Rabbit NIC condos?

[Lindsey]

Hi everyone, I hope you’re all doing well!

I just purchased a NIC grid cage kit off of amazon (I’m not sure if I’m allowed to give a direct link, so I won’t include one to be safe), and I’m looking forward to putting it together for my rabbit Leo to live in. I am looking mostly for some inspo, is there anyone with NIC condos / grid setups that would be able to share some photos? Or maybe direct me to posts that you’ve made in the past about your condo(s)? I would really love to see other member’s setups! Thanks in advance! 😀

[Wick & Fable]

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4apeUIlpTh/

This was the NIC condo I made for my two rabbits (though they never bonded enough to use it together, haha).

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4ceOHUFbJu/

This is the expansion I had to put on top (grey-solid panels) because one of my rabbits jumped off the top… safely, but still. Very worrisome, haha.

I would call myself very experienced with NIC condo-building, so definitely feel free to ask questions!

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[DanaNM]

Here’s my current set up! It’s a bit messy haha. I use dowels to support the levels. The levels and base are plywood with peel and stick vinyl tiles. The upper levels also have fleece clamped on top and grass mats. Since mine is very tall I also added some dowels on the corners for support. The base is a very thick piece of plywood with holes drilled in it, and the cube walls are zip tied to it so the whole thing is very stable.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Lindsey]

Thanks so much to both of you! The photos are great inspo and gave me some ideas!

@Wick, do you use carpet squares inside your condo to make the floor more comfy and stable? I am trying to think of a cost-effective, yet still safe, way to cover the grids on the upper level(s). Leo isn’t a huge chewer, but I would have to consider that as well of course. I’ve seen that some people also use outdoor carpet? It’s easy to trim I would think which could be handy! I will for sure need some more help along the way, so I’m glad you’re here!

@DanaNM, the tiles are a good idea too, I just am wondering how the weight of them could affect things… but I plan to add support with wooden dowels as well, so maybe it doesn’t matter too much in the end?

I’ll keep you updated!

[Wick & Fable]

One of my rabbits is probably one of the most avid chewers, so there probably won’t be too much issue with chewing carpet tiles. They are low-pile carpet squares (the carpet fibers are really shallow, so hard to chew on), so the main thing is just edges not being secured down tightly. Per unit, the carpet squares are the most expensive thing for the condos I have built.

For my first condo, I did a layer of coroplast and then put the carpet on top. For the ones I pictured, I did a layer of cardboard, and then put the carpet on top. The benefit of coroplast is that it is pretty water proof, so if there are spills on the carpet or accidents, it won’t fester anywhere but the carpet, which you can spot-clean. Coroplast was a hassle to cut and get fitted though, so I opted for cardboard this time around. The reasoning for a layer below the carpet is because carpet tiles on their own aren’t solid enough to make a flat floor, so I needed something below them.

 

 

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[DanaNM]

The tiles I have on the levels are very thin and don’t add much weight. Most of the weight is from the plywood, and I have thinner wood on the upper levels. When I build it my buns were pretty avid chewers so I had to use wood vs. coroplast or cardboard. Plus then I didn’t need to use grids for the actual level supports.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Azerane]

I’ve got one as well, I built it about 6 years ago and it’s still going strong (I expanded it up one grid level about 2 or 3 years ago).

Here’s a few photos from when I first built it. The base is plywood covered with linoleum, on top of that is pine edging that I also put linoleum on the inside of and used some silcone in the corner to stop wee messes getting to the timber. The grids sit inside the base and is attached with cable ties. The second level is also plywood, the white edging is plastic capping that prevents chewing and pulling up of the linoleum. Don’t underestimate how many cable ties you will need, and get yourself a good pair of snips that can cut them off close to the base once tight. Roughly cut cable ties can be very sharp. I used end cut pliers, which enabled me to basically get flush with the join of the cable tie.

 

Here’s how it looks today. As I said I added the extra grid height and also added a mini corner shelf which if I’m honest they don’t really use much. Adding the extra height enable me to change the design of the top level door to great advantage. Instead of just being 3 panels that lift, it’s now a corner door which enables me turn the door right back onto the roof and have the corner open for much easier access for cleaning etc, but I can also just turn up the front 3 panels if I just want to do something simple like refill the water bowl. The small wooden beam across the top of the door stops it from slipping inside the cage, as it rests on the secured grids on each side. I use dog leash clips to secure my doors, and cable ties as the hinges.

[Hazel]

Awesome condos, guys! Love your corner door Az, that’s neat. This makes me want to build a condo myself. I’m tired of Oscar’s hutch, it’s a pain to deal with. I don’t want to throw it out either though, it was pricey and is unfortunately stupidly durable. 😡

[Lindsey]

Wow @Azerane! That condo is amazing, I think I’ve seen some of your videos about the process on youtube, they’ve been great inspo to me as well! I expect the grids to be here early this coming week, so I will be able to plan better once I can physically see them / lay them out. But all of the comments and photos have been wonderful! Thank you again to all of you!

@Hazel, I feel you, I can imagine that a hutch would be a pain to clean and keep tidy!

[DanaNM]

OMG @Azerane I had forgotten how epic your condo is. Inspiring for sure!

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Hazel]

@lindseyh : Thanks, it totally is. I don’t mind the hutch itself so much, the real problem is the run. To clean the floor I have to detach it from the hutch and lug it across the room. That thing is heavy! I might just take all the wood off the grids and zip tie them back together. It wouldn’t look pretty but I could make it easier to work with.

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