Rats are small animals from the mouse family belonging to rodents. Characteristic features are a variety of fur colors: from gray-brown to white, the presence of a bare leather tail, protruding the front cutters. The length of the body of the average size can vary in the range of 10-30 cm, while the length of the tail is equal to the length of the body. Medium weight range from 80-150 grams.
The characteristic physiological features of the structure of the roof body provide it with a number of indisputable advantages: The ability to free manipulation by the front limbs, a flexible spine, the oblong shape of the body.
Due to these features, the rats can lead a full-fledged lifestyle under conditions critical for other mammals.
Modern animal selection technologies made it possible to remove the breed of rats adapted to accommodate at home. In this regard, the development obtained the production of mini-houses for domesticated rodents. Zuoranok represents a wide range of finished rat cells, however, independent design will save money.
Design features
The dwelling for decorative rats, assembled with their own hands, must correspond to the main content criteria. Among them can be noted:
- sustainability for tearing;
- the lack of constructive features involving the penetration of rodent outward;
- Minimum possibility of injury animal.
It must be borne in mind that the cell is for a rat limiting factor. Even an artificially removed animal will take constant events of escape.
It encourages her innocent instinct, especially during the pairing period. The uncontrolled penetration of rat beyond the cell is unacceptable. Rodent is capable of causing significant damage to the owner's property in a short time. If the shoot of the rat falls on the period of "festivals", it will taste everything that comes on the way to ensure the presence of the material necessary for the formation of the nest.
Dimensions
Dimensional cell parameters directly depend on the number of individuals that will live in it, as well as on their gender and age. At each individual, there should be at least 50 cubic centimeters of free space.
When calculating the size, precisely available volume is taken into account, and not the area, since the rat can use the cell space in all directions. Attention is paid to the presence of additional devices that will be located inside the cell. The place that they occupy should not be part of the place allotted for the free movement of the animal.
The optimal cell size designed for the accommodation of one individual is the value of which implies the minimum length of each side 50 cm.
Forms
The characteristics of the shape of the rat cells are determined by the presence of the specific needs of each particular individual, as well as the parameters of individual design. The main criterion that determines the shape of the cell is the design of its upper part - the roof. It can be triangular, oval, flat or combined.
The most common cell shape is a cubic, which involves the presence of a flat roof and smooth walls. A similar form allows you to use the available internally space as efficiently as possible.
Materials
The design of the cell and materials from which it is manufactured must be resistant to rat attempts to spray them. This rule relates to frame elements, cell walls and internal additional devices. All soft materials, such as plastic and wood used in the design of the cell, should be sufficiently protected.
Advantages and disadvantages
Homemade cells for rats, like other handmade products, have several advantages and disadvantages. Among the advantages can be noted the following.
- Price. In comparison with the shopping options, the homemade cell will cost much cheaper. This is due to the fact that when it is assembling it is possible to use infridate materials available.
- The cell collected at home can be adapted to specific features of the available interior. You can vary the dimensional parameters: width, height and shape.
Among the minuses can be noted Self-assembly implies an undesirable appearance aesthetics. This factor is due to the fact that in the manufacture of design details, the tools with a low percentage of accuracy are used - unprofessional. The stores of the same analogues are made using automated machines, which ensures the best appearance of the product.
How to make and equip?
In order to make a cage for the rat at home, it is necessary to conduct preliminary calculations, including the evaluation of features of individuals that will live in it, draw up detailed drawings. The drawing scheme should contain the designations of the sizes of certain parts of the structure, verified in advance.
In the process, it is important to accurately adhere to the scheme, it will complete the assembly with maximum accuracy and will provide the best final type of product.
It is worth paying enough attention to the choice of materials from which the cell will be constructed. The optimal names of the materials are a grid or stainless steel grid, natural wood, plastic. Metal elements should be selected with the characteristics of each particular animal.
The dimensions of the mesh cells or the distance between the grids should not provide rodent the ability to leave the dwelling.
Wooden elements must be made of planed (polished) material. The presence of cracks, roughness, bypass and other defects are excluded. The dimensions of the wooden elements should not exceed the permissible maximum, since this parameter affects the weight of the entire structure.
For the manufacture of the lower pallet and the floor of the cell, you can use Fane or Fiberboard. The first option is effective in terms of stability to loads, and the second provides low weighting indicators of the completed product.
Regardless of which material is used to arrange the bottom of the cell, it must be processed by any paint coating. This is necessary to prevent the assembling of the animal discharge into a wooden surface and subsequent fixation of the smell.
The assembly passes
It is necessary to cut the blanks from wooden plates. The dimensions of the billets must comply with what is indicated in the drawing. The obtained parts are connected in such a way that the framework is a frame that is a cube or parallelepiped. All open space needs to pick up with a grid or grid. This manipulation involves attaching parts from the inside and provides protection for wooden structures from tearing. In the face of the cell, the door is mounted.
It should be equipped with an appropriate locking mechanism, since the physiological features and the presence of natural instinct allow the rats on their own to open the simplest locks.
The dwelling for the decorative rat should be equipped with various devices designed to give it the opportunity to feel in a natural habitat. As such supplements can be:
- swing;
- wheels;
- labyrinths;
- tunnels;
- hammocks;
- Ropes.
Interesting examples
This photo presents a factory embodiment of the rat cell. According to a similar principle, the homemade dwelling equivalent for rodent can be equipped. This modification involves the presence of two floors. One of them has a mini-house, imitating hole. There is a tunnel that opens access to a tissue hammock located above the hole. Access to tiers is provided at the expense of special ladies.
The design of the cell shown in the photo involves the use of the maximum amount of wooden materials, and the amount of metal minimizes. This model has 4 levels on which rodent can dwell. In addition, each level has one or another tool that creates an animal live effect in a free medium. Such devices include a house with a round inlet, suspended ladder, wooden tunnel and others.
An important element that complements the design of the cell is a running wheel. It allows an animal to receive sufficient physical exertion, positively affecting his health.
How to make a cage for rats with your own hands without special difficulties, you can get acquainted in the next video.