X pen cover

[Cocoa]

I need a cover for my two bunny’s x pens. Would covering them in chicken wire and then a sheet on top to give more shade work? If I can’t find something like this, I will buy them but I’d prefer to just make them

[Sirius&Luna]

Hi Cocoa,

I think chicken wire could work, it would need to be safely secured though. Is this an x pen that they’ll be permanently living in outside? If so, you’ll need to think about something for the floor as well, as predators can dig under fences. I would also be a bit worried that an x-pen isn’t really sturdy enough to make a permanent home outside. It would need some reinforcing I think – my x pens would definitely blow over in a bit of wind, or with pushing from a larger animal. You would also need to think about rain protection, as a sheet would get soggy and drip.

[Cocoa]

Oh no this isn’t permenant. This would jut be during the day. As it gets hotter, I feel like the x pen would be good because there is more circulation. I might be able to attach a fan to the big hutch to keep them cool but for the bunny in the dog crate, there wasn’t a way to put a fan where she could still move away from it if she didn’t want to. I was thinking of securing it with zip ties. I do have stakes that came with it to secure it but I have to move it multiple times a day because there is only one spot that constantly has shade which is the hutch.

[DanaNM]

If you end up using chicken wire, you can snip the edge, untwist part, and then wrap those wires around whatever you are securing it to. It’s kind of painstaking but it works really well. It would be hard to remove though.

you could also connect a bunch of NIC cube grids and use those as a roof. They would be easier to re-purpose for other bunny related things.

. . . 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.  

[Cocoa]

How could I secure the nic grids? One idea I had with the chicken wire was to buy some clips to attach it. Like the clips that you would hook to your harness if you went zip lining. I think the chicken wire would be a pain to try to attach. And if I’m trying to clean up something in there, it would be easier to just move a few grids rather than crawl. Lily enjoys making messes with toys, food, litter boxes, and water bowls.

[Harley&Thumper]

Zip ties are your friend

[Wick & Fable]

Zip ties are also really cheap and come in large quantities.

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.

[Cocoa]

There’s a good chance my parents will say no but I want to move them inside. I really really don’t want to rehome them but I will if I can’t find a solution. I am honestly fine with selling all of my stuff to make space for them. I would be fine getting rid of my dresser and that alone would give them a ton of space. We have a canopy set up right now to provide shade but we can’t keep it up due to the HOA. Any ideas to create shade where it still looks nice?

[DanaNM]

You could zip tie shade cloth to the cubes or wire. They usually have it at garden supply stores. Get the light colored kind. I think zip tying shade cloth to NIC cubes would look pretty clean and would be easy to work with.

. . . 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.  

[Cocoa]

We decided that we need to rehome them. My parents won’t let them come inside so they will be better off somewhere else

[DanaNM]

Oh I am so sorry to hear that, after all that you’ve been through with them. I know you have put in a lot of work getting them spayed and trying to improve their situation.

Both, or will they let you keep one???

. . . 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.  

[Gordo and Janice]

So sorry Cocoa. I know you loved them very much with how hard you tried to take care of them and make things work. Constantly seeking advice and ideas. Even making the attempt to move them inside, knowing your parents might say no, and willing to sell everything so they have plenty of room to be happy. You are a good person. I wish your circumstances were different because you would be an outstanding bunny parent if you had your way. Too few of those on this planet. I can’t wait until you can be on your own and in control of your situation and see you on here as one of these veteran bunny experts with multiple bunnies. Those are going to be some very lucky bunnies.

[BB8]

I’m so sorry to hear that you have to rehome your bunnies.

[Harley&Thumper]

I am incredibly sad that you had to make this decision, hopefully they will go to a home where they can get the care that they need. I hope you chose to welcome bunnies back into your life when you are more independent and capable of meeting all of their needs. It’s a shame your parents weren’t willing to be more cooperative.

