Bunny can JUMP!

[Pandorachik]

Houdini was in what I believe was a 32” pen and he JUMPED IT!!!!! I couldn’t believe me eyes when I saw him out running around free! None of my family members let him out and the pen is very secure! So I brought in my 36” inch pen and am scared to leave him alone in it! He was fine the first time(at least I hope his back is..he’s acting fine) but is there any way I can make sure he doesn’t jump over it, and also is 36” most likely high enough to keep him in? Thanks!!

[RabbitPam]

Many people find out the hard way that their bunny can jump that high. If you already have the 36″ one then you probably will be OK. If you go to buy a new one, or can exchange the 32″, then try to get a 42″ one instead.

Either way, an inexpensive way to prevent it is to make a cover over the top by using a sheet. You want to find a small sheet (like a kid’s twin flat) and stretch it taught across the top. Then get a bunch of clamps at a hardware store or Walmart and clamp it firmly around in several places. Don’t leave gaps big enough for a bunny to worm through. Your bunny may try again but you don’t want him getting stuck or caught (like a paw) and hurting himself.

Some xpens sell a plastic fitted cover separately, so you could do an online search for one from your manufacturer and order it. Usually the most effective is when it’s just too high for the bunny to try again.

You could build a cover made out of thin wood, like balsa, and fit it to the xpen, possibly with a hinge or latch to take it on and off easily. Peruse the xpens and pix in this section for more ideas on habitats.
Does anyone here have a really effective top to their xpen? Please reply with suggestions.

[Stickerbunny]

I would suggest a top even for a tall pen, Powder actually CLIMBS the bars not just jumps. When I was trying to keep him in a pen setup, I used cardboard to cover the top (I had scraps of it that were really huge like from pallets). It didn’t last long though since he is insane if caged and I was scared he’d hurt himself, but it kept him in.

[Rufus]

I have this cover and it’s really great! http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Play-Pen-cover-for-any-18-24-30-36-42-8-Panel-Exercise-pen-/200907665685?pt=AU_Pet_Supplies&hash=item2ec707b115&_uhb=1

It clips on in eight places and is adjustable. I also like that it’s half netting because that means you’re not making it too dark under there.

[Eepster]

Get a cover for the xpen, and sign him up for jumping competitions.

[Deleted User]

Wow! How cool – thanks Eepster. (youtube).

[balakai]

Lola (mini-lop) jumped up, grabbed the top edge, then pulled herself over the top of her pen. I put her back in. She then jumped straight over. Her new taller pen came today–upgraded from 24″ to 36″. That’s the tallest I can use in the living room or I start blocking furniture/television. I’m thinking about getting a 42″ to put around her hutch; we have cats that I don’t trust so she is in the hutch at night/when we’re not home. The 24″ looked so tall when we first got her but she has grown so much!

[Boing]

Plastic garden/ snow fencing secured with zip ties makes a good top. It has ~1″ square mesh. It’s narrow, so to make it wider overlap two pieces, and use zip ties to piece it together. I made little zip tie ‘x’s at most of the corners, so that it is pulled taught in all directions. It turns it into a large piece of fencing. Cincinnati is big, and he can’t escape. I paid $20 for the ties and the fencing – very cost effective. I will try to get pictures.

[Boing]

Here it is (I hope)!

[Author]

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