In the article I will list a variety of items and toys that can be used to equip a chinchilla’s home for their entertainment. I’ll figure out how you can make several simple products with your own hands, attach patterns and please your pet.
Toys for chinchilla paws and teeth
Chinchillas lead a fairly active lifestyle in the intervals between eating and sleeping.
These animals will always find something to do, for example, move the shelter, scatter food, chew the bars of the cage. But pets will also be very pleased with interesting things to test their teeth and move around the designated area.
The following items are suitable for chinchillas:
- exercise equipment: running wheels, shelves, tunnels, stairs, thick branches;
- rest areas: hammocks;
- rodents: pendants, balls, special stone.
Products from the first group take up the most space in the cage. You need to plan in advance where to place them in order to leave enough space for living.
The main requirement for all toys entering the cage is safety, as they can be chewed. Products that are soft-filled, rubber, cardboard, painted, varnished, or glued are not suitable. There should be no small parts, sharp corners, or jagged surfaces.
Tree - best material. Birch, apple, poplar, willow, and beech are suitable. Oak, larch, cherry are not suitable, conifers due to the abundance of resin. You can use plastic, stainless metal, ceramics, wicker. Give ropes and ropes with caution.
It sometimes takes a chinchilla several days to get used to and start using a new item. It is better to give out toys in portions to maintain interest longer.
DIY running wheel and ladder
Pet stores usually offer running wheels and ladders made of metal, plastic, and small sizes.
Chinchillas are better suited to wooden products that are spacious and wide, which can be made to order or at home.
spinning wheel
Necessary materials and tools: thick plywood, hewn semicircular wooden slats, fasteners (thin screws, long bolt, 2 nuts, 3 washers), car tensioner pulley, electric jigsaw, drill, screwdriver.
Manufacturing Guide:
- Cut out perfect shape a plywood circle with a diameter of 32-40 cm (according to the size of the pet) and the same ring 2-3 cm wide. Make a hole clearly in the center of the circle.
- Cut the slats into pieces of 12-15 cm. Their length will become the width of the drum treadmill, so the calculation is to ensure that the chinchilla is comfortable.
- Screw the sections with self-tapping screws: one edge to the circle, the other to the ring. There should be no gaps between them.
- From inside the wheel, insert a long bolt with a washer into the central hole, put on the second washer, and tighten it with a nut.
- Drill in wooden stand or a hole in the wall of the display case, use self-tapping screws to attach a roller bearing to this place. Insert a long bolt of the product into the center of the roller, secure it with a nut and washer on the other side.
It is not advisable to install a spinning wheel in the home of several rodents.
There is a high probability of conflicts between them for the right to run in it and injury when trying to use it at the same time.
Ladder-bridge with rungs
Materials and tools: tree branches (diameter 15-20 mm), galvanized wire, saw or jigsaw, drill.
Step-by-step instruction:
- Cut the branches into pieces 12-15 cm long for crossbars and 2 cm long for intermediate links. Rinse thoroughly in water and dry in the oven.
- Drill small holes in the center of each link and at both ends of the crossbars, 2 cm from the edge.
- String the crossbars and links alternately onto 2 pieces of wire in the form of a ladder.
- The product is ready. The ends of the wire on both sides of the ladder are used to attach to cage walls or shelves. You can install the structure obliquely for lifting or horizontally, like a bridge between shelves at the same level.
Hammock made by yourself
Chinchillas generally respond favorably to soft hanging hammocks.
In hammocks you can swing slightly, relax, hide, and walk from one shelf to another.
This item is easy to make from thick fabric you have at home (denim, fleece, felt).
Classic single tier
To make it you will need: suitable fabric, edge tape, strong threads, scissors, sewing machine, 4 carbines.
Procedure:
- Cut 2 identical squares of 45*45 cm from the fabric with straps at the corners. Fold on top of each other, bringing the edges together. You can add soft filler between the parts.
- Baste tape to the edges of the double square, and form loops for fastenings from it at the ends of the straps.
- Sew the edge tape by hand or using a sewing machine.
- Thread carabiners into the loops (you can replace them with chains or wire) and hang them from the cage lid or between the shelves.