[Cocoa]

So I called my best friend and we came up with more ways to make everything work. I will talk to my parents again tonight. My mom says she doesn’t want a farm in our house so they can’t come inside. I know rabbits don’t smell if you keep their cages clean but she doesn’t believe that. What are some easy ways to get rid of the smell that are bunny safe. Normally I would use febreez but i don’t know if its bunny safe. If I come up with an answer to everything even though it wont be necessary, I think I will have a better chance. My budget is $160 and please let me know if you have any suggestions to keep things clean and things like that. It would be both bunnies that i would have to rehome. The issue is that it is too hot outside for them

[Wick & Fable]

Splash of apple cider vinegar in their water majorly reduces urine smell.

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.

[kurottabun]

I’m not sure about the components of Febreze…but as with any commercial air fresheners I doubt it is made up of natural stuff that are healthy for sensitive bunnies.

The only off-putting smell that comes from a bunny is the pee. I find that most of the time if my bunny room has a smell at all, it’ll either be the pee, or the smell of hay (which is not bad-smelling, but some people may find it to be since smell in itself is very subjective).

The pee smell and stains can be easily cleaned with some vinegar and water. If you really don’t want it to smell in the slightest bit, cleaning every single day is probably a must. Sometimes they might have peed in places that you can’t see, so be sure to look out for those spots as the smell can linger for quite a long time if left uncleaned.

What litter do you use? Wood pellets are great in absorbing smells.

[Harley&Thumper]

Can you ask your parents to let you do a trial run to see just how bad the smell gets inside? It’s easier to accept putting up with a bad smell for a week than 5 years.

[Cocoa]

I use carefresh bedding. Are there any diy airfreshener spray stuff i can make? I will definitely try that Wick. My mom is allergic to hay and bunnies. Not too bad though and she’s allergic to all of our pets but its always been fine. We are on opposite sides of the house but she is worried about the hay going through the vets and being everywhere

[Cocoa]

I use carefresh bedding. Are there any diy airfreshener spray stuff i can make? I will definitely try that Wick. My mom is allergic to hay and bunnies. Not too bad though and she’s allergic to all of our pets but its always been fine. We are on opposite sides of the house but she is worried about the hay going through the vets and being everywhere

[Cocoa]

Well for me to do a trial I would have to get rid of my dresser. When the bunnies first started fighting, Cocoa spent the night in a dog carrier in my bedroom and it was fine

[Cocoa]

please post a link to c&c grids, I cant find any

[kurottabun]

Carefresh is paper so if I’m not mistaken, it mostly only absorbs the pee but not a lot of its smell. Wood pellets are able to mask the odour better and I think it’s also cheaper if you can get it from a farm. You have to check and see if your buns will eat them though.

For air fresheners, I remember you mentioned that you do crafts, so perhaps you could make a nice sachet, fill it with a mixture of herbs and hang it somewhere? Some rose/lavender petals, rosemary, mint etc. It’s even better if it’s by a fan or something so the scent can circulate the area.

Btw have you tired feeding the buns a different kind of hay? I think there are some people on here who mentioned that they are allergic to timothy hay but not orchard grass etc. So you may want to try that if your mom is allergic to hay (not sure what kind you are using now).

[Cocoa]

What is a sachet? I will definitely try that. My mom is allergic to orchard and most of those. She is allergic to timothy but barely. Thank you for the suggestions and i will look into them

[kurottabun]

Sachets are basically just little pouches. You can get some inspiration here: https://feltmagnet.com/crafts/Homemade-Sachet-Bags-and-Scented-Fillings

Make sure the fillings you choose are not toxic to bunnies though.

[Gordo and Janice]

“farm in our house”…lol. Truthfully it will be diligence in cleaning their areas. That is the only way to control smell. Like kurottabun said, the most problematic and primary smell is the ammonia smell of the urine. Janice was very diligent about cleaning Icey’s litter area twice a day, morning and night. But there would still be, depending on the quantity, quality, and concentration of her pee, some times that you could smell a little urine, but you had to be real close. So if you are diligent you could minimize the odors. However if your mother comes into your room and intentionally tries to sniff around like a drill sargeant in the military, it may not pass her idea of odor control and she may deem it indeed a “house farm”.

