I have 5 rats and they just got huge new cages. But they seem kind of empty, They have igloos (pink igloo for girls and blue for boys ) and the girls have a wheel and one colorful wooden bird toy with rope attached to it. But other than that the cages seem bland. I've looked at some website so i don't need links please, but does anyone have rats of their own that have some ideas for me? just to spice up their cages? thanks!
Hammocks! There are plenty of kinds to choose from. Flat hammocks, envelope hammocks, tube hammocks, double hammocks and more. It might take a little while for your rats to warm up to them, but once they do, they'll love them. When I first added hammocks to the cage, the rats didn't care for them. By now (it's been a few months), they rarely sleep anywhere but the hammocks. Hammocks are also an excellent way to utilize the empty air space!
Rats don't care how much you pay for something, so have you tried simple cardboard boxes? I don't have any fancy plastic igloos, I just use various boxes like Kleenex tissue boxes, little postal boxes, whatever!
Be inventive. Got any little baskets? How about animal-safe stuffed animals? Many of them are perfect for a rat to curl up in or climb on. How about a real rock? These are usually very interesting to rats (they're smelly), plus they help keep the rats' nails dull. Really, keep your mind open! The world is full of objects that can be maagiccaaally transformed into a ratty favorite.
My cage includes:
three hammocks (I'm saving for more!)
several mineral chews (some are fruit-flavored, some are supposedly ice cream-flavored)
two litter boxes (one's a giant cat-sized one on the bottom level, the other is a tiny Pyrex baking dish on the middle level)
two Kleenex boxes
a plastic desk shelf
a large cardboard tunnel box
a smaller cardboard box
a box with "windows" cut into the sides
a jingly cat toy
various toys like toilet paper tube pinatas
..and I'm finished decorating.
I know you mentioned not to list sites, but seriously, these two are very helpful:
http://www.dapper.com.au/toys.htm
http://ratguide.com/care/environment/cage_accessories.php
Garden Decor Super Sale - Ceramic Bird Feeders
Decorative Bird Feeders: Sanctuary for Birds, Good Sights for Spectators
More and more people are starting to get into feeding wild birds in their yards and gardens. That is because wild birds, even how wild they may tend to be, will always return to that especially allotted spot where they can find great seeds to eat.
Bright and lively groups of birds, flying around the bird feeder is also a great, amusing and relaxing sight to see. That can be one of the logical reasons why there is a rising number of people who are getting more and more interested at investing in decorative bird feeders.
In the past, people from several countries have become fond of attending to homing pigeons. Now, it is not only pigeons that are catching the attention of people who invest in bird feeders. Other wild birds can also be served by wild bird feeders.
Decorative
Because people would not get anything from their investment in feeders aside from the pretty sight of birds coming home and feeding the communal food served to them, bird feeder makers have started making the structures as beautiful as possible to further spice up the sight.
Nowadays, you could see feeders that are decoratively designed so that the structures alone are already a pretty good sight to look at. Them having birds would extremely be a pleasure for observers.
There are a number of specialty shops and bird feeder manufacturers which currently distribute decorative wild bird feeders. You would surely be amazed at how these feeders look like. They are in the form of real home structures, and the designs are truly profound and extravagant.
There are special decorative bird feeders that actually costs a lot more expensive than the average home for people. Also take note that several decorative bird feeders are actually designed by good architects and are built from the finest and most flexible raw materials.
Fun collection
Decorative bird feeders can also be fun to collect. Such collections would surely be fun, because they are not just aesthetic, these objects are also extremely useful, especially to birds.
People are greatly admiring the beauty of decorative feeders, which become host to a number of colorful and different breeds and seizes of different types of birds.
Each season, there may be different types of birds that may swoon in and troupe around the special bird structures. It is such sights that make collecting feeders very much fun.
Migrating birds
The most usual beneficiaries of the decorative bird feeders are the migratory birds who flock out of their area origins during winter. Not only would you be providing food to such migratory organisms. You would also be providing them with temporary shelter or resting place where they can recharge after flying thousands of miles.
Spectators also gaze up and enjoy the event. That way, you would not only help the birds, but also those people, who, even for a few minutes, are relieved of the burdens of their personal problems by being entertained by the breath-taking scenery.
Decorative feeders add to the attraction of the bird feeding sight. Find one and see for yourself how your day would be made even brighter by the simple joy and admiration you may derive from simply looking at a bird feeder.
Asian influence
In the market, it is estimated that most bird feeder buyers prefer Asian-inspired feeders. It is because Asian houses are basically beautiful and more functional.
Asian influence is also evident in the popular feeders nowadays. The materials of such mini-structures are now usually made up of bamboo, wood, porcelain and other Asian materials.
Decorative wild bird feeders, the Asian style, actually look like miniatures of the cozy and homy houses at the Chinese, Indian, Korean, Filipino and Indonesian civilization.
Decorative European and American feeders designs are also starting to shoot up, but they still have a long way to go before matching the strong demand for Asian bird feeders.
Seasons
Wild birds are particularly very busy during summer and spring, when they take time to build their own comfortable nests elsewhere. So during these periods, do not expect to your feeders to host soirees to these birds.
In other season, when they experience difficulty searching for food or staying at their nests in the wilderness, these wild birds would find sanctuary in your bird feeders.
But during summer and spring, other birds may drop by, especially the migratory birds from offshore, which could make up to added or better sight attraction.
Decorative bird feeders are really the in-thing when it comes to devising temporary shelters and feeding stations to birds. Get one now and enjoy the sights. It would certainly be worth it.
About the Author
Lee Dobbins writes for http://birdfeeders.topicgiant.com where you can learn more about feeding your backyard birds as well as different types of decorative bird feeders
.