Making Your Own Travel Cage
Bin Cages
Bin cages have a lot of uses and travel can be one of them. If you keep your holes to the top a cat can not bat at them like they can in barred cages. It can be easier to travel with and keep at a friend’s house than your huge every day cage. As long as you keep your skinny pig well stocked with hay, chewing on the plastic is not an issue. A well maintained skinny pig has no reason to chew on the cage. I have never had a problem with it; they are not hamsters or rats and do not chew that much.
Lets get started– a large bin is important, one that will travel well but provide enough space. Always get the biggest bin that will fit these needs. It should be the clear type so you can keep an eye on them and they get plenty of light. Consider getting a small pet play pen that folds down. It is a great place for them to play safely.
You will need a
- 1 drill with a 1″ spade bit
- 1/2″ spade bit
- Rotozip or Dremel with a cutting drill bit
- water bottle
- bin feeder
- small bungee cord
Most of it can be done simply with a drill. If you prefer a bowl to feed your piggie then you will not need any other tool than the drill and 1″ bit.
Tools you will need
Start by marking your bin on the long side with a marker these will be your guide for the 1″ drilled air holes.
A marked bin
Use your 1″ spade drill bit to drill on your marks, creating air holes along the top of the cage. Note-do not push on the drill as you would when working with wood you will crack your bin. Let gravity do the work turn the bin on its side and allow it to drill through without adding pressure.
Hole cutting drill bit 1"
Drilling the holes in the bin
Next you will repeat this on the other side. Then you will have to pick the end you want to hang the water bottle from. Once you have picked the side measure 2″ up from the bottom of the bin on one side of the carrying handle. Place a mark there this will be the spout hole. Make sure it is at least 2″ off the bottom, or the spout may touch the bedding and leak. Then place two holes about 2″ from the top of your bin for the bungee to hold the water bottle in place. I have never had a water bottle get knocked off with this set up.
Marks for drilling holes for the water bottle
Closeup of marks
Drill out these hoes with either your 1″ bit or you an use a 1/2 ” depending on you preference. If you do not want to use a bin feeder than drill 4 air holes on the other short side of the bin and skip down to drilling the top. If you are using a bin feeder than get out your marker and trace your feeder bins front 2″ from the bottom of you bin. Your feeder will be on the same side as your water bottle.
Marking the place for the bin feeder
They are on the same side
Use the Rotozip to cut out the square for the bin feeder.
Hole cut for bin feeder
Then mark the placement of the holes for the bin feeders hangers.
Marking the bin for the bin feeders hangers
Drill the holes with the 1″ hole cutting drill bit
Finished cuts for the bin feeder
Drill 5 air holes in the opposite side of the bin
Air holes on the other side
Now it is time for the top make the top with a marker to keep from putting your holes to close together.
Marked Top
Now drill them with the 1″ spade bit. Then you should have your finished cage like the one in the photo.
Finished bin