To make a two-tier hammock, you will need 2 more squares of the same fabric, larger in size than the first. This is the bottom tier. The straps of all parts must be sewn together.
The hammock should not sway too much from the movements of the animal, nor should it sag deeply under its weight.
It should not be attached too high so that the chinchilla can jump there.
Hammock tube
Materials and tools: unnecessary jeans, 4 eyelets, 4 chains with carabiners, thread, scissors, sewing machine.
Manufacturing instructions:
- Cut the trouser legs 25-30 cm long at the widest point, split along the seam. Cut off a little at the expansion points, bringing it to a rectangular shape.
- Place one piece on top of the other, fold it in half and make holes in the corners.
- Close the holes with grommets. Sew the parts by folding and finishing all the edges.
- Insert chains with carabiners (key rings) into the holes and hang the hammock.
Interesting ideas for arranging a cage
Many owners prefer to equip a chinchilla’s home to order or independently, based on the pet’s preferences.
These furry animals are good at jumping with the help of their developed hind legs. Therefore, shelves at different levels are attached to the walls of their home for jumping.
The maximum height of the shelf is 80 cm, so that if the animal accidentally falls from it, it will not be injured.
Between the shelves it is worth making several transitions in the form of bridges, tunnels, and stairs.
Tunnels are made from plastic pipes, tree. It is advisable to make the edge of metal, otherwise it will quickly be chewed off. With some effort, you can weave a tunnel from willow twigs.
An inclined stick with circles of steps made of wood attached to it, or a small board with low slats attached are suitable as a ladder.
Chinchillas love chewable toys. They are easily made from pieces of sticks and wooden circles, previously washed and dried. Holes are made in the pieces of wood, then they are strung in random order onto galvanized wire, a chain and hung in an accessible place.
To add interest to the hanging toy, you can attach a bell.
Watching chinchillas play and exercise is great fun. Especially knowing that joy is brought through your own hard work. Diversifying the life of pets and making it more fun is the task of a responsible owner.
Chinchillas are very active animals. Nature has designed it in such a way that they need to constantly move.. In order to add variety to a pet's life, many owners try to equip the cage with all kinds of toys.
If a chinchilla lives in a small cage where there is no opportunity to move a lot, then it must have a running wheel. With its help, the animal will be able to maintain physical activity.
The sizes of running wheels should be selected taking into account the age and size of the chinchilla. Pet stores offer a simulator with various diameters - from 28 to 45 cm. The manufacturing material can be:
- metal;
- plastic;
- tree.
Wooden
Exercise machines made of wood are most often made according to individual order, as they are an expensive pleasure.
The average cost of a custom wheel is 4,000 rubles. They are mainly installed in display cages. Distinctive feature is their noiselessness. But they have certain disadvantages:
- chinchillas chew wooden parts, thereby disabling the exercise machine;
- the animal can make a toilet in the wheel, which will also ruin the structure.
Plastic
These simulators have a number of advantages:
- chinchillas have no desire to chew plastic;
- compact design;
- easy to clean and disinfect;
- It has low price- in the store you can find wheels from 200 rubles for small chinchillas and up to 3000 rubles for an adult.
Metal
Very durable structures, resistant to rodent teeth. They are easy to disassemble and disinfect. Pet stores offer two types of simulators:
- with a fine notch;
- with parallel bars.
Wheels that have parallel bars are dangerous for the chinchilla. There is a risk that the animal will step between them while running and, unable to remove its paw, will injure its limb.
Wheels, the base of which is made in the form of a fine notch, will protect the animal from the possibility of injury. The paws do not fall into small holes; you can stop the movement at any time. If desired, the inner surface of the exercise machine can be protected by covering it with soft fabric.
The cost of such toys varies from 300 to 1500 rubles.
Treadmills for running
A track will be an excellent alternative to a wheel. There are two options: aluminum and plastic. They are safer for the chinchilla's health, as they do not overload the spine. Absolutely silent and do not threaten the animal with injury.
Do it yourself
If all the wheel options available in stores are not suitable, and making a custom-made exercise machine is expensive, you can try making a running wheel for chinchillas with your own hands. At the same time, you have the opportunity to choose the material and size based on your own preferences. This will save money and make your pet happy.
