The Right Habitat?

[Kyoshi]

Hey!
Im adopting an American Fuzzy Lop :Applaudes:  from a shelter (Anyone familiar with For Bunny Sake?) and I dont know what type of housing to get. I want a shelter that she has lots of move around space , that I can come into , and that he (I am rotating he to she, because I have no idea what they will be!) will be soooo happy in . Anyone know a good one?

 

 

Heres one im looking at

       http://www.petsmart.com/product/ind…=Small+Pet

[mocha200]

the thing about that habitat that i don’t like is that it is very short and a bun could jump out of it easily. if you put the cover on it it would be ok but i tend o not like that because it is hard for me to see them unless i crouch down and then you can’t reach your hand down and pet them. ( and it would be very hard to get into.) i would suggest getting a 36″ xpen made for a dog. it is much better. and if you get one with a door on it you could attach it to a crate! cube condos are also nice because if you need to move the cage you can shape it any way you want to! and you can make pens out of them. i was looking at shopko yesterday and they are on sale for 19.99 and if you wait until like dec. the go for really cheap!

[Sarita]

I agree with Mocha – it’s not a very good habitat. Too small and not sturdy. And way overpriced.

You need to invest in a regular full size x-pen if you are going to go this route.

[Kyoshi]

How about this one?

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753756

Its very pricy, but fits the requiements.

[Monkeybun]

You will want to get one that has a door that you can open to walk into it. One with a door that is only for a pet wouldn’t be very convenient.

http://www.petco.com/product/5874/Precision-Pet-Eight-Panel-Wire-Pens.aspx?CoreCat=DogSFC_CarriersCratesKennels is hte one I have. Don’t go for anything less than 35 inches high.

[Deleted User]

I would go with a cube condo in the beginning. You can littertrain your rabbit in there easily as you can divide it and add on as you go along and later if you want to do free-range, you can use the grids for bunny-proofing. I would not buy that pen in your second link as I found circular shapes don’t cater to rabbits’ needs. They like long and narrow much better or spaces with corners.

[Sarita]

Petzy, the pen in the 2nd link can be made square – they just show it this way for the photo.

As for the doors, they all have doors with the x-pens. They also have clasps that you clasp them together with – I always use my clasps to get into my rabbit’s pens – so much easier than the door, in my opinion.

I did think that you were going to do a cube condo Kyoshi, what happened with that?

[Kyoshi]

I was planning to, but I am adopting a ADULT littertrained bunny, so I have heard a x-pen is better choice

[Kyoshi]

Dang it! These things are expensive. GRRRR

[Kyoshi]

I want one a bit less expensive ( I know, Im Being cheap)

[Monkeybun]

Search craigslist for them, quite often you can find them cheap. And the petco ones are on sale if you get them online

[Deleted User]

Just because the rabbit is an adult and it says that he or she is littertrained, don’t count on it. Change of environment can upset a rabbit’s potty habits.

[Kyoshi]

Hows this?
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3432639

[Sarita]

That’s about the same as the other one you posted. They are both fine, just not the very first one you posted.

[Kyoshi]

Or This?
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2754775

[Monkeybun]

The black one would be fine, if you get it tall enough.

The plastic one I’d be wary about, as bunnies can gnaw away at the plastic.

[Beka27]

Xpens can be pricey at first glance, but if you think about it, regular plastic-bottom pet cages are anywhere from $60 and up… and even if you build something yourself, the supplies will cost as much as an xpen by the time you’re done. You certainly want a strong, sturdy xpen. And one that can be easily transported. Some of the “small pet” ones are just as expensive, but not as big, and they don’t seem like they would last very long.

If you are adopting, remember, you are probably already saving at least $200 on not having to spay/neuter your rabbit yourself. So far, you’re coming out ahead.

[Kyoshi]

K, time for the theme. I’ve pin pointed the x-pen I want (Black one with the pug in it) But I cant decide on a theme! I like a hawiaan theme at the moment, with browns and yellows for sands and beach shacks and blues for water and bright pinks and other colors for leis. Any ideas?

[jerseygirl]

Posted By Kyoshi on 08/05/2010 12:08 PM
I want one a bit less expensive ( I know, Im Being cheap)

You’re not being “cheap”. It’s smart to save where possible. Every $ you save can go toward vet expenses.  I encourage you to look for 2nd hand pen also. Metal xpens 2nd hand should be in pretty good condition and are something that would be easy to clean up.

As for themes, make sure everything is bunny safe. It will be more for your eye than the bunnies as they don’t see different colours much. But they like to play with the things in their space.  Look around for bunny safe items and build your theme from there.

