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Alright, so from the comments I got on my other design and from looking through cages that other people on here have designed, I’ve drafted up a new plan! Sorry it’s another long post, but any comments or suggestions would be really helpful, thanks!
Here’s what I’m hoping it will look like:
So my plan is to make it sort of like a big shelving unit. It’ll have the three floors with a layer of plywood, then a layer of coroplast (the corrugated plastic), then a ring of trim around it. Then I’ll attach it all together by putting 2″x4″ along each end, and under the floors if they need more support. Like this:
Then I’m going to wrap it in the wire, just need to find the right kind. Would this be strong enough? http://www.homedepot.ca/product/hex-wire-netting-48-inches-x-50-feet-1-inch/953130 I was going to make it out of the NIC grids, but in Canada they seem to be ridiculously expensive, and because they’re 14″x14, the measurements don’t work out as nicely with the sheets of plywood and coroplast. I’m going to have to figure out how exactly to make the doors; I may get some grids to make the doors easier. Then I’ve just got shelves on the wall beside it to use for storage. I’m going to put the hay and litter in plastic bins, so they should fit nicely there.
Now for a few questions.
1. The space between each level is going to be 1 1/2 feet, so I was going to put a step under the hole so that they can jump up, and also make it into a hidey house, but I was wondering how big I should make both the step, and the hole. I was thinking of making the step 2×1 feet and 1 foot high, or 1 1/2 x 3/4 feet and 3/4 of a foot high. Which one would be better? Then I was going to make the hole either 3/4 x 3/4 or 1/2 x 1/2. Again, which size would be better?
2. For two bunnies with a 3 level cage, how many litter boxes should they have? And how many hay racks, water bottles and food dishes should they have?
– I’ll put a hay rack in the litter box, but should the water bottle(s) and food dish(es) go in the litter box as well?
– If I only have one litter box, is there a certain floor I should put it on? I was thinking the top floor because it wont have one of the big steps on it, so it wont be as crowded.3. The wall of the top level is going to be 1 1/2 feet high, so should I still put a roof on it, or do you think they’ll realize it’s pretty high up and not try to jump?
4. I know now that having soft bedding all over the cage may confuse them for their litter training, but should I make little fleece mats/blankets for them to put out, or just a couple of beds?
If I’ve missed anything, please let me know! Can’t wait to hear what you guys think. Thanks!
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I like this design better than the previous one. The other one was nice for a piggie, but not a bunny.
The openings need to be big so the buns don’t hit their backs going up and down. I would make the holes 1 x 1 foot minimum. The steps can take up the whole end since they are doubling as a hidey house space, so 1 x 2 feet (the full depth of the level and one foot wide).
I prefer food and litter on the ground floor. I’d look for a litterbox/storage container that takes up the whole depth (2 feet) so you have room for a hay rack over it.
I would definitely make a roof. It will add structure/security, and minimize the risk of jumpers.
If you can construct it so the whole (or at least half) of the front swings open in a door, that would be ideal. The other option is to have each floor have a door that is hinged and drops for easy cleaning/bunny retrieval access. You could have eye hooks or something on top to latch them. I don’t have your drawing skills, so i won’t even attempt it, but hopefully you’ll get what I mean through description.
EDITED TO ADD: WOW! Just rereading your post and mine has my head spinning! This is why I love our xpens… sooo easy
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Thanks, Ella!
Beka27, I’m definitely happier with this one as well. Should I make the openings 1 1/2 instead of 1 just in case, or do you think 1×1 is enough?
I was only concerned about them not having much room on the first floor if I had the litter there, but it makes sense to have it on the first floor, and they’ve got the other two floors to hop around on. Do you think 1 litter box is enough?
And I actually came up with a plan for the doors earlier! I was also afraid that having it made of a thinner wire rather than NIC cubes would be an issue, but I think the way I’ve designed the doors solves that.
I’m going to make door panels and staple the wire to them so it’s secure, and they’ll be two-fold. So I can either open one side, open just the middle, or open the entire front of the cage, and have it hinged so that the doors fold nicely when they’re open. I’m also going to have the side swing open, just in case that easier for something.
And I went through the Home Depot website to try to figure out how much this will cost, and it should be about $160 max! So really glad about that. I just need to figure out what kind of wire is strong enough for them.
Oh, is plywood okay for them to chew? I was going to have the hidey houses built out of plywood, so just want to make sure that’s safe.
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