Wooden
To make a wooden exercise machine you will need:
- plywood sheet about 1 cm thick;
- jigsaw;
- drill;
- bearing;
- self-tapping screws;
- screws;
- bolts;
- small boards measuring 3x15 cm.
Manufacturing process.
To get a perfectly even circle, you need to cut a hole in the middle of the plywood with a jigsaw.. From the center we begin to measure the desired diameter of the future wheel. Having drawn a circle on the plywood, you need to cut it out along the contour with a jigsaw.
After the circle is ready, you need to make a ring with the same diameter. The planks are attached inside the resulting ring using small self-tapping screws. Before doing this, you need to drill holes in them with a diameter of about 1.5 mm to protect them from cracking. We attach the ring to the outside of the plywood circle. This will give the structure strength.
To attach the wheel you will need a fifteen centimeter bolt. You need to put a steel washer on it, the diameter of which should be slightly larger than the diameter of the bolt. It is installed so that it is inside the structure. It is secured from the outside using a washer. A bearing is put on the bolt and secured to the bar with self-tapping screws.
There are two ways to install a wheel in a chinchilla cage:
From the pan
Making a running wheel for a chinchilla from aluminum pan less labor-intensive process. To do this, you need kitchen utensils of the desired diameter. Since the height of the pan is greater than needed for the simulator, you will have to saw off the excess, leaving approximately 13-16 cm. The edges need to be sanded after sawing. to remove hangnails and protect your pet from possible injuries. After this, the wheel is attached to the tensioner pulley. Your pet's toy is ready to use.
A running wheel for a chinchilla is an important component of a fulfilling life. pet. Active and curious by nature, these animals quickly waste away if they live their lives without movement. If you want your pet to be happy and healthy for as long as possible, we suggest installing a running wheel in the cage. You can buy such a running machine in a store or make it yourself.
In this article we will tell you in detail what materials spinning wheels are made from, how to take correct measurements and, in fact, how to build a running wheel at home using improvised materials.
IN wildlife These funny furry animals live in mountainous areas. Their homeland is the Andes South America. Chinchillas live in colonies at an altitude of 400 to 5000 meters above sea level. Due to the fact that the area is poor in vegetation, animals have to constantly search for food. These animals lead an active lifestyle: they constantly roam.
By nature, chinchillas are very fussy and agile. With the help of their long hind legs and tenacious front legs, chinchillas can jump quite far. Nature dictates that without physical activity, animals begin to develop diseases, such as atrophy of the lower extremities. A sick animal dies in most cases.
This is important to know about for people who keep chinchillas as pets. Spending day after day in a cramped cage, the animal cannot replenish its exercise, its physical activity is reduced to zero. Because of this, the lion's share of chinchillas “earn” muscle atrophy and die before even reaching the age of five. But scientists say that these animals can live up to 20 years!
It is important to provide your pet with a full life, at least a little close to its natural habitat. To achieve healthy muscle tone, chinchillas need to run a lot in the treadmill. The animal will not only have fun with the help of this outlandish toy, but also develop physically.
By the way! Chinchillas are known to be more active at night. So be patient: your pet will spin the wheel at night.
Selecting a running wheel
On the shelves of pet stores you can find a variety of wheels for the joy of pets. They vary in color, shape, material and, of course, price. The cheapest are plastic accessories, followed by metal and wood products. Rarely, but still there are products made of plexiglass and ceramics. However, such accessories for pets are much more expensive.
What material can a wheel be made from?
