X-Pen VS Crate

[MissKris&Koji]

Hello,

So, bunny adoption looks to be official. The fellow coming home is teeny teeny tiny, he must be all of 2 or 3 pounds, estimated 1 year old so not expecting any more growing. That said, a large dog crate should be plenty of room for him. Current foster mom says she has him in a closed 2×2 NIC pen, but had him in a 3 ft high x-pen at a meet and greet event and he didn’t attempt to jump out or anything and she thinks he would do well in an x-pen so long as he gets a hidey house. But, I know she also told me he likes to jump up on the sofa at her place, so I know he can and will jump.

I am most drawn to the idea of having an x-pen for a habitat. He’s supposedly very good with his litterbox, and the lady at the rescue says you can take away or add panels as you please with x-pens to make them a custom size and shape. As I’ll be moving later this year and don’t know the layout of the new place yet I like the idea of versatility. I know NIC would also be versatile, but a bit more work to set up and not quite as nice looking in the apartment, so I’m thinking that option is last on my list right now.

I think I am most interested to get an x-pen, then dog crate, with NIC being last choice. But if I go with an x-pen, I’m concerned that he may be able to jump out. Has anyone seen or heard of any ways to top an x-pen if this turns out to be a problem? Should I just pay the extra whatever and get a 4 foot high so he can’t jump it? Penny for your thoughts?

I mean really I’m sure any choice could be workable for him, I’m just not sure what is the best bet to start with. I suppose ultimately I could get something else if it’s not working out and it wouldn’t be the end of the world. That’s another reason why I was leaning towards x-pen first, as even if we go with something else that ends up being his habitat the pen could be nice to have to extend that something else or to keep him confined to certain parts of the apartment and so on. Whereas a cage we don’t end up using… not so useful. But on the other side of that coin, finding out the x-pen is able to be jumped and we need something else could be rather unfun too (read: find out it doesn’t work because come home to destroyed room).

 

[Elrohwen]

I prefer xpens. Just get one that is 3ft and the chance of him jumping out is slim. Bunnies like to jump up onto things, but they’re far less likely to jump over a fence since there is nothing to land on. A 3ft xpen is good for 99% of rabbits.

Dog crates are nice, but I think xpens are far easier to clean and perfect for packing up to take your bunny on a trip or to a friend for pet sitting.

[MissKris&Koji]

Okay, well, on that note then…. what pen to get? I’m eyeballing 2 (score, Petco has a sale this week!):

http://www.petco.com/product/11371/Precision-Pet-Pro-Handler-Indoor-Outdoor-Exercise-Pens.aspx

http://www.petco.com/product/11368/Precision-Pet-Black-Ultimate-Exercise-Pens.aspx?CoreCat=OnSiteSearch

 

So. Here’s what I’m thinking. The first link has panels which can be added and subtracted, which sounds like a nice option. But looks like no gate. I guess having to unclip the little clippies to open the pen for free time is not a big deal, really, and some reviews said those clips are nice for being able to attach the panels to things to gate off areas.

Second one looks a bit sturdier and has a gate. Says it has removable pin hinges so you can add on or hook to a crate, but that doesn’t sound like I can add and remove individual panels? Or perhaps I can. It doesn’t really specify. :/ Anyone use this or seen it in store or something?

I noticed the first link also comes in 42, so a bit higher than 3 foot without having to go to 4. But I was thinking about it and I don’t think it would be too hard to come up with some sort of solution to top an ex-pen if he does turn out to be an escape artist.

Anyone who has an ex-pen like to tell me brand and model and what they think of it?

 

[Deleted User]

you can easily prevent a rabbit from jumping out of an xpen by clipping a sheet or a net on the top. Xpens are the best. They are easy to set up, easy to move, easy to store… they are the all-around athlete in rabbit habitats.
I personally am a big fan of NIC grids, too, because you can build shelves but they can be trickier to kep clean.
The dog crates are kind of small. If your rabbit gets a lot of out-of-cage time, though, a crate would be fine, too.

[Deleted User]

*sorry my post was referring to your initial question
Precision brand is great. I have seen them and they are sturdy. There are other members on here who actually have them, and will be able to give you some feedback.

[Andi]

I like X-Pens as well, though NIC’s can be set up as a pen as well useing tip ties, and they are less expensive plus more versitile. I’ve not had a rabbit jump either, though i have heard of two now that were climbers LOL… very rare occurance though.

[Andi]

I have both styles of pens, i like the one without the door more, as it’s easier to make into different shapes as is not fully conected. I took the one with the door and removed the connections on one side so i could have it set up the same as the other, and have found all the connection joints bending and falling off

[MissKris&Koji]

Okay, so sounds like Precision doorless x-pen is a very viable choice!

