As I have mentioned in a previous article, I usually only recommend bespoke professionally-made, all-wire chinchilla cages, made from 16 gauge, 3/4 inch galvanised mesh.  These are easily purchased from most chinchilla breeders and good pet stores.

 However, there may be instances where chinchilla owners may wish to make their own cages for their chinchillas.

 Everybody has their own techniques, but here are a few suggestions and ideas ………

What Equipment You May Need

    Wire Cutters

    C-Clip Pliers

    Metal File

    G-Clamps

    16 gauge, 3/4 inch galvanised wire mesh

Some Construction Tips

C-clips are used to join the sheets of mesh together.  Try to cut your mesh in such a way that you have more bending (using G-Clamps) but a lot less joining to do.  This will be much quicker, and the end-result will look nicer.

Always use c-clip pliers (available from Chinchilla Equipment Stockists) to fix the c-clips onto the mesh.  This is much easier than using normal pliers and, once again, the end-result looks far more professional.  Try and ensure they are wrapped around the mesh very tightly, otherwise the cage will wobble and it is possible that chinchillas can injure themselves on them if they are very loose.

Ensure that you overlap a little mesh on the bottom of the cage (by about 2 squares) - this then provides "feet" and raises the floor of the cage off the ground to allow any debris to fall though into a drop-tray.  If you don’t do this, the cage will simply sit in the chinchilla's waste matter, which is not desirable.

Once the outside of your cage has been bent and joined together you then need to construct a door.  Ensure that the door meets your needs, i.e. is large enough to make for easy access and facilitates removal of cage "furniture".

The door can be made from wire mesh too - cut larger than the actual aperture it will be closing over.  It can then be fitted to be either side or bottom opening by using c-clips too - fitted slightly looser to allow the door to swing in the desired direction.

For security metal hooks or springs or even dog-lead clips should be used to keep the door securely shut - as chinchillas WILL escape if given an opportunity.

When construction is complete - file down any sharp edges of cut mesh using a metal-file.

Shelves

Shelves should be constructed from kiln-dried, untreated pine or spruce planks.  They can be fitted at an appropriate height either the length or the width of the cage (or both). 

They can be attached by using large washers and screwing into the wood.

Shelves are enjoyed by chinchillas and will be chewed eventually, but are easy and cheap to replace.

Hay-Rack

A built-in, hay rack is a very good idea - as it prevents hay getting trampled and soiled on the cage floor.

It can be made from mesh too, to resemble a mesh box with an aperture opening to the outside to enable the hay to be placed in it.

It can then be attached, using c-clips to one of the top corners of the cage.  Snip away any mesh, to allow for easy filling externally.

Drop-Trays

The cage now needs to stand in something that will collect waste matter.  Ideally galvanised metal trays are ideal - but wooden trays (waterproofed using varnish or similar) will also do the trick.

They should be lined with newspaper and/or natural pine cat-litter and the cage is simply lifted off the tray for cleaning out.

Environmental Enrichment

A cage should be long rather than tall, and provide floor-space rather than height, as although chins are agile, accidents do happen in tall cages.

 Branches (fruit tree wood NOT cherry or other stoned fruit) make excellent perches and gnawing objects for the chins - and should be securely placed in the cage in such a manner as to avoid any injury to the chins (i.e. not too high).

 Wooden parrot toys - and other hanging toys can be added to the cage - but once-again, ensure the chins cannot injure themselves on them (i.e. cannot get their legs caught).

 A wooden nest box can be constructed for the chins to hide/sleep and play in.  This should be made from untreated, kiln-dried spruce or pine too.  It is a good idea to make a nest box with just one opening.  Fix it together using sturdy nails, NOT glue or staples as it WILL get chewed.

Just for guideline purposes, a 3 foot long cage is adequate for 2 chinchillas.

There are, of course, other methods of construction cages.  Some people even prefer to make theirs with a wooden frame.  However, for hygiene reasons, ease of cleaning out and resistance to chewing, I do recommend an all-wire cage for chins on the whole.

 Happy "c-clipping"!!!