The other thing is when you are around your bunnies all the time, you will be aware of cecotropes from time to time. They can be pretty pungent. Because of their little miniature grape cluster appearance Janice called them “The Grapes of Wrath”. We didn’t have to always see when Icey was eating her cecotropes, the proof was in the air! It doesn’t linger long but you definitely know what’s happening. If mom comes in at the wrong time…look out! And when she would wake up with us in the morning and come out from under the bed and go to her litter box, her first morning poops were sometimes a mix of the regular odorless balls with some little wet cecotrope smelling ones. Again a strong odor for sure. We would hastily scoop them up with a piece of toilet paper and dispose of them because the strong smell is a little unpleasant in your face while cleaning. But again, once gone, smell goes away very quickly.

And then there is the hay. You can probably contain it to your room and keep it out of the rest of the house. But if those bunnies have ample roaming in your room you can expect hay here and there. Again diligence, but your mom sounds like a tough cookie. It sounds like you have quite the challenge.

Thank you for being sensitive enough to the bunnies needs to realize it’s too hot outside for them where you all live.

[Cocoa]

They would be okay outside with my previous plans but at the new house we have a rod iron fence so we would probably get complaints. They will be kept in a large cage in the corner. I will take febreez and spray it by the door and my bed, so not near them, to hide the smell. Are there any diy sprays that are safe near them. I don’t know what would work but like essential oils with water or soak a plant in the water like mint or rosemary?

[Deleted User]

There’s an actual spray you can use that’s sold at Petco that I use frequently in Bombur’s cage because of his incontinence. https://www.chewy.com/marshall-ferret-small-animal-odor/dp/122496?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=f&utm_content=Marshall&utm_term=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2veH35bY2gIVi7jACh0lcQoMEAYYAyABEgIHivD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/natures-miracle-3-in-1-odor-destroyers?rrec=true

I spray it in the cage while he’s out that way he doesn’t accidentally ingest it. But it works great for keeping the smells at bay. Some essential oils are dangerous for buns to breathe in and febreeze and other odor eliminators can also be dangerous for them too.

[Cocoa]

What are some easy bunny safe fillings? The cheaper the better.

[Cocoa]

Yeah that’s why i would only spray it on the other side of the room.
I will buy some if my parents say yes

[Cocoa]

Yeah that’s why i would only spray it on the other side of the room.
I will buy some if my parents say yes

[Deleted User]

even in the room is risky. both of my boys get breathing issues if you spray it in the next room when the doors aren’t closed.

[Deleted User]

if you switch to wood pellets and put a touch of apple cider vinegar in the water, the smell is basically gone and putting herbs in the room is a really good idea.

[Sirius&Luna]

Lavender and rosemary are strong smelling plants that you could use in sachets, or even have in pots, and would be safe for the bunnies if they were to nibble them! Most bunnies wouldn’t munch through a whole rosemary or lavender plant as they’re quite strong, but it would be totally safe if they did.

[sarahthegemini]

You shouldn’t use febreeze or anything like that (aerosols) because it can cause respiratory issues. Doesn’t matter if you only spray it on the opposite side of the room.

I think if you can get your parents to agree to a trial, they’ll see how odourless bunnies actually are. Rabbits themselves don’t smell, only their litter trays have the potential to be smelly but if you change them regularly, you’d have to get pretty close to detect any smells. I used to use carefresh and I had 2 litter boxes in my lounge – couldn’t smell a thing unless my face was hovering above the tray lol. Having said that, I’ve switched to wood pellets now and can’t detect a scent whatsoever.

