Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Specifically for Rollin, Russ, and anyone who has built a full size indoor enclosure. (one that's not a full room - let me buy a new house first for that one!!)

We're starting over on Kitty's Condo. Neither one of us really liked how it looked, so we're giving it to my grandparents as a nesting box for my chickens. (Country girl - what can I say?)We were using plywood and plexiglass (the plexiglass has been taken out and replaced with... you guessed it - chicken wire) and I became quickly disgusted. I am hoping that one of you delightful people can give me some advice. I am trying to find actual plans, supply lists, anything... and can ANYONE tell me what melamine is and if it's something I want to use?? I think I know, but without having it in front of me, I can't explain it to the hubby and he's getting miffed. HELP ME PLEASE!!

Thanks everyone!

Brightest Blessings.
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Lady Stefanie

Life is meant to be enjoyed, not endured.

Melamine is like particle board that resists water and has a nice white finish over it. What I did was I got allot of the melamine pre-cut by home depot since it comes in 8' sheets and the cage was simple. My cage is you guessed it 8' long 3' wide. I've got a 2' doors on each side and a single 4' pane of glass in the middle that slides.

See - that's what I was trying to explain and he couldn't get it. Ugh. Men.

Sorry boys! Couldn't help it!!

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Lady Stefanie

Life is meant to be enjoyed, not endured.

OOOOOH. Easy on the derogatory "Men" comments. I believe you needed one to help you explain malamine....

MAP

I apologized...

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Lady Stefanie

Life is meant to be enjoyed, not endured.

Just Jokin.....
MAP

Sorry I don't have any plans or material lists for you. I love building my own cages, but work off of rudimentary drawings and the make-it-up-as-you-go-along technique. But if you need any specific advice along the way, I would be glad to help. I was a cabinet builder in a previous career and still do a lot of it on the side. Since we keep our collection in the family room, my wife likes to have furniture quality cages.

Here is a pic of my first cage. I am currently building a cabinet to house our 3 (currently) corn snakes. Let me know if I can be of help.
MAP

Wow, that looks better than my furniture. What a wonderful job you did making it look perfect for keeping it in the living areas of you home. I also liked everyone else's cages too, great job, it's just that I need furniture type cages for my new house, so this would be perfect. I hope you live close to Florida as I will be needing many cages just like you built! LOL

Pam

Thank you.... but I am available for free advice, not for cage building. I have a hard enough time keeping up with our own growing collection. (Besides, shipping from S. California to Florida would be cost prohibitive.)

Thank you anyway for the nice compliments. I am pleased with the way it turned out for a first attempt.

Here is a pic of our little girl (presumably) lounging by the pool. Spoiled you think???

mine is also made out of melemine . My cage is little differnt looking its 8'long- one side is 3'tall ,the other is 2' tall - and it is 4' wide. Im going to put a 4-2-2 permant hide box under neith the cage , and and another 4-4-21/2 on the other side . Im doing this because im puting my two twgus together nexit may. Good luck Russ