I may build an NIC condo later, anyways, just to give the rabbit more space and more to do, see if he likes having multiple levels. But, I’m going to wait until my very handy carpenter friend gets back in town… he’s away on a work assignment for a few months, and I am one of the least handy people ever. I’ve admired some of the NIC setups with wood bases, and would love to make a condo with a wood base and some lockable swivel wheels. But that’s way beyond my abilities, nor do I have much in the way of tools to do things like drill holes in the support bars to secure them or fix carpet to shelves. Add to that I really just don’t want to build a condo only to have to take it down and reassemble when we move in a few months, and being a perfectionist I want time to plot and plan how to tackle the project. So I guess that’s going to go on the to do at some point list.

I wonder if anyone has put rods across the top of the x-pen to hang toys. I’m told he likes bells and dangly bits, which was one reason I was thinking maybe a crate (that and not having to put down something waterproof under a carpet until I’m sure he’s not going to pee on my hardwood). Hmmm…… well, I guess I can do something makeshift for now.

 

[Beka27]

We have the Midwest Walk-through xpens, 36 inches tall. They have doors that open so bunnies or people can easily go in and out. I would absolutely recommend a pen that has a door way. You can see a pic of my current set-up in the other xpen thread in this section.

Small rabbits need just as much room as larger breed rabbits, sometimes more, as they tend to be more energetic.

[Elrohwen]

I have a precision pen with a door – the door is key. I couldn’t function without a door on the pen and it would be a huge pain in the bum to have a doorless one.

[MissKris&Koji]

But can you all remove panels from your door-ed x-pens? I’ll probably want to use all panels in the place we move to but I may leave 2 off where I’m at now – I don’t know that the full size will fit in my current bedroom setup very well. Rabbit will still be getting lots of free running time, so I’m not concerned about cutting down size for the time being, I just don’t know until I get it here if I can rearrange to make it fit without taking a panel or two off.

[Elrohwen]

Yep, the panels come right apart. It’s basically a pin that fits through metal loops on the panels – so you set the panels up, slide the pin through the holes to connect, and you’re done.

[Andi]

Mine don’t come appart There’s no pin, just these clips.
The ones that come apart sounds pretty nice, i love my full long one with no door (30″) but sometimes when i need it one less panel I need to fold it over, not that it’s a big deal, but if I was able to remove it that would be cool.
I don’t use the little doors b/c i can’t fit through them, i walk over the pen and use the pen itself with clips as a door, that i can fit in :p B/C the one pen I have with a door is so high (36″), and was a complete cirlcle pen (always conected) I took appart the one side so i could actually open it, otherwise it was very difficult to get bunnies in/out and clean inside.

[Elrohwen]

I also open up my whole pen – during the day, when the bunnies can come out, I just fold back one side of the pen. When it’s closed, having the door to walk in and out is awesome. And when we set the pen up our parents’ houses, or at a friend’s house for pet sitting, we just use the door instead of opening the whole thing up.

Mostly I fold it back because Otto won’t come out the door onto hardwood floors – he’s afraid. If we had carpet, I would just the door.

[Andi]

Elrohwen, do you have a picture of your pen? Who makes it?
It doesn’t sound like the one I have or the one pictured in the second link. I’m curious what other kinds are out there.

[Elrohwen]

I have a picture of it in the other xpen thread in this section. It’s made by Precision, though it seems to be identical to Beka’s Midwest pen, so I think either would be a good choice. I found it at Pet Co, so I know they carry the brand.

eta: It looks exactly like the one Monkeybun posted as well – her picture is the little more closeup than mine and can give you an idea of how the panels connect to each other.

[Andi]

Awsome thank you!
Whoever designed the one I bought wasn’t thinking properly that day, as yours opens the whole way up, mine is a small actual ‘door’ kinda cubby door LOL…. a dog/rabbit/cat can fit through and maybe a small child could crawl through. It’s a terrible design, specially since it is a cirlcle and can’t be opened up without modifications (AKA wrecking it lol).

I sorta found a picture;

 

[Elrohwen]

I’ve seen some online with the little cubby-hole door and I can not figure out what the designers were thinking! If you’re gonna make a door, you should at least make it convenient for people to fit through it.

[MissKris&Koji]

Gah – this is the frustrating part. I really want an x-pen that has both each and every panel can connect and disconnect from other panels so I can customize as I want, but also has a door ideally. Haven’t seen one listed online that seems to be both, although maybe that precision pet with a door I listed is like that, it looks a little different so I’m not sure. :/

Maybe I will end up starting with a 42″ crate instead until I can find a pen that definitely has both features.

[Elrohwen]

The precision and midwest pens are what you are looking for – both have doors and the panels come apart. Have you been to a Petsmart or Pet Co? They carry some and you can see them in person. The exact pen you are looking for is definitely out there, since many of us have them.

[MissKris&Koji]

http://www.petco.com/product/5874/Precision-Pet-Eight-Panel-Wire-Pens.aspx?CoreCat=OnSiteSearch

This looks more similar to the pen photos in the other thread as mentioned – but doesn’t look like it has the drop pin hinges. Does that look like yours Elrohwen?

