Custom made cages? Or your favourite visually appealing cages?

[MMK]

Right now my bunny lives in a x-pen in our share bedroom, which works fine. It is not huge, but between my SO and I working opposite schedules he is out a lot. The only problem is we have to carry him from the spare bedroom to the living room whenever he has time out….which ends up being a few times a day. He actually tolerates this well enough, but it would be so nice to have a cage in the living room to just open in there.

The thing is, I don’t think I or SO could stand to look at an NIC cage or x-pen in there. And if it comes down to it, he can continue to live in the spare bedroom when we are away.

So does anyone have any favorite cages? I would be happy to find someone to make one custom, but don’t even know where to start!! I looked at some outdoor hutches online that were actually really lovely, but they had those pull out poop trays with caging over, which I don’t want. I saw someone on a forum that bought a two story cage that was made from what looked like a side board…it was SO lovely. Great rabbit space, lots of access to the cage and room! I am so not handy myself though. Please point me in the right direction. I am in Canada, but shipping from US is fine. Would want to spend no more than $800, unless something is amazing!

[Baxter n Boos Mom]

I had my husband make this condo for our buns…but please keep in mind – they’re NEVER locked up in it.  It’s just a hang out for them.  If you were going to lock up your bun – I’d go 3 nic grids  wide, and 4 grids tall…but we actually used Xpen grids for the 2nd and 3rd levels.

Back view

Front View:  Doors all open on the front.  

With buns:

[MMK]

Thanks for the photos, I really like that! My guy is in his cage over night and generally 2 hours in the afternoon, so he gets a fair amount of time outside. I like the idea of using the x-pens..sinec I already have them….I will have to see if maybe my grandfather would help me. I think this is beyond my own capabilities.

[MoveDiagonally]

Have you thought about doing a NIC condo? They are relatively inexpensive, easy to assemble and highly customizable.

Edited to add: I totally missed your comment about NIC cages my first read through! Oops. Ignore my question above. 

If you want to see example of lots of habitats check out the habitat gallery pics:
https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/GreatHabitats/tabid/229/Default.aspx

[Sarita]

These aren’t cheap but I’ve used them in the past and really like them:

http://www.leithpetwerks.com/indexpage.cfm?category=1

[Epitome]

I use modified dog crates for my two rabbits. You can get almost any size used for around 20 dollars. My dad made a shelf for Charlotte’s crate, so she has a lofty area to sleep, and on the bottom, I have a carpet square cut out.The pull out plastic trays make them easy to clean. Though I would only recommend this for litter-trained buns.

[JackRabbit]

I know you said you didn’t think you would like a NIC condo, but I thought I’d show you one of ours.  We wanted something that looked more like furniture . . . .  We bought knobs to put on the door slats, but still haven’t put them on it.  The flooring is a wood-look luxury vinyl.  Baseboard hides the ties that attach the grids to the base, and the base has hidden casters underneath to make cleaning behind it easier.  The hardest part was cutting the ramp holes (we just had a little saw).

[MMK]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone!! Sarita those are really nice looking and I could stack a few high!

JackRabbit, that is really lovely. I think if I could make something like that, it could work well! I think with a little help I could probably do something like that.

Keep suggestions coming….its opening my eye to how nice everything can look.

[i love bunnies]

hi im new here and i was wondering if NIC are good for outdoor use

[JackRabbit]

If you decide to do a NIC condo, make sure to criss-cross zip ties at every place where 4 grids meet — will make it extra sturdy!

Try googling NIC condo, DIY rabbit condo, etc. You’ll find tons of pictures. We took ideas from several when designing ours. Getting ready to build a second one for our bonded pair.

[Tessie]

Posted By i love bunnies on 5/27/2014 8:52 PM

hi im new here and i was wondering if NIC are good for outdoor use

You already haven answers to this on the thread you started, but I’ll answer you here too. 

No, they’re not. They aren’t super sturdy and would be open to the elements. 

We’re a house rabbit forum so we’re all going to tell you that bunnies should live indoors, so I encourage you to have your bun living indoors permanently. If this isn’t an option I don’t think you getting a bunny right now is a good idea. 

[Standard_Procedure]

tinypic.com/a/2utsx/2

That’s my old version. Current one is 3 floors high, extra platforms to jump about, and I made the stairway in opposite directions creating a loop to run around in. It’s basically a all you can run and jump cage big enough to live in.

[MMK]

I like that standard procedure.

if I was handy, I would love to do something like these examples.

