New Rat Bins

Oh very nice Meme! Tell Jeff I said he's a very professional lacer LOL. I bet your rats will do very well and you'll find these bins easy to manage overall. Nice job! :)

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Oh very nice Meme! Tell Jeff I said he's a very professional lacer LOL. I bet your rats will do very well and you'll find these bins easy to manage overall. Nice job! :)

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Thanks Jo! I will definitely let him know!

;)

He only has 2 more to go tonight! lol

:D

verrrry nice!!!!!!! i'm impressed... and favourably!!! :D

Nice! I always wondered about adequate ventilation in deep tubs like those. Now I see that it can be done. And you could even stack them with breathability..
I highly recommend the WoodyPet pellets. I started using them a week and 2 days ago and they are not even ready to change just yet.. and the only odor you get is the woodsy smell of the pellets themselves.. awesome stuff. I do add in a few socks for the rats to nest with, as pellets can't be all that comfy :)

FANTASTIC suggestions and ideas!! im going to do the same thing with my mouse bin in about ten minutes.. thats a great idea putting the mesh on the inside to keep chewing mouths away from the plastic.. gotta chew through the clothwire first!! ill be sure to post pics of ours too.

Sounds great Ashley, can't wait to see the pics. Just remember with mice you want to go with a 1/4" hardware cloth instead of the 1/2" I used in these rat bins.

ack, i already did the whole bin!!! all with 1/2 hardwire cloth. pooey, hope they cant get out that would SUCK. the bin looks good too lol.. its a 18gal i wonder how many mice it can hold, right now it has our 1.2 group in it.

I just sat in the room and watched them.. they cant get their faces through the bars much passed their noses and certainly not passed their eyes (cant get that far) now maybe they will breed for me!

Just know that hoppers and smaller mice can and will get out of the 1/2". I've had some "just over the hopper stage" mice get stuck in the 1/2", and it's not fun to pry them out. You can always overlab the 1/4" over the 1/2", doesn't hurt to have extra security :)

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Originally Posted by SatanicIntention

I wish they made metal zip ties.. .

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I think it was TSC that sells stainless steel ones, kind of pricey though. I think they were like $10 for a pack of eight.

Weave the wire!! Of course! Perfect idea...thank you Meme!

I'm in the midst of doing some mouse bins and that method of wiring will certainly save my poor hand the agony of twisting all those individual pieces of wire. :) Thanks again!

I buy heavy duty plastic zip ties from Home Depot. They do seem heavier than regular plastic ones and so far *knock wood* the rats haven't messed with them at all.

I did go back just now and add a bit to the original post to use 1/4" not 1/2" hardware cloth for mice or ASF's.

Any chewing updates on the bins Jo, Leeshe or Meme? =)

no chewing at all here. they are working like a dream!!!!!

Nope...none here!

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

:D

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Originally Posted by MeMe

Nope...none here!

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

:D

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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).

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Originally Posted by cassandra

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).

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

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.

:gj:

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Originally Posted by MeMe

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

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You bum! :P

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Originally Posted by MeMe

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.

:gj:

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Okee doke..."bailing wire", gotcha. And yeah, screens on the inside make a lot of sense. Less access to chewy, the betterer. :)

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Originally Posted by cassandra

You bum! :P


Okee doke..."bailing wire", gotcha. And yeah, screens on the inside make a lot of sense. Less access to chewy, the betterer. :)

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Exactly!

:gj:

I am already replacing some of my rack tubs from chew holes.

:rolleyes:

funny story though...I had a mom in one of the rack tubs and she pushed her tub open and got out...by the time we found her, she had gotten out and had jumped up on the food rack above and EMPTIED the whole rack of food into her tub! It was sooo funny. She had more than half way filled her tub with lab block!

:rofl:

You never know when there may be a famine! She's just preparing her bomb shelter, dontcha know? ;)

We switched our hardware mesh over to inside the tub as Meme mentioned. We did have one group of males (gotta figure the boys would act up) that were able to start nibbling with the wire on the outside so we tweaked the design a bit and fixed their little red chewy wagons. :)

Thanks guys for the updated comments...I think we're gonna try our hand at rat breeding as well (breeding our own rats will be cheaper than gas to reptile store + rat cost =P) and wanna go workable and economical on some tubs. =D

is that woody pet substrate as good as it looks?

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Originally Posted by rattlesnakemp

is that woody pet substrate as good as it looks?

