What is it?

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PetProductsByNature

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I can't help myself, I keep getting stuck in "bird land". Krickett woud use this as either a ladder or a bridge, but what would every other kritter use it for? This is made of 6" elm for the cross sections, willow and mulberry chews that are about 1 1/4" - 2" diameters, and pumice stones. It's all strung on 16 guage wire with the ends tucked away securely so nobody gets poked. It's a bit flexible, yet very strong, could be twisted just a bit like a spiral staircase, but not a full 180 as it's all strung very tightly. As you can see by the yardstick, it's 36" long and 6" wide. I haven't added any attachment hardware as I don't know how it should be attached to a cage to fit the needs of chins, ect. Krickett, and I suppose many birds, are acrobats and if I were to attach it with just one eyehook and pearlink on each end, she would cling for dear life and try to conquer it. (granted she has claws strong enough to hang upside down and spends much of her time that way) I see in one thread that a member is looking for a ladder...are ladders used in chin-a-tats...while looking around I don't think I saw any in pics or any listed in the classifieds...so am unsure.
So my questions would be:

  • Could this be used for a cage accessory for a chin?

  • Does it need to be attached so it stays stable or can it wiggle? Should we attach it at 2 points per end or just 1? And if it were a ladder of some sort, would it need to be attached on the bottom?

But the name of the game it "What Is it?" (kind of like 'name the new baby zebra' at the zoo" So.....

  • What shall we call it? Please keep in mind that we make items for:
    Chinchillas, Hedgehogs, Sugar Gliders, Ferrets, Prairie Dogs, Degus, Mice, Guinea Pigs, Hamsters, Rats, Squirrels, Gerbils, & other Pet Rodents, Rabbits & Bunnies, Cockatoos, Macaws, Cockatiels, Sun Conures, Quakers, Caiques, Senegals, Eclectus, African Greys, Amazons, Parakeets, Parrotlets, & Other Birds & Parrots, Tarantulas, Hermit Crabs, Frogs, Turtles, Snakes, Geckos, Iguanas, Scorpions & Other Reptiles, Herps, Insects & Amphibians...so a generic name like "Chin Ladder" will not do.

WhatIsIt.jpg


Unlike the zoos where they never let the winner take the baby zebra home, the prize for the winning answers is this "What Is It?" hardware & shipping included. You just have to promise me you'll send me (or post) a picture of your chinnie on it.
 
People may think its good or unsafe, myself I had a ladder in a cage with two chins, one chin stuck its head in between the "slats" and one chin zoomed it from behind knocking the chin with the head between the slat off the ladder, I saw the whole thing and the chin was lucky it did not get its neck broken. No ladders for my chins, just my opinion and experience others will most likely will disagree and that is fine, everyone has to make their own decision as far as safety goes.
 
Tickelchin - You seem to have an inordinantly large amount of worries with your chins. It is starting to seem like you pretty much have an opinion to the negative about anything that gets posted. Do you just throw your chins chunks of wood? Do you bolt them to the floor so they don't fall over on the floor and crush the chins? What kind of toys DO you approve of?

I think it looks like a cool toy. I think a chin would have an awesome time chewing that to bits and I doubt they would have much time to get stuck if they were busy chewing. The spacing certainly seems adequate, for even the big headed beasties.

As far as naming it? Pfffft. I have enough trouble coming up with names for my chins. I'm not creative enough to name a new toy. Plus, who would I give it to if I won?? There would be mutiny! :)
 
How about "The Highway to Wood Heaven" or "Stairway to Wood Heaven".

Now everyone is going to either have ACDC or Led Zeppelin stuck in their head. :hilarious:
 
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tunes.. :)

"Whatchamacallit!" ..it has everything ....and I can just see Palay destroying it while Obsidian sits in the hammie and observes her "adopted child" dismantling it.. :p
 
Wow! That looks like a "Chew-A-Thon" and a half for chinnies :laughitup:

I doubt I would use it as a ladder (I'd break it with my fat bottom for a start :p) but more because I have single level cages for the most part so getting from one level to another is not so much of a necessity. I'd probably bend it into an interesting shape and maybe attach one end to the cage wall - it could be used as a sort of wibbly wobbly low shelf too - or a climbing frame rather than a ladder per-se. It could also be turned on it's side if people are worried about chins getting caught between the "slats" - I think it's got real potential and could be used in all sorts of ways.
I also bet the chins take one look and go "CHEW!!" :hilarious:

I like it :thumbs:
 
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I think it could be a good toy. With chins it would need to have large enough holes between the rungs just so the chins wouldn't get stuck in them. That may make the toy really huge... I'd probably recommend having that hole in between be at least 4"x4", probably 6"x 6" would be ideal for the average chin. (Although, lately some chins are MUCH larger and that area may need to be more like 6"x8"!)