You and your parents will need to accept that there WILL be the odd strand of hay about. It’s inevitable. But sweep/hoover regularly and it shouldn’t be a problem but it depends how critical your parents will be :-/ Your parents will also need to accept that if the bunnies get poorly, often litter habits go out the window so you might have to deal with pee and poop around the house. Obviously poo can just be picked up and pee can be wiped but it’s important that your parents understand that that’s a possibility. It doesn’t matter how litter trained they are/will be.

[Cocoa]

My mom said it isn’t just the smell. All she says is they don’t want bunnies in the house because that’s not what they signed up for. I thought they might actually care because it’s so important to me.

[Deleted User]

I literally don’t understand why you would get bunnies for your kid if you don’t want them in the house. Like why literally waste all this money for absolutely nothing. Her attitude is cruel and disgusting. A dog literally smells worse than a bunny does and can be a lot more destructive than a bunny is. But a dog is A-okay to have. Just because a bunny is small and “caged” doesn’t make them any less valid. That’s just wrong.

[Sirius&Luna]

I’m sorry Cocoa, it’s really clear how hard you’ve tried here.

When you have your own space, I’m sure you’ll be an excellent bun parent.

If you are actually rehoming them, perhaps we could help you with an advert, some questions to ask the new owner, and a list of useful information for the new owner.

[Cocoa]

I know I agree. She sees them as like a hamster or something unimportant. She says they run through their own pee and poop so that’s gross. Um our dog eats the bunny poop sometimes and you let her lick your face. Our dog also runs through her own poop and steals food off the counters a lot. She will destroy socks or stuffed animals and doesn’t listen to me ninety percent of the time. And barks at everything non stop. I honestly don’t get it. How is that better than two animals who can stay in my room, don’t make very much noise, don’t smell, and won’t destroy anything? I don’t understand it. I spent two hours planning, finding what I need, adding up the costs of what I would need for all of her other concerns. I don’t see how it’s even fair

[Cocoa]

My dad isn’t home from work and I haven’t talked to him yet so I still have a chance

[Deleted User]

You can store the hay in Rubbermaid bins to reduce the smell/allergens in the air. I just store mine in the box because I don’t have any problems, but you can store it in a closed bin as long as it is in a cool and dry place. Don’t let it get humid.

For litter, I really recommend using wood pellets. I don’t see why your mom thinks they smell though? I have hay all over my apartment cause I’m just lazy and let it fall off when I walk around and fill her trays. And I have two litter boxes, one in the living room. People always say that they are surprised that my apartment doesn’t smell. You really can’t notice the smell of the wood pellets, it is very mild. The paper bedding gets stinky because it isn’t as absorbent, and so it gets all mushy and probably gets on them, causing them to smell like urine. Wood pellets will solve smell issues, I promise.

I have to agree with A&B. I’m not trying to be rude but your parents are being very ignorant about this. Having a house trained rabbit doesn’t make your house into a barn. Don’t you guys have cats living indoors? If you ask me, cats are smellier than rabbits.

As for cover, maybe you can get some poles and a tarp from the hardware store and ask your dad to help you construct a canopy of sorts?

[Deleted User]

Also, you might be able to keep a few herbs in the windowsill as a “natural” fragrance. Lavender, basil, and rosemary are all very fragrant, and the buns would like the smells too!

I would suggest that you tell your parents how important this is to you. Ask them to please consider allowing them in your room on a trial basis. I know they’ve already said no. But it can’t hurt to ask again.

[sarahthegemini]

Your parents are ignorant and plain cruel. Your home clearly isn’t a home for bunnies. Rabbits deserve to be in a happy, loving home with all their needs met. They’re not even getting the bare minimum under your parent’s ‘care’…

[Gordo and Janice]

Wow Cocoa, I knew it was an uphill battle but just wow! You are such a fighter. Tenacious! A true bunny champion. You are exhausting every last possible avenue, every last spec of hope. Good for you! I so wish you had your way. Those little bunnies would be in heaven.