Sports equipment for your pet can be made from almost any material. However, when choosing a base, you need to take into account that each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Table 1. Materials for wheels suitable for chinchillas
| Type of material | Characteristic |
|---|---|
 | Plastic products are the most best option for use by rodents. Chinchillas do not chew it, which means the device will last a long time. It is impossible to get hurt on a plastic wheel. In addition, the running wheel made of this material is very light, it is easy to remove and disinfect. And such a device is relatively inexpensive in stores. Although plastic wheels are not without their drawbacks, their size is generally permissible for small animals or baby chinchillas: adults are unlikely to fit in them. |
Tree  | A wooden wheel is a good option for use by rodents. The design is made of environmentally friendly material, it does not have mesh or sharp corners, which means the risk of injury is minimal. However, wooden products has its drawbacks: wood quickly absorbs moisture and dirt, and therefore quickly fails. It is almost impossible to clean the wheel from feces and urine, so you will have to put up with unpleasant smell emanating from the “simulator”. In addition, wood attracts rodents as a treat - they will chew the wheel more than ride in it. |
Metal  | Metal wheels are not a solid fabric, but a mesh product - this way you can achieve a lighter structure. However, this makes the wheel dangerous: very often small paws, fur or claws get into the holes. Therefore, many owners of such wheels seek to protect their animals by wrapping the inside of the wheel with thick fabric (for example, denim), which will not allow tiny paws to fall into the cells while running. |
Requirements for the running wheel
It doesn’t matter whether you decide to buy a ready-made wheel or make it yourself, it is necessary that, first of all, it be of high quality. The requirements for items for use by animals are as follows:
- all parts of the wheel must be smooth and even. The presence of chips, sharp edges, cracks is unacceptable;
- the wheel should be light so that if it tips over, it won’t crush the animal;
- It is better that the material from which the wheel is made is free of paint and varnish;
- the size of the wheel should exceed the dimensions of the chinchilla by one and a half times;
- if the wheel is made of metal, then a mesh or horizontal bars made of wood or aluminum must be installed on the running surface;
- It is preferable to mount the wheel on the wall rather than on the floor. If the exercise machine stands at the bottom of the cage, then while one chinchilla is jogging, the other may hit the spinning wheel and get hurt.
You can read about how to make a cage for chinchillas with your own hands.
Making a spinning wheel for a rodent with your own hands
If you are an avid chinchilla lover, and all the running wheels available for sale do not suit you, then we suggest you make your own Sports Equipment. So you can calculate the necessary dimensions yourself, suitable for the size of your pet, and select the material. The easiest way to make a wheel is from wood, as this is the most affordable and easy-to-handle material.
Video - DIY wheel for chinchillas
Tools required for work:
- plywood sheet;
- compass, ruler;
- screws;
- bolts;
- jigsaw for cutting a circle;
- planks 1-2 centimeters wide and up to 17 centimeters long;
- drill.
Step-by-step instructions for making a plywood wheel
Step one. We cut a hole in the center of the plywood sheet using a jigsaw. This will be the center of the future wheel. Using a compass, we measure the required wheel diameter from the resulting hole. Chinchillas are larger than hamsters, so a standard wheel will not work for us. Minimum diameter the wheels should be 32-34 centimeters, width - 15-17 centimeters.
The animal should fit comfortably inside the wheel and move its paws freely, and the body should be in the lower part of the structure while running. In a wheel that is too small, the animal will “scroll”, stumble, and the back will bend too much, which can lead to health problems - dislocated limbs, spinal injuries. After you measure the circle, you need to cut it out with a jigsaw. 
Step two. In the same way, cut out a ring of the same diameter - using a compass and ruler. The plywood circle and the ring must be made of the same material. 
Step three. Now let's start making the running ring itself. To do this, we connect the ring and the plywood circle together with planks on which the animal will step with its paws. We attach the planks using self-tapping screws to the outside of the circle and ring. So, firstly, the structure will be much stronger, and secondly, the animal will not be able to get hurt on uneven protrusions.
Step four. Next, we construct the rotation unit and the fastening itself. A 15-centimeter bolt with a diameter suitable for the hole we cut, we thread it into the wheel so that its main part is with outside wheels. We secure it with metal washers. We put a rubber bearing on the outside of the bolt so that the wheel slides smoothly and does not touch the cage wall while moving. 
Step five. We fasten the bearing with self-tapping screws to wooden plank, which will act as a holder. To prevent the structure from tipping over, it is better to secure it to the wall of the cage. If this is not possible, then the board on which the wheel will be installed must be at least 15 centimeters wide, otherwise the animal will easily turn the wheel over.