[Sarita]

What do you mean a theme? I don’t understand….are you going to decorate the pen?

I think you should be more concerned that you have the proper items for making your rabbit safe and secure. No need to spend your money on party items for the pen that the rabbit will just destroy anyway. Doesn’t make sense to me.

[Kyoshi]

No. Not Like that. I mean that I’d like it to try to match up some colors, so that it looks a bit nicer. I am pretty bad at choosing words

[Beka27]

I wouldn’t spend a lot of money on rabbit supplies if you can avoid it. Pet supply stores jack up the prices so a small ceramic pellet dish costs $8. You don’t have to get something that is MADE FOR rabbits necessarily. A heavy, basic cat dish from a dollar store will work just as well. Same thing with litterboxes. You should actually avoid the “special little critter” litterboxes, because they are way too small. A basic large cat box can be found at most places for under $5.

As far as flooring, what did you have in mind for the bottom of the pen? Linoleum square, wood platform with peel and stick tiles, an area rug? There are many options you can go with. Does the bottom of the pen need to be waterproof?

[Kyoshi]

I dont think so. They spueter and litter train there buns before adopting them out.

[Kyoshi]

Oh, and I know. I am buying things for dogs and cats that are too small or not sturdy enough for a cat or dog, but perfect for a bun! Lots of people must not think of buying that stuff for buns because the prices are pretty low.

[Sarita]

Litter trained at one place doesn’t necessarily mean litter trained at another.

Many times when rabbits come to a new home they need to readjust with their new environment and new routine. Some may need less adjustment but there is always a chance that some may need to be retrained. Depends on the rabbit.

[Kyoshi]

Im still trying to get a good deal on a cage. I think $80 is alot of money to pay. RARRRRRGGG! WHY IS EVERYTHING SO  EXPENSIVE?!I have checked out craigslist. No one in my area must have any idea what a bunny cage is, there all small, or made of chicken wire and poles. And I keep running into bunny sale ads, and they make me sad.

[Kyoshi]

Has anyone made an X-PEN out of cubes?

[Sarita]

The supplies and x-pen prices are nothing compared to the cost of vet bills.

The x-pen a one-time purchase and if you purchase the right stuff and don’t go cheap on the x-pen that would be the smartest thing to do.

[Kyoshi]

Oh Ok.

[Kyoshi]

What Colors are good for buns?

[mocha200]

do you have a fleet farm by were you live? thats were i got mine they are 59.99.

[Kyoshi]

I really dont know what that means

[mocha200]

do you have a store around you called fleetfarm? i got a xpen at that store for $59.99.

[Kyoshi]

NOOOO WAY. Like a couple of states away

[mocha200]

oh. haha, sorry! i couldn’t find them on there website ether.

[Kyoshi]

Would a dwarf bunny (Are AFLs (American Fuzzy Lops) a dwarf breed. Reaserch said yees, but just double checkin’) capable of jumping 30″?

[mocha200]

I know you said you found one but i wanted to show you this. its only 30″ high, but i don’t think they would jump 30″ but maybe.

http://www.opentip.com/Pet-Supplies/Black-Ecoat-Pet-Exercise-Pen-In-p-585615.html

[Kyoshi]

WOAH!!!! That is sooooo much cheaper! Do you know if theres a door?

[Kyoshi]

Actually, nevermind. The shipping and haandling makes it like $70.

[Monkeybun]

my dutch boy, a 4lb bunny, can jump a 36″ pen. a 30″ is far too easy fo most bunnies who like to jump :p Not all are jumpers though.

[jennyrabbit]

saving mony on bunny stuff is easy, for the same price at one of those little starter bunny kits, I built a 26 square foot pen with 3 levels. rather then $5-6 for litter pans, I instead go to the dollar store and buy camping dishpans for $1. I got the vinal flooring I use for my cage cheap because the sales guy asked what it was for..when we told him it was for the rabbit cage, he got exited and gave us a deal…said in his home country he raised meat rabbits, but, now he lives here and switched to just keeping rabbits as pets, he has 6, and adores them, so he got exited to talk bunny and gave us several feet for free lol. my cubes..well I used to keep guinea pigs, so I had like 5 boxes of grids just laying around lol. toys are easy too, just dont look at the “rabbit” stuff, the prices are just stupid. I actually went cruising the decorative isle at walmart, they have lots of totally safe natural stuff that you can use, most actually list exactly what they are made of and what if anything they are coated with..in fact I actually found a few of the exact same things sold AS bunny toys for several times the price! for example these wicker ball things, they are sold for bunnys at 1 for $3…I bought a container of 20 for $10 in the decoration isle lol.

