Ware Back Yard Hutch..? .. and other ideas for the travelling bun?

[bunnnnnnie!]

No, Zeus is not going outside anytime soon. .  But I am currently on the search for a “mobile home” for Zeus, as I may be starting a very very VERY small live-in petsitting business.  Meaning Zeus would be coming along to my clients’ houses, and staying at their homes with me anywhere between 2-15 days at a time.

Obviously, his current enclosure (dog crate with NIC cubes attached) cannot really come with him.  I need something that is..

– spacious (at LEAST 6sq ft or more)

– sturdy (no chance of escaping, and if for any reason the dog/cat I’m petsitting for got into the same room as Zeus, the cage would be 100% safe)

– transportable (I drive a compact car, so it must break down or fold up in some way).

So that eliminates dog crates (basically all of them are too small), x-pens (not sturdy enough, and no “roof” so a cat could get in), and NIC cubes (again, not sturdy enough).  Traditional bunny cages will probably all be too small too.

I did find this:

http://www.petco.com/product/110096…esHabitats

And am considering it as a possible option for his “mobile home”.  It assembles with only screws (and I’m assuming could break down if you just unscrew everything, right?), is big enough, and the wood makes it quite sturdy. 

Otherwise, I’m not really sure.  Ideas?  Tips?  Anyone else have travelling buns here?  What do you do?

And to be clear, Zeus is never allowed in the same room as the animals I’m petsitting.  He ALWAYS has his own room, and then his cage/enclosure is extra protection.  But on the odd chance that while I’m not home, and a dog/cat could somehow open/unlock the door and get in the room (I know, unlikely, but still  , then I want Zeus to be safe. 

[Deleted User]

I would just go with an NIC condo made to come apart into four sides, bottom and top, and assemble on location.

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By Petzy on 01/31/2011 03:13 PM

I would just go with an NIC condo made to come apart into four sides, bottom and top, and assemble on location.

I’d be concerned about NICs not being sturdy enough, unless there’s another way to assemble them with something more than zipties?  I’ve never made a purely NIC condo so not real experienced with it!

 

[Deleted User]

Zipties never worked for mine either. I use wire or J-clips. You can wire them together very sturdy. It would make a nice portable unit.

[mocha200]

petzy: I haven’t ever heard of J-clips. What are they?

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By Petzy on 01/31/2011 03:21 PM

Zipties never worked for mine either. I use wire or J-clips. You can wire them together very sturdy. It would make a nice portable unit.

Stupid question time.. what’s a J-clip? .

Wire sounds like it’d definitely be sturdier than zipties, that’s a good idea.  What kind of wire?

 

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By mocha200 on 01/31/2011 03:24 PM

petzy: I haven’t ever heard of J-clips. What are they?

Yay I’m not the only one who has to ask that! 

 

[Monkeybun]

you could always use an x-pen, and make a top for it with the NIC grids and wire

[Cheyann]

What about something like this
 

http://www.petco.com/product/111703…tesKennels

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By Cheyann on 01/31/2011 04:05 PM

What about something like this
 

http://www.petco.com/product/111703…tesKennels

Unfortunately it’s a little out of my price range. 
 

[Monkeybun]

That was just an example, i wanted to find one with a decent pic. you can get different ones at various places, and can often get them cheap on craigs list

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By Monkeybun on 01/31/2011 05:12 PM

That was just an example, i wanted to find one with a decent pic. you can get different ones at various places, and can often get them cheap on craigs list

Wait I’m confused, I thought Cheyann posted that? 

 

[Helenor]

I think Monkeybun’s idea with the covered x pen is a good one. I’ve had a covered x pen with a canvas like cover. I bought it on amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/GoGo-Exercise-Cover-Hunter-Green/dp/B001D161YE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1296525732&sr=8-1

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By Helenor on 01/31/2011 06:03 PM

I think Monkeybun’s idea with the covered x pen is a good one. I’ve had a covered x pen with a canvas like cover. I bought it on amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/GoGo-Exercise-Cover-Hunter-Green/dp/B001D161YE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1296525732&sr=8-1

I had no clue they actually made specifically designed covers for xpens, that’s neat! 
 