In a clean, voluminous wooden wheel, the animals feel comfortable and safe. And if they get tired of running, they entertain themselves by gnawing on fragrant wood. Subsequently, you can easily replace the rim with a new one, for example a metal one, while maintaining the frame of the previous design.
Running wheel made from a saucepan
A chinchilla trainer can be made from household utensils, for example, an aluminum pan. It is necessary to select kitchen utensils the right size. And since the height of the pan is too large, approximately half of the height will need to be cut down (the width of the future wheel should be 15-17 centimeters), and the edges should be sharpened with sandpaper so that the animal does not subsequently get hurt on the edges.
After this, a hole with a diameter of 0.3-0.5 centimeters is drilled in the center of the metal circle, which previously served as the bottom of the pan. A bolt is also inserted into it and the tensioner roller is placed on it. To prevent the rodent's paws from slipping on the smooth surface metal surface, you can install a mesh wheel inside. The toy for your chinchilla is ready.
How to teach a chinchilla to run on a wheel?
Most chinchillas independently master the technique of running in a new wheel. However, among these animals there are cowardly and even phlegmatic individuals, which can be difficult to persuade to play sports. Don't worry if your pet doesn't show proper attention to your creativity. Give him time to get used to the new unit, to “sniff” it, so to speak. Show him how the wheel moves, but do not spin it too much - this may turn the rodent off forever.
If the animal is calm, then try putting it in the wheel and rock the structure a little. So it will dawn on him what needs to be done and he will immediately go for a short run. Well, if the animal still does not dare to run, then put a piece of treat in the wheel and leave the baby alone - very soon he will understand why this structure is needed.
If the wheel is wooden, then you shouldn’t even be surprised that the chinchilla will immediately begin to chew on it. There's nothing you can do - these animals love to sharpen their teeth on wood. If you feel sorry for the object of your craft, then you can cover the structure with varnish or paint. The coating will not only help preserve the pristine beauty of the wheel, but will also keep moisture and dirt out.
However, it is worth remembering that pieces of paint can enter the animal’s body and cause serious poisoning. So, before you decide to paint a wheel, think seriously: is the beauty of the wheel worth the spoiled health of your beloved pet?
Alternative moving toys
Keep the animal in excellent condition physical fitness possible not only through the running wheel, but also through other special devices, such as a treadmill or rubber ball. Similar products are sold in stores and are intended for animal amusement.
Treadmills
An excellent option for those large chinchillas that simply do not fit in the wheel. Treadmills are usually designed very similar to a running wheel, only it lies in a horizontal plane. Thus, the animal runs on a flat surface without arching its back and without overloading the spine. In some stores these tracks are called “plates”. The disc is made with a slight inclination, which allows the animal to move in a circle. Treadmill(plate) is attached to a secure base that prevents it from tipping over.
Hanging toys
If you hang colorful toys in the cage, your chinchilla will be happy to play with them. By fingering the parts of the toy with its paws, the animal will not only be busy with an “important” process, but will also develop physically – after all, you still need to reach the toy! Pendants that can be pushed, pulled, chewed, or swung can be made from any materials. True, the toy must be absolutely safe.
There are a lot of options for such trinkets for games. These could be bells, things from the “breeze” series, wooden sticks, tied together with multi-colored sticks, metal balls on strong threads. Well, if you show your imagination, you can come up with a whole rope park with a hanging ladder, a hammock for sleeping and relaxing.
There is only one downside to such toys - excessive noise. Therefore, at night, we recommend removing all objects that cause noise from the cage.
walking ball
This product is classified as the most extreme device for chinchillas. A walking ball is a hollow sphere made of plastic with many small holes through which Fresh air. The ball is disassembled into two halves, which are twisted together. A curious pet is placed inside the ball and allowed to “ride” around the house. Sitting in such a tank, the animal can freely move around the rooms, and you will not need to worry about chewed things.
True, walking balls are rarely used, due to the fact that the air circulates inside the sphere poorly, causing suffocation of the animal. In addition, the temperature in the ball increases rapidly, which leads to overheating of the chinchilla's body. It is advisable to use the ball only in extreme cases, for example, if the animal needs to be transported somewhere.
