Making Quick Hammocks

I got tired of spending a lot of time sewing hammocks that would be chewed within five minutes of setting up in the cage. I also did not want to spend $8+ to buy hammocks from sellers on Etsy. So I came up with a solution!

1. Check out Wal-Mart, Big Lots, Target, or Publix for cheap fleece throws. If you are a Jo-Anns shopper and have signed up for their coupons, use that for fleece! (Anti-pill fleece is the cheapest, but they always have stuff on sale.). I get my throws for $3 at Big Lots.

2. Cut out the size you want for your hammocks. I measure four across and cut double layered. I get 8 hammocks.

3. In each corner, I cut a small hole. This saves me time having to sew two parts together and then sewing hooks on each corner.

4. I use tie straps through the holes that I hook to the cage. You can use yarn or even shower curtain hooks. Sometimes I use baby chain sections since they are harder to chew down.

5. Cut down or un-hook your hammocks to throw in the wash when they are dirty. You have seven more to replace that one with! And if your ungrateful critters destroy your hammock, hey, you only spent $3!

 

 

 

Deep Cleaning of the Rattery

So once a month I make sure to do a deep cleaning. Here is the process!

1. I pack up all the rats in various travel cages/totes and put them in the kitchen.

 2. All items and cages are moved outside to be scrubbed and hosed.
 

 3. I take all the water bottle and rinse with hot soapy water. Then they soak in bleach water. Then they have a third rinsing and air dry.

 4. Blankets and hammocks are washed in a vinager and home-made soap mix so there are no allergies or strong smells for the rats.

5. Back in the rat room the concrete floor is mopped with a bleach water solution. The window panels are opened to be aired out (AC unit is turned off at this point) so there is no bleach smell once the rats return. The back wall is also sanitized since the cages back up to this wall.

 6. All clean!