Coro Alternatives: Share : Using bamboo as alternative for cage

[fridzalone]

I want to share about bamboo cage which is very popular in my country. Personally I think this kind of cage is great for piggies and rabbit, it's easy to use and cleaning. But maybe it's not as cozy as fleece.

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/j...ita/Jerry1.jpg
http://kelinci.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/dsc03064.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jlrRqFMr5O...ngchandika.jpg

This is traditional cage that usually used by rabbit breeder in my country.

How it works?
As you can see the bamboo designed to make poos and pees go through under the cage (there's litter box under the cage), which makes the cage cleaner. I think for piggies, we can make the spaces between those bamboo a little bit smaller since piggies legs much smaller than rabbit legs (of course the poos can't go thru those spaces but we can sweep them after all). I think it's quite comfortable for piggies, and maybe we can combine it with C&C Cage (maybe use this kind of cage only for their kitchen area). At least that's what i'm planning for my new piggies cage.

So what do you think?

[lissie]

It's an interesting idea. I don't know if it is toxic for pigs or not. They might chew on it. How do you clean it? Won't it absorb pee and get smelly? Can it become moldy since it is wood.

[princesspoppy]

I really don't think thats suitable.you can see on the 2nd picture the rabbit foot between the bamboo. The urine would probably rot it.

[fridzalone]

As far as i know, the outer part of bamboo (i don't know what it is) is quite waterproof, so water usually goes through that bamboo and keep it dry. I ever use this kind of cage once for my rabbit, but because the cage is quite small i should change it to bigger cage. Based on my experience, it's very easy to clean ( I admit, it's easier than C&C cage). All i did is clean the bamboo with wet tissue (and sweep the poo if there's some poo left), and take out the litter tray under the cage and wash that litter tray. Basically it's like cleaning pet store dog cage.

[fridzalone]

Originally Posted by princesspoppy

I really don't think thats suitable.you can see on the 2nd picture the rabbit foot between the bamboo. The urine would probably rot it.

It's not because of the urine, a bit water like rodent urine won't rot bamboo. The black thing you see is bit part of vegetable and those things with different colors are the texture of the bamboo itself. That's why you need to wipe the cage at least once a day with vinegar water, and maybe wash it once every two weeks to make sure it's clean (don't forget to dry it) . The most important thing is to keep the cage dry, don't leave it wet after you clean it.

[princesspoppy]

Each to his own as they say. I still dont think its suitable and the cage looks tiny.

[teyah]

From my experiences - bamboo is 'water resistant' in that it repels moisture and doesn't soak it up like wood - the outer layer of the bamboo is not porous. I think they use bamboo in waterproof cot protectors because it's more absorbant than cotton and even antibacterial....

However, if it cracks, or splinters, it can soak up moisture like normal wood can, so I guess the issue is bunny or piggie nails scratching this 'non poprous' surface off?

Also, to me, because piggie feet are really really small, the gaps will have to extremely close together, which won't really leave much room for leaking the pee through... and in turn, the surface would 'puddle up' or not drain properly and the piggies would be left with a wet surface...

[fridzalone]

Originally Posted by princesspoppy

Each to his own as they say. I still dont think its suitable and the cage looks tiny.

That's why you need to combine that bamboo part with your C&C cage ( i only suggest this for kitchen part not for all of the cage). However it's DIY cage, so you can decide the size of the cage.

Originally Posted by teyah

However, if it cracks, or splinters, it can soak up moisture like normal wood can, so I guess the issue is bunny or piggie nails scratching this 'non poprous' surface off?

I agree with this one. I don't know about this matter, but it seems the breeder and pet seller don't have problem with this. I'll ask them to make sure.

Originally Posted by teyah

Also, to me, because piggie feet are really really small, the gaps will have to extremely close together, which won't really leave much room for leaking the pee through... and in turn, the surface would 'puddle up' or not drain properly and the piggies would be left with a wet surface...

I also agree with this one, that's why i'm planning to use adapt the floor part of this cage only for their kitchen. Btw, how small the measure of gaps acceptable for this kind of floor cage?

[Wodentoad]

From a safety standpoint, I see this as potentially dangerous as wire. Piggies don't need to be "suspended" over a surface. A foot can slip on the smooth waterproof surface between the cracks, become wedged and... well, you get the idea. You mention that these are used in breeder cages in your country, and I think, as we have learned, breeders aren't necessarily the best source of care advice. After all, if a rabbit or pig has a broken/poorly healed foot, they can still be pregnant. Even if the gaps are 2mm apart, a nail could get caught.

I would recommend strongly against this. There is nothing amiss with fleece, and it is, in our house, far lower maintenance than disposable bedding, and safe.

[fridzalone]

Originally Posted by Wodentoad

From a safety standpoint, I see this as potentially dangerous as wire. Piggies don't need to be "suspended" over a surface. A foot can slip on the smooth waterproof surface between the cracks, become wedged and... well, you get the idea. You mention that these are used in breeder cages in your country, and I think, as we have learned, breeders aren't necessarily the best source of care advice. After all, if a rabbit or pig has a broken/poorly healed foot, they can still be pregnant. Even if the gaps are 2mm apart, a nail could get caught.

