Cottie
Well-known member
This is my "score" from 2 weeks ago. Solidly constructed 3-tier 2'x4' cage for $75. Each level that two doors. We cleaned it up and removed the worst areas of rust.
Unfortunately, the wire bottoms for each level is PVC coated, and starting to peel is some places. Two levels have 1"x1" bottoms, not suitable for kits. Since it's made for dogs, the sides are 2"x4" sections, again, not kit friendly. It also came with no dropping pans. I couldn't find any that fit that size. So we took a road trip to Klubertanz. (Aside: they're super duper nice people, and their shop is EXTREMELY easy to miss in the middle of nowhere!)
We got: 4 2'x2' dropping pans, 2'x4' precut wire bottoms. perforated dividers if I ever want to make it 6 2'x2' cages, chew-resistant food bowls, and hayracks. We were going to get urine guards to use as kit guards also, but they were too $$$ ($36 for all I'd need).
The dropping pans were too tall, so I had to go back. :x BUT when I went back I also found 18" plastic piece, left over from making other items. They're 6"-7", and were only 30 cents a piece. I got enough to do all the cages for $9!!
Installed the hay racks on Wednesday. Note: do NOT use the metal ones if you can avoid it. I have 4 stitches in my thumb from one snapping back.
So now, we're in the midst of the second round of upgrades. The top level has the the precut bottom covering the base and most of the "kit guard" attached.
We just used small zip ties to hold the bottom and kit guards in place. It's super easy on the sides, because I just need to drill several holes and run the tie though - no construction skills required!
We'll be keeping a breeding doe in each level, then moving the kits to a grow-out pen as they wean.
__________ Sun Jul 21, 2013 8:32 pm __________
And please excuse the messy garage in the first photo. We moved the mamas and kits in there at the start of the heatwave because it was much cooler than the coop.
Unfortunately, the wire bottoms for each level is PVC coated, and starting to peel is some places. Two levels have 1"x1" bottoms, not suitable for kits. Since it's made for dogs, the sides are 2"x4" sections, again, not kit friendly. It also came with no dropping pans. I couldn't find any that fit that size. So we took a road trip to Klubertanz. (Aside: they're super duper nice people, and their shop is EXTREMELY easy to miss in the middle of nowhere!)
We got: 4 2'x2' dropping pans, 2'x4' precut wire bottoms. perforated dividers if I ever want to make it 6 2'x2' cages, chew-resistant food bowls, and hayracks. We were going to get urine guards to use as kit guards also, but they were too $$$ ($36 for all I'd need).
The dropping pans were too tall, so I had to go back. :x BUT when I went back I also found 18" plastic piece, left over from making other items. They're 6"-7", and were only 30 cents a piece. I got enough to do all the cages for $9!!
Installed the hay racks on Wednesday. Note: do NOT use the metal ones if you can avoid it. I have 4 stitches in my thumb from one snapping back.
So now, we're in the midst of the second round of upgrades. The top level has the the precut bottom covering the base and most of the "kit guard" attached.
We just used small zip ties to hold the bottom and kit guards in place. It's super easy on the sides, because I just need to drill several holes and run the tie though - no construction skills required!
We'll be keeping a breeding doe in each level, then moving the kits to a grow-out pen as they wean.
__________ Sun Jul 21, 2013 8:32 pm __________
And please excuse the messy garage in the first photo. We moved the mamas and kits in there at the start of the heatwave because it was much cooler than the coop.
