Habitat questions for new buns!

[Strawberry Bunny]

Hi everyone! So I don’t currently have a rabbit but I plan on getting one in the near future! I either want a Holland Lop or a Mini Rex. Maybe even both! However I’m having trouble deciding what type of habitat to buy/build. I know that most store bought cages are too small but I found this one! I know it wouldn’t be big enough for 2 rabbits but would it be ok for just one? I’m also open to the idea of attaching an Xpen. Would this then be good enough for 2 buns? They would also be getting at least a few hours out of their cage a day as well. I do plan on litter training so I really like the idea of an Xpen attached to a cage or even just an Xpen. I’ve also seen some pretty cool cages made of NIC grids but I think I’d rather go with an Xpen. Can anyone shed some light on these options for me? Any other bunny suggestions and tips are appreciated as well!

[Sarita]

I don’t think that cage is adequate and it’s way too pricey. You are better off just going with an x-pen and skipping the cage in my opinion.

[Strawberry Bunny]

Ok that sounds great. Do you know if a Holland Lop and Mini Rex could live together in an xpen?

[LolaBuns]

this is the exact cage we bought when we got Lola. After we got it and her home we discovered that it was way too small. There was absolutely no where to put a litter box that was a sufficient size. We returned it without even setting it up all the way and built a nic condo and ordered an xpen. I would definitely not recommend this cage. Even her condo is kinda small (even though it is huge) without the xpen and if I had to go back and do it all again, I would just skip the cages/condos and get an xpen with a cottontail cottage or something for her to hide/sleep in. So much cheaper and so much more room. I really feel like I wasted over $100 by building the condo first.

[LolaBuns]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0036WQFQM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This is the xpen we ordered. It should be big enough for two buns but even if you decide to get two pens and put them together it’s still cheaper than the cage that would definitely be too small.

[Strawberry Bunny]

Ok thank you! I will probably go with that option then! Also, I notice you have 2 dogs in your pictures. Is one a cavalier king charles spaniel? I have 2 of them and am wondering how your dogs get along with the bunnies.

[Pipje]

Definitely just bin the idea of a store bought cage, waste of money and never big enough!

As suggested just use an xpen, or a NIC condo (check the habitats section of the site). NIC condos are easy to build, just zip tie grids together and get clips for the doors and linoleum for the floor. You can add shelves or floors by zip tying the grids horizontally and using a support beam underneath them.
The minimum space for one rabbit is 4ft x 2ft x 2 ft (bigger than the cage you posted) so you need double that floor space for 2 rabbits and shelves/second floors do not count as floor space. Depends on the xpen but you may need two joined together for 2 bunnies, also height is important, the higher the better in case they are jumpers (like mine!).

The most important thing about getting two rabbits is to make sure they are both desexed before bonding, of course if you get a pair from a rescue then that should already be sorted! But if you get them from a pet store or breeder you will need to keep them seperated in two areas and then get them neutered/spayed and wait 4 weeks after before trying to bond them. Once they are bonded they can live together in the same pen/condo.

[Strawberry Bunny]

Ok I will definately be going with an xpen. I do plan on getting the rabbit(s) from a rescue. Thank you for your help!

[LolaBuns]

Hobie sure is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel! He is the sweetest dog I have ever had! He tries really hard to be the bunnies friend. Lola likes him well enough but Berry growls at him. It isn’t anything that he is doing as far as I can tell though. I think it’s just Berry being nervous. Tiny, the lab, is way too rough with them. She isn’t trying to be mean but she pushes them around and makes them nervous. Also if she tried to play with them I think she would hurt them on accident so she isn’t allowed around them yet.

Hobie and Lola

[Strawberry Bunny]

Awe that’s so sweet about Hobie! My dogs are very sweet as well but I was still a little worried about how they would behave with a bunny! Thank you for your response! I’m more confident in them now!

[LolaBuns]

A lot of it has to do with the dogs and how well they listen too. I am very confident that Hobie will back off if I say no or leave it. I know that Tiny won’t which is why she doesn’t even get to try until she learns to listen. They are both very young yet too so I think she will get better with age.

[LolaBuns]

yay! I figured out how to post the actual video instead of the link!!!!

(sorry…a little excited. Been trying to figure it out for a week)

[Strawberry Bunny]

Aww this is so cute! What kind of rabbit is Lola?

[LolaBuns]

She is a 3 yr old mini lop.

[litheandgraphic]

I will reinforce what everyone else has already said — these store-bought cages that are “made for rabbits” are always wayyy too small, so it’s good you’re going with an x-pen! Your future bun(nies) will be much happier, especially if you end up getting more than one.

I recommend checking out the other threads in this Habitats & Toys section of the forum! They have some great ideas there!

[JackRabbit]

Since you’re just starting out and are going with an xpen (good choice), don’t skimp on heighth. If your bunny turns into a jumper then you’re covered! I went for the tallest in case I ever had a jumper, and now that I know that one of my bunnies is a daredevil, I’m glad I did! (I think manic_muncher’s baby flemmie has already jumped her 42″ (?) xpen!). You can always attach a sheet to the top as a “roof” to deter jumping though.

[manic_muncher]

Yep, 3 months old she hopped 42″. It’s covered now. However keeping her off tables and counters is proving to be a challenge!

[Strawberry Bunny]

They’re both soo adorable

[Strawberry Bunny]

Ok I’ll keep that in mind! Thanks!

[Strawberry Bunny]

Haha! Thats an impressive little bunny! Thanks I’ll rememeber that!

[JackRabbit]

Manic — a challenge, but what a cute challenge! Wait until they’re all bonded and Bumpy starts flinging himself up toward the counter trying to copy her!

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