Nic Condo Plan- Could use a second opinion

[lexi]

I’m planning on adopting a bonded pair of rabbits soon, a male Netherland dwarf mix and a female medium sized mix (she is quite cute and spotted) Although they will get to run around the house when I am home, they will spend all night and a little daytime in their condo so I want to make it roomy and entertaining. 

My plan is to make a NIC cage that is 4 cubes wide, 2 cubes deep, 4 cubes tall with two full cubes on the top (see diagram attatched)

I wanted to make sure they could jump from shelf to shelf without ramps, I put in stepping shelves eight inches apart as stepping stones to larger shelves for lounging. Food and water go on the bottom with a box going wherever they like to use it. hiding spots go under the stepping spots.  In between the second to the top selves is going to be a little cardboard tunnel.  I wanted to make sure they could telescope on the top shelf, so I added an extra little set of cubes. 

Shelves will be pegboard covered in vinyl tiles until they are litter trained. I’ll add some more soft flooring later. I’m thinking of reinforcing the shelves with pvc because it is lighter. Would bunnies chew it?

I’m planning on having the bottom level have an opening just for the bunnies and the whole thing will open the two center panels except for the very top section, the top isn’t going to come off (for support and because I think it is redundant) The whole thing is going to be connected to a bottom piece of mbf (maybe on casters). Do you think I should add extra support on the outside corners?  

Is this too big? Does my shelf layout look safe? Anything you would recommend to make my bunnies happier? Any advice at all really.

[Sarita]

Definitely not too big – I think that would be fine….the good thing is that this can always be reconfigured in the future.

[Samicles]

Regarding the vinyl tiles, your rabbits WILL slip and slide if there’s no traction. And if you have multiple levels that’s just a recipe for disaster. I STRONGLY recommend you decide on something to put on top of the tiles if they’re even remotely slippery. I’ve seen people use carpet tiles, flannel blankets, shelf lining, hay mats, even bathtub anti-slip stickers. When I made my bun a NIC condo I simply cut up a bath mat and put it down, I was planning on buying something more permanent later. Unfortunately my bun slipped off the second shelf (a fourteen inch drop) and must’ve landed the wrong way and broke his elbow. I had laminate tiles. His surgery cost me $1,200 and he never regained full use of his arm So learn from my mistakes and good luck!

[lexi]

Thanks for the advice Samicles. I think I will use vinyl remnants to waterproof and add a low pile carpet tile or remnants and glue them down securely! I’m sorry your bun got hurt. Thank you for the warning!

[lexi]

Thank you Samicles for the advice. I will probably use some vinyl just to waterproof and use sticky low pile carpet or carpet remnants on top, glued down of course. I’m sorry for you bun’s injury and I appreciate your warning. I’ve had outdoor rabbits as a kid but these will be my first house bunnies.

[JackRabbit]

I’m thinking 8 inches may not be enough room for bunny to jump at that “u-turn” on the right side. It looks like you’ve put alot of thought into it though.

I’m curious, why don’t you want to use any ramps?

We have a NIC condo for Kieko (3 lbs). In NIC grids, it is 4 wide by 4 tall by 2 deep with three levels and ramps between the levels. The main thing I don’t like about it is that I would like it to have had more floor space, even though the upper two levels are all floor space except for the ramp openings. She can periscope on all levels. I’m on my phone so can’t upload a pic, but there’s a pic of her condo on this thread:

https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/128706/Default.aspx

This is the one (don’t know whose it is) that inspired Kieko’s:
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.bunspace.com/static/photobucket/11718/FinishedBunnyCondo.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.bunspace.com/forum/thread?tid%3D14052%26posts_tgp_no%3D3%26posts_tgp_limit%3D10&h=1000&w=750&tbnid=HOfDr_wHTJNu3M:&zoom=1&q=bunny+condo&docid=ga4Z7NErxReNfM&ei=spRaVbufINeWyQTAtYH4Cw&tbm=isch&ved=0CEsQMygcMBw

[lexi]

Thanks Jack Rabbit. I was a little concerned about that little section as well. I may have to loose the cool tunnel there or maybe put in a ramp
I am trying to avoid ramps, my research has shown quite a few rabbits don’t like them and they take up room on the shelves. The layout does avoid huge jumps, I spaced the little steps about eight inches apart (standard stair rise for humans) and made sure there was a couple inches overlap to prevent injury.
Of course if they don’t like the jumps I will absolutely add ramps for them. They are the bosses after all.

I suppose the argument could be made that a ramp half way up would add variety.

[JackRabbit]

Kieko uses her ramps about 3/4 of the time and the rest of the time she jumps halfway up the ramp. I think often buns don’t like the ramps because they don’t have enough traction or are too steep. We have a ramp leading to the top of the M&Ms hidey house and they use the ramp even though the house is only 13 inches tall! We got their ramp from Leith Petwerks with the carpet and rumble strips already on it — the M&Ms are short and stocky and not big jumpers. The main reason we did ramps was so that Kieko could run the levels which she likes to do (has to keep an eye on everything going on in the room and hallway!).

[lexi]

Your perspective is a good one, I really appreciate you sharing. I think I will do a mix and see what they like. Creating unique ramps actually sounds like a lot of fun. I’m going to have to break out all my skills from Jr. High workshop class 12 years ago! Any advice on ramp widths?

[Author]

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