How to make a Hamster cage.

Making your own hamster cage can be simple, easy, and fun. Customizing your cage to your hamster's needs, allows you make the perfect home for you small furry friend. All you need is some common everyday home improvement items and you're ready to go!

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• large plastic bin
• electric drill with drill bits
• small hacksaw
• all-purpose snips
• hardware cloth
• ruler
• marker
• 1/4 - 20 x 1/2 machine screws with nuts and washers (about 20 of each)
• phillips screwdriver

1. A large clear plastic bin. Select an appropriate sized bin for your hamster cage. 90 quart works best for Syrian hamsters. For small hamsters a smaller sized bin is fine.
2. Marking the area you will be cutting out. On the bottom side of the lid, measure the area you will cut out for the vent with a marker. Be sure to leave some space on each side for the hardware cloth.
3. Drill two holes at each corner. Using the hand drill, drill two holes very close together so that they overlap. Do this at each corner, this will be the hole where the hacksaw will go through.
4. Using a small hacksaw to cut the plastic. Use a small hacksaw and cut along the lines you drew to cut out the piece of plastic from the lid.
5. Take the hardware cloth and see how much cloth you will need to cut.
6. Heavy duty snips cutting hardware cloth. Using snips cut out the amount of hardware cloth needed.
7. Now cut off any pieces that are sticking out of the hardware cloth.
8. Place the hardware cloth over the hole and mark where you will need drill for the machine screws. Do this along the entire edge every few inches. Make sure you keep the hardware cloth in place to get accurate drilling spots.
9. Drill out holes where you marked in step 8. Tip: If you are unsure as to which size drill bit to use test them out on the piece of plastic you cut out from the lid.
10. Place a washer and machine screw on the bottom and secure it with a nut on the opposite side. Do this on four opposite sides to secure the hardware cloth. Then screw in the remaining holes. Use a screwdriver if needed to fasten the bolts tight.
11. A wall mounted water bottle with release latch. Add any accessories such as water bottles to your hamster cage.
12. Clean your hamster cage bin out. Make sure you remove any plastic shavings and fragments.
13. Add bedding, toys, house and any other things your hamster might need.
14. Add hamster.
15. Jim the happy hamster. Your hamster will be happy with all your effort.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure your hamster has plenty of outside time. This will prevent your hamster from getting too bored and chewing on the cage.
• If your lid does not close tightly you can secure it by using large binder clips.
• Avoid using objects that are too high. Hamsters are good climbers and may hang upside down from the vent which could result in injury if they fall.