Turning a dog crate into a ratty home...

[emma10]

In my never ending quest to find the perfect cage at an ok price, I came accross this:

http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/dogs/dog_ ... xes/139959

This dog crate really reminds me of half an explorer, with a pull out tray and great access. I cant really tell but Im presuming the bar spacing will be far too wide, but for the price of the cage, I could afford to let myself spent up to £40 modifying it. I can get mesh in places like B&Q right? I just need to attatch that to the panels.

And until I can afford a Hopewell tray I could use a big plastic tray?

Thoughts? Is this doable or am I living in a dream world?


ETA: cage calculator says it will hold 8 rats, just enough space for my 3 then?

ETA AGAIN!: it says 'Grille size: W = 2.7cm; H = 18.5cm' does that mean that the bar spacing is 2.7? so too large?

[fuschia]

Blimey that does look a lot like half an Explorer! If it works you can buy another to go on top!

[emma10]

Oops, might have put Liberta out of business!

[lamb]

With the top opening like that it would be so easy to clean.

[snaisby]

The bar spacing actually doesn't look all that wide, do you have boys or girls? Might get away with it!

Also, it comes in bigger http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/dogs/dog_ ... xes/139799

ETA if bar spacing is 2.7cm that's the same as the spare Nero cage i have, and my boys couldn't get out of that from 3 months old

[emma10]

The bar spacing actually doesn't look all that wide, do you have boys or girls? Might get away with it!

Also, it comes in bigger http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/dogs/dog_ ... xes/139799

ETA if bar spacing is 2.7cm that's the same as the spare Nero cage i have, and my boys couldn't get out of that from 3 months old

seriously?!?!!?!?!?!?! 3 boys all 6 months plus. Yer I looked at the bigger one but thats excessive for 3 haha.

OMG OMG OMG IM SO EXCITED!! Just got to wait until I get the deposit back from my flat XD

[Julie_Ann]

Looks like someone has had a similar idea. . .

http://www.zooplus.co.uk/customerpictur ... xes/139959

Hope that link works. . .basically someone turned it into a ferret cage!

[Jimi+Milo]

If you have a budget of £100 why not just get a second hand explorer? They come up on ebay all the time for between £50 and £100, infact jan is selling one on the market place for £60 http://fancy-rats.co.uk/community/viewt ... 2&t=156585

[emma10]

i've had an explorer and didn't like it. I did toy with the idea of getting one and just using half, but i dont want to spend that kind of money only to buy a new tray and stuff for it.

[burninglight]

if the bar spacing was a it smaller I'd be copying your idea. Looks like a great cage, but my girls are still a bit small and a couple of them would probably be able to squish themselvesout of that. booo!

[Kim N]

Hurray for big boys! I think this will be my next cage for sure! I love how it opens completely at the top, has nice castors and large door in the front. Great price! My cage now is quite tall and thin and I wondered how they would get on in it when they get older, I think this will be perfect for a retirement cage.

[RetroLemons]

Looks fantastic! I wonder if it was made by the same people who did the Explorer?

[acapae_wolf]

An inch is usually too large a bar spacing for all but adult males (occasional adult does are ok, but I wouldn't risk it). Sarah must've had boys with an impressive rate of growth

[emma10]

did some measurements this morning on my xl and little ones head. Bad news is although hes 6 months he is tiny for his age. Im goin to order it and test him out in it and if the spacing is too wide i.ll get DIY Daddy to attach some mesh. 60 (55 with the discount code) and 20 for for some wire is still a bargain for a nice solid cage. Im in love with the access! Just need to figure out how to get the mesh on securely and safely!

[acapae_wolf]

The XL/ furet plus are suitabe for rats from the age the sexes are split - it's a lot narrower than an inch. If you can cope with mesh then sounds like a plan though