Rat Rack Build!

so, i have decided to build myself a couple of breeder rat racks, i figured i have plenty of room for it and feeding 9 snakes once a week is beginning to get expensive... so i gave it a shot, and so far so good!!! :cool:
i will be posting some pics of the build...

2x2 pressure treated lumber..

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1-25144713.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1-25144814.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1-25153611.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1-25153642.jpg

6 home depot mixing tubs...

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1-25153740.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1-25153752.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1-25155925.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1-25153401.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1-25162854.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1-25163330.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...26190415-1.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1-26192255.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1-26194156.jpg


http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1-26221017.jpg


http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1-26221138.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1-15132606.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1-28214651.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1-15132657.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1-15132617.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1-15132709.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1-28214819.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1-28214726.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1-26133030.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1-31114043.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...1-31114052.jpg

This is really nice! Thanks!

I bookmarked this thread for future reference :gj:

Looking good man! Nice handywork.

Regards,

B

Very nice. Wish I could build something like that... I would have rats running all over my house lol

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Originally Posted by ReptilesK2

This is really nice! Thanks!

I bookmarked this thread for future reference :gj:

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Thanks!

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Originally Posted by Simple Man

Looking good man! Nice handywork.

Regards,

B

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Thanks B, :cool:
I got most of my idea's from seeing your setup on facebook...

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Originally Posted by Wes

Very nice. Wish I could build something like that... I would have rats running all over my house lol

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Thanks Wes, :cool:
its very easy to do...

i see you have 6 bins what is the total height of your rack i have limited height

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Originally Posted by dirdydogrc

i see you have 6 bins what is the total height of your rack i have limited height

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the rack is 5 feet tall.. (60 inches)

Awesome build!
I like that you included step by step photos.

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Originally Posted by satomi325

Awesome build!
I like that you included step by step photos.

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Thank you! :cool:
Im glad you liked it..

You can come vacation here in south Fl & help me with mine, got a guest room, and live near the beach lol

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Originally Posted by bigmike76

Thank you! :cool:
Im glad you liked it..

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Mike

please could you also give the board, and plans sizes you used. this is so very nice, and Is what I need right now.

Please if you still have the lumber, wire ect info and cut sizes.

Terrance:)

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Originally Posted by llovelace

You can come vacation here in south Fl & help me with mine, got a guest room, and live near the beach lol

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lol. I wish i could! I would love to take you up on that offer, I am definetly in need of a vacation near the water some place warm.. ;)
The rack is real easy to build, just time consuming, you can find all the building materials at home depot..
Im glad you liked the build, Thanks! :cool:

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Originally Posted by MSG-KB

Mike

please could you also give the board, and plans sizes you used. this is so very nice, and Is what I need right now.

Please if you still have the lumber, wire ect info and cut sizes.

Terrance:)

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The rack dimensions are 23-1/2" x 27-1/2" x 61" high.
i used 2x2 pressure treated lumber
12 pieces cut to 17-3/4
6 pieces cut to 24-3/4
24 pieces cut to 27-1/2
4 pieces of 2x3 for the legs 61'' tall
14 feet of YARDGARD 1/2 in. Mesh
The rack is real easy to build, just time consuming, you can find all the building materials at home depot..
Im glad you liked it! Thanks! :gj:

Great job Mike! Def an awesome build,very handy! Now the hard part, departing with the lil ones,to feed the snakes! There cute when little!:rolleyes:

Thanks bro, I will make sure i call you over to help build the next one... :cool:
your right, I'm having a hard time letting them go, i want to keep them all! lol.. :snake:

Getting tired of dealing with a shelf full of glass tanks for my rats, so I think I'm gonna run to HD in a few to start on this build. Looks really good man...

Good looking.
It is hard to let the little ones go so I hold a couple back to grow out every now and then for future breeders;)

This ended up being about a 6 hour build for me with a little bit of help. It was SUPER easy, just time consuming. Thanks for the measurements. I made mine 6 inches taller to give a little more ventilation but otherwise your material list was right on. Thanks for posting this...

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by Inknsteel

It was SUPER easy, just time consuming.

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Too me it seems everything goes really quick but installing the screen takes forever.

Thanks

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Too me it seems everything goes really quick but installing the screen takes forever.

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Yup, working with a big roll of galvanized hardware cloth SUCKS. I probably could have built it a lot faster if I had more room to work. I had to do all the cuts outside then assemble everything inside my 9 by 13 foot snake room that's already full of racks. Lol.