“Not what they signed up for”, a “farm in our house”, I must admit I am irritated as well. More along the lines of disgusted actually. Those statements speak volumes. Every point you made in the paragraph comparing them to the dog is valid. Very intelligent.

But welcome to life kiddo. Life isn’t fair. Not even when you have as much control as possible, let alone when you don’t. I doubt Dad will overrule Mom but we can only hope, right?

I would take Sirius&Luna up on the help with rehoming. The experts here have probably seen and done it all. You obviously love your bunnies and want the best possible outcome for them so help with the rehoming would be ideal.

Sorry again it has been such a struggle. Your day of independence will come in time. And again my hat’s off to you for trying so hard, and in a very intelligent, proactive way.

[Cocoa]

If I can convince my dad and get all of his concerns figured out then i have a better chance. My mom might realize its not a horrible idea and then there would be less concerns for her because i have already found solutions. I’m not giving up yet. After talking to my dad, they may realize how good it has been for me to have those bunnies. I used to spend all day in my room but now I spend at least five hours outside every day. I have been very responsible and have worked a lot to buy all of their stuff. I found two jobs so I could earn enough money to have them spayed. I have anxiety so i hate making phone calls, having to call at least twenty vets and then a lot of phone calls when i was wanting to find them. I also have my friend incase i ever need to borrow money to buy something. I have worked really hard to do everything for them even though it has never been enough. I have spent $500 to buy them stuff and my parents don’t realize how important they are to me. I have a long list of everything I wanted to buy for my dogs, cat, and horse and that ended up in the trash because they were so much more important.

[Cocoa]

And yes we do have a cat living inside and her litterbox smells ten times worse than their litterboxes even though i clean hers twice a day.

[Wick & Fable]

A high-wall litterbox can prevent hay from getting too crazy, but regardless yes, you will need to do at least a daily sweep of hay to keep it in check. You can look at Wick’s litter box set-up by visiting my profile and looking at my photo album. I modified the litterbox with a panel so the low lip wouldn’t be there anymore — Wick would pee over the lip and track hay out that way. It also has a litter screen so he doesn’t track litter everywhere, since I use a small granule litter.

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.

[Cocoa]

Okay thanks

[Nibbler&Georgie]

For the smell, I use an essential oil diffuser with lavender. It works really well for me. You can get a diffuser off amazon for like 20 dollars.
I’m also allergic to hay, but as long as I keep it in a rubbermaid box, I’m fine. Like BunNoob said, make sure it stays dry so it doesnt get moldy.

[Cocoa]

Okay thanks

[DanaNM]

Posted By Nibbler&Georgie on 4/27/2018 12:28 PM

For the smell, I use an essential oil diffuser with lavender. It works really well for me. You can get a diffuser off amazon for like 20 dollars.
I’m also allergic to hay, but as long as I keep it in a rubbermaid box, I’m fine. Like BunNoob said, make sure it stays dry so it doesnt get moldy.

Not trying to derail this thread, but we had another thread going about this, as diffusing oils (incl lavendar) may be dangerous to bunnies. It is bad for cats, as they accumulate the compounds in their liver. So, this isn’t really recommended.  

Here’s that thread: https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/164918/Default.aspx

For me the best things for smells are to use pine pellet litter, and change the box daily or every other. I keep my hay in a plastic bin, and use a hay rack over a large litter box. I use a very large litter box, so there is less scatter around it. Every couple weeks I clean the box with a vinegar solution to remove and urine buildup. 

Wick uses oxbow hay stacks, which also might be less messy and easier to store. 

I also made a cheap DIY hepa air filter following this tutorial. You basically attach a home air filter to a box fan: 

These things could be enough to improve the air quality a lot, rather than just masking the smells with something. 

. . . 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.  

[Cocoa]

Okay thanks

[Nibbler&Georgie]

DanaNM I didnt know that, thank you for letting me know!
Cocoa, I hope everything works out for you and your buns.

[Author]

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