Xpens ?

[Tami]

Ok, I have to get my mind off the idiotic vets around here before I really get demented…….so I have a question about the Xpens.

I called our local Tractor Supply (the nearest pet store is over half an hour away…….typical for such a redneck, hillbilly town such as this !) to see if they have any puppy playpens & they do.  They’re more expensive than I thought they’d be so was just wondering if it would pay to spend the gas to go to the pet store/s (SuperPetz & Petco are the two that are further away)?

I went online to look at the Tractor Supply site and just wanted to know if this is what everyone’s talking about when they mention "Xpens":

http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay_10551_10001_43557_______14540|14596|43557?listingPage=true

I noticed in the description, it says it has a "zinc finish"……..I have to say, that immediately turns me off because since I’ve had birds for a long time, I know when making or buying them toys, you have to stay away from anything with Zinc in it because it’s toxic when chewed or ingested, so I have to make sure everything metal is either Nickel-plated (NP) or Stainless Steel (SS).  I know when my Sid & Mopsey are in their cages, they really chew on the bars to let me know they want out for a scampering.  I don’t want to take a chance on them chewing on these bars since it’s a zinc finish !

Suggestions anyone ?  Are there any such things as ones with "powder coating" ?

We need to get something for Sid & Mopsey ASAP to contain the pees & poops because they are really outta control right now until we can get them fixed.  Currently we have to run around the house "shooshing" with a broom (to keep from getting bit now *sigh*) & a water bottle to get them away from my wood crates with my record albums in them, speakers, my knotty pine walls/baseboards, etc., so a playpen would just be ideal !!

We’ll be going to Tractor Supply later this afternoon/evening when Doug, my hubby, gets home from work, to check these pens out in person, so any advice you experts can give would be greatly appreciated :o)

Thank you so very much for your patience with me.  Hopefully one of these days I’ll be knowledgable enough from being in this group, to help others with questions so I can return the favor *fingers crossed*

Blessings,

Tami

[Sarita]

Well, that looks exactly like mine by Midwest and I’ve used them for ages and never had a problem. I love the x-pens myself – they are so easy to use and clean around and get bun in and out of.

[Beka27]

another option is making a NIC cube enclosure like the one i made for Meadow recently.  you can ziptie it in any size you need, and if you don’t need it anymore, undo it and reconfigure it a different way.  they’re less expensive to buy than xpens, but they take a bit more time to put together.

i spent 25 dollars on the rug and i had to get another box of grids that were on sale for 13.  plus i had some leftover already.

pics of Meadow’s space:

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

AWWW That looks great! i bet she loves it!!

[Beka27]

thanks!  some of my panels are slipping a bit due to opening and closing it (i fold it into itself during the day when she’s out) but that’s why i bought the BIG PACK OF ZIPTIES!!!

[(dig)x(me)x(now)]

A note about the prices – Xpens are very expensive! It’s likely that if you do drive out to the pet store to look for one, it will be as expensive, if not more.

[osprey]

The pen you referenced is a 48" model, which is quite tall for bunnies.  The taller they are, the more expensive they are.  I use a 30" XPen for my guys’ permanent setup, and several 24" ones to block off "no no" areas of the house when they are out.  We also have a 24" "Small Pet Playpen" that we use to block things off.  These are cheaper than the XPens, but not as sturdy.  You can see one  here:

[Gravehearted]

you can sometimes score inexpensive ones on ebay. I know they make them in different coatings – but I am guessing it’s all zinc. I’ve been using them for years and know many rescues also do – so I’m not really sure if there’s a risk for rabbits chewing the coating.

they’re so flexible, easy to store and use.

[Bunnies4ever]

I have that pen osprey! You can purchase a cloth bottom that attaches w/velcro. Kahlua and Chloe has chewed it up, but it still works for me. I also have 2 x-pens for buns I foster. It really comes in handy! Yes, x-pens can be expensive. I purchased mind from HRS. But, once you purchase them, you’ll have them forever!

[honeybun]

I just boiught a great x pen on Amazon , it is a GO Go pen with a walk thru door. 8 24 inch panels, 30 inches high for 40.00. It was the best one I found, configures to several shapes and is not zinc coated.

