Wire cage?

[Manda and Loki]

I’m looking for some opinions on wire cages. I’m trying to find someone to build Loki a new rabbit cage. he’s getting so big and he really doesn’t have much room to spread out anymore. so basically I’m thinking about having a cage built with wooden bottoms, wooden ramp, and wooden trim. but the sides would probably be screen. I’m just wondering what you guys think about the wire. do you think it’s safe? Loki is a chewer but I don’t think he’d really be able to chew threw it?

and also, if you guys have any ideas of where to go for materials, or who might be able to build one, that would be great! thank you!

[HerculesandMolasses]

Wire mesh for the sides are perfectly fine but I don’t know what the spacing should be. No wire mesh for floors though, they ulcerate bunny feet. I don’t know what else you would use for the sides besides wire. Wire is best for sides because of ventilation. My bunny would chew through the wood but maybe yours won’t. I don’t see a problem with wire sides. And I have seen my friends rabbit chew through the wire in his cage but I don’t think that most will chew it.

[Manda and Loki]

is there such thing as dangerous types of wire to them? I’m going to have to tell the guy who builds it.
Loki likes to chew wood, but he seems to like to chew more of what’s NOT his. (my furniture) anything in his cage is very important to him, and he never destroys anything that’s his. unless it’s toys. plus I will have to get some linoleum or some sort of flooring for the bottom.

[Reeem]

If you think about it if he does chew the wire it will have sharp edges that could scratch his mouth.

[tobyluv]

Have you thought of using an x-pen instead of a cage? Those give bunnies a good bit of room.

Many years ago, I had a cage built by the people at a feed store. I don’t know if you have any feed stores near you, or if the people who work there would know anything about building cages or not.

[BrunosMama]

I would avoid chicken wire, as it tends to be sharp. We use the storage cube squares for cages. It has about one inch spacing. We have never had any problems.

I think the main thing is sharp edges.

[Bam]

I have welded netting, size of squares 19 mm, on the sides of my out-doors hutch (it’s not in use anymore since the outside isn’t safe for bunnies here due to human predators). The problem with chicken-wire is that it’s made from a continous thread of wire. If a bunny or a predator chews off the wire in one place, the whole net easily comes un-wound (un-netted). With welded net, a lot more chewing is required + the wire is tougher. I don’t know what it’s called in the US, here it’s sold as mink-netting (protects against minks and ferrets etc) or welded netting. For indoors use (where there are no minks etc) the spacing can be bigger than 19 mm but it must be so small the bunny can’t get its head through it even if he/she pushes hard.

If a bunny is bored or just gets the idea into its little head, it may very well chew on wooden frames. As long as the wood isn’t treated with sth toxic, that is ok, but it may not look pretty. And it of course means you need to use rather hefty pieces of wood.

Wire bottoms must be avoided unless you plan on covering it with like lineoleum slabs and then fleece or a vet bed (basically sherpa fleece with non-slip underside).

[Manda and Loki]

yeah, I keep Loki inside. it’s just the man who might be building a new cage for him, doesn’t really work with metal. therefore he’d be using wire for the sides of the cage. I know about the wire flooring not being good. I’m planning on wooden floors, and I’ll cover them with linoleum. the only thing that is worrying me is the air flow with the wire?

[Author]

Messages