New Rat Bins

[recycling goddess]

we are making these bins... i'm picking up the supplies today. thanks jo!!! *kisses*

[Bruce Whitehead]

I have learned more about raising happy healthy rats from you than anyone else.

I am rehauling my rodent wall and am going to revamp my bins and put the mesh on the sides like that. I have been using the hardware cloth on the top and have been changing cages more than i wanted to, and was worried about the buildup.

Now that I see it... I think "well that makes perfect sense!"

Bruce

PS: At work they are throwing out a TON of those hard metal shelving units that you put together yourself. Strong, sturdy and wide. If u only lived a bit closer.

[frankykeno]

we are making these bins... i'm picking up the supplies today. thanks jo!!! *kisses*

You're welcome Aleesha. So far I'm thrilled with this new bin design, the rats are loving it and I'm happy if my rats are happy, breeding, eating, etc. Once I can locate one of those hot knives cutting type tools my cuts will be cleaner. That's the one part I'm not thrilled about is the jagged cuts (yes I'm anal, I know this LOL).

I have learned more about raising happy healthy rats from you than anyone else.

I am rehauling my rodent wall and am going to revamp my bins and put the mesh on the sides like that. I have been using the hardware cloth on the top and have been changing cages more than i wanted to, and was worried about the buildup.

Now that I see it... I think "well that makes perfect sense!"

Bruce

PS: At work they are throwing out a TON of those hard metal shelving units that you put together yourself. Strong, sturdy and wide. If u only lived a bit closer.

Thanks so much Bruce, I've been pleased to be of help to you and proud of the rat colony you've built yourself.

This design actually came to me because of space issues. I couldn't stack my old design tubs due to the lid mesh and with some shelving I looked at, the tubs just barely fit so there wasn't going to be a lot of room for that mesh to allow fresh air in. Then I thought, well what the heck I can go with side mesh, double my ventilation in one fell swoop, give the rats a view of their world (and an easier peek in for me to see how everybody's doing) and even without a rack I can stack these tubs 2 or 2 high. I can't for the life of me figure out why I didn't think of this earlier LOL. These tubs are a heavier grade plastic too than the old ones and have a better lid lock down clip, which are always considerations when you are keeping rodents.

Wish I did live closer to you Bruce, those metal shelving units sound perfect! I missed out recently when I didn't get to a KMart store in time and could have picked up huge metal racks for next to nothing.

[frankykeno]

This is a rack I'm considering for these big bins. I can put 5 bins per rack so a nice space savings for me. The other rack I'm looking at is about twice as wide so in theory could hold 10 of these big bins. It's a heavy grade plastic so huge but not ungawdly heavy. Unfortunately it's at a store here locally that doesn't have it's full product line online. That particular shelving unit retails for around $65.00. If it's not workable than this one at Lowe's for $40.00 will likely do quite fine for our needs.

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...5BK&lpage=none

Well other than with me being a short thing I'm going to have to invest in a good sturdy step ladder LOL.

[MeMe]

Nope...none here!

I am actually going to have Jeff make 3 more for me tonight!

[cassandra]

Nope...none here!

I am actually going to have Jeff make 3 more for me tonight!

Was it hard to do the wire weaving? And what specific kind of wire did you use (i.e., what do I put on my Lowe's shopping list so that the guy in hardware doesn't look at me crossed eye....like he usually does =P).

[MeMe]

Was it hard to do the wire weaving? And what specific kind of wire did you use (i.e., what do I put on my Lowe's shopping list so that the guy in hardware doesn't look at me crossed eye....like he usually does =P).

Well Jeff did it...so it looked easy.

But I am totally sure I could do it if I wanted.

He said it is called bailing wire. And he used a pair of pliers to weave it in and out with. Once you get it started...it goes fairly easy.

My screens are also on the inside of the tubs so the rats don't have any fesh cut edges on the plastic to gnaw on.