[Elrohwen]

Yep, that’s exactly the same one I have. You can see the vertical pins (they have those little loops on the top) that hold the panels together. Those come right out.

Strangely it doesn’t look like they have the 36″ high pen, which is the one I got. You might be able to find that one somewhere else, or just get the 30″ version which would probably be high enough for most bunnies.

[MissKris&Koji]

Oh, okay, perfect! You would think since the other models mention what kind of hinges they have, this one would also list that in the features/benefits thing, but noo. Well thanks for the clarification – I should have asked earlier and saved myself hours of online shopping stress.

[Monkeybun]

My pen comes apart no problem, plus has the full door. Its a Precision pen, found it in the dog section of PetCo.

[Beka27]

My pen doesn’t come apart. It has clasps that are attached, I suppose I could get them apart if I had to, but I didn’t want to ruin the structural integrity of the pens. Since I’m only using 12 of the 16 panels, I just overlapped the back 4 and ziptied them together. And now you don’t even notice that there are two layers of panels along the wall.

[Moonlight_Wolf]

I too have precision and it is great the way the panels easily come apart. I love the door too, I use it so I can get in my bed without jumping over the pen (although sometimes I do anyways.)

[MissKris&Koji]

After much searching for this elusive Precision pen in a 36 or even 42 (Petco only has 30 and 48 right now and couldn’t find it anywhere else) I finally called the company itself to ask if the product has been discontinued. Weirdly, they said Petco stopped ordering that size (despite it being a bestselling size), but had just placed a new order. The pen should be back in stock at some point, hopefully in the next couple weeks. As I’m now deadset on getting that pen, as I’ve found no other thats both separable panel by panel with a big gate (and Precision confirmed it was their only model with both features), an XL crate it shall be til the pen is back in stock. Then I guess lucky bun will have a crate with a hooked pen setup. Welcome home, friend! XD

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By misskrisnyc on 07/01/2010 08:40 PM

After much searching for this elusive Precision pen in a 36 or even 42 (Petco only has 30 and 48 right now and couldn’t find it anywhere else) I finally called the company itself to ask if the product has been discontinued. Weirdly, they said Petco stopped ordering that size (despite it being a bestselling size), but had just placed a new order. The pen should be back in stock at some point, hopefully in the next couple weeks. As I’m now deadset on getting that pen, as I’ve found no other thats both separable panel by panel with a big gate (and Precision confirmed it was their only model with both features), an XL crate it shall be til the pen is back in stock. Then I guess lucky bun will have a crate with a hooked pen setup. Welcome home, friend! XD

I’m going to be doing the same thing with my bun’s cage.  He lives in an XL cage right now and I’m going to be adding an attached pen with grids.  You should post pics once you have yours all set up, I’m gonna post pics when mine’s done!

 

[MissKris&Koji]

I plan to! New rabbit comes home on the 17th (I’m finishing my last semester of grad school right now, so I wanted to wait until I’m out as I’m uber-busy currently and can’t be home to do all the requisite adjustment period stuff), so probably that next week there will be rabbit photos, and once Petco starts stocking the sizes of that pen I want again there will be habitat photos forthcoming. I think I’m going to add a shelf to the crate, too, as it’s even taller than the standard crate (32″ I think) and he’s a wee wee little thing, so I think a small shelf would be a nice addon. Some day I will still make a nicer NIC condo instead of the crate I imagine once I know what he likes and have the time, but I got the crate on ebay at a steal of $50 free ship (42″ 3 door top side and front crate with smaller than average bar spacing) so I couldn’t pass that up as a quick fix until I can get a pen for him. Still, I just don’t know what petco was thinking stopping orders on half the sizes of that pen – maybe they are trying to push sales of the more expensive but less functional “ultimate” model, which seems to be only different in having a black finish, and not the ability to remove/add individual panels. Oh well, I’m happy Precision customer service was so helpful and let me know I just need to hold tight for a few weeks.

[lwayne]

If you go with the xpen, you’ll need to figure out flooring too…

I have an xpen set up for my free run bunnies to keep the litterbox and hay contained (they like to make a mess). I have been using a fleece blankie as a floor covering, however they like to dig in it and chew it up, plus hay tends to stick to it like velcro.

What’s a good floor covering? Something removable/washable is preferred.

[MissKris&Koji]

I did a search through threads on that account, I need to get something to put down either way as it’s all hardwood here. I saw some people liked their rag rugs, so I went online shopping for that – Urban Outfitters has 3 foot by 5 foot rag rugs for pretty cheap (25 or 30 I think, I don’t have the link on my laptop) that come in 5 colors. It’s either that or the Ikea flat weave area rugs, both look cheap and like they will do the job – I guess if you’re not liking the blanket approach you could try there? I was with you in thinking, yeah, it needs to come up and be able to go in the washing machine ideally, not so many rugs like that.

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