I would recommend strongly against this. There is nothing amiss with fleece, and it is, in our house, far lower maintenance than disposable bedding, and safe.

It's fine if there's agree and disagree about this matter. However this is just a share, and discuss about it. If it's not the best alternative than it's fine, i'm just trying to find another possibility that maybe we can find out together. I know how breeder cruelty are, but still in my opinion we need to gain as much information as we can, even from breeder (apart from how they use piggies and rabbit for). I believe that some breeder sometimes can be a good source, maybe not best, but still there's something that we can learn from each other.

[princesspoppy]

I would say forget the possibility of using that type of flooring as shown in the above pictures,not to mention the size of the cage. I do not think i could possibly learn anything form a breeder as i am totally against them. There are other possibilities for floors that have been discussed in past threads. Linolium,shower curtins,coroplast to name but a few.

[Ly&Pigs]

Originally Posted by Wodentoad

From a safety standpoint, I see this as potentially dangerous as wire. Piggies don't need to be "suspended" over a surface.

I would recommend strongly against this.

I agree with Wodentoad, something like this could be a safety hazard. It's too risky to even attempt putting pigs in a flooring like this as they could end up injured. Safety is a big priority when it comes to our furry friends.

Originally Posted by fridzalone

I know how breeder cruelty are, but still in my opinion we need to gain as much information as we can, even from breeder (apart from how they use piggies and rabbit for). I believe that some breeder sometimes can be a good source, maybe not best, but still there's something that we can learn from each other.

Breeder standards are old and often cruel. New care standards have come around over the years. Instead of taking steps backwards and learning from breeders, they need to start learning from us and develop better ways of caging and taking care of their pets. There is absolutely nothing I want to learn from breeder standards on caging.

There are many safe alternatives to coroplast. Bamboo slats would not be one of them.

[Ash-Ro060708]

Since the bamboo slats are over wire, it makes it nicer on the rabbit's feet and the wire would probably last longer and not rust as fast. That's a neat idea, I would do it for my outdoor rabbits when I rebuild their cage(if I could find bamboo like that).
If you had an wire bottomed guinea pig cage and placed the slates closer together and put fleece on top of the bamboo, it should work, you would just have to make some kind of pan under the cage.

[lissie]

Rabbits as well as piggies should never be housed outdoors.

[momof1kid3piggi]

Well I personally don't like the Idea, Its not safe which many have stated that all ready.
it doesn't seem hygienic at all, if you have to wipe it with vinegar water EVERYDAY, Come on now we don't have to wipe our C&C's out everyday with vinegar water. So that has to tell you something right?.... But I guess you wouldn't know that, Seeing the pictures and the cage you have them in. So i guess with that being said, not everyone learns.

[Wodentoad]

Originally Posted by Ash-Ro060708

Since the bamboo slats are over wire, it makes it nicer on the rabbit's feet and the wire would probably last longer and not rust as fast. That's a neat idea, I would do it for my outdoor rabbits when I rebuild their cage(if I could find bamboo like that).
If you had an wire bottomed guinea pig cage and placed the slates closer together and put fleece on top of the bamboo, it should work, you would just have to make some kind of pan under the cage.

With all due respect, I dislike most of this information. Outdoor rabbits, wire-bottom guinea pig cage, and the bamboo slats, all of these make me uncomfortable. The slats could shift, pinch, and a burrower could find themselves in a bad way. Again, Guinea Pigs are ground creatures.

My birds are tree dwellers. If they have wire it doesn't matter because their feet are made for gripping, and they are used to moving surfaces (branches have a little give, swings, things like that). If they slip, like a person, they have wings they can throw out to right themselves. Rats similarly have a tail to help them maintain balance on unsure surfaces.

My guinea pigs, however, do NOT like things sliding or unstable beneath their feet. Fleece and feet sliding on bamboo would make them feel far less safe than fleece and towels on a solid flat surface like coroplast or even linoleum. This is much like a mossy ground cover, a sure surface for low-ground creatures, and that for which they have evolved.

[fieryone]

Besides those photos being unbelievably depressing (poor bunnies...), I could see a guinea pig's feet getting stuck in between the slats. Not only do I see it as a safety hazard, but the bamboo doesn't give them a surface to grip onto and they wouldn't have a clear, flat surface to run on. No, I wouldn't use this.

[fridzalone]

Originally Posted by lissie

Rabbits as well as piggies should never be housed outdoors.

Believe me or not, rabbit are happier when housed outdoors, just make sure you make their "house" to keep them warm during bad weather.


Okay, I get the ideas...
And here's the conclusion :
- This kind of cage maybe neat because you won't see poos and pees everywhere
- Easy to clean and there's no need to wash towels and fleece
- Antibacterial

Otherwise :
- This kind of cage is very dangerous because nails of piggies can get stuck into them
- The surface of bamboo itself is unstable
- There's possibility rabbits and piggies scratch the bamboo
- If we make the gaps really close to each other, there's no much room to leak the pee, so the chance that the cage get wet is big.

[Wodentoad]

I do not mean to speak for anyone higher up on the ladder than myself, but as a personal preference, please do not make this yet another outdoor cage fiasco. The question is on the bamboo.

If you are curious as to the views on outdoor habitats, please search the forums, else, I am sure another member more savvy than me could link specific examples.