Some pics of my rat racks (eh why not)

[bishop40k]

Just got bored and figured I'd take some rat room pics.

Breeding Rack:


Birthing Rack:


Mouse Rack (still waiting for plumbing and mice):



Breeding rack is semi-based on Ralph Davis' designs (found jumbo litter pans for right about $5 each). Birthing Rack is based on a member here's picture, not digging the iris tubs with rails, will be grinding their "feet" off and going with under support. Mouse rack was just a weird thought.

[jasbus]

your mouse rackk is exactly as I build them.. down to the 3/4" conduit for rails...but, a word to the wise.... You will want to add a piece of wood over each tub. The mice can push the screen up and go tub to tub, or out a corner...

[Amon Ra Reptiles]

In the spring or summer of next year we are building a rat facility and I had thought of the rails for the to sit on I think I like that idea as opposed to slide rails.

[bishop40k]

actually I used 1/2 conduit, will be adding a spacer to hold it up a the pipe up a little better in the center, as it seems to sag a little. (learned to make narrower racks next time). I had originally wanted to do 2x2's as the under support, but noticed too much bowing/warping/twisting in the wood for longer runs.

What do you mean the mice can push the screen up? I'm using 1/4" hardware cloth and stapled it every 4".

Maybe showing me what you mean would work better.

[jasbus]

Yeah, on a 5 tub wide, you'll need 3/4" conduit, even it sags just a bit, but not bad enough to worry about. Cut out some wedges out of scrap 2x4, and just wedge them between the next frame and under the conduit where needed...
And, yes, my orginal design was out of split 2x4's for the bottom rail, but like you said, it warps and just isn't even enough,so I went with conduit, and haven't looked back.

On the frames, if you run a piece of 2x2 front to back over the edges where the tubs touch, instead of running a long piece from side to side... That makes the tubs touch wood all around, where the mice can't just push up on the screen and get out.

[JohnNJ]

Just check the spacing at the back of the tub when you pull it out and it clears the back support. Make sure there's little to no gap between the top edge of the tub and the screen or some of the smaller guys will slip out.

The remedy is the front to back 2x2 on the screen that jasbus mentioned. It is a nice design but it needs testing and tweaking before you fill it with rodents. I know from experience.

[bishop40k]

Ok, I see what you guys are saying. This is my first mouse rack as I normally hate them with a passion, but the local pet store that I get my feed from is in desperate need of a mouse supplier locally, so I said I would give it a shot. Guess my rack needs some tweaking (stupid mice).

[jasbus]

Just check the spacing at the back of the tub when you pull it out and it clears the back support. Make sure there's little to no gap between the top edge of the tub and the screen or some of the smaller guys will slip out.

The remedy is the front to back 2x2 on the screen that jasbus mentioned. It is a nice design but it needs testing and tweaking before you fill it with rodents. I know from experience.

The mouse rack is different from the rack you built John. I still can't figure out why you had a problem with the rat rack...

Anyway, even with the tubs closed, the mice can push up on the screen without the extra pieces of wood to support the screening.

[bishop40k]

Thanks jasbus. I was actually in the process of going through all your old posts when I noticed your number of images had changed so jumped back on this thread and saw this post.

I was figuring that was what you were talking about. And it looks like you have a little closer spacing between one frame and the next than I do. I think I went with either 6-8" between frames.

Do you mind if I email you? would rather not clutter this thread with the millions of questions I'd like to ask you.

[jasbus]

No problem...
jasbus@hotmail.com

Outta here til tomorrow though...