nic cubes

[cookie627]

i just built a cage out of organize its for cookie. (thought it would be cool) but i have no idea what to put on the bottom so his feet dont fall through. i know some people use carpet but cookie will rip that into little scraps. so i want something durable for him.   thanks!!!!

[sevyn]

Well, in my case, I usually just use cardboard and attach it to the wires with cable ties or pipe cleaners (all edges turned down so the bunny doesn’t chew them). If you bun has good litterbox habits and you secure it well enough that tearing up would be impossible/very difficult, this may be the most cost-effective means for you. If a piece gets too soiled, you can just tear it up and fix on a new one.

Other alternatives are carpet, as you mentioned (people often use a low-weave kind and secure it to the bars so it [hopefully] cannot be pulled up) or you could buy some bunny-safe placemats. I often hear recommendations of seagrass-willow mats from stores like Pier One, though I’ve had no luck finding them. I picked up a huge Dragon Grass Mat – safe for buns to chew – for $5 from Wal-Mart, though it is too big so if you got those you would likely need to cut them up / trim off edges.
These are the only means I’ve heard of and looked into, though really any safe-to-chew surface with enough traction to stand on should be fine.

Good luck, let us know what you decide on!

[osprey]

I used little cotton throw rugs on ours for a while, but one of our bunnies started to get a sore hock so we went with something thicker.  I had some scraps of plywood laying around, so I cut those to size and put the rugs over them on the top level, and on the second level I have a faux sheep skin over the plywood.  The wood is a little heavy, so I used extra 1x2s to brace the floor.  I’ll have to take a picture soon to show you guys how it looks.

A friend of mine has built several condos (I think she even helped Gravehearted with hers) and she swears by something called coroplast for floors.  Coroplast is a corrugated plastic used by printers for making posters.  It is easy to cut, very light, easy to clean and tough enough to support bunnies.  Guinea pig enthusiasts love it for making guinea pig habitats.  I think you have to go to a special printing place to get it.  It comes in large sheets, and you can cut it with a box cutter.  It comes in cool colors too.  More information here http://www.guineapigcages.com/cubes.htm

[luvmybuns]

We used plastic lattice that you get at a hardware store and cut it to fit.  We also made a frame to sit our cage on, with a pull out try for easy cleaning for any droppings.   The plastic lattice is very easy to clean.  I just keep a spray bottle with vinegar water.  You can just spray any messes and wipe them up with a paper towel. 

[cookie627]

osprey do you know where you can get those coroplast sheets?

[luvmybuns]

Here is a picture of the latest cage we built.  (Hopefully it attaches)

1821133728271.jpg

[kralspace]

WOW, that lattice is a good idea, so far my bunnies have chewed rugs and the linoleum I’ve put down, even tho I wipe the edges with vinegar and such

[osprey]

For coroplast sources, look here http://www.guineapigcages.com/where.htm

[RascalnBinks]

I too have a nic condo for my buns,i found grass mats at a dollar store that i use on several of the shelves. The very top shelf of my girls side has a piece of plywood with the tightly woven rugs on top (she doesnt chew them so it works lol). On my boys side,his top shelf has a long piece of cardboard and the grass mat on top of that. He chews rugs,blankets whatever so he cant have one. Good luck with finding something to cover the floors with! Nice cage luvmybuns!

[Scarlet_Rose]

Just an FYI – when you use vingegar to clean a surface that a bunny will hop on, you need to rinse it off with regular water.  The acid in the vingear gets on the paws and is not good for them.  It can cause irritation (almost like urine burn) and sore hocks to erupt.

[(dig)x(me)x(now)]

You can get coroplast at most sign stores It’s cheap and durable and easy to clean!

[kralspace]

Thanks for the tip, Scarlet Rose, about the vinegar. I’ve been taking a soaked q-tip and running it on the edges, but it doesn’t seem to deter Pringles anyway so I’ll look for the mats mentioned here too

[Scarlet_Rose]

No problem! I’ve also seen the coroplast at hobby stores too.

[cookie627]

right now i am using cardboard. wanted to see if cookie liked it i think he does!!

scarlet rose – oh yeah i forgot to check hobby lobby if they had coroplast!!!!!!!!!!!

[Scarlet_Rose]

Very cool! No prob, I don’t think that they all carry it and I think that I have even seen it at a hardware store too. Hey, whereever you can find it, I think that they have a web site where you can find it too. This site gives you some ideas as well:

http://www.guineapigcages.com/where.htm

[BinkyBunny]

Wow, luvmybuns.   That looks great.  I’d love to show that in the cool habitats section!  If you want me to include  it, can you send me a larger picture of that?

[Bunny Mommy]

Hi!  our cage is made of NIC cubes too!  We use vinyl flooring but they have been ripping it up and eating it like crazy.  Maybe I will look into that plastic stuff.

My question is, how do you have the 3 levels?  We use big dowels underneath each floor to support it, but I am afraid if I add a third layer, it will buckle. 

What do you use to support the levels so they don’t fall through or break?

Gina

[RascalnBinks]

Bunny Mommy-i have 3 levels as well,doesnt look like luvmybuns exactly, but i have wood dowels i got from lowes to put underneath the top level thru the bars to support it. I also have long dowels for the roof as i put supplies on top of it. It wont buckle lol,just use the dowels and itll be fine. You can zip tie the dowels to the shelves if you want to for a little bit more support.

[Author]

Messages