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Yes...I have been using it for almost a year now and would never use anything else. You don't have to use much and it last a long time with minimal smell build-up. Win-win-win .

Now if only a store in Toledo, OH would sell the stuff! :taz:

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Now if only a store in Toledo, OH would sell the stuff! :taz:

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I know the feeling but I found something similar in my area, Guardian Horse Pellet Beddinf

Now that you've used the new bins for a while, have you had any problems with rats escaping or any other problems? Have you altered the design any since making those? I want to try making some myself. Thanks!

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Originally Posted by Reptilian

How did you cut the opening for the mesh and what type of product are you referring to when you say "hot knife"? I have an idea in my head as to what it is, but can't place the name of it.

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You can get a hot knife at Michael's Arts and Crafts stores. They have one that is made by Walnut Hollow "Designed for Her Creative Hotknife Tool". I didn't see a price on it. It basically looks like a saudering iron with an exacto blade attachment.

Oh we do have a Michael's here. I will check that out as I've been looking for a hot knife for ages now...thanks!

The only design change we made was to wire the hardware cloth to the inside of the tub rather than the outside. We did see a tiny bit of chewing out so with that change, it's stopped that going on. Other than that I love the tubs. They offer a lot of room and are so well ventilated there is really no ammonia build up at all. Especially in my male only feeder tubs, that's an important thing with many male rodents in one area.

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Originally Posted by Hathor

Now that you've used the new bins for a while, have you had any problems with rats escaping or any other problems? Have you altered the design any since making those? I want to try making some myself. Thanks!

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I haven't had any escapees from those bins. They work wonderfully and as Jo said...there is plenty of air circulation which cuts way down on the amonia smell.

I believe I have a total of 8 of them now and they are all the same. No changes for me.

:D

Thanks for your help! I'm going to go get the supplies today!!! I can't wait to make them!

Just make sure of a few things...

- the bins have the good snap/lock top not the simple snap on lid

- pick the bins with the least amount of ridges inside, helps prevent chewing and also is one less place for poop to stick (makes life easier when you are cleaning a lot of bins)

- buy the heaviest grade zip ties you can find

- buy 1/2" hardware cloth (1/4" for mice) not chicken wire, any rodent worth it's teeth can go through chicken wire like a hot knife through butter

You should look into getting a rat rack. the bins slide and so you dont have to remove a lid each time. You can simply pull out a tray. as well there is then a central water feed that runs off a hose or a 5 gallon bucket. you dont have to change a thousand water bottles everynight then. I have one a love it.

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Originally Posted by hype1108

You should look into getting a rat rack. the bins slide and so you dont have to remove a lid each time. You can simply pull out a tray. as well there is then a central water feed that runs off a hose or a 5 gallon bucket. you dont have to change a thousand water bottles everynight then. I have one a love it.

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We plan on looking into those down the road once everything gets moving, but they are pretty expensive when you are just starting out and my wife, Hathor, keeps me pretty busy building snake stuff so I really do not have the time to mess with building our own rat rack at this time. This looks like a pretty good alternative in the mean time compared to buying each individual bin from a supplier.

How many rats can/should be housed in one of those 35 gallon tubs?

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Originally Posted by Epona142

Would it be feasible to cut out a hole in the side wire, just big enough for a food hopper (such as the ones they sell for rabbit hutches) to fit in? That way someone little like me could refill food without unstacking or opening tubs, and the rats wouldn't be able to scatter it like from bowls. (Well, they would, just not as quickly, LOL)

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I made my tubs and attached a j-feeder by cutting out just enough of the hardwire cloth for it to fit through (approx 5-1/2" by 1-3/4").

Here's my version: I couldn't find the Sterilite tubs, so I bought 36gal Rubbermaid tubs with locking lids ($12) and the panels I cut in the sides are 16" x 10". I used a hotknife from Michael's ($16.99) to cut out the panels. I used the 1/2" hardwire cloth (big roll was $8.99), and I bought a 50 foot roll of 19 gauge galvanized steel wire ($2.29) to lace on the hardwire cloth. I bought 5-1/2" j-feeders ($6.50) and 32oz water bottles ($4.50).

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/n...n/ratbins4.jpg

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/n...n/ratbins2.jpg

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/n...n/ratbins6.jpg

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/n...n/ratbins3.jpg

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/n...on/ratbins.jpg

We have used the same idea on these bins, but recently had to switch to wiring for keeping the hardware cloth attached, as 2 of our totes were constantly losing zip ties due to chewing.