Conclusion
A running wheel is a vital necessity for a rodent like a chinchilla. If you want to continue to enjoy the success of your pet, then do not ignore such an important component of a chinchilla’s life as physical exercise. Couldn't find the right wheel in the store? It doesn’t matter, because you can easily make a wheel suitable for your pet yourself. Moreover, we just told you how to do this.
Video – 10 life hacks for rodent lovers
Chinchillas are active animals that do not welcome a sedentary lifestyle. Every owner of a furry friend needs to keep their pet in good physical shape and equip its cage with the necessary attributes. A wheel for a chinchilla will help the animal have fun even in the limited space of its home.
Often, when purchasing a house for our pet, complete with a running wheel, we do not think about the importance of the latter. The anatomical features of the animals suggest short front and developed hind legs, with the help of which they move by jumping. To practice jumping and avoid muscle atrophy, the chinchilla needs to exercise all the time physical exercise. In the limited space of the cage it is not possible to perform a full warm-up, so the owner must take care of the necessary toys for running. Ladders, shelves, labyrinths and running wheels are installed as exercise equipment in rodents' homes.
Another argument in favor of the wheel is to stimulate the chinchilla’s interest in the toy. If she gets bored, an alternative activity could be bad habits, such as chewing her own fur.
Criteria for choosing a wheel for a chinchilla
Any animal has its own characteristics, character, habits and preferences. When choosing a trainer for your pet, take this into account and choose the right accessory. Despite the fact that almost all rodents love to run in a wheel, there are also animals that are indifferent to it. But if your furry friend is a fan active rest, before purchasing, read some criteria for selecting and using an accessory:
- carefully select the design of the wheel, because not all products are safe for the animal;
- The wheel size for a chinchilla should correspond to the dimensions of the animal. For medium-sized individuals, a diameter of 32-34 cm is sufficient, but for larger animals a wheel diameter of no less than 40 cm is needed;
- The material used to make the wheel is an important factor. They are considered the highest quality and safest plastic products. The only “but” is that there are no suitable wheel sizes for large animals. Their average diameter is 30-32 cm. Wheels with metal holes can be hazardous. Some individuals make toilets in wooden wheels or chew on them. But that's not the saddest part. If such paraphernalia is available for sale, it will be very expensive. There is an option to order a wheel from a craftsman or make a toy with your own hands;
- Safe fastening and placement in the cage. This rule applies not to the running chinchilla, but to the one that is outside the wheel. It is better that the product is attached to the wall of the cage rather than placed on a stand.
Don't limit yourself to buying just a running wheel. A ladder, crossbars, bridges will not be superfluous for your fluffy and will diversify his exercise.
Making a wheel for a chinchilla with your own hands
If you can’t find a suitable running wheel for a chinchilla in stores, you can try making one yourself. This will save on the master and make a simulator suitable for individual characteristics your pet. Wood is used for this. It's environmentally friendly pure material and even if the chinchilla gnaws it, it will not cause harm to its health. An alternative is to make a wheel from a scrap aluminum pan. The process is labor-intensive, but if you have at least a little knowledge of metal cutting, then everything will work out. Let's take a closer look at how to make a simulator out of wood and a pot.
Making a wooden wheel for chinchillas
As materials and tools for wooden wheel you will need:
- plywood sheet;
- drill;
- jigsaw with wood saw;
- compass and ruler;
- self-tapping screws and bolt;
- wooden planks 3x15 cm.
Stages of work execution.
- A small hole is cut out on a sheet of plywood using a jigsaw. From its center, using a compass, draw a circle of the required diameter.
- The jigsaw is bolted to the table through the hole made. By turning the plywood, a cut is made along the intended contour. In the end it should be smooth circle required size.
- A ring with a diameter similar to the circle is cut out.
- Wooden planks are screwed to inside rings using thin screws, the ring is attached to the outside of the plywood circle using a bolt.
- The bolt should be 12-15 cm long. A steel washer of larger diameter is placed on it. The bolt is inserted inside the wheel and secured on the outside with the same washer.
- The tensioner placed on the bolt is attached with self-tapping screws to a wooden strip.
- The finished structure is attached to the cage wall using self-tapping screws.