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Originally Posted by Inknsteel

Getting tired of dealing with a shelf full of glass tanks for my rats, so I think I'm gonna run to HD in a few to start on this build. Looks really good man...

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thanks man..

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Good looking.
It is hard to let the little ones go so I hold a couple back to grow out every now and then for future breeders;)

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Thanks!
I will be holding back the females for future breeding and feeding off the males..

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Originally Posted by Inknsteel

This ended up being about a 6 hour build for me with a little bit of help. It was SUPER easy, just time consuming. Thanks for the measurements. I made mine 6 inches taller to give a little more ventilation but otherwise your material list was right on. Thanks for posting this...

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

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No problem man, I'm glad you liked it, It also took me around 6 hours to build.. yes, its really easy to build the 1/2 inch mesh is whats time consuming!
Thanks! :gj:

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Originally Posted by MSG-KB

Thanks

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anytime. :gj:

I was wondering do you have your cut list for this rack! I can't find one like this with a cut list. THANKS IN ADVANCE:D

My only concern would be the access the rats have to any treated wood, as they chew any wood they can. I would make sure the piece in the middle of the screen was untreated, to prevent any chance of the chemicals from the treated wood getting into my rats. Other than that, excellent pictures and directions :)
*Fila*

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Originally Posted by BEasy119

I was wondering do you have your cut list for this rack! I can't find one like this with a cut list. THANKS IN ADVANCE:D

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The rack dimensions are 23-1/2" x 27-1/2" x 61" high.
i used 2x2 pressure treated lumber
12 pieces cut to 17-3/4
6 pieces cut to 24-3/4
24 pieces cut to 27-1/2
4 pieces of 2x3 for the legs 61'' tall
14 feet of YARDGARD 1/2 in. Mesh
The rack is real easy to build, just time consuming, you can find all the building materials at home depot..
Im glad you liked it! Thanks!

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Originally Posted by Fila

My only concern would be the access the rats have to any treated wood, as they chew any wood they can. I would make sure the piece in the middle of the screen was untreated, to prevent any chance of the chemicals from the treated wood getting into my rats. Other than that, excellent pictures and directions :)
*Fila*

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Thanks! Im glad you liked it! :gj:
so far they haven't been chewing on any wood, I give them empty paper towel and toilet paper spools for them to chew on, they also have plenty of food at all times to chew on..

Mine are not out of treated lumber, my screen also wraps around the sides of the rack so there is no worry of chewing or chew outs:D

Lots more rat babies, :banana: Some update pics..

first litter already weaned..
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...2-15231858.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...2-15231907.jpg

another litter..

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...2-15231953.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...2-15232035.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...2-15232126.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...2-15232014.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...2-15232154.jpg

Do you have pictures of this modification?

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Mine are not out of treated lumber, my screen also wraps around the sides of the rack so there is no worry of chewing or chew outs:D

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It certainly doesnt seem to be effecting their health or reproduction. Lovely healthy looking rat kiddos. I was warned not to use treated wood in my greenhouse or as planter material because of the leaching treated wood does. Ever since then I am careful with it. I think as well what they treat with is less damaging to the environment than what they used to use, and therefor would be safer for cage building.

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Originally Posted by bigmike76

Thanks! Im glad you liked it! :gj:
so far they haven't been chewing on any wood, I give them empty paper towel and toilet paper spools for them to chew on, they also have plenty of food at all times to chew on..

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fila

It certainly doesnt seem to be effecting their health or reproduction. Lovely healthy looking rat kiddos. I was warned not to use treated wood in my greenhouse or as planter material because of the leaching treated wood does. Ever since then I am careful with it. I think as well what they treat with is less damaging to the environment than what they used to use, and therefor would be safer for cage building.

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Thanks for the heads up, I will keep that in mind when building my next rack!
Thanks! :gj:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h1...-39-38_780.jpg

This is the best pic right now.
It is nothing really special, I saw it here somewhere? LOL

If I were to build this rack, could I keep one female and her pups in each tub until they are big enough to feed off (medium/large)? If so, would those size of tubs be big enough? If so, I would probably need to separate the male pups form the female pups right? That way they dont start breeding? What should I do with the male pups then? Because I wouldn't want them to breed back with their mom.

Sorry for all the questions! I just havent found anywhere online that answers them!

Thanks,
SC