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Chinchillas => Cages => Topic started by: almost vegan on January 31, 2012, 03:04:59 PM

Title: PLEASE HELP!!! need an escspe proof playpen
Post by: almost vegan on January 31, 2012, 03:04:59 PM
I live in a small nyc apartment and cannot devote a room to snickerdoodle.we got a pet enclosure/gate but the bars are 1and1/2 inches apart and he has tried to esto mention he can get stuck or hurt! Does anyone have a playpen that's high enough to.prevent jumping out and of the right gauge thickness so he cant gnaw out? The one we have now is 36 inches high so far no escapes. We need a play area large enough to fit human adults as well as our chinchilla. PLEASE HELP!!
thanks.
Title: Re: PLEASE HELP!!! need an escspe proof playpen
Post by: chinclub on January 31, 2012, 04:56:39 PM
You will not find a play pen tall enough to prevent jumping out.  Chinchillas can jump 7 feet straight up.  Your best bet is to chinchilla-proof the bathroom and play on the floor in there with him.
Title: Re: PLEASE HELP!!! need an escspe proof playpen
Post by: almost vegan on January 31, 2012, 08:35:32 PM
I knOw they can jump. But that high?! Oh dear. The bathroom isn't an option: way too small. NYC remember?  :)
Any other suggestions? Thanks for the fast response.
Title: Re: PLEASE HELP!!! need an escspe proof playpen
Post by: GracesChoice on January 31, 2012, 10:54:19 PM
i just chinchilla proofed my entire first floor and let tellee run around there with supervision
Title: Re: PLEASE HELP!!! need an escspe proof playpen
Post by: chinclub on February 01, 2012, 07:17:32 AM
I bet he had a blast!
Title: Re: PLEASE HELP!!! need an escspe proof playpen
Post by: GrayRodent on February 01, 2012, 08:06:03 AM
What would happen if it did manage to get out while you were supervising it?
Title: Re: PLEASE HELP!!! need an escspe proof playpen
Post by: almost vegan on February 01, 2012, 05:24:36 PM
He's so fast! I'm afraid I'd never catch him! Also there are really dangerous areas on my apartment that cannot be made safe for him.
Title: Re: PLEASE HELP!!! need an escspe proof playpen
Post by: GrayRodent on February 03, 2012, 11:42:42 AM
This may be an off the wall kind of suggestion but have you thought of building one out of rolled steel wire mesh? You might could even make a roof for it and wire it on. Making it easily collapsible would be an interesting design challenge though. You might could use hook/loop straps at the ceiling and joints (not chew proof but make sure he would have to get through more than one to open it). 1" x 1" bar spacing might work for an adult chinchilla.
Title: Re: PLEASE HELP!!! need an escspe proof playpen
Post by: mojito on March 02, 2012, 01:21:03 AM
not sure if this topic is stil checked at all; but I just made a really good playpen for my chin in my room. If you're interested I'll be glad to send pics and an outline of what I did.
Title: Re: PLEASE HELP!!! need an escspe proof playpen
Post by: GrayRodent on March 02, 2012, 07:06:22 AM
I'd like to see that. I'm interested in building one myself for when I can have a chin.
Title: Re: PLEASE HELP!!! need an escspe proof playpen
Post by: mojito on March 04, 2012, 08:01:56 AM
Here I bought 3 (I only needed two) boxes at a local UHAUL store. I got the small wardrobe boxes; since they were 3 feet high once folded. I then taped up any and all spaces in the cardboard. (Amazingly I couldn't find reenforced tape anywhere; which I recommend and plan on using over the duct tape). If you do use reenforced duct tape please make sure it stops above where the chin can chew on the strings. I then added a hook and eye to make a fun door for me and my sister; but you can also tape that as well :)
Title: Re: PLEASE HELP!!! need an escspe proof playpen
Post by: GrayRodent on March 04, 2012, 06:37:10 PM
That's the easy way! I wasn't expecting that. How is it holding up?
Title: Re: PLEASE HELP!!! need an escspe proof playpen
Post by: mojito on March 04, 2012, 11:07:29 PM
it may be super easy but its working amazingly! uhaul boxes are more expensive but he hasn't been able to knock them down; super chin proof so far :)
you can put a sheet over it to make it a real fort too (my sister who is 12 loves it haha)