our rattie cages

thought i'd share how we do things here... with our ratties. we have 4 cages and bins... our retired mamas are in the black bird cage... then our other mamas and our little male in the white bird cage... and the little yellow/white cage is a birthing cage and the white/blue bin is as well. eventually we'll probably have to add another bin or two to the mix... but at this point, it's enough.

when we are giving a female a break... we will put her in with the retired mamas. we are hoping to get this breeding business happening so that the male is in with two females in the white bird cage at a time... and the other two are each in a birthing bin/cage... and then they can go in with the retired mamas for a few weeks... and then back in with the male again. ;)

of course... we'll make any changes necc. as time goes on.

http://www.timelessspirit.com/images...rattiecage.jpg

does anyone else use newspaper on the bottom of their enclosures? as you can see in the pic... the girls have wrapped themselves up in it... ignoring their hammocks LOL

but... i'm concerned about the smell?

I use aspen bedding in our rat cages, but the feed store where I got Happy's aspirin and found my "foundation breeders" has a new double cage w/pullout trays (for ferrets/rabbits, but I'm looking at it for my ratties).

I think I'm going to get some Stall Dry to try in the cages w/the aspen.

I used to put news print down under the bedding in my tubs but it seemed to make more of a mess than it was worth after a while. It was ok when they chewed and shredded it all up. Otherwise it would sit there and collect urine and didn't absorb well. Other times the rodents would pull it up but not shred it all and then there where just sections of soiled paper that they would try and nest in which I didn't like either...not real healthy in my opinion. I just stick to shavings (aspen) in my tubs.

well the problem is... with this new cage we set up... (the black one) - there isn't a bottom area so the aspen will fall out thru the wholes in the bars...

so we need to figure out how to make this work.

hmmmm.

ps i use carefresh in my other cages/enclosures.

OHHH, God. Hammocks in rat cages. Only a woman would come up with this.....Or could I be missing something? :imslow:

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

thought i'd share how we do things here... with our ratties. we have 4 cages and bins... our retired mamas are in the black bird cage... then our other mamas and our little male in the white bird cage... and the little yellow/white cage is a birthing cage and the white/blue bin is as well. eventually we'll probably have to add another bin or two to the mix... but at this point, it's enough.

when we are giving a female a break... we will put her in with the retired mamas. we are hoping to get this breeding business happening so that the male is in with two females in the white bird cage at a time... and the other two are each in a birthing bin/cage... and then they can go in with the retired mamas for a few weeks... and then back in with the male again. ;)

of course... we'll make any changes necc. as time goes on.

http://www.timelessspirit.com/images...rattiecage.jpg

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by ECLARK

OHHH, God. Hammocks in rat cages. Only a woman would come up with this.....Or could I be missing something? :imslow:

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Ed either you have a death wish or something,but i AGREE with ya :rolleye2: :rofl: :rofl: .I figure why let you go out alone once Aleesha reads this :P .I wonder if she gives them little potties also :8: :8:

HEY! Vergil has a Hammock too! AND a silk purse... They really DO like the hamocks! I'm on your side A! VIVA LA SPOILED RATTIES!!!! :P

And Im in total agreement with you. :)

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Originally Posted by Laooda

HEY! Vergil has a Hammock too! AND a silk purse... They really DO like the hamocks! I'm on your side A! VIVA LA SPOILED RATTIES!!!! :P

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i kept ratties as pets long before i got snakes... and on "pet forums" hammocks are highly recommended! our girls absolutely love them and never sleep on the floor. much more comfy for them ;)

i even give our new birthed mamas a hammock so that they can climb into it to get away from the babies when they wish to... eventually all the babies get old enough that they climb up and sleep in them as well. ;)

i can't imagine keeping ratties without hammocks. kinda like having a man without a remote control!