I personally prefere the cubes simepley because I find them more attaractive then x-pens lol, I actually used cubes to build a puppy pen once rather then get an x-pen!

[Kyoshi]

GRRRRR~ The shelter I like isn’t in possesion of any AFL. But they do have (If you have read any other posts I posted) You guessed it. Angoras.IM SOO TORN! Anyone know about angoras? What size are they, are they good with kids, ect.

[Elrohwen]

Angoras can be quite large –
The english is about 4.5-7.5lbs and has the fully furred ears.
The French has body fur, but no ear hair and they’re about 7.5-9.5lbs. I think they look just like Jersey woolies, but the woolies are in the 4lb range (I could see a shelter incorrectly labeling a Jersey woolie as an angora).
There are also giants above 9.5lbs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angora_rabbit

They take a lot of work with grooming, but if you’re set on a fuzzy breed already you’re probably prepared for that. As far as personalities, I’ve heard they’re calm and gentle, but you’d really have to meet the individual rabbit and make that determination yourself.

[Monkeybun]

Angoras are definitely more work. If you have time, every day, for 10ish years to groom them thoroughly, then go for it No slacking though!

[Deleted User]

A long-time member on here has an angora rabbit that has bitten her quite hard in her face before but this is a possibility with any rabbit. Always be careful when letting a rabbit interact with kids.

Kyoshi, have you considered fostering a rabbit?

[Kyoshi]

Yes! The Rescue gives you all the stuff you need for fostering, but i am woried I will love one and they’ll get adopted. I think once I get my bun I will start to foster.

[Elrohwen]

The rescues around here will give the foster family first choice in adoptions. Generally, if you are the foster parent and someone shows interest in the bunny, the rescue will ask you first if you would like the keep the bunny before they show it to someone. This would still give you a few weeks with the bunny to decide if it’s right for you.

[Deleted User]

This is usually how fostering works, you get first dibs! Why don’t you ask at the rescue about their fostering protocol? It won’t hurt to ask!
About your rabbit setup, if you enjoy planning for matching decor, keep in mind that rabbits are very destructive. You could go for a ‘barn theme’, i.e. wooden things that will match nicely with the hay and will be edible too if you choose non-toxic types of wood.
Do yo like building things? You could get busy now and make a nice hide-out hut of cardboard or wood while you prepare for your rabbit. Rabbits like big things. ~

[Kyoshi]

I got the foster application. You can adopt them, but they dont have a first dibs thing.

[Deleted User]

still, I say go for the foster thing
If a shelter sees you really care about a bunny who you are fostering — you bet they will give you first choice.

[Kyoshi]

I hope. I think It would be great to foster, as If i do decide to tke her/him and they dont have any other applicants, I get them immediately! But still. If there is another approved applicant then by by bunny!

[Deleted User]

A shelter will always choose the better home for the pet so it does not necessarily mean ‘bye bye bunny’

[Kyoshi]

I dont know…..

[BunBuns]

i have a 3 story cube condo that my father and i built for my 2 year old male rabbit. he loves it. he is litterbox trained and he knows his litterbox is on the 1st floor and he hops right down to use it. i also bought an xpen from petsmart, similiar to the 1st link you posted. i attached that to the first level of the pen so i could leave it open for him to come out. honestly, that xpen doesnt do much of anything. i put it on my carpet and let me tell you, my rabbit pushes the pen just with his face and literally moves it everywhere. it is not sturdy enough at all, especially if you plan to keep your rabbit just in the xpen.

i would advise you to create a condo out of those cubes for now atleast, i bought mine at target for like $17 a box, i bought 3 of them, and i built him a wide and huge condo where he has plenty of room to do anything he pleases. once you do this, you can see more of your rabbits temperament and search for other housing options.

[MayaConsuelo]

Do you have a picture of the condo you made? I’m curious. I paid kind of a big chunk of change for mine ($200, well $150 with $50 shipping fee.) Got it on ebay. I figured that I could build my own and save some money but it would have taken me a really long time, and this was made by someone who builds them all the time so it’s designed well and quite sturdy. I don’t have to worry about my bunny breaking out when I’m not home! He came with one of those cheap small petstore cages from the person who had him before – she let him out a lot but it was still WAY too small! Here he is in his new home:

With 18 square feet of floor space it sounds smaller than yours, but he’s small and has plenty of space to run around like mad and binky (which he can’t do on my hardwood floors.) Investing in a good cage is totally worth it because you don’t have to worry about it wearing out because it’s cheap and paying more to replace it!

[Beka27]

Any update Kyoshi?

[Otti]

I used bookends to prevent my rabbit from moving his xpen around… they seem to work pretty well.

[Author]

Messages