Maybe you could make a ladder with less rungs. Instead of ten, go with 6 or 7. Possibly make it a little wider. I'd definitely attach it in two places on both ends. Even with that, make sure that there's nothing the chin can get stuck in.

You just have to think like a chinchilla. That means anticipating pinch points, places where they will get stuck, and definitely what would happen as the toy is destroyed and pieces are widdled down or even completely removed from the toy. I think that the chins would probably demolish the pumice and make all the other pieces slide down. What would happen to the spacing of everything if some of the pieces were chewed off?

The larger toys can be more difficult because they pose a greater risk to the chins. They can get stuck, have things fall, knock things around, etc. You probably need to come out and observe some of the chins here...that way you can see what I mean. Chinchillas are extremely energetic and athletic with a set of chainsaw teeth...er, chinsaw teeth.


Sorry that they make it so hard to make good models of toys for them. :( I'd call it the "Critter Stepper".

Peggy - often my chins only get pieces of wood to chew on...and if I am in a hurry I may throw the pieces in the cage quickly. :p
 
That's not what I meant Susan. I meant is that the only thing she deemed 'safe.' A piece of wood bolted to the floor of the cage. Everybody throws wood to their chins, that's nothing new. But would you comment on someone doing that and tell them it's unsafe?

I don't have time to make toys for all my cages. All my chins get is loose wood, even big hunks of wood. But I suppose if you tried hard enough, you could find a way to comment on that being dangerous too.
 
AZChins said:
With chins it would need to have large enough holes between the rungs just so the chins wouldn't get stuck in them. That may make the toy really huge... I'd probably recommend having that hole in between be at least 4"x4", probably 6"x 6" would be ideal for the average chin. (Although, lately some chins are MUCH larger and that area may need to be more like 6"x8"!)
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I'm not sure why you think chins need such huge gaps? I've seen a chin squish itself behind a cage 2 inches from the wall and shimmy up, down, sideways with no problems at all. In polygamous systems and breeder runs the pophole (you call them jump holes in the US I believe) are 3 inches round and some of the biggest chins can get through them no problem. As an example, I have a 995g female who gets through a pophole with great speed when she chooses. :thumbs:

Barbi, I think the gaps are fine.

As a general suggestion - I don't know if you do this already but it might be worth asking someone to try one of them out with several chins to see if there are any problems - you need a couple of "guinea pig" chin owners who know their salt who can try out stuff for you. :hmm:
 
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I was kidding... I did a :p :) Of course everyone throws in little pieces of wood and other things for the chins. I know that I do! When I get super lazy I put in a block of wood or a 4" pecan stump. I get lazier and lazier... It has nothing to do with safety, mostly it has to do with having 130 cages of chins needing toys and not having the time to make them all fancy. :)

Chins don't necessarily like things being bolted to the floor...they like to move things, take things up high and throw them! Ever been hit by a flying piece of wood that they have crafted into an aerodynamic projectile? It happens to me all the time!

I don't think it's unsafe. Nope. It's probably better to try to offer constructive criticism and offer a helping hand when someone has a new idea. Criticism does not need to be negative or cause any hard feelings.
 
Claire, it's just to ensure that the chin isn't going to be flying around the cage and hit something just right and get injured or stuck. I always make sure that when I put up ledges or flower pots or whatever that I have four inches of space all around just so that there is no chance of any accidents. With something that is flexible and hanging, it would be better to have a HUGE space to offer a large margin of error.

If a chin goes running around the cage really fast not watching where he's going, you need to be 100% certain that he's not going to get tangled up in anything or get stuck in anything. If a chin gets stuck around the neck even in a larger space, it can result in an injury. That would be why I would make it larger....and why not make the spacing larger? The chins will be able to get to everything regardless because they are very proficient at jumping and climbing. :)
 
AZChins said:
Claire, it's just to ensure that the chin isn't going to be flying around the cage and hit something just right and get injured or stuck. I always make sure that when I put up ledges or flower pots or whatever that I have four inches of space all around just so that there is no chance of any accidents. With something that is flexible and hanging, it would be better to have a HUGE space to offer a large margin of error.

