Cage setup

[pryzmkess]

As one of the “new kids” I was hoping to get some advice on my cage setup.  I’m short on money at the moment, so anything you guys suggest that cost too much money will have to wait for a bit.  But I’d love to plan what I can do for him. 

And let me add, he doesn’t have a perfect (or even ideal) setup, but I’m hoping that me letting him out whenever I’m home and awake will make up for that. 

What do you suggest, guys.  I know he needs a bigger cage (in fact, he won’t get a girlfriend until I can get a NIC condo set up), but anything beyond that would help me be a better caretaker.

Thanks!

[Beka27]

there’s not much i can suggest you do with that particular cage. i do agree it’s good that he gets as much playtime outside of the cage as possible. it looks like you’ve got a nice tube for him (i’m guessing that’s for him and not for you… lol!) some boxes to play in. i think you have a nice little space set-up for him!

what is in the bottom of your cage, hay? is he littertrained welll? if you have issues with littertraining, you might take everything out of the bottom and only have litter in the pan. from your pic i can’t tell if it’s hay placed there or if it just got dug out…

i think this may actually explain a bit about why your petsitter was bitten (that was YOU right? i think so…) it seems that the smaller cage a bun is in, the more territorial they are of their space, esp from people they don’t know as well. when the same rabbit is in a larger area (like an xpen or NIC condo) that territorial behavior tends to go away to some extent. just a thought…

gosh he’s cute…

as for a future housing solution. i am a big fan of the xpen. it can be easily folded up without being taken apart. it’s super easy to clean… it provides 4×4 feet of confined space which is great, along with some outside playtime as well. you can do a linoleum remnant as flooring, or a rug if the bun is trained and does not chew the carpet.

when i adopted my second and began bonding my two bunnies, i purchased two xpens (which i now have combined.)  i am fortunate that i had a whole room just for them, but i think in your case you could easily have a corner for the xpen.  from the pic you can tell how spacious they are… Max, the lop, is a five pound bunny and there’s still a ton of space for him.  i only had the plastic storage box in the there the first few days after i brought him home, because i wanted to make sure his litter skills were good (they were perfect in fact!)

i spent 75 on each xpen (the 36-inch tall Mid West walk-thru xpen from PetSmart).  depending on what flooring you go with, you might not have to spend much more than that.  expect to spend teh same on a NIC condo depending on how big you go.  cubes are inexpensive, but the materials for building levels and flooring add up.  i’d suggest you do some calculating before you dive in to make sure the way you choose to go will work the best for you.

in case you’re wondering, here is their combined xpen…

[Sarita]

I second the x-pens. In my opinion, those are the best – the initial cost is not cheap but in the long run, it’s the best rather than buying different cages that cost a small fortune too and changing them out because they just don’t work. I think the cost of the x-pens are around $65.00 if I remember correctly. Then the cost of the carpet/linoleum.

I think exercise pens for rabbits just cannot be beat for size and cleaning, etc…

[bitterepiphany]

Check your local thrift stores.

My hamsters lived in a rubbermaid tub that had holes cut in the lid and one of the sides, covered in chicken wire and sandwiched between two metal rods. Best. Cages. Ever. (Seriously, so easy to clean and they never escaped once.) We picked up the clear tubs for a few bucks at the thrift store and did the rest with scraps from my fathers garage.)

If you have five bucks to spend here or there, you might be able to make some really HUGE space increases (if not in a slightly handy-mans-secret-weapon kind of way). Keep your eyes peeled for dog kennels, which might be another option. Even a second rabbit cage could be added to your current set up to create some space if you’re willing to make some “modifications” (wire cutters to snip the wires in the top of the cage and remove them, then cut a matching hole in the plastic of the “top” cage – add a ramp and you have yourself a second floor.)

My personal favorite, pet friendly thriftstore find (other than baby clothes for the dogs ) will probably always be the metal dog run we scored for like 6 bucks. It was a wire run – about the height of an x-pen – and, with a few snips on my fathers part and some mechanics wire, we turned it into a fence that folded like a jacobs ladder when not in use. It was great for the dogs. The yard isn’t completely fenced in, so when they want to let Tabby loose in the yard, they drag out the “fence” and corner her in one area or another. I suspect, cleaned up a bit, something simmilar would make a great rabbit habitat.

[pryzmkess]

Beka27: He has paper bedding (can’t remember the brand, but it is rabbit safe), but he pulls hay out of his feeder and drops it on the floor. I got the feeder to stop that hay-waste, but he seems to like it. Do you have three litter boxes in there? Does that complicate clean up at all?

