We won't get our two baby boys until June 17th but we've been thinking about some cute names. Emmy wants to name hers Pip.... and I am thinking that it would be really apprpriate to call mine Squeak. Still thinking about it. Also, the breeder we are getting them from has another litter that we will be getting a girl to add into the mix. No worries, our boys will be neutered so there will not be any babies. The girl will most likely be named Delilah. They so cute...... Looking forward to bringing them all home!
You can see a picture of the girls parents here http://fortheloveofrats.weebly.com/katniss-x-finnick.html
Thursday, May 31, 2012
little pet play pen
I knew we needed a large area for the the kids and the rats to run around on the floor and play freely. I wanted to make or buy a play pen type enclosure with walls high enough that they would not be able to clawl under or jump out. I did see an nice option online that was flexible plastic that you can roll up tighly. The problems were cost and it was not high enough (only 2 ft tall and about $45 before shipping). The other option was to collect cardboard boxes and make our own. That envolves a lot of time and energy trying to find boxes that are the same hight and enough of them. Not to mention a lot of cutting and..... just a lot of work. And again, it's nice if it's not ugly.
So finally I settled on what I think is a great idea, and preferable in every way to the others. I've bought 32"x40" white foam board. It's slick on the outside and heavy enought that I don't think they will be able to get under it. I would be shocked if they could jump over it. So I've set the boards up sided by side (long ways on the floor) and taped the edges together with that cute colored Duck tape. I spaced them out on the tape leaving enough space in the middle so that it can be folded up easily accordian style. By making it this was you can add as many boards as you want, and still create as small or as large an enclosure as you want each time. Also, you can fold it and put it away neatly.
The best part is the cost. Each board at Hobby Lobby is $5.99, but with the 40% off coupon I got them for $3.82 a pc. The Duck Tape is about $4.
I only have 4 boards put together so far, but here is what it looks like. I plan on adding at least 2 more, and maybe a few more later.
So finally I settled on what I think is a great idea, and preferable in every way to the others. I've bought 32"x40" white foam board. It's slick on the outside and heavy enought that I don't think they will be able to get under it. I would be shocked if they could jump over it. So I've set the boards up sided by side (long ways on the floor) and taped the edges together with that cute colored Duck tape. I spaced them out on the tape leaving enough space in the middle so that it can be folded up easily accordian style. By making it this was you can add as many boards as you want, and still create as small or as large an enclosure as you want each time. Also, you can fold it and put it away neatly.
The best part is the cost. Each board at Hobby Lobby is $5.99, but with the 40% off coupon I got them for $3.82 a pc. The Duck Tape is about $4.
I only have 4 boards put together so far, but here is what it looks like. I plan on adding at least 2 more, and maybe a few more later.
New floor idea
One of the issues we had with the wire floor cage was the trying to find something to attach to the floor that would protect the rats feet, be light weight and easy to clean, not easily destroyed by rat teeth, and here's the hard part.... attractive. Or at least not completely ugly.
I searched high and low on the Internet for new ideas. Some use tile, linoleum, cardboard (did I mention I wanted it to be durable).... anyway, I didn't like any of those ideas. Many people use fleece, the problem was that even with two layers sewn together, I wasn't happy. Though I knew they were probably fine, I could still feel the wires by just lightly resting my hand on the floors. The other problem was how to attach them easily to the floors and ramps without them getting moved around or chewed.
And then it came to me, plexiglass. It's very durable, relatively inexpensive, and the best part - clear! I bought enough for all the floors and ramps, a special cutting tool, and some extra zip ties. In the end I think I maybe spend about $25 on the whole thing and I am confident it will last a very long time. So I cut the pieces to size, not an easy task but it only took about 3 hours total. I drilled 2 little holes in each corner and used small zip ties to hold the floors and ramps in place.
Here is a picture of what one of the floors looks like....
You can also see I have some velcro on the corners. I bought velcro that is sticky on one piece ( for the plexiglass) and sewed the other connecting piece to fleece that is cut to fit. I have fleece covering all the plexiglass surfaces to make it easier for the rats to climb the ramps and so they don't fall from the ledges. To clean the fleece all we have to do is rip it up and throw it in the wash! So easy a 6 yr old could do it- my 6 yr old ;)
Also, Em has made a fun play ground for the rats. She made it all by herself and I think she has done a really good job. Here is a picture of that -
I searched high and low on the Internet for new ideas. Some use tile, linoleum, cardboard (did I mention I wanted it to be durable).... anyway, I didn't like any of those ideas. Many people use fleece, the problem was that even with two layers sewn together, I wasn't happy. Though I knew they were probably fine, I could still feel the wires by just lightly resting my hand on the floors. The other problem was how to attach them easily to the floors and ramps without them getting moved around or chewed.
And then it came to me, plexiglass. It's very durable, relatively inexpensive, and the best part - clear! I bought enough for all the floors and ramps, a special cutting tool, and some extra zip ties. In the end I think I maybe spend about $25 on the whole thing and I am confident it will last a very long time. So I cut the pieces to size, not an easy task but it only took about 3 hours total. I drilled 2 little holes in each corner and used small zip ties to hold the floors and ramps in place.
Here is a picture of what one of the floors looks like....
You can also see I have some velcro on the corners. I bought velcro that is sticky on one piece ( for the plexiglass) and sewed the other connecting piece to fleece that is cut to fit. I have fleece covering all the plexiglass surfaces to make it easier for the rats to climb the ramps and so they don't fall from the ledges. To clean the fleece all we have to do is rip it up and throw it in the wash! So easy a 6 yr old could do it- my 6 yr old ;)
Also, Em has made a fun play ground for the rats. She made it all by herself and I think she has done a really good job. Here is a picture of that -
She has actually added even more to it since this was taken. I'm sure they will love it.
Friday, May 25, 2012
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