If a chin goes running around the cage really fast not watching where he's going, you need to be 100% certain that he's not going to get tangled up in anything or get stuck in anything. If a chin gets stuck around the neck even in a larger space, it can result in an injury. That would be why I would make it larger....and why not make the spacing larger? The chins will be able to get to everything regardless because they are very proficient at jumping and climbing. :)
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:hmm: In which case everyone would be better off having nothing at all in cages so the chins can be safe when flying around ................ sorry but that logic does not work for me. :)

My chins have cage furniture, hammocks, ledges, bits of wood etc in their cages - you can't prevent every single possible accident - I'd rather my chins had plenty of environmental enrichment than be perfectly "safe" and completely bored. Besides which there is a huge difference between a dangerous toy/product and one which may possibly injure a chin because they are chins.
 
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Oh good...that is something I needed to know..."(chins) are very proficient at...climbing.
At least, Susan, if the chins ate the pumice stones off this, and the rungs slid around more easily, that would give them a bigger gap...but honestly, I see what you're saying, I see what you're all saying and I respect your opinions.
On a brighter note, Jeff and I are sitting here reading the responses and LOAO (is that okay to say that?)...he says as he walks out the door, "wait till you see what other death traps we are putting together." He's only joking and he has one of the BEST laughs... So any takers on trying out the new toyline? PM me please...that I think would be better not discussed on here...Just Me...
 
Looks tasty whatever you end up naming it! I would add hardware to both ends (top and bottom) and hang/pull it flush against the cage wall horizontally(as pictured) right above a long ledge with minimal give. No chance of any chin falling through any opening and they'd have access to it all. When they are done, flip it over for backside chewing! :)

What would I call it? It kind of reminds me of a fence so I'd call it a "Pick-it fence" and maybe give the customer the choice of woods being used depending on what their chin/bird/other animal likes/prefers. :)
 
Puddles&Chubbs said:
Looks tasty whatever you end up naming it! I would add hardware to both ends (top and bottom) and hang/pull it flush against the cage wall horizontally(as pictured) right above a long ledge with minimal give. No chance of any chin falling through any opening and they'd have access to it all. When they are done, flip it over for backside chewing! :)

What would I call it? It kind of reminds me of a fence so I'd call it a "Pick-it fence" and maybe give the customer the choice of woods being used depending on what their chin/bird/other animal likes/prefers. :)
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ROFL!!! (I;m gettin' good huh? my (grown) kids are teaching me all this neat stuff :wink2:

I absolutely love that! I mean I LOVE IT!!! But, not to cut the others of you short, this one just seems to roll off the tongue. I think I'll do this with every new toy idea we come up with...this is too much fun.

Oh, so how long would it need to be to pull flush agains the wall of a cage? or I guess really it wouldn't matter if it could be attached to any cage wire, right?
 
Not Just Anyone ~ Just Me said:
ROFL!!! (I;m gettin' good huh? my (grown) kids are teaching me all this neat stuff :wink2:

I absolutely love that! I mean I LOVE IT!!! But, not to cut the others of you short, this one just seems to roll off the tongue. I think I'll do this with every new toy idea we come up with...this is too much fun.

Oh, so how long would it need to be to pull flush agains the wall of a cage? or I guess really it wouldn't matter if it could be attached to any cage wire, right?
Click to expand...

Length would only be an issue when it comes to how long certain cage sides are. You could probably offer them in different lengths, 1 ft, 2 ft, 3 ft., and have the customer decide which would be best for their need. I was thinking just using pear clips one on the top and bottom of each end stick to attach to the bars.
 
Okay guys - Let's get the thread back on track. Everybody can feel free to contribute something, as long as it's not constantly negative, so there's no reason for any one to feel slighted or for personal attacks.

Barbi - I like that name too. Leave it to Deena to come up with a good one. Now she's got my clock AND the cool new Pick-it Fence. :)

Edited to add - The pear clips sound good, but what about for melamine cages. Most of them only have wire on the front, and that would block a substantial portion of the opening for viewing the chins. Maybe you could use <gasp> the screw in hooks??
 
"9 Hole Female Breeding Collar" ...hahahahaa

I like "Pick-it-Fence" ..too! I'm sure Palay would love to have one or two ;)

And just as a side note: I have a huge hammock smack dab in the middle of all the mayhem that the girls call "home" ..just in case anyone falls ...or gets pushed.. ahem... off a ledge, etc. (Obsidian is kind of pushy when she's had enough of Palay's shenanigans)
 
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