X-pen: Is 48″ overkill?

[JackRabbit]

I’m getting ready to order new x-pens that will go all the way around our new bunny area. Is 48″ tall a waste? Right now our two holland lops are the only ones in the area and they aren’t really jumpers (I’ve seen Moshi jump up at a door knob one time and missef it by about 6 inches). The only time they jump on anything is to jump on top if their maze haven (one level). If our other bun agrees to bond eith them and move in with them . . . She’s a jumper. Kieko is a mini rex mix, and while she ‘s only 3 1/2 lbs, she can jump our baby gate when she wants to and even at 10 weeks old could jump on the sofa with ease. (She’s now 11 months old)

It seems like most people get 36″. I can go 42″ or 48″ tall with little price difference.

Suggestions? Does anyone have the 48″? I should add that the bunny area does have a tunnel and hopper hideaway that they can climb up on if they want.

Thanks!

[LongEaredLions]

If you don’t know, higher is always better. If the price isn’t much different, I would go for the highest you can.

[Stickerbunny]

36″ is too short, my rabbits would clear that in no time. 42″ is fine, usually.. but 46″ is better safe than sorry. Some rabbits that aren’t jumpers can actually be CLIMBERS. Stickers jumps up into a 36-38″ tall laundry basket no problem (straight up and in). Powder climbs the baby gates I have (32″ or so) if he is locked in (yes, climbs, not jumps).

[JackRabbit]

I had forgotten climbing. Marlee & Moshi have never climbed. When Kieko was a baby and had a store bought cage (before we knew better), we used to find her hanging at the top of the cage. Definitely a spider bunny.

Would Powder climb 48″? Kieko used to climb up but jump down. Do you think she would climb something so tall? I’m leaning toward the 48″ to deter jumping but don’t want her to fall 4 ft either.

[Deleted User]

Even though Henry is free roam Cathie, I have a couple boards up at 2 doorways to stop Henry from going into – for example Blair’s room so Henry doesn’t chew on his cords. I started at just below knee height so we could step over – bugga! So could Henry (jump). The boards have been replaced twice since and we are now (without getting the tape measure out) so high our next one will be an actual door! And get this – (he’s only done it twice, but he did it) Henry jumped to get his 2 front paw’s on the other side of the ‘flat’ board and then scratched his back feet and climbed over!!! UNREAL! Who would have thought…… Anyhow, luckily he hasn’t tried again (I think it was to strenuous for him, ha ha ha), but I reckon the higher the better and be done with it. At least our boards were under $10 (and I hated wasting that money), I’d hate for you to spend lot’s if you need to replace them for the sake of height?

PS – You mentioned falling, so just have to tell you…. Henry was laying on the end of the bed and got up to have a scratch and a bit of a groom. He then thought it would be a good idea to ‘flop’ back down – he missed the end of the bed and fell to the floor HA HA HA HA HA! I checked to make sure he was ok (yes, while laughing), then laughed at him so hard I must have embarrassed him – he left the room! Wonder if he’ll do that again??? LOL!

[Stickerbunny]

Powder does climb pretty high, but only when locked in. He has bad cage phobia and if you shut him into a xpen or cage he flips out – breathing hard, jumping into the top if there is one, climbing, biting, digging etc. The one time I did lock him into a xpen setup, think it was 36″ and he climbed to the top and was too scared to jump down. I walked in to his room and he was perched on the thin edge of the xpen carefully holding on for dear life with both back and front paws and I had to go save him. I doubt anything is too tall for him to climb, so if I were going to lock him in anywhere it would need a top. I don’t though, since I am too scared of how stressed he gets, he is strictly a bunny room or free roam kind of rabbit.

If not locked in, he doesn’t clear any of my baby gates blocking off areas he isn’t allowed. They are shorter 32″ ones that we got free.

[JackRabbit]

Hopefully none of mine will try to climb out. The area they have is 66 sq feet so they shouldn’t feel space deprived! They have more “me” space than I do!

AH — too funny! I’ve seen that “nobody saw that did they?” look when Kieko has fallen over trying to bite/scratch her tail. Doubt Henry is done surprising you. After 2 weeks of the M&M’s acting like the new vinyl floor (outside the x-pen — had to cover the floor inside the x-pen with fleece), Moshi lost his fear if it last nite when we left the x-pen door unlatched. Found him exploring outside the room. Marlee was thumping trying to warn him about the deadly vinyl.

I’m beginning to think Henry might be part cat or part ferret!

[Deleted User]

Na! I’m sure Henry is just dumb (or overly confident?) ha ha ha ha!
BUT I had to laugh when you said that Keiko fell over trying to bite her tail!!!!! I could so see it in my head…… LOL!!!! And yes – the look of “nobody saw that did they”? just makes it so much more funnier! LOVE it! Thanks for the laugh…….

Edit to ADD – I was wondering how the m&m’s were doing with their new flooring??? Isn’t it funny how some bun’s can’t stand non-carpet flooring? Stickerbunny’s Powder and Sticker’s are the worst I know of for it – they don’t dare……

[JackRabbit]

Yep, they both hated the floor. This is so mean, but when we first put them in the room all we had to do was get them in the doorway and a little push sent them sliding all the way to the x-pen door. (Bad bunny mommy but it was easier than trying to pick them up!) Now that Moshi is OK with the vinyl we could be in trouble — he’s got a bit of Henry in him. He woke me up this morning rearranging things and dragging Marlee around in a litter box. Find myself shaking my head and saying “oooh bunny” quite often. Lucky they are so darn cute!!!

We’re working on replacing the x-pens because the doors stick so the way store is trying to find the ones with the newer style latch.

[Deleted User]

Again – picturing in my head….. the m&m’s sitting at the doorway and with a quick “now, get to bed” and a push – bunny’s bedtime done! HA HA HA!
Oh my gosh, I hope Moshi doesn’t have to much Henry in him??? But dragging Marlee around in the litter box is a definite sign of naughty things to come (I can’t describe to you how funny that was to read and imagine)! I wish you good luck (and sanity), LOL!

[Megabunny]

AndHenry, Henry would be a good match for my dog, Robbie. We were snuggling in bed and he wanted to roll over and PLOP…disappeared out of sight. Hubby and I were in stitches!
Rabbits are amazing at what they can get over, so I too vote higher

[Deleted User]

Laughing Megabunny! I’ve lost 1 or 3 dog’s that way, and I thought that was hilarious at the time – but to lose Henry (and he did a side FLOP), I was in hysterics! I feel so bad admitting while I got up to check on him, besides trying to control my laughter, all I could think was ‘why couldn’t I catch that on video’??? LOL!
Bad bunny mum!

[JackRabbit]

Went with the tallest — 48″.  Hopefully none of mine are bionic bunny jumpers or climbers!

Here’s a few pics . . . their dog crates are in there for now ’til the condo is built.

Because the x-pens are so tall they are a little wobbly so hubby is building wooden supports (one is in the pics).

Guard bunny watching over the x-pen door . . . wait, shouldn’t the bunny be on the *inside* of the x-pen?

[Deleted User]

WOW!!!!

[Beka27]

I have 36 inch pens and they worked for my pair, but like the others said, it really depends on the buns. It’s cheaper to just go ahead and get the higher pen from the get go, than have to replace it if it doesn’t keep them in.

Also, remember that xpens are built to last. As much as we hate to think about this, the pens will “outlive” your current bunnies. So just bc THEY are not jumpers/climbers, that doesn’t mean that another bun you may have in the future won’t be.

[Author]

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