Advice on outdoor cage

[Dylan Dutz]

Can somebody give me some tips. Im gonna make one soon for my female veiled. Here in northern Illinois the weather is good for chams in the summer, on average about 85 degrees, good for veileds. I would probably keep her out in the outdoor cage for about an hour a day, if the weather is nice. So can I just have some tip on building one etc. Also pics of your outdoor cages would be appreciated.

 

[jejton]

Tagging along for the advice.

 

[Justin Carl]

If your going to be building an outdoor enclosure, why dont you make it a semi-permanent one?
It only takes a few hours a day of unfiltered light each day for them to support themselves in making D3.
If your going to be bringing them out then back in after an hour, then why bother?
The stress of being moved back and forth for such a short time wouldnt be that benificial.
The best time for them to get the most benificial sun is between 10 and 2.
85 degrees during the summer is sweet!
If i were you I would leave them out all day.
If I had those kinds of temperatures during the summer I would keep my chameleons outside as long a possible.
If your worried about night time temperature drops, my Veiled was outside when it dipped almost into the 40's.

My cage is not pressure treated wood, nor is it lacqured or sealed.
If you wanted to take the extra precaution by all means go ahead.
I found that it is really nice to have a fully screened bottom.
This allows dirt, poop, and excess water from gathering on the bottom.
My cage is a 22x20x50
You can get regular pine 1x2's at Home Depot for 1$.(they were on sale)
You will need about 8 of them, and that should cove your waste.
Aluminum screen rolls are like 8 bucks and you will need 2 of the 48x84
The one thing I found that helps to stabilize the cage are the L corner brackets.
All the other small odds and ends like staples, a counter sink, and screws are 10 bucks.
Make sure you drill pilot holes and counter sink your holes.
If you dont the screw will crack the 1x2's

Here is my outdoor cage:

 

[TylerStewart]

Here is my outdoor cage:

I think I saw that mist system in the Herpmist catalog LOL...

 

[Dylan Dutz]

Thanks Justin Carl for the advice I will probably make it a semi permanent cage for her, for all the reasons you stated. I like the pic of your cage, very nice! And yeah the weather rocks here in the summer for chams! Except like some days it gets over 95 and almost 100, then I would have to put her inside!