Habitat building:Many questions!

[SirThumpsey]

Red rectangle is Bud’s cage Measurements in inches:

The grey vents stick out about 4 inches from the wall

The length from the wall to the window (parallel to window) is 64 feet

87 feet refers to length of wall to other wall with the window, including the vents

Hopefully, this is easy to understand but if you do have trouble feel free to ask for clarification. 

I have several questions about how to do this. My original idea was to do like fencing (like you would on a deck) and just have the bars so many inches apart (wasn’t sure of the distance) Then I thought maybe that would be too much wood, so I thought about using chicken wire or some kind of wire wrapped around the exterior.

1. Bud is about 5 (I thought he was 6 ) Is he too old for a second level?

2. I want to build a second level on top of his cage…Any ideas how?

3.One level enclosure has to be about 24 inches tall, right? (or should it be taller?)  If I do build a second level…How tall should it be?

4. Should i build a ramp up to the second level or something else? (And how?)

5. Need ideas for floor covering because I got a digger! (and renting apt with carpet)  I would pull the carpet up but it’s all one piece and stabled down in some places…And still would need to protect the floor from leaks..

6. I want to add a little bit of padding under the carpet (since I can lift up the one corner)  Ideas?

7.I kinda wanna build a castle drawbridge as a door…but put a hook thing so i can lock it..and possibly put a lock and key on top of that…thoughts?

8. The heating vents are not yet on…but how far should the walls of the enclosure be away from the vents? 

9. How would I attach the back of the enclosure to the wall so he can’t move it and get out??  Or should I just build a back to it (Instead of having three built walls, build all 4) I know it would be more stable with all 4 walls and would actually protect the wall itself from any destruction… and then I could potentially take it outside and with a few adjustments….

10. Number 9 isn’t much of a question but me thinking to myself…I guess I want to build it so it could easily be taken down and put it back together outside…Ideas?

I know that some of this has probably been covered in other topics so feel free to just link me to others for ideas. I’m sure I will come up with more questions…

I’m really excited to get started on this…but I know it’s gonna be a little bit at a time because of limited supplies and money to dedicate to this…so cheaper the better.

[Sam and Lady's Human]

87 feet? or inches?

[bullrider76543]

Wow you got a lot going on there! Look at the Ideas on this site for building cages for great Ideas

[Deleted User]

I have to agree with Bullrider. It looks like you have a lot going on! I have seen some pictures of a bunny area in Germany that used the picket fence idea. I have to agree. It would be a lot of wood to get that done. You can use an x-pen or NIC cubes to make a fenced area instead of chicken wire. Chicken wire though isn’t great to use. If a bun wants to get out of it they will. I’m not sure what to do with about the carpet. This is something I’ve never had to deal with. I know some other members said something about putting rugs down or using the puzzle piece mats. I honestly have no clue how you would attach it to a wall. Sorry I’m not much help. But I do agree with Bullrider’s suggestion to take a look at some of the enclosure ideas that are posted here.

[SirThumpsey]

S&L Human- the room is 87 inches… Not sure why I put feet….my brain must have been left at work. lol

Skippers mama- Really? He could get out of it if I used chicken wire? x pens are not big enough for what I want to build….and we dont have nic cubes around here.

Puzzle piece mats and rugs he will chew and dig…tried that before…

Yeah, I’m going to look at other topics for ideas but specifically I need to know if you guys think he is too old for a second level…?

And how far away from the heating vents should the walls be?

How tall should the walls be if I build a second level?

I love the idea and look of a picket fence but that is a lot of wood. I may even paint the wood I do use white.

I guess I could use hinges on the corners of the enclosure and then it would fold up (in theory) or I could unscrew some stuff so I can move it down to the yard…

[SirThumpsey]

S&L Human- the room is 87 inches… Not sure why I put feet….my brain must have been left at work. lol

Skippers mama- Really? He could get out of it if I used chicken wire? x pens are not big enough for what I want to build….and we dont have nic cubes around here.

Puzzle piece mats and rugs he will chew and dig…tried that before…

Yeah, I’m going to look at other topics for ideas but specifically I need to know if you guys think he is too old for a second level…?

And how far away from the heating vents should the walls be?

How tall should the walls be if I build a second level?

I love the idea and look of a picket fence but that is a lot of wood. I may even paint the wood I do use white.

I guess I could use hinges on the corners of the enclosure and then it would fold up (in theory) or I could unscrew some stuff so I can move it down to the yard…

[Deleted User]

Yeah. Another member had brought up the topic. I do believe they sell something called bunny wire? One of the BB Forum Leaders had said something about being able to buy it from a hardware store.

[SirThumpsey]

I will definitely look into this “bunny wire”. Thanks Skippers mama!

[Sam and Lady's Human]

You basically want a collapsible 5×8 foot space? I’d use 2 xpens, it’s the easiest solution IMO. Get a sheet of vinyl flooring for underneath, and wah lah.

[SirThumpsey]

S&L they don’t sell x pens around here…:/

[Sam and Lady's Human]

Oh that’s a bummer! Are you in the US?

[SirThumpsey]

Yeah, we are…but i have looked in all the pet stores within 2 hours driving distance…no idea why they dont have em

[Sam and Lady's Human]

Amazon.com has em

[Sam and Lady's Human]

And eBay!

[Beka27]

There is something called rabbit wire. It’s designed to keep rabbits out of gardens, but in your case would keep a rabbit in… lol. Chicken wire isn’t thick enough.

I think that doing the whole thing in wood slats would make it too dark and you wouldn’t really be able to see in, or the bunny out. You could do slats on the sides and back with wire on the front maybe?

[SirThumpsey]

I’ll have to look there S&L

Beka- Rabbits can chew through chicken wire? That explains a few things. (Long story…hubby built a hutch for his daughter years ago, didn’t end well)
I was thinking it would be tough to do slats because i don’t know how far apart they can be without Bud pushing his way through…or getting stuck! The wire seems like the easiest route as it lets the most light in and its pretty easy to attach and wrap around.

Buns can jump…what was it 24 inches? And he probably will jump on top of his cage so it would have to be 24 inches taller than his cage, right?

[Sam and Lady's Human]

Bunnies can jump 3-4 feet

[SirThumpsey]

O.O What? Seriously?

I had no idea it was that high…oh boy.

[SirThumpsey]

O.O What? Seriously?

I had no idea it was that high…oh boy.

[mocha200]

My bunnies can jump over a 2 foot pen but never have had trouble with a 3 foot pen 36inch xpen. Some rabbit have been known to jump 3 feet but most people are fine with a 36inch pen. You can get a 48in.

[SirThumpsey]

Good to know Mocha. Thanks guys. I’ll have to post pictures when it is done.

[Author]

Messages