This one is too small, but I like the idea of it. The wood sides, etc. look nice. http://www.ikeahackers.net/2013/02/bunny-do.html

Or this hutch used indoors
http://sunnyzoopet.com/92-rabbit-hutch-sun-107.html

Or this one: http://www.pinterest.com/mswrestlin…-de-lapin/

I like this!! http://ana-white.com/2012/05/two-story-rabbit-hutch

They look so nice, but would they work well for overnight? I will not downgrade him from the x-pen though! My only concern is air flow….would the mostly wooden exterior be a problem?

[Tessie]

Yes, those are awesome, MMK.

I’ve been thinking about something like that for when I move home. Trouble is they’re all too small, so they’d only be a place for a litterbox etc…

They’re great though!

[MMK]

I really like the last one because I could make it as big as I like since its totally custom. Maybe I’ll contact some local craftsman/woodworkers and see if someone can make me one. I really think it is beyond my capabilites haha

It would be lovely to have his cage in the living room!

[Standard_Procedure]

I recommend not making a cage from wood. Once the urine soaks into the wood it will smell. I’d only use wood for toys and elevated hay rack which the rabbit can’t piss on. Plastic surfaces with indented parts or patterns for traction is easier to clean.

[Standard_Procedure]

Posted By Tessie on 5/28/2014 2:25 PM

Yes, those are awesome, MMK.

I’ve been thinking about something like that for when I move home. Trouble is they’re all too small, so they’d only be a place for a litterbox etc…

They’re great though!

You mean the cages you’ve seen are too small, or the places you’re looking to move are all too small to fit a larger cage?

[Scout]

I was thinking a similar thing, as in- I want a bunny cage that is big enough and looks decent enough. I’ve looked around a lot and I am still looking, but I have found a few that have given me inspiration.

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-build-a-modern-rabbit-h-89590 (I like the ‘modern’ look this has, but imagine it ten times bigger and taller)

http://infolific.com/pets/chinchillas/chinchilla-cages/ (Scroll down. I know its a chinchilla cage, but I like how clean it looks, much better than the nic grids imo)

I see so many cute rabbit cages that could be so much more impressive if they were bigger I would really like to see (and make) a rabbit cage that is big and stylish.

[MMK]

I like the idea of that first one you posted, but wow is it small! I see no reason why the idea of the look couldn’t be used to make something much larger….that what I have been thinking I just don’t know where to start!

I love the chinchilla cage! I am sure it could be changed to have levels a rabbit could use too.

The mention of wood and urine is good to think about. My guy has never peed outside in the whole time I have owner him, so not terribly worried. I was thinking it would be smart to lay down linoleum or something similar and than cover that in blankets. I have a larger one of these to under my litter box area and it extends outwards in case he ever misses. It’s great because urine can’t soak through….   https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/168…e_active_2

I have been thinking of getting a custom size made for the whole x-pen, but it could also be done if I get a larger cage.

I just wish I was handy! I was hoping to find someone that make wonderul, large cages, but I guess that was a little optomistic of me! haha

[Scout]

And if you wanted to make the closet shelving type cage (the chinchilla’s cage) look nicer then you can see what this guy did. Its a bird cage, again not for a bunny, but I think it could be applied to a bigger cage to get a similar look. You can just skip to the end of the video to see the finished product.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaiJQoTMgkY

I, too, wish I was handy but I have a brother and a dad that are pretty handy so I think I’m going to make something like the chinchilla cage. I hope I’ve given you some ideas.

[michelleann31]

Pepper’s house that is actually very pretty in person, : http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Portable-Wooden-Rabbit-Hutch-Deluxe-Hen-House-Chicken-Coop-Wood-Pet-Cage-/310674842953?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4855a9e549

She is a free range bun but if we have to go out and when we go to bed at night she sleeps and eats and uses her litter box in it. Very nice aesthetically as well, gotten lots of compliments from guests what a “nice piece of furniture” it is! LOL! This will be both Dio and her house after they are bonded. he is currently in her old wire x-pen type cage next to her for now.

[vicshen]

We recently made a condo for our two buns, and are hoping to add additional levels, we wanted to see how they would go with ramps. It took the whole weekend but they love it and don’t usually stay out of it for too long

 

[RobinC]

file://localhost/Users/robin/Pictures/iPhoto%20Library/Masters/2014/03/31/20140331-104809/100_2667.JPG

[BB Administrator]

Robin — Looks like your link is from your own computer file so you need to upload it using the upload feature (located under the text box when you hit “reply” (not available in the quick reply box) or use a third party photo hosting site and use their links for sharing. 

Helloworld!!

[Author]

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