[Monkeybun]

weird… i swear I searched for one and posted it too. dang forum glitches

[jerseygirl]

You can metal pen tops also. Or if you had a pen with lots of panels you could use a couple to make a top. Ex pens are hugely versatile and can be easily cleaned up if bought second hand.

I wondered if a children wooden play pen with a base the clicks in could be use but upside down? So the base forms a roof.. Then you could use mesh or grids around the sides secured to the wooden rungs.

One possible simple enclosure would be to make one shaped like the Ware one (triangular prism) using pen panels. If you had 3 tall pen panels, 1 could form the base and be covered in coroplast. The other 2 the form the sides and use nic grids to close of the ends. Only problem is making a door. I suppose you could clip one side where nic grids and panel meet. I’m curious if this structure would work…I might try it tomorrow and report back. :p

[Deleted User]

Mocha, a j-clip is a type of sheet metal nut shaped like a ‘J’ that wraps around the edge of cage panels and can be squeezed tight using a matching tool. Once it’s on, you can’t really undo it though. They can’t be chewed and come in different sizes.

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By jerseygirl on 02/01/2011 08:10 AM

You can metal pen tops also. Or if you had a pen with lots of panels you could use a couple to make a top. Ex pens are hugely versatile and can be easily cleaned up if bought second hand.

I wondered if a children wooden play pen with a base the clicks in could be use but upside down? So the base forms a roof.. Then you could use mesh or grids around the sides secured to the wooden rungs.

One possible simple enclosure would be to make one shaped like the Ware one (triangular prism) using pen panels. If you had 3 tall pen panels, 1 could form the base and be covered in coroplast. The other 2 the form the sides and use nic grids to close of the ends. Only problem is making a door. I suppose you could clip one side where nic grids and panel meet. I’m curious if this structure would work…I might try it tomorrow and report back. :p

If you try that, definitely let me know! 

 

[bunnnnnnie!]

So does anyone have an experience or even just an opinon on the Ware hutch I posted?  It’s really a neat design I think, just not sure it’s super-easily transportable..  

[Deleted User]

the Ware hutches are good but very expensive seeing how they are kind of small.

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By Petzy on 02/01/2011 02:37 PM

the Ware hutches are good but very expensive seeing how they are kind of small.

Yeah, I guess you’re paying for the lumber.
 

So far I think the NIC condo built with wire is my best bet.. but I really would like something even sturdier than that.  That’s why I am looking at some enclosures that are made with wood and such.

I am in LOVE with this:

http://www.bitsforpets.com/ascot-collapsible-rabbit-run-guinea-pig-run-p-1557.html

A collapsible WOODEN run, basically an x-pen on steroids, but I cannot for the life of me find ANYTHING like that in the US!  Argh! .

If I could find that in the US, I’d probably just use that 24/7, at home and while travelling.  Just fold it up and go.  Darnit!

[mocha200]

They sell alot of those in the USA but they cost over $100. so how much are you willing to spend on a cage so I have an Idea if I find something?

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By mocha200 on 02/01/2011 04:23 PM

They sell alot of those in the USA but they cost over $100. so how much are you willing to spend on a cage so I have an Idea if I find something?

I’d be willing to pay over $100 if I could find a good quality pen like the one I linked to, definitely! 
 

[mocha200]

here is one I found
[code]http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2751754&utm_source=googleproduct&utm_campaign=5113501&utm_medium=cse&mr:trackingCode=E0F96564-C881-DE11-B712-001422107090&mr:referralID=NA [/code]

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By mocha200 on 02/01/2011 04:54 PM

here is one I found
[code]http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2751754&utm_source=googleproduct&utm_campaign=5113501&utm_medium=cse&mr:trackingCode=E0F96564-C881-DE11-B712-001422107090&mr:referralID=NA [/code]

That one has to attach to a hutch, but you made me look closer and I found..

http://www.petco.com/product/110108/WARE-Premium–Penthouse-Playpen.aspx?CoreCat=OnSiteSearch

Which is basically exactly what I wanted!  It folds flat, and doesn’t need to attach to a hutch.  Now I just need to decide if I can afford it! .

It’s very pretty though, isn’t it?   And very roomy!

 

[Deleted User]

I agree that a wooden-framed pen like the Ware one is sturdier than a wired NIC pen. It’s just that the NIC’s are so infinitely versatile.

[RabbitPam]

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