NIC Cage Help!

[BouncingBunnies]

Hi everyone

 Just a quick question. My bunnies x2 are giant flemish crosses – so they aren’t huge, but they’re big (they weight around 4.8-5kg) and I am building a NIC Condo. I was wondering what size NIC Condo should I build for them 2 x 6? or just the average 2 x 5 if you could help me out I would really appreciate it! And just some background info I will be letting them roam around most of the day indoors – the condo will just be a base home. 

Thanks,

BouncingBunnies

P.S If you do have any other tips to help with the NIC Condo I would love to hear those too.

[Bam]

I don’t have any experience with NIC condos, but many here do. You might be able to find ideas in the habitat-section. You can never build a condo too big for a bunny, as far as the bunny is concerned. It’s the available space and cost that sets the limit.

[MiNinoJack]

Hi! I just built my first condo a last week and it was a huge success! I researched it for months and learned a lot.

Here’s my condo: https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/146075/Default.aspx

My bun is a bachelor and he’s only 3 lbs but I could easily see 2 buns in here. So you could build it my size or maybe one step up. I had the following goals:

– Make sure he had multiple levels that are easy to get to (he’s small, so the jumps couldn’t be too big)
– BUT so that he can’t fall too far if he misses a jump (So I made sure there was at least a 2 inch overlap between the levels)
– AND I wanted to make sure he could stand up a lot (periscope) if he wants.

My overall dimensions are 3 x 2 x 3 squares. Each square is 14″x14″ so in reality its 42x28x42 inches (length x width x height). It is easily scale-able to 4 x 3 x 4 squares (or any other configuration) if you have the space. It will be WAY easier to clean since you then could have 2 doors rather than one.

I recommend putting the whole thing on 1/2 inch to 1 inch ply wood and attaching swivel casters. This thing gets heavy quick and you will thank yourself when you can move it around easily. I got casters that have locks on them so he can’t push it around. I never found exactly what I wanted so I ended up using right angle L brackets to attach the cage portion to the base. Also, I made the base a little larger than the cage itself.

I used masonite peg board for the levels and it worked out great. If you are worried about weight just use more supports or double up with peg board and more NIC squares. I used closet rod as the supports. I think the 1 1/4 inch fit nicely and they only charge you by the foot at home depot. I live in the city and don’t have a saw so I had home depot cut all of my wood for me. I went there with a shopping list and measurements and it was done pretty quickly. I would recommend using a drill to put it all together. I can’t imagine putting this together using a screwdriver.

OH!!! The most important thing (that I screwed up) is either build inside the room the condo is going to be in or make sure you measure the door frame before you put it all together. I made that mistake and it was a huge hassle having to disassemble it and also take the door off its hinge.

There are good ideas in the Bunny info section on here. Look around at a few different options out there and see what works best for your skill level and what your buns will like.

Let me know if you have any questions. I had a lot of fun putting it together. I kind of wish I had another one to build. I have so many ideas now!

[GabbyW]

MyninoJack pretty much covered it all! I built mine about the same. 3 squares high, 3 squares long, and two squares deep. And I have three levels. I only have my one bunny, and she’s about 4 lbs. I could totally house another one with her and I think they’d be comfortable. Good luck with your design! They’re gonna be so happy!

[BouncingBunnies]

Thank you so much! I’m fairly new to this website and I can’t believe I got such a detailed reply back so quickly thank you!

I’ll be sure to post some pics of the NIC condo once completed.

-BouncingBunnies 

[BouncingBunnies]

Thank you so much for the support!! I’d love to see some photos of your NIC condo 

-BouncingBunnies

[BouncingBunnies]

Posted By bam on 6/06/2016 6:00 AM

I don’t have any experience with NIC condos, but many here do. You might be able to find ideas in the habitat-section. You can never build a condo too big for a bunny, as far as the bunny is concerned. It’s the available space and cost that sets the limit.

Thank you for the advice! I’ll have a look around the housing section

-BouncingBunnies

[MiNinoJack]

Looking forward to seeing it! Good luck.

[Azerane]

For two bunnies that size I would definitely recommend 2×6. You could get away with 2×5, but if you have the room there’s no reason not to give them extra space.

Are you having more than one level? Bandit was 3.2kg (7 pounds) and I had him in a two level 2×5 by himself. Once you have all the stuff in, you realise how quickly you lose space. Here’s a link to a blog thread where I took pictures of the build process and you can see the finished project on the next page. http://www.rabbitsonline.net/showthread.php?t=73547&page=39

The second level was short, but I didn’t consider it to be much of a problem because he could still hop around with ease and he had the ability to stretch high on the lower level, however for bigger buns you’ll likely need to make the second level two grids high as well for them to be able to hop properly. Before he passed away early this year, I had intended to bond Bandit to another bunn and was going to upgrade the second story of the condo to two grids high.

[BouncingBunnies]

Posted By Azerane on 6/07/2016 5:58 AM

For two bunnies that size I would definitely recommend 2×6. You could get away with 2×5, but if you have the room there’s no reason not to give them extra space.

Are you having more than one level? Bandit was 3.2kg (7 pounds) and I had him in a two level 2×5 by himself. Once you have all the stuff in, you realise how quickly you lose space. Here’s a link to a blog thread where I took pictures of the build process and you can see the finished project on the next page. http://www.rabbitsonline.net/showthread.php?t=73547&page=39

The second level was short, but I didn’t consider it to be much of a problem because he could still hop around with ease and he had the ability to stretch high on the lower level, however for bigger buns you’ll likely need to make the second level two grids high as well for them to be able to hop properly. Before he passed away early this year, I had intended to bond Bandit to another bunn and was going to upgrade the second story of the condo to two grids high.

Sorry for the late reply thank you for the help I agree with you bigger is better 

[Vienna Blue in France]

I have a 6.5kg rabbit and, as you know, it is heavy – make sure EVERYTHING is solid and fixed well and that each levels isn’t too high.
They can boing up high no problem at all, but when they come down they come down HEAVY, and have all that weight behind them on their tiny little front feet – I think mine sprained her ankles when she was a baby…. you could always DIY an old wooden sideboard with shelves which will give the solidity that TWO big rabbits will need.
I don’t know how solid NIC cages are for a multi-level condo but with two 5kg weights jumping around, The shelves will HAVE to be solid as a rock.
In my dog cage condo, I have put wooden ‘beams’ across the width of the cage, half way up the sides, and a wooden shelf laying on the rods.

If it’s a one-level condo, make sure they can’t jump out. Mine can jump 1m20 easily (she’s 80cm long).

PIccies please !

[Azerane]

Yes, regarding their larger size, you will need to reinforce the shelves with at least two wooden beams. NIC condos for large breeds can be done, there’s a user on the Rabbits Online forum that has her two flemish giant rabbits in an NIC condo. I think it’s 2x6x4 from memory. Your steps up and down may also need to be 2×1 instead of my 1×1 steps that I used.

[Author]

Messages