Cage Questions

[heather122]

Hi all!

I’m new to this spoiling of an indoor bunny! I recently adopted a 5 month old bunny with her cage (the farm type) and am wanting to upgrade it so that she has more room to jump and play when she has to be confined. I had rabbits as a kid, but they lived on a farm and were not nearly as spoiled as this one already is!! My husband is wanting a build a 2 story hutch for her. She is not potty trained yet as far as in her cage. She pees in the litter box, but would rather poop in the floor! She does great when she is out of her cage, though. My question is, what kind of wood is safe and is it safe to use a stain?? I’ve gotten a lot of info from the internet and this site, but cant find anything on bunny-safe wood! Any and all suggestions would be appreciated!!!

Thanks!

Heather

[Beka27]

Rather than doing a hutch, you might want to look into building a NIC condo or getting a dog exercise pen. Those are preferably for indoor housing and MUCH easier to clean! If she does have a pee accident, it will soak into the wood and it’s impossible to fully clean it.

[tabalab]

If you put hay in her litter box ( yes i Know it sounds gross ) but that should stop most of the pooping outside the cage. Also if the bun is pooping large amounts in one area outside the litterbox it is prolly just territorial. As far as the hutch, I wouldn’t recommend it. I have one that my boyfriend made. LOVELY & Big but cleaning is a B**ch ( excuse my grammar ) I have to stand on a chair to reach the back ( its about oh hip level high and I am 5’2″ ) plus my rabbits for the time being are outside; right outside my back door.

[tabalab]

Some people also use ferret cage but modify it to be better for a rabbit.Google rabbit pens – it’ll give you lots of ideas to choose from.

[RabbitPam]

Whatever type of cage you build, if it’s wood it needs to be untreated. Treated wood, or putting a finish on it, can be harmful. (Which is why it’s better to slip a plain chew stick to a bunny that’s eyeing the legs of your coffee table.)

Check out the Habitat section of BB, via the green banner above, for some really excellent home made habitats. It will inspire your husband.

[tabalab]

http://www.guineapigcages.com/index.htm i know it says for pigies but they have good NIC cage Ideas

[heather122]

Thanks for all of the suggestions! We were planning on doing a wood floor covered in vinyl/linolium. I’ve learned with an evil cat, that urine completely ruins hardwood floors!! I’d love to do an x-pen with the bunny, but don’t trust afore mentioned evil kitty when I am at work! She seems to like the bunny, but I like to make sure she is supervised! We were thinking of a hutch like one of the first listed under the “cool habitats” -either wire/NIC with a wooden frame and then covered floors. Husband wants a decent sized door on the bottom level and is planning on having the “lid” open completely. We are still tossing around floor plans right now. Bunny is a little better with potty habits, as I have moved the food to the litter box!

[tabalab]

YAY! I wish my bf was as excited as yours in moving bun inside

[Author]

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