Covering an x pen

[Cocoa]

Over spring break one of my bunnies will be staying in an x pen.  It will be set up on the back porch. The porch is covered but I want to make sure she is safe from predators. Any ideas on how to cover the top? I can’t buy a cover for it. I already owe my parents money and they wont let me buy anything else until I pay them back. I had to pay for my two bunnies to be spayed. I can do anything with sewing or some type of crafts to make one but i need some ideas. Thanks!

[Millie]

Mesh possibly? or if you have NIC grids maybe make some sort of shape thing to ziptie to the top?? That’s my only idea

[Cocoa]

I don’t have either of those… I found an old sheet I could use. Maybe I could cut it to the size of the pen and use clips to hold it in place. Would that work?

[sarahthegemini]

If the porch is covered, why do you need further protection from predators? Can you explain the set up please, I’m confused?

[Cocoa]

I just want to make sure they are safe. There is a lot of space in between the top of the x pen and the covered porch. We sometimes have hawks so I would rather be safe than sorry. I think the hawks would see them hopping around but if I made a cover they couldn’t get to them. We also have a lot of birds in our backyard who would take their food and hay. The birds sometimes chase and peck our 60 pound dog so I would be worried about my bunny

[sarahthegemini]

If hawks would be able to get to them or birds are able to get their food then the porch isn’t secure or covered. In which case, you need a proper roof for the pen. A sheet is simply not adequate enough.

[Wick & Fable]

Is there any where else the xpen can go? It seems the environment would be potentially dangerous, but also pretty sure would be frightening for your rabbit, seeing those birds and hearing them, even if they’re out of reach or blocked off. Remember rabbits are prey animals, so being in an xpen will not give your rabbit a good sense of security, even if it is secure. How about inside? Can you temporarily rearrange your room since you’ll be gone to house the rabbit and the xpen?

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[Cocoa]

My parents wont let them inside at all. Even if they aren’t home. The birds could only get the food if I left the top wide open. Even though the hawks could get in, they would see the cover and think they couldn’t. They are normally at the end of the street by the empty field. They never come near here. It was mostly just birds eating the food that im concerned about. They live outside so they have gotten used to the noise and seeing the birds. I have sat inside and watched them out the window and they aren’t scared of them. I could connect the x pen to the smaller cage so they have a safe place. I could keep them in the small cage at night but let them go in the cage and x pen during the day.

[sarahthegemini]

Right, so your porch offers no protection at all. You need a secure roof. A sheet will not protect them.

[Cocoa]

I figured out a way to use the sheet that will protect them it’s just hard to explain. Its this or one bunny spends the entire week in a 1.5 x 1 crate. I know how to set it up really secure its just difficult to explain

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By Cocoa on 3/09/2018 5:22 PM

I figured out a way to use the sheet that will protect them it’s just hard to explain. Its this or one bunny spends the entire week in a 1.5 x 1 crate. I know how to set it up really secure its just difficult to explain

A sheet will not protect them! I’ve no idea what you’re planning but there is no way that a sheet will keep them safe from a determined predator. You need a proper roof. 

Why is a tiny indoor cage and an unsafe pen the only options? 

[Cocoa]

We let the neighbor borrow the large dog crate and now they let someone else borrow it and they said they returned it. We cant find it so those are my only options.

[sarahthegemini]

Unacceptable. You need to get a secure roof. Plain and simple. If that means spending money, so be it.

[Wick & Fable]

I know you have restricting circumstances cocoa. As usual, your perseverance is very admirable. I know at your age it’s difficult to ask so much of your parents. There have been members in the past who’ve stuck with their commitment to their rabbit and their parents are slowly but surely realizing how committed their child is, taking it more seriously. I hope this will be the case for you, because you are working pretty hard.

Are there any large pieces of cardboard? Such as spare boxes you can break apart? Maybe you can put layers of that on top, and tie them to the xpen with wire or something.

In terms of your porch, I’d advise putting your rabbit as close to the side of the house as possible. Also, if you can make the surrounding area more secure, maybe moving chairs or big boxes to surround it (without blocking light), this may help a bit to heighten security.

As Sarah says, this is not ideal, so think your best on how to maneuver the situation.

While you’re gone, what instructions will your parents follow for care?

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[Cocoa]

I will be staying home actually. I used the sheet and folded it over to make it thicker. I sewed the edges to help keep it in place and then I also have clips to keep it in place. I set it up and let each bunny have a turn playing in the x pen for an hour. It works really well and is safe. At night I will put her in the dog crate and let her into the pen first thing in the morning

[Cocoa]

We don’t have any spare boxes right now since we are moving soon. I will move some furniture around for more protection. The cover works really well and they are safe under it

[sarahthegemini]

Nope, sorry. A sheet will never be safe as a roof for an outdoor pen.

[Vienna Blue in France]

I agree with Sarah. A sheet will not stop even a cat from getting in…. claws and beaks rip several layers of sheet / blanket.
Neither a sheet nor simple carboard imho will protect.Do you have planks of wood hanging around. Anything flat and heavy?

Is your xpen one wth individual grids? If so, I would take one or two grids out, thereby making the xpen smaller (but so be it) and use those spare grids for the roof. Tied on with cable ties.

[Cocoa]

There are no cats near us. Hardly anyone has pets. They will only be in the x pen during the day and I will be outside almost all day. I will have to go inside sometimes but it will be for no longer than 10 minutes. The grids are all connected so I can’t use that as a roof. During the time I am inside I can put them in the cage but I have never had an issue with any animals. The only animals that are in our backyard is birds and sometimes our dogs. The patio protects them from rain and wind and provides some shade. My brother will be playing x box very loud all day so I will be outside all day. If I was able to I would buy a cover but I’m not able to

[sarahthegemini]

You’ve already said there are hawks…

You’re not taking this seriously and quite frankly, your rabbits are at risk. I’m not going to keep repeating myself. Good luck.

[Author]

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