This is a convenient structure for the activity of your animal, which can be re-made if necessary, for example, if the chinchilla eats it.
How to make a wheel for a chinchilla from a pan
Making a wheel for a chinchilla with your own hands from a pan will take you more time, but such a product will last longer than a wooden one. To work you will need:
- an aluminum pan with a diameter of at least 40 cm with smooth walls;
- grinder or other tool for cutting metal;
- sandpaper;
- bolt and nut.
The work is carried out in several stages.
- Having marked 12-15 cm from the bottom of the pan, cut off the excess top part using a grinder.
- The cut edge must be sanded thoroughly sandpaper so that the animal does not get hurt on sharp metal edges.
- Drill a hole in the middle of the bottom of the pan.
- Attach the “pan” wheel to the wall of the cage and thread the bolt through the hole so that it goes through the cage bars.
- The structure is secured from the outside with a nut, but do not tighten it tightly; the wheel should rotate freely.
- By turning, check the rotation force of the wheel and, if necessary, loosen or tighten the washer.
Such options homemade wheels are no less functional than purchased ones, and their cost is several times lower.
Methods for installing a wheel in a cage
There are two ways to install running toys in a cage. Wooden structure can be secured to a wooden plank or plank using one or two self-tapping screws and placed on the floor of the cage. The disadvantage of this installation method is that if the board is too narrow, the animal will easily turn over its simulator. On average, the bar should be 10-15 cm wide.
The second installation method involves a tensioner screwed onto the bar. The structure is secured with wire to the cage wall. This option is more convenient, because The running wheel for a chinchilla is attached more securely and even very active rodents cannot turn it over or move it.
When buying a pet for your home, remember that caring for the pet and its health is your responsibility. A happy animal will become a great friend for your family members.
It often happens that the size of the display case for your pet is too small for jogging. And since your pet needs to move a lot in order to develop properly, in order to shed excess energy, then for this an indispensable assistant there will be a running wheel. To begin, use a jigsaw to cut out a circle 30-40 cm in diameter from thick plywood (8-12 mm) and a ring of the same outer diameter. The most a big problem, lies in the difficulty of cutting out a perfectly even circle and, accordingly, making a hole in the center. You can solve this problem as follows:
We fix the jigsaw with reverse side table, having previously made a hole for the file.
Then we measure the required radius and bolt the plywood to the table.
Turn on the jigsaw and begin to rotate the plywood around the axis.
Got perfect circle with a hole strictly in the center. This is how we make a ring. Just cut out the outer radius first and then the inner one.
We buy a pine layout, semicircular, 30 mm wide and 2.5 m long. We saw it into 12-15 cm pieces and, using thin screws, fasten them in a circle onto a circle and a ring. It turns out to be a wheel.
For bearing excellent option served (reinforced) for the Volga 406 engine (purchased at any auto parts store for GAZ cars). The price is approximately 130-150 rubles. It is convenient because the bearing itself is in a plastic cage, which is easy to attach to something.
Before driving the screws into the roller, you need to drill a hole to the full depth of the thread to avoid cracking. The screws used were 2.5 by 16 mm, and the drill was 1.5 mm.
Take an M12 bolt 10-12 centimeters long, fasten it to the center of the wheel through washers and a nut.
Then we put a roller on the bolt and secure it with a nut, and attach the roller itself to something convenient using self-tapping screws. IN in this case This is a wooden stand.
You will need to pre-drill a hole in the bar so that the nut securing the roller can rotate freely.
The wheel is ready and can be installed in the display case.
The beauty of the tensioner pulley (a bearing in a plastic cage) is that it is completely silent (noise always occurs in the torsion unit of any device), but thanks to it the smoothness of the ride is amazing... Yes, there is noise from the wheel -
1) a light spanking when his bare paws twist him (we now need to tie small booties),
2) when he gets tired and sits in it, you can hear the “nuts” falling out of the animal clinking…..
Another option is to make a running wheel from an aluminum pan. For these purposes, purchase a pan with straight walls.
Since the pan is deep, we saw off the excess, leaving a depth of 12-15 cm. Be sure to sand the edges.
We install the tensioner pulley and the wheel is ready!!!