Want to customize your chinchillas cage into something exciting and fun for you both?  Need safe replacement shelves for your cage?  They're super easy and inexpensive to do yourself!

Here's how to make your own shelves and ledges to customize your chinchillas cage.

1) Determine what size shelves and/or ledges you want to have in the cage.  The thing to remember is that you want the chin to be able to hop comfortably from place to place (they can jump up about a foot or so to another ledge) and you don't want any places where a chin could fall more than 18 inches or so, for safety reasons.  The wood comes in varying widths 4", 6", 8", 10", 12".  Remember that the lumber is not that actual measurement though....a 1x8 is actually 3/4x7-1/4, for example.

2) Go to Home Depot (or Lowes or whatever is near you) and first stop at the fastener aisle (if you don't know where it is, ask where the screws and nails are).  You need to pick up some washers and some screws.  The diameter of the washers depends on the mesh of the cage.  Look for washers that are at least 1/4" larger in diameter than the larger dimension of your wire.  You will need 4 for each full shelf, and two for each ledge you plan to build.  If there's a choice, get the ones with the smaller diameter hole in them.  You will also need screws.   One screw for each washer you figured you need.  Select screws that are at least 1-1/4" long (but don't get the monster 3" ones, or you'll be screwing them in forever!).  The important thing on the screws, is that the screw will go through the hole in the washer, but the head of the screw won't pull through the hole.  We prefer phillips head screws, because they are much easier to screw in.

3) Now that you have your needed hardware, you can head on over to the lumber department.  There is an aisle that has the 1x (pronounced "one-by") pine.  If you can't find it or aren't sure, just ask someone that works there.... There are varying lengths of the boards.  The longer ones tend to be cheaper per foot, but if you don't need the extra board (we ALWAYS end up making use of the "scrap") buy what will work best for you.  They will cut the boards for you if you don't have a way to do it yourself, so if you need them cut, be sure to take your size list with you when you go.

4) Now go home and get to work buildin'!  You will need a drill and a drill bit the right size for the screw you have chosen (you don't want the hole too big, otherwise the screw won't hold), and cut your boards to the lengths you need if you didn't have them done at the store.

5) If you are cutting your own boards and are able to, round off the corners of any ledges you make (we use a jigsaw or a bandsaw) where a corner would be sticking out in the cage, such as for corner ledges.  This isn't a really necessary step, but we do it just for the looks and the little extra safety (no sharp corners in the cage).  You can also make little ledges out of 2x4 as well (that's what the commercially made "leap-n-ledges" are made from.  Whatever you decide to make, be absolutely sure that you are using untreated pine, aspen or poplar.   These woods are safe for chinnies to chew.  Pine is going to be your cheapest and most available wood.  Just replace the shelves when they are "in need".

6) It's best not to have the chin(s) in the cage at this point, just in case you drop a shelf or or the chin(s) decide to investigate before the shelves are fully fastened down.  Hold one of your shelves up in the position you want it in the cage and make a mark with a pen or pencil on the end at least 1" in from the inside edge, centered between the wires of the cage and the thickness of the board.  If you are making a full shelf, do this to the other end as well.  It is really handy if you have someone hold the shelf in position while you mark.

7) Drill holes into the ends of the shelves/ledges at the mark, at least as deep as your screw is long, being careful to make sure you hold the drill level so you don't drill "out" of the wood.

8) If you're making a full shelf that is going to be against the side of the cage (not across the middle of the cage), it's a good idea to mark and drill one or two more holes in the center of the long edge of the board to provide further support to the cage and shelf, depending on the length of the shelf.  I put one screw in the center of an 18" shelf, and two on a 30" shelf, about 7"-8" from each end.

9) Position each shelf/ledge in place and put a washer on a screw and screw it into the hole from the outside of the cage.  The washer holds the shelf in place once it's tightened down.  I usually put the screw right against the lower wire.  A power screwdriver REALLY helps here!

10) Put your chinnie back in the cage and have fun watching him/her explore the wonderful new environment you created!