too small, not the greatest climbing options, but they seemed to like it fine (and that weird little mushroom-house thing was a huge hit). But I wanted to give them a bit more space, especially since I want to add more mice to the colony, so I decided to make a new one. I discarded the wheel, since it was badly balanced and tey couldn't run in it and the powder coating was coming off.
The bin I chose was a 60-liter Kmart storage bin. I used a soldering iron to make the windows and boltholes, and I bolted the mesh on. This is the view from the front, with Cherry Atomic peeking out of her little mouse house. The mesh panel above her is exclusively for climbing, no window. I may add a washer between the mesh and the plastic to allow them to get a better "handhold" on the wire. The wicker things are nest bases for finches. One's a basket which I'll probably use as a treat dispenser (don't know how the tissue paper got there) and the other's more like a pot with a narrow neck. The black rope is a shoestring, which I'll probably replace with either a doubled and knotted shoestring for stability or some sort of budgie rope. I hate my wheel, which is too small for them, so a new wheel is next on the agenda. Recommendations appreciated, since there seem to be more opinions than there are options.
View from the side, the wire basket is attached via the bolts and holds an egg carton and a parsley-and-oat treat roll. The mice have been accessing it via two methods: climbing onto the cardboard box and doing a chin-up, and climbing up the screen mesh. Ultimately I'd like to have a ladder or ramp or some kind of branch that goes up to it. My plan is that eventually the mice will be able to traverse the entire cage without ever touching the ground. If the mice don't spend a lot of time up on the second level, I may put a cardboard floor in, fasten it with zip ties, and move the food bowl up there, to ensure they're getting enough exercise.
View from the back facing the front. The bolts are ugly, but the mice don't seem to care and maybe they'll get some climbing use out of them. I was worried about chewing but I haven't seen any so far. This is a better look at the other finch nest.
View from atop the second level. The second level is actually just below the top of the cage, so you can get very good views of the mice from above when they're clambering around. Cherry Atomic again, investigating the screen. It's really impressive how well they can climb around, upside down and everything.
The view under the second level, with Lady Dragonfly Go just waking up to see what all the commotion is about. I've added nest material to the three official nests in different amounts: lots in the igloo, a little in the house, and almost none in the cardboard (they're currently tearing off the interior and creating their own) so they can move about as necessary for their own comfort based on the weather.
View of the lid interior. I covered the entire inside of the lid with wire, left a panel down the center of the lid untouched for stability, and bolted it all the way around. Again, the bolts are ugly but the mice don't seem to mind. I intend to hang some ropes and toilet paper tubes from this eventually, as well as a hammock.
My view of the cage from the outside, with Lady Dragonfly Go on her way to the food bowl. Lots of vertical space I intend to work with, a total of five hidey holes that they can move between, and plenty of climbing and chewing options. And so far they seem to really like it, which is the most important thing.
Nice timing, universe!It was okay--too small, not the greatest climbing options, but they seemed to like it fine (and that weird little mushroom-house thing was a huge hit). But I wanted to give them a bit more space, especially since I want to add more mice to the colony, so I decided to make a new one. I discarded the wheel, since it was badly balanced and tey couldn't run in it and the powder coating was coming off.
The bin I chose was a 60-liter Kmart storage bin. I used a soldering iron to make the windows and boltholes, and I bolted the mesh on. This is the view from the front, with Cherry Atomic peeking out of her little mouse house. The mesh panel above her is exclusively for climbing, no window. I may add a washer between the mesh and the plastic to allow them to get a better "handhold" on the wire. The wicker things are nest bases for finches. One's a basket which I'll probably use as a treat dispenser (don't know how the tissue paper got there) and the other's more like a pot with a narrow neck. The black rope is a shoestring, which I'll probably replace with either a doubled and knotted shoestring for stability or some sort of budgie rope. I hate my wheel, which is too small for them, so a new wheel is next on the agenda. Recommendations appreciated, since there seem to be more opinions than there are options.
View from the side, the wire basket is attached via the bolts and holds an egg carton and a parsley-and-oat treat roll. The mice have been accessing it via two methods: climbing onto the cardboard box and doing a chin-up, and climbing up the screen mesh. Ultimately I'd like to have a ladder or ramp or some kind of branch that goes up to it. My plan is that eventually the mice will be able to traverse the entire cage without ever touching the ground. If the mice don't spend a lot of time up on the second level, I may put a cardboard floor in, fasten it with zip ties, and move the food bowl up there, to ensure they're getting enough exercise.
View from the back facing the front. The bolts are ugly, but the mice don't seem to care and maybe they'll get some climbing use out of them. I was worried about chewing but I haven't seen any so far. This is a better look at the other finch nest.
View from atop the second level. The second level is actually just below the top of the cage, so you can get very good views of the mice from above when they're clambering around. Cherry Atomic again, investigating the screen. It's really impressive how well they can climb around, upside down and everything.
The view under the second level, with Lady Dragonfly Go just waking up to see what all the commotion is about. I've added nest material to the three official nests in different amounts: lots in the igloo, a little in the house, and almost none in the cardboard (they're currently tearing off the interior and creating their own) so they can move about as necessary for their own comfort based on the weather.
View of the lid interior. I covered the entire inside of the lid with wire, left a panel down the center of the lid untouched for stability, and bolted it all the way around. Again, the bolts are ugly but the mice don't seem to mind. I intend to hang some ropes and toilet paper tubes from this eventually, as well as a hammock.
My view of the cage from the outside, with Lady Dragonfly Go on her way to the food bowl. Lots of vertical space I intend to work with, a total of five hidey holes that they can move between, and plenty of climbing and chewing options. And so far they seem to really like it, which is the most important thing.
If the wheel is really squeaky give it a spray with cooking oil. As for the climbing branches mojomouse would be the best person to ask I know she done some natural habitats for her mice.