My hubby took 18 gauge galvanized steel wire and threaded it through the holes we had for the zip ties already and then twisted together at the end and it works very well so far. At least they can't chew it off :)

Went out and bought the first bin right after this post started. Liked it so much went out and got another one around easter (hence the purple tub). They have been working great. I too had a hard time with the cutting of the openings. But got it done. :) Thanks for the great idea, sorry it took me this long to post it. :rolleyes:

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...17/ratbins.jpg

Geesh April I'm totally jealous of that cool purple rat bin! I love purple! :)

Funny thing is I was a little upset when we went to get the second one and all they had was purple and a mint green (easter colors). But it's grown on me. Of course it was the bachelor pad at first till the rats got big enough to be put together to breed. :) But it is nice having two different colors so I know who is in which tub. :)

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Originally Posted by SatanicIntention

Those look good. Nice cross ventilation. I would really put the mesh on the inside though, it will help decrease the chance that they can get to the plastic. If it's eye-level, they will chew it, IME. I wish they made metal zip ties.. I've had enough of the plastic ones chewed to last me a lifetime(although the dwarves haven't touched the zip ties holding their custom cage together... Beats me!).

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Paper clips + needlenose pliers= Metal twist/zip tie.

No experience, just an idea.

Maybe my rats aren't big chewers or something because I rarely have a zip tie nipped off by them. Mike did find some black really heavy grade zip ties so maybe that's it but I just don't have them nipping at the zip ties much at all.

How do you cut the tubs without cracking the plastic? I cut a lid once to make a top for a homemade cricket keeper and it kept cracking.

Jimmy

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Originally Posted by SatanicIntention

Those look good. Nice cross ventilation. I would really put the mesh on the inside though, it will help decrease the chance that they can get to the plastic. If it's eye-level, they will chew it, IME. I wish they made metal zip ties.. I've had enough of the plastic ones chewed to last me a lifetime(although the dwarves haven't touched the zip ties holding their custom cage together... Beats me!).

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Habor freight sells metal ties. I use pop rivots with large washers on each side works great!

Hey, here's a few pics of mine that i just build. i tied it with 20 gauge galvanized wired.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...4/DSCN0821.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...4/DSCN0824.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...4/DSCN0833.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...4/DSCN0834.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...4/DSCN0848.jpg

great pictures and awesome setup ideas. I was wondering how many of these tubs I will need to make? Can you please explain how many I will need and how to seperate the mice exactly? Explain it to me like im a 3 year old or something so that I understand it lol

thanks :banana:

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Originally Posted by SatanicIntention

Those look good. Nice cross ventilation. I would really put the mesh on the inside though, it will help decrease the chance that they can get to the plastic. If it's eye-level, they will chew it, IME. I wish they made metal zip ties.. I've had enough of the plastic ones chewed to last me a lifetime(although the dwarves haven't touched the zip ties holding their custom cage together... Beats me!).

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There are companys that make metal zip ties here is a link to one http://www.nelcoproducts.com/shoppin...?pid=76&cid=36
an instead of using zip ties 18 gage steel wire found at craft stores works very well at securing wire meshing and isnt that difficult to work with. i've used the wire on two tubs so far and it has worked out great so far.

If you only run the mesh on the top of the sides instead of further down like you have them as strips of around 2-4" but about the same length as you have yours would it still adequately ventilate?

I'm wondering because I'd prefer not to have to worry about kick out/them chewing out. I also would like to be able to stack them too. I've been debating with myself whether running the mesh on the lid or on the sides would be best, but if I did it high enough on the sides they should have a low likelihood of getting up there and chewing out as well as allowing me to stack the bins.

I know this is an old thread but wanted to add in what i have done .
My asf grow up bins i have cut the lids with a knife/box cutter and attached wire to the inside of the lids with rivvets that way it is secure and they cant chew through , I am looking at doing one with the sides cut out and try that

I am in the process of wanting to build a rat cage too. Decided it would be cheaper to breed my own rats for the snakes instead of buying them all the time. Love your idea. I heard that housing them in an aquarium is not good for them due to the fact that they can't breath as well.

Joanne

I used this design, but I had major problems with the rats chewing on the plastic, they made HUGE holes lol. So instead I cut out a whole on the lid and put mesh over that. Now the little suckers can't chew anything.