Sarita: I have a plastic mat that I put down to make sweeping up hay easier (he likes to toss it out, too, and I dribble a little when giving him more). I could keep that for his cage. It might not cover the bottom, but another one could do it.

bitterepiphany: Great idea! I could check our Freecycle too, to see if someone has an exercise pen lying around that they aren’t using. And I had thought about adding a top cage, but didn’t think about using the bottom of the second cage for the flooring.

[Beka27]

i have two cat size litterboxes.  i’ve since changed the set-up so the hay container is suspended over one of the litterboxes.  this keeps excess hay inside the litterbox if it gets dug out, most of the hay anyways…  with one bun, you could just use one box, i prefer two boxes with my two buns.

 

[Ruffles&Daisy]

Beka, in your opinion, would one x pen be big enough for 2 rabbits? We have ours set up as a square, so it’s 4ft by 4ft.

And yes, the up front costs of the x pen are a lot, but we are so glad we got ours. It was $70 or $75. The floor was cheap to do (we have 2 2×4 pieces of plywood with stick tiles). Then we have sea grass mats, some rugs, and we built a shelf for him. We don’t have a top, I can’t forsee Ruffles ever wanting to jump out of it. It’s the best money I spent on him so far.

With that being said, if you’re totally strapped for cash, is there a way to build him a front yard for his cage out of NIC cubes. I saw a box of cubes at Target for like $12. Maybe you can construct a little front yard enclosure.

[skibunny8503]

Posted By Beka27 on 01/09/2009 6:41 AM

i think this may actually explain a bit about why your petsitter was bitten (that was YOU right? i think so…) it seems that the smaller cage a bun is in, the more territorial they are of their space, esp from people they don’t know as well. when the same rabbit is in a larger area (like an xpen or NIC condo) that territorial behavior tends to go away to some extent. just a thought…

That explains why my bun lunges at me when you try to clean his cage.  I have kind of the same setup, but the cage is just a tad bigger.  He lives in the office/sewing room for now.  As soon as we clean up the basement my husband wants to build a big condo for him. 

Thanks for posting those pictures! 

[RachelF]

I got my xpen for 65$ on ebay, and I got the tallest one– 48inches, because Honey is bouncier than a rubber ball xD

[hooty22]

I always see kennels and what not on craigslist going cheap. Check that out. I have a cage only slightly bigger than that one, but Felony is free range, so I don’t feel guilty. The cage is basically just something to keep his hay contained and to attach his water bottle.

[Beka27]

Posted By Ruffles on 01/09/2009 11:43 AM
Beka, in your opinion, would one x pen be big enough for 2 rabbits? We have ours set up as a square, so it’s 4ft by 4ft.

 

yes.  an xpen (set up square) is the smallest i would recommend for 2 bunnies.  that is with daily exercise as well.

[Thearina]

I personally don’t use x-pen’s but I do know a website that is doing is very good sell on them and the shipping is only $6.99 no matter how the order weighs or how much the final order price is. They have different x-pen’s but their doing a sale on the dog.com exercise pen gold zinc that is 8 panels with each panel being 24 inches. The website is called petsupplies.com. They have the 24, 30, 36, 42, and 48 inch high panels, but I wouldn’t recommend anything less than 30 inches high.

Here a direct link to the x-pen: http://www.petsupplies.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=192197+024

When yo click on the different panels by height it shows the sale which is by buying 2 or more. But with order from them you could order 2 x-pens plus the $6.99 shipping and it would still almost be cheaper than getting just 1 from petsmart.

When you look at the x-pen and click on the different ones it only shows you getting a discount if you order 2 or more BUT if you only add 1 x-pen to your cart it will show up cheaper in the cart than shows on the orginally page. If that makes any sense

Here’s the discount prices:

-30in H: $53.99 (reg $), $45.49 (discount price shown in cart if ordering 1), $40.99 (if order 2 or more)

-36in H: $62.89 (reg $), $50.69 (discount for 1 in cart), $46.49 (if order 2 or more)

-42in H: $69.59 (reg $), $57,89 (discount for 1 in cart), $55.99 (if order 2 or more)

-48in H: $78.29 (reg $), $62.99 (discount for 1 in cart), $56.99 (if order 2 or more)

I hope I made since with this post. I know that alot of people like x-pen’s I thought they may want to know about this website having them on sale. I personally do order supplies from this website for may ferrets and can say that I’m happy with their serve and haven’t had any problems with any heavy items.

