Thinking about building an indoor Bunny GazeboI

[Nova]

 My bun’s cage is a great size wih all the necessary elements but it’s not very “pretty.” I’ve been thinking about building a bunny gazebo – something that does its job and can be decorative and beautiful too. I found this online:

http://www.unbeatablesales.com/lsps9722.html

 

but it’s huge. My fiance and I just mortgaged our home in November of last year and got our buns in July. It’s a 131 year old Victorian era home built into the side of a cliff, overlooks the Erie canal…. very whimsical and serene. I think a gazebo bunny home would look awesome in one of my main rooms

Any suggestions on how to make a small version of this, and make sure it’s not toxic to my bun?

 

Anyone here make their bunny homes instead of buying them at the store?

 

[Eepster]

Most of us make them, b/c it is hard to find ones big enough at a halfway decent price. Ours tend to focus mainly on the bunny’s comfort and happiness and not so much on attractiveness.

For example here’s Porky’s condo.

It isn’t pretty, but it is really comfortable for Porky, with space for him to run, play and stand up.

To make something with similar amounts of comfort but more attractive would require some serious wood working. Of course I suspect Porky’s appreciation of it would be limited to chewing the wood parts.

[lashkay]

It seems the gazebo in your link is roomy and tall enough for a bunny to run, play and stand up and I think it would look nice in a room especially if it was a nice light colored natural wood. It’s essentially an enormous hidey house that fits in with a room’s decor. It certainly would command a lot of attention in a room as the room’s “centerpiece!” If you can visit a store that has such gazebo hutches and open the doors and get a look inside to decide how to make your home-built one more comfortable, that would be ideal. Otherwise, you will need decide how to make yours comfortable for the bunny. It can probably be done as I assume you either give your bunny some out-of-gazebo run time or give it free run, at least in the room or in a x-pen. I say, go for it!

[lashkay]

I found these customer reviews for the gazebo rabbit hutch on Amazon. A couple bought it for their indoor home as well. Reading them should give you some considerations you’ll want to consider to avoid their problems:

http://www.amazon.com/Super-Pet-Rabbit-Hutch-Gazebo/product-reviews/B0049BMQT4/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

[mindy10]

I dont have suggestions on the Gazebo but your house sounds beautiful!!  I always wanted a Victorian.  Mindy

[Sarita]

Pretty, but not practical.

You might look at these cages if you are looking for a good looking functional cage for rabbits:

http://www.leithpetwerks.com/indexpage.cfm

Sometimes functionality can be very attractive – it’s not Victorian but it it nice.

Your home does sound lovely!  When I was growing up my grandparents had a lovely old Victorian home with the pocket doors and beautiful wooden staircase and even stained glass.  The kitchen was small by today’s standards (although even today, the standards are changing) but my grandma managed to cook and bake just fine in her little kitchen.

[MoveDiagonally]

I don’t think the gazebo design is very practical either. If you or your husband have work working skill I’m sure you can design something practical with a Victorian look about it.

I did a quick google search:

These two looked neat and I wanted to share Now I want to design a pretty house for my buns. I would google around and see if something inspires you. If you’re building your own anyway you can do whatever you want.

[cactuspancake]

My bunsitter has a bunny complex that runs along one of the walls of the living room, it’s pretty wood and has a wooden top like a counter, and it’s on the ground so the bunnies can go in and out when it’s open. I think the gazebo is pretty… maybe make it two floors inside? Sounds like it could be a fun project.

[Nova]

That particular gazebo hutch I posted, according to t he reviews on Amazon.com, is a death trap for bunnies. It’s two floors and the top floor has come down on the buns! eek!
So, yeah, I was thinking about actually building something with my own two hands– much like the photos Ripley posted (the second one in particular!)

Ripley what did you type into Google to get those?! They;re AWESOME!

Cactus would love to see pics!

eepster, nice digs! 

Also thanks for the links to leithpetwerks. Maybe I can start with one of those cages and add the outside decor to my liking.

My fiance and I did a lot of our remodeling ourselves because this house had more thing wrong with it than the realtor told us… bad pipes, 30ft of bad pipes…raccoon damage in one of the ceilings… it was a mess. But, I’m no master crafter, so I’m a little nervous.

I think I’ll find a good, sturdy cage and then add architecture to it. hmmmmmmm. ideas welcome!

[Nova]

OOOOH! lol
I have an idea!!!

What if I got the rabbit gazebo, GUTTED it, just used its frame as a base and constructed my own quality bunny condo out of its bare bones? That way I know it would be functional?!

[Sam and Lady's Human]

Seems like a waste of money honestly. The framework would be the easiest and cheapest part to make. But are you planning on ever letting your bunnies out? It’s going to be a pill to have to pick them up and put them up and down all the time.

[lashkay]

I think your idea of gutting it and constructing a functional condo within is the best one. I take it you read the Amazon reviews then? Those have saved me so much heartache and disappointment. Anyway, if you can afford it, you may be very happy with your idea. Sounds like you’re considering all the angles and pros and cons. Good luck!

[LoveChaCha]

I created a 3 story NIC grid condo for my bunny and the cost was: $75. Best money spent

[Eepster]

It wouldn’t have to be that gazebo, you could take any reasonably open piece of furniture, gut it and build a bunny condo inside it. I would start at the thrift shop and see if you could find a cheap china cabinet or something.

[Nova]

a china cabinet sounds ideal!

Agreed, agreed .. the part that makes me nervous.. well, there’s two:

1) the wiring – I wouldn’t know how to fasten it so that my buns can’t get hurt or risk poking at someone/them.
2) I prefer a pull-out litter tray – easier to keep clean. For some reason I don’t like it when my buns lay in their poopy pellets. I wouldn’t know how to install it on another piece of furniture tho.

