[Smilebud]

I have a small colony (5) right now, but if I cant find homes for the babies I'm gonna have around 15 rats. I have a mesh wrapped DFN right now, with the boys downstairs and the girls upstairs with the babies. I'm gonna need more room soon. I like giving my rats a lot of space, and confining the three boys into just one half of the DFN makes me a bit uncomfortable.

I've been looking at cages (even bird cages I can modify) but the problem I'm having is bar spacing. What are the big ones with small bar spacing? I never want to wrap a cage again, it was awful and imposible and sliced me up like lunch meat.

Does anyone know what's out there? Getting the biggest martins cage shipped here costs about $300 extra..

 

[mimsy]

dcn has 1/2 inch bar spacing and is the same size as your dfn, just made for smaller creatures.

You can get large flight cages, most of those are made for small birds and have 1/2 inch spacing. If it doesn't specifically say it, I don't buy them. This one would work for a big group: http://www.amazon.com/Wrought-Divid...&qid=1442014015&sr=8-10&keywords=flight+cages

probably not quiet as easy to clean as a dcn, since the doors are not the whole front. I've used similar however and it's not too bad. If getting a bird cage I would avoid getting one that has those little slide up doors for food. But if the price is right, you could zip tie them shut. like this one: http://www.amazon.com/MegaBrand-32x...bs_199_25?ie=UTF8&refRID=0X0CKQ5PZE5X3P49C3RT

keep an eye on craigslist, you might have to call or email to verify bar spacing. Anything made for a conure sized and smaller should be 1/2 inch spacing, because they can squeeze out of the larger spaced as well.

here is one on sale: http://birdcages4less.com/page/B/PROD/Small_Bird_Cages/PA5719

 

[lovethoseratties]

I highly recommend the Double Critter Nation! It fits my six girls with room to spare! I think according to the cage calculator, it can fit 12 rats happily.
However if you do end up getting a bird cage with the slide doors, be careful with zip ties! When I used to use a cage like that, my girl figured out how to chew through the zip ties in a matter of hours, I found out that wrapping pipe cleaners tightly around worked great!

 

[lovethoseratties]

Wow, just noticed I said SIX girls! I only have five. Guess I'm just wishing for another!!

 

[JAnimal]

Definetly the DCN hands down.

 

[Smilebud]

dcn has 1/2 inch bar spacing and is the same size as your dfn, just made for smaller creatures.

You can get large flight cages, most of those are made for small birds and have 1/2 inch spacing. If it doesn't specifically say it, I don't buy them. This one would work for a big group: http://www.amazon.com/Wrought-Divid...&qid=1442014015&sr=8-10&keywords=flight+cages

probably not quiet as easy to clean as a dcn, since the doors are not the whole front. I've used similar however and it's not too bad. If getting a bird cage I would avoid getting one that has those little slide up doors for food. But if the price is right, you could zip tie them shut. like this one: http://www.amazon.com/MegaBrand-32x...bs_199_25?ie=UTF8&refRID=0X0CKQ5PZE5X3P49C3RT

keep an eye on craigslist, you might have to call or email to verify bar spacing. Anything made for a conure sized and smaller should be 1/2 inch spacing, because they can squeeze out of the larger spaced as well.

here is one on sale: http://birdcages4less.com/page/B/PROD/Small_Bird_Cages/PA5719

Holy moly those are perfect! I might actually get the second one in a paycheck or two. Either that or a DCN like everyone suggests.

 

[artgecko]

There is a big martin's cage too... But I think it runs over $300 with the powder coating and shipping charges.

Watch the prices for the DCN on Amazon. Sometimes it drops to $200. I got mine new on Ebay for $199 (shipping included) last year.

 

[raindear]

Ferret.com has good prices for Critter Nation cages.

 

[mimsy]

Too bad you aren't in my area, there is someone selling a very nice dcn on craigslist for 150. Looks brand new with a ton of hammocks/covers/sleep sacks.

Yeah I've used bird cages lots of times. They work pretty great. You can usually find exactly the size you want since there are so many different flight cages. Like I said before just make sure bar space is right and look at doors. I hate hate hate small doors that make cleaning and putting things into it a pain.

 

[peace]

I'd highly recommend Critter nation,I'm in LOVE with my cage, it's like my own little place to decorate for my girls and they adore it. Also, I had a home made cage that worked great!!