[Beka27]

that’s great! thank you for posting this!

[Thearina]

Your welcome! I figured that someone may find it useful. If had not already did nic condo’s for my rabbits I would have bought a couple of these x-pen’s since their way cheaper from this website than anywhere else I could find.

[Lightchick]

My two both live in 24″ X-pens.  Lizzy couldn’t jump out if she wanted to, because she’s a terrible clutz.  Robbie probably could, but I don’t think it has occurred to him to try.  If you want to go for a less-expensive pen, but you’re worried about the bun making a break for it, you could buy a cheap cotton sheet and binder-clip it to the top of the pen as a roof.  My BF does that with his bun Thumper, who can CLIMB–not jump, but climb!–out of his 36″ pen.  I hated that 36″ pen, btw.  I couldn’t just reach in and drop food or clean or anything.  I had to walk in, and dodge the rabbit who wanted out while I was trying to get in, etc, because it was too high to reach into.  I like the smaller ones better…

Xpens are great if you have the floor space!  I’m way too lazy to construct a condo.  Also, I don’t have the wall-space a condo would require.  My BF has a much smaller apartment, and gives up a lot of his space in having a 4×4 Xpen, and would actually be better-served in building his rabbi-tat UP rather than OUT…

It all depends on what works for you…Getting something bigger than a cage would be best, though…even if they spend most of their time lazing around, they do go a little nutty if they’re locked in a space that is too confined..

I’d post a pic of my setup, but Photobucket isn’t loading…I’ll try to get one on later…

 

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

UHhhh Beka everytime you post those pics, I get more and more xpen envy!!! I really want an xpen setup!

[Lightchick]

K&K, why do you want an Xpen setup?  Yours are free-range, aren’t they?

Photobucket’s working again, so here’s my setup…taking up 1/4 of my apartment since they got a divorce and require separate accomodations!

[RachelF]

I love how you incorporated the wooden hutch, I want one of those, I think they look so nice and I’m sure the buns love them.

[skibunny8503]

I found this online while looking for different plans on making cages.  http://www.rabbitcondo.com/

I love how high it goes…gives me some ideas when we make ours. 

That hutch is cool idea :o)

[Beka27]

i also love how Lightchick has the hutch in the xpen. it gives height (something that is harder to achieve in an xpen set-up) and it increases floorspace by having a lounging area underneath the hutch…

[MarkBun]

Just a quick note Pryz,

Maryann lived in a similiar setup for almost 5 years with me (the size of your cage and bunny are about the same proportions as Maryann and her cage).  And she turned out all right… well other than being an overly intelligent, scheming bun that is.  Mayhaps all of that stems from a deep seated desire for revenge.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

They are free range, but have a condo….I just really really like her xpen pics!! Maybe because it’s sooo clean looking! I just think it looks fantastic!

[Lightchick]

Lizzy LOVES her hutch! That’s where she sleeps all day… And when she’s mad at me and wants out and I won’t let her, she sulks UNDER her hutch!

Robbie never much liked the hutch when he lived there…but then he was a park-bunny used to living in a hole in the ground. The idea of hiding up above in the open was beyond him…

I’m sure you give your bun plenty of outside time, and that Markus did, too… When my boyfriend and I rescued two buns from his mother, they lived solely in a cage, though. It was a BIG cage (one per bunny), mind you. Enough room (when I dumped out all the nasty pine shavings) for a litter box, and for bun to still lounge in. But, oh, poor Thumper would jump from one side of the cage to the other repeatedly for as long as a human was in the room, hoping someone would let him out! Those of you who know horses, it was sort of like when a horse is under-exercised and bored, and they weave from side-to-side until they actually make themselves colicky…

And we got Thumper a pen, and when he realized that was his new home, and he no longer lived in a cage, OMG the flying binkies! And we forced him back in the cage for a weekend, and he THUMPED, every 2 minutes for an entire weekend!

Poor Flower, we never got her into a pen because we never got her fixed, and she refused to be litter-box-trained, and I still feel guilty…(she passed away recently)

Anyway, I’m sure you give your bun plenty of run-around time, but from caged-bun to penned-bun experience, they do appreciate the extra room!

[Devin84]

very nice, what flooring do you use?

[Devin84]

very nice, what kind of flooring did you use? 

[Devin84]

I have two baby babies that I am trying to potty train in little bit. I have them in xpen and was wondering what good to put on the floor for potty training and having them in there. ?

[Author]

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