My opinion of xpen vs. NIC cube cage

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This topic has 9sd replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 4 months ago by KytKattin.

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- 12/15/2011 at 7:45 PM
  kamdynandsunshinesmom
  Participant
  910 posts
  So for about a year now I have used an xpen for my rabbits cage. From the beginning my rabbit chewed the bottom mat that came with the xpen. The xpen cost about $70 total. I decided to put cardboard on the bottom. My rabbit would spill her water bowl causing the cardboard to become wet. I took that off and bought another mat to put down. Still continued to chew the mat. So I decided to just put it over carpet. Big mistake still chewed. Decided then to put a fitted sheet down. Still chewed it. I was tired of her chewing so I decided to make her and NIC cube cage I have one for my other bun made out of NIC cubes. I had a plastic pan from a dog crate. So I decided today to make her one. I can honestly tell you I love it much better than the xpen. For the limit space that I have the nic cube cage just works alot better. The xpen was flimpsy and wasn’t made sturdy especially for the price you pay. I am hoping my bunny sunshine loves her new cage. I was able to make her that toy that was suggested on hear the jellyfish toy I put it right as she walks in her cage and she loves it. I have used over the 20 years that I have had rabbits many many different cages and by far the NIC cube cages wins for me I will never use any other cage but the nic cube cage!
- 12/15/2011 at 10:40 PM
  Sam and Lady's Human
  Participant
  2001 posts
  Wow what xpen did you have? My xpen is super sturdy.
  
  And to be fair, you have flooring issues, not xpen issues The NIC has the exact same problem, you found a solution for the flooring problem that worked better with the NIC panels
- 12/16/2011 at 3:24 AM
  kinggoblin
  Participant
  416 posts
  I love my xpen, petco constantly has 50% off sales on them so it was only $40. It sounds more like the floor was the problem not the pen, I have my pen on the linoleum kitchen floor so its easy to clean.
- 12/16/2011 at 3:57 AM
  Beka27
  Participant
  16016 posts
  It sounds from your description that the pen you had was one made for “small animals” that they sell by Dr. Foster and Smith and other places. I know those pens come with a fitted bottom (or top). I agree that those pens do seems very flimsy and poorly constructed (the wire looks like bird cage wire). If you had gotten a dog x-pen however, I can almost guarantee that you wouldn’t have had those problems.
  
  I also agree with Sams Human that it sounds like your problem was more with inadequate flooring, which might be an issue with a NIC condo as well. To each their own, I’ll always prefer x-pens. I’ve fiddled around with NIC grids, and for housing they’re too much of a pain IMO.
- 12/16/2011 at 4:05 AM
  Beka27
  Participant
  16016 posts
  Here are the pics of the pen in question, yes? I thought I remembered you posting pics, so I did a quick search and this is what I came up with.
  
  These are from your thread in September… https://www.binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/a…fault.aspx
  
  As I said in my previous post, those pens are not high quality and I don’t recommend them at all. The attachments are so flimsy and it seems like a rabbit could easily get out if he/she wanted to. I just want to make this distinction for others reading this thread (or searching the “x-pen vs. NIC grid” topic in the future). Dog x-pens are not flimsy like this.
  
  And I agree, that flooring is a joke. Any rabbit would chew on that.
- 12/16/2011 at 5:28 AM
  kamdynandsunshinesmom
  Participant
  910 posts
  Thanks everyone. I did have some problems with the xpen. The door wasn’t to secure. It didn’t quit fit in mat. I did call my local humane society and they said they would gladly take it because sometimes they get rabbits. I have never seen a dog xpen. They probably are sturdier then the one I had. I also was tired of spending money on mats. Plus the price of the mat was the same price I paid to build her her new house!
- 12/16/2011 at 5:34 AM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  Yeah, that pen is not adequate. The pens I have are Midwest and they are usually in the dog section at the pet stores. Very sturdy and nice.
- 12/16/2011 at 3:50 PM
  Beka27
  Participant
  16016 posts
  If you can donate that pen to the HS, that would be great. As temporary housing, that will be a big help!
- 12/16/2011 at 9:59 PM
  Lazee
  Participant
  209 posts
  yeah, you can make some awsome pens out of NIC cubes. and if you have limited space the NIC cubes are the way to go.
- 12/16/2011 at 11:15 PM
  KytKattin
  Participant
  1195 posts
  I have an xpen along the front. The floor is lined with cheap linoleum, and plastic NIC cubes are stapled to the wall to make the lino not chewable. It is a hybrid cage of sorts. Oh, and it has a giant cement mixer tub for her hay (think giant litterbox!).
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