How to Build Housing for Chinchillas

Chinchillas are active animals and need a big cage to accommodate their stamina. Chinchilla housing can be pricey. It's also hard to find one that meets the space requirements for your home. The best thing you can do is build your own. Hand-made housing for chinchillas is a reward all its own.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Decide if you want your chinchilla's housing to have solid or mesh siding. If you live in a warm area it is a good idea to keep the sides mesh because solid siding tends to make the housing uncomfortably warm.

2. Find a supplier of large rolls of cage wire. The wire should be 3/4-inch square galvanized welded mesh and preferably 12- or 14-gauge wire. This is usually sold at feed and supply stores.

3. Sketch out the size and shape of the chinchilla housing. Take in to account how much available room you have. It is also a good idea to buy the litter pan before you build the cage so that you know the dimensions you need for the bottom of the cage.

4. Add up the length of the sections to determine the amount of wood you need for the frame. Buy the wood from your local timber merchant or a store. Buy enough wood to build shelves for your chinchillas to climb on for exercise and play.

5. Construct a frame for the litter tray. You can do this making vertical sections for the sides and back of the tray and a letter slot effect for the front of the tray. Use screws to fasten the pieces together.

6. Cut a front panel, back panel, two side panels and a top panel to the measurements you made in your sketch. Make the panels as decorative or basic as you desire. Use a drill and screws to fasten.

7. Use a staple gun to secure the mesh on to the frame. Make sure not to leave any gaps in the mesh as your chinchilla can escape.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not use treated wood when making the chinchilla housing. It is poisonous to animals. Untreated pine is the recommended wood to use.