[JK]

I have that same one too. Mine is only 24" high because my guy doesn’t jump.  48" seems too high.  Very hard to lean over and even harder to step over!  I would go with the 36".  Just so you can compare prices I got mine for $49 at the Pet Club.  The 36" I think is $70.  It is a lot but WELL WORTH IT!  Not sure about the zinc issue with rabbits but have heard it’s deadly to birds. I would think powder coating would not be as durable at all and easier to chew off.

[Lisa_43]

Those Xpens are really expensive in Aussie land so I just use NIC panels like Beka27.

[Scarlet_Rose]

Hi Tami! With regards to the coating you might want to check out this discussion we had a while back on the topic;

https://binkybunny.com/Default.aspx?tabid=54&forumid=2&tpage=1&view=topic&postid=14839#14850

Yes, the NIC squares are powder coated. : ) I am fairly certain the x-pens are not though.

[Tami]

Hi maxy555 :o)

I just went to the Amazon.com site and plugged in Go Go pen and it didn’t come up.  Could you please post a link to the one you’re talking about ?

We were going to go to Tractor Supply this evening and get one of the ones that have zinc in it and I just don’t feel right about it, plus the price you quoted is a lot better than what we’d have to pay at TS, so if I can calculate what the shipping would be, it might end up being less money for us.

Thanks heaps and bunn-ches :o))

Blessings,

Tami

PS:  Thanks to everyone for all the wonderful ideas and pictures !  I want to get some of those NIC cubes but we have to travel a good ways to get to the stores that may have them :o(  With the price of gas now, we are really struggling as it is and need to try and do our "bunny shopping" closer to home, unfortunately :o(( …….but I do appreciate everyones input ;o) 

[Tami]

Ok, I went back to Amazon and typed in "X pen" in the search part and the GoGo pens came up !  LOL !

I ended up ordering this one:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000JHLRLK/ref=ord_cart_shr?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=A3NFXH8P41KMPF&v=glance

Does that Pet Club have an online store, btw ?  I never heard of that place before and it sounds like a great place to get supplies !

I was going to get the expedited shipping on that pen, but HOLY TOLEDO !  The shipping was over $70 as compared to $20.17 for regular, LOL !  We don’t need it THAT bad, LOL !

Anyway, thank goodness that’s taken care of…….I really wanted to get it ASAP, but I think we can deal with Sid & Mopsey’s mess a few days longer.  Actually Sid was pretty good last evening and I even got a couple pics of him, one of which his Daddy (my hubby, LOL) was holding him…….so our little Sid-bunny was a good boy last evening :o))

*sigh* what a relief !

Blessings,

Tami

[JK]

No, the Pet Club does not have an online store.  The one you are getting looks almost exactly like the xpen I have except for the color.  I think you got a good deal!  Yours is bigger too!

[Scarlet_Rose]

Tami, since you’re looking for something closer you can try to hit some garage sales and/or some used baby furniture stores that have the old portable and expandable hard sturdy plastic playyards that do not have a bottom to them.  I found a picture of what I am talking about:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?dest=9999999997&product_id=5983018&sourceid=1500000000000003260330

You might want to talk to any friends that have older kids about their old baby stuff (that is how I got mine for free) and see if they have one.

[osprey]

Don’t forget Criags List and Freecycle, you can sometimes pick up pens and carriers cheaply or for free on those sites.

 

[Annie Fann]

i was thinking of getting one of those but they are quite pricey. the wire cube fence works quite well and is much cheaper. plus you can build it to your own needs and shape which is pretty cool.

[honeybun]

Go to Amazon.com and type in dog exercise pens, another place that sells them for the same price is digitpets.com. The shipping might be cheaper on Amazon depending where you live. You will recieve it in about 3 days, it is great!

[lashkay]

The web address is digitpet.com

[lashkay]

I can vouch for the high quality and reasonable price of the digitpet.com Go Go Exercise pens. I got mine in black, eschewing the zinc because of issues about the zinc being toxic. The walk-through door is great and delivery is lightning-fast. It’s great to be able to shape it in all different configurations. It’s 30″ high and just lets me reach in and barely touch the floor so I can pet my bunny and add food without opening the gate, which is nice also.

[Author]

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