My first DIY rat cage!

[Redneck_Crow]

It's not much but it's a start. I got tired of running out every week for a rat for the picky snake that won't eat f/t. I'm going to make a few more of these and use them to breed and for holding. So far, so good--rats aren't loose yet. I'm culling by feeding them out and I'll be keeping a male and a couple of females for future breeders.

[Johnny84]

Hey that works...I was thinking about doing the same thing! Thanks for the pics it will help me when I build one!

Also, how did you attach the hardware cloth to the bin, what did you use?

Thanks!

[Redneck_Crow]

I used 20 gauge steel wire to attach the hardware cloth. I drilled a couple of small holes in the plastic at each point of attachment, threaded the wire through and twisted it like a twist tie then clipped it close enough that there were several twists on the wire.

I put the hardware cloth on the inside of the bin so that it would be between the rats and the holes in the plastic, in case they might want to do some chewing.

The feed silo is just hardware cloth twist tied in the back with steel wire and tacked to the rear wall with a couple of ties like I used for the hardware cloth windows.

I put the windows on the sides so that I can stack these things up if I want to and still have air flow.

[bishop40k]

looks good, I do something similar to that using 10 gallon aquariums, except I put the top of the food "silo" through the top of the lid. This way I don't have to open the top to feed them, as they learned to climb up the hardware cloth and try to make a break for it when it's open.

[Johnny84]

I used 20 gauge steel wire to attach the hardware cloth. I drilled a couple of small holes in the plastic at each point of attachment, threaded the wire through and twisted it like a twist tie then clipped it close enough that there were several twists on the wire.

I put the hardware cloth on the inside of the bin so that it would be between the rats and the holes in the plastic, in case they might want to do some chewing.

The feed silo is just hardware cloth twist tied in the back with steel wire and tacked to the rear wall with a couple of ties like I used for the hardware cloth windows.

I put the windows on the sides so that I can stack these things up if I want to and still have air flow.

Awesome...thanks! Nice setup tho, gunna do the same this weekend!

[Redneck_Crow]

looks good, I do something similar to that using 10 gallon aquariums, except I put the top of the food "silo" through the top of the lid. This way I don't have to open the top to feed them, as they learned to climb up the hardware cloth and try to make a break for it when it's open.

I thought about doing that, but I wanted to leave the lid intact so that I can stack these. I'm not talented enough to start cutting and wiring into the lid and have it come out flush--the cages would end up stacking lopsided.

[theend882]

What size tub is that and where did you get it?

[Redneck_Crow]

I can't find the label--I think it was around a 50 quart.

I got it a couple of weeks ago at Walmart.

[theend882]

I can't find the label--I think it was around a 50 quart.

I got it a couple of weeks ago at Walmart.

Thanks, been trying to find the right tubs to start my own little colony going

[bishop40k]

I thought about doing that, but I wanted to leave the lid intact so that I can stack these. I'm not talented enough to start cutting and wiring into the lid and have it come out flush--the cages would end up stacking lopsided.

Just got a hole in the top to whatever diameter you want, then make your "silo" to that size, and use the same "wire stitching" you used on the side and just let them hang into the tub 1/4-1/2 an inch. Don't need it to be flush, just close enough that rats can't squeeze through. I keep all my 10's on walmart shelving units ($20 each), and just turn them to the side to put food in. I'll post a pic here in a minute showing my setup.