I’ll figger something out and hopefully not go broke over it in the meantime. Will keep you posted on ideas!!

[Sam and Lady's Human]

Some buns lay in the litter box, but I think most just do their business and stretch out somewhere else.

[Molzy]

I would go for something non-gazebo shaped myself, just to maximize on their space! Are your bunny’s litter trained? If so, I don’t see a need for a pull-out tray, and you could always do grates in their litter pans if you wanted.

I like the idea of finding another piece of furniture and changing it – though you’ll want to sand away any polish or paint they used and get something that is rabbit-safe, and then somehow seal any exposed wood in case they get it wet, while also somehow protecting it from bunny teeth….complicated.

The easiest thing might be to make a normal NIC cage, and then somehow “frame” it with molding from the hardware store or something.

Good luck!

[Nova]

Noms likes to wee in every corner, hehe. I have successfully litter trained 3 other buns, I’m thinking maybe she’s just young.

When I’m home I leave her cage door open and I constructed a little ramp for them. When Noms felt confident going up and down the ramp she learned how to do zooms in and out of her cage. She zooms 3 of the rooms in this house; and I’ve made her playhouses out of boxes. Bunny haven! She gnaws on the cage when it’s bedtime tho, she wants to keep playing.

But yeah – maybe an unfinished cabinet. If I do end up making bunny condo, I’ll likely border/frame it with crown molding. I’m going to research some non-toxic paints and finishes. This is crown molding:

ps what is the brief BB code for images on this board? jw

[Sarita]

As long as the cabinet is deep enough – it should at least be 2 feet deep and 4 feet wide at the minimum.

[mocha200]

Here is a condo I made from a cabinet type of thing. I now have an NIC cage because this condo was a little to small for two bunnies.

[Nova]

mocha!!!!!!!! OMG! That’s exactly what I had in mind, except shorter! (wider) cause I too will have more than one bunny again soon.

How did you do the wiring to make sure it wasn’t jutting out or poking out??

I’ll PM you I may need your coaching, lol.

[mocha200]

 

My uncle built me a book case with the thing I used for the condo went on top so I could climb up on top and read. So it didn’t have any shelves I had to gut out.

1. We cut squares in the sides of the condo so there is more ventilation. I strongly recommended doing this.

2. We nailed the back piece of wood on. ( It had no back because it wasn’t a cabinet)

3. Cut the wood for the levels to size. ( remember to cut the holes for the ramps

4. Glue linoleum on the floors.

5. Put floors into condo. We connected the floors by screwing 1×2 boards in the frame of the condo. Like this

Then nailed the back piece of wood into the level.

6. Then we caulked the edges of the floors so that pee would not go through the cracks.

7. made the doors by making the frame. I made the doors more sturdy by adding these L shaped medal things ( lol I have no Idea what they are, my dad bought them.)

8. Cut chicken wire to size.

9. Staple chicken wire on. ( I used a staple gun.)

10. Cover up the edges of the wire with thin pieces of wood. The two pieces of wood I circled on top is what I did. The circle on the bottom is where I didn’t cover the edges of the wire. My bunnies never hurt them selves on it, but you can cover them if you want.

11. Make ramp. I just cut a piece of wood and stapled small pieces of wood on it so they have something to grip when they use it.

12. Make sure you put wood around the hole for the ramp so they don’t chew the linoleum.

Here is what happens if you don’t cover it.

13. Connect doors with some hinges to the condo.

14. Put a latch on to keep the doors shut.

If you have any further questions please ask. I would be happy to help!

 

 

 

 

[Nova]

Oh my goodness this has been a tremendous help. Thank you so much. The photos arent showing up but some of them did work in the PM you sent me. thank you thank you!

I’ll keep you up to date on this. I’ve got time – but the book case is the most excellent idea. I was searching for some unfinished curio cabinets and they were all lacking depth. Book case – much better idea.

Did they ever pee on the linoleum?

Thank you for responding to my PM as well. very excited about this

[mocha200]

I found the pictures worked when I used internet explorer.

[mocha200]

pictures should work now.

[Nova]

They work now – I use Safari for MAcbook – thank you

When you mentioned the silicone for the corners – do the buns ever slip up and pee on the wood/linoleum? I guess that’s my number one fear if I do the wood floors (even partially) – but I also don’t want my buns little feet to be on wires. :\

Such great crafting. I started at the Goodwill/thrift stores for a bookcase but I might need to move up to an unfinished furniture store.

[mocha200]

Make sure you have some sort of material over the wood because pee will soak in to the wood. I put linoleum over the wood and if they pee on it , its fine. You just wipe it up.

[Elrohwen]

I got excited just hearing the description of your new home! That sounds absolutely fantastic.

I’m all for creating beautiful bunny habitats. Not saying mine have a pretty home, but I love seeing what other people come up with. Haha. Maybe some day if we actually want to put a dining table in our dining room we’ll have to make something that looks prettier.

Reading threads about NIC condos can help as well. Even if they’re not quite the look you’d like, you can often use the grids and frame them out with wood to make it look nicer. They also give a lot of helpful tips on how to lay it out so it’s easy to clean and access all areas. I imagine it would be frustrating to build a beautiful bunny condo only to realize it doesn’t work well for your needs.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Your description of your home is making me drool! Gazebo is very cool but not very practical. Some of those other habitat pictures….geez…I’m now wanting to redo our setup!!

[mocha200]

found an awesome cage someone built on youtube!
http://youtu.be/TRaaTIEmdzw

[avarismom1]

I have a 3 story NIC cage that only cost me $40 (got store brand cubes on sale). It may not be beautiful, but it is spacious and super easy to clean.

[Author]

Messages