Mesh safety gates?

[foxflower]

I am a new member and new bunny caretaker.  I found a houserabbit wandering outside for a week or more and was able to capture it.  Took her for an immediate vet check…she had lost 1/3 her body weight.   Last week I had her spayed.  Since I am unable to find a good home for her, I guess she is mine :-).

I am trying to bunny proof my home and I am looking for safety gates.  I did read some great articles on bunny proofing homes and making some gates.  I have a very old home and do not want to put screws etc. into my trim, so I was looking for pressure mounted gates…

Somewhere in my quest for bunny information, I read a post that said NOT to get wire or plastic mesh gates…what do you think?  Has anyone had a problem with those types of gates?

Any idea why?  Any suggestions for the best ways to bunny proof individual rooms?  I  have 3 rooms and a hall that bunny can run in now and in process of bunny proofing a fourth, but there are 2 rooms that will permanently be off limits as it is just too hard to keep her out of trouble in those rooms.

Suggestions would be appreicated.

[dmh426]

First of all….welcome foxflower and I must say you sound like a wonderful person! I recommend that all new bunny parents run out and buy Rabbits for Dummies. It’s my bible. I actually bought a playpen from Super pet, you can find this playpen on ebay all the time. It’s made out of wire, like a cage. The best part about it is that it also stretches straight out and you can make it whatever shape you want. As far as plastic mesh gates, I’ve never used one. I bought a baby gate for a doorway at a garage sale last year. Works wonders but sometimes bunnies chew plastic and that’s why they aren’t recommended. (Mine’s not aplatic chewer so it’s ok)

Bunnyproofing is a fulltime job. watch the wires! if your bunny digs at carpets or corners, spray some perfume there. they hate the strong smell!

What kind of bunny do you have?

[Lucy]

HI foxflower! I’m the person who emailed you on craigslist about this site and about the corrgugated plastic tubing. I’ll try to take a picture of what Fujoe has done to the gate that we have. I was at this site:

http://www.rabbit.org/chapters/san-diego/behavior/rabbit_digs.html

and partway down it says that rabbits can chew through plastic gates- that’s why plastic isn’t recommended. I really don’t see any harm with wire- If you end of getting an x-pen, those are wire with paint coating on them- the same thing as the pet gates. I think that if your bunny really wanted to get into a room she would chew through the wood.

Also, look at a forum I started entitled “paint, plaster, oilbased clay..?” people gave me lots of tips on how to get fujoe to stop chewing.. granted, nothing worked for him so we just covered up the problem.

are your doors squared to put a pressure mounted gate on it? I live in Lakeview- in a building that’s not rennovated, and nothing is squared.. there’s no way that I could put a gate like that on my doors. I don’t know where you are located, but everytime I go to the Unique thrift store at Kimball and Elston there are always pet/baby gates- there were two yesterday. Good luck and i’ll try to find more info for you!

[BinkyBunny]

Posted By fujoethebunny on 12/16/2006 9:29 PM
HI foxflower! I’m the person who emailed you on craigslist about this site and about the corrgugated plastic tubing. I’ll try to take a picture of what Fujoe has done to the gate that we have. I was at this site:

THANKS FUJOETHEBUNNY!

[Gravehearted]

We use a metal gate that I really like since you step on a pedal and it swings open either way – like this one:
http://www.netkidswear.com/hanbabgat.html

You can also use an x-pen to block a door too.

[BinkyBunny]

If you’re handy, you can try and make a custom gate like we did.  https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/BunnyProofing/tabid/61/Default.aspx#wires

Be sure to scroll down to the part that says "custom make your own blockade"

[Author]

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