xpen lack of flooring blues..

[lwayne]

So my buns are currently free run in one room of the house (aka the bunny room), we let them out to the rest of the house while we are home.  Their old xpen I still have set up where I keep their litter box and hay (its 2×4 with 2 panels on top). 

The problem I’m having is they like to dig and chew whatever type of flooring I put down.  I can’t count how many blankets/rugs/mats/cardboard I’ve gone through. 

I’d like something to keep the hay and roll away poops contained.. something with sides would be even better.  I’m at the point where those plastic bottom pet store cages look appealing…

I’ve also thought about those dog crates, or putting a piece of lenolium down (I could see them chewing on the ends of that too).  Any ideas, suggestions?

[Beka27]

Depending on where the pen is, can you get some linoleum and have it where 6 inches sticks out from the pen and then fold the ends up and attach the ends to the pen somehow? This would essentially “box in” the pen and keep hay and poops inside.

[mocha200]

Just to warn you, In my bunnies condo i have linoleum for the flooring and i had to cover the opening to were the ramp was with wood because they kept on chewing it and swallowing it.

[lwayne]

yeah I’m sure my bunnies would do the same, they chew everything. Like I’m sure they would chew up that coroplastic stuff as well. Thats why I was thinking of something with a hard plastic bottom…

[mocha200]

here is a video on how to make coroplast chew resistant. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWHRPP9U8h0

[Barbie]

Ooo good topic lwayne! I was just wondering this myself!

I moved my bunnies’ ex-pen out to the living room, and I currently have a soft tarp under the pen to protect the carpet and make clean up “easy”. But I spent about 30 minutes folding the tarp and attaching it to the pen so it makes about a 6in hay/poop guard around the side. This would be fine, except that I have to take the tarp out every few weeks to give it a thorough cleaning, and the bunnies tend to chew holes in the tarp after a while, so then I have to replace it and go through that ordeal of making it look neat all over again!

Another issue I have with the tarp is that it just looks so tacky sitting out there in my living room in all it’s garish blue glory! So I’m hoping to find an waterproof, stray-hay-and-poop-proof option in a more subdued color that better matches the rest of the living room

Thanks for the link Mocha, that’s a good idea to put edge guards on the cloroplast. Idk if cloroplast will work for me though b/c I need not only a floor but also something that comes up around the sides, and to do that with cloroplast, I’d have to cut it and use difference sections, so I’m concerned about gaps…

[mocha200]

here is another video on how to make the bottom of a cage with coroplast. as you can see in this video you don’t really cut it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-KJqiH5DfM

[lwayne]

Can bunnies scratch through coroplastic? It seems like with their digging skills they can, I know mine can go through cardboard pretty easily.

Barbie, I have also tried blue tarp, however they chewed holes though it in a matter of a few days.

My newest idea, is to get one of those big tupperware containers, the ones used for storing sweaters under the bed (so its not too high) and putting their litterbox and hay inside. I’m off to the store tonight to see what I can find. I’ll keep you update on how it works.

[Deleted User]

I had used tiles in the past, sometimes the ceramic ones go on sale and you can get a bunch for a decent price. You want them placed with the rough side upward. I just put those on top of my carpet inside their pen. It can be a pain to clean, but you don’t have to pick them up every time you clean. I just did a thorough vacuum once per week where I would clean in between the tiles. I did this when Mops was still alive. He used to tear up everything.

[jerseygirl]

Other sources for large plastic trays might be:
gardening/horticulture centres
hydroponics
automotive
drainage system pans

You might even be able to find replacement trays for dog crates. 

 

ETA: I found this stuff called skirt-guard online this week. It’s marketed for mobile homes. I think it could have some application for bunny proofing.  

 from skirt-guard.com

It would be good if it could be applied to indoor skirtings but I don’t think it can becasue it needs that gap between the wall and skirting.

It might be able to be used in an ex-pen though.  Those plastic urine guards would be similar.

[jerseygirl]

Also, this is from Cool Habitats gallery from member Osprey.

The base is plywood with vinyl stuck on top then molding around the outside. You could use even wider molding. If they chew the molding, would it matter? It’d help keep their teeth trim!

[Barbie]

Jersey, thanks for pointing out Osprey’s pen, that is brilliant! I was thinking something along those lines… using plywood and like 1×4 pieces of lumber but was concerned about how the final product would turn out. Definitely going to get started on that

[lwayne]

Thanks everyone for your awesome suggestions!  

I ended up getting a big tupperware bin that is made to slide under the bed (so it is short enough for them to jump in).   

 

Here we go… cageless!

Close up:

 

Here’s what their old litterbox area looked like:

[jerseygirl]

Lovely! Will be easier on you too for cleaning. I do predict you’ll be finding a bunny at some point between the wall and the box lid. lol. Far too tempting.

[lwayne]

Posted By jerseygirl on 09/27/2010 10:43 AM
 I do predict you’ll be finding a bunny at some point between the wall and the box lid. lol. Far too tempting.

Oh Arduina has already tried that! She’s notorious for jumping up on dangerous spots (stacks of boxes, back of the couch, the recycling bin..).  S.O. said we could make a wooden cover thing, like a shelf, then she could jump up on top.  

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