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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS > HABITATS AND TOYS > Homemade Cube Condo? HELP!
Last Post by jerseygirl at 08/02/2010 12:25 AM (78 Replies)
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User is Offline Kyoshi
265 posts Send Private Message
07/10/2010 09:41 PM

I want to make a homemade cube condo for my bunny, but I'm not sure how to do it! So ANY advice available will really help!


User is Offline Kyoshi
265 posts Send Private Message
07/10/2010 10:14 PM
Maybe to be a bit more specific, what flooring should I use? Where can I get ramps? Basics for constructing them? WHAT is a Zippie? Any other tips?

User is Offline Petzy
Northern AB Canada
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07/10/2010 10:34 PM

A ziptie is also known as a cable tie. it is a platic strip that once you tighten it does not open again. You buy them in packages of like 100 at auto parts places or hardware stores or $store even. I bet walmart has them too.
You may not need ramps, most buns can jump one cube high.
Flooring can be tricky, it depends on your rabbit. Some bunnies do well with rugs, or cardboard, others need a surface that can handle messes, then coroplast (signboard) is a good choice or even a tarp.
You need to figure out the shape of condo you want to determine how many grids you need. Be careful to buy the right kind: some grids have larger squares and a bunny could escape through these. You want the ones with 1.5" square openings.
Have you visited the great habitats gallery under "bunny info" in the green bar above?

Photobucket "what happened? did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?"

User is Offline Kyoshi
265 posts Send Private Message
07/10/2010 10:48 PM

Well, thats where I got the idea, see, i want my future bunny to be extra happy, so I have decided to build one of them. But the instructions seemed a bit vague. Can you give me a specific NAME for the flooring?


User is Offline Petzy
Northern AB Canada
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07/10/2010 10:49 PM
Coroplast is the name. It is also called signboard. It will help you keep your baby rabbit's condo very clean as it can be wiped up.
Photobucket "what happened? did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?"

User is Offline Petzy
Northern AB Canada
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07/10/2010 10:51 PM

here is some more info

www.guineapigcages.com/cubes.htm

Photobucket "what happened? did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?"

User is Offline Kyoshi
265 posts Send Private Message
07/10/2010 11:02 PM
I saw the Coroplast info. I'd like something softer for my bunnies feet. Any suggestons?

User is Offline Petzy
Northern AB Canada
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07/10/2010 11:09 PM
For a kit I can't recommend rugs as she may ingest some by ripping at it and eating it. I would go with flat corrugated cardboard or grass mats until she is bigger and can be trusted around carpet and rugs not to eat them.
Photobucket "what happened? did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?"

User is Offline Kyoshi
265 posts Send Private Message
07/10/2010 11:13 PM
Do you know if it'd be easy to switch out the grass mat or cardboard for carpet? (I know Im being a little picky. I'm really worried about messing up, plus I want this to go perfectly) Is there something maybe a bit more colorful?

User is Offline Petzy
Northern AB Canada
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07/10/2010 11:18 PM
I forget that looks are always important too.. I am not so good in that department. There are other members on here who will have more creative suggestions.
I do know though that switching it later won't be a problem.
Really, cardboard is great: they LOVE to tear it up, you'll see. They are a 'destructive' species. LOL
Photobucket "what happened? did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?"

User is Offline Kyoshi
265 posts Send Private Message
07/10/2010 11:20 PM
LOL! I'm sure they are. I'm not too concerned about looks, it's just that the ones in amazing habitats are just that AMAZING! they match and everything. I'd LOVE having one like that.

User is Offline Petzy
Northern AB Canada
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07/10/2010 11:25 PM
yeah... my grid pen isn't in that gallery for a reason... -- seriously though for a kit easy cleaning should be your main goal. The cube condos can be changed and enhanced at any time. If you can find colorful grids -- it will look bright. rabbits love all manner of cardboard but only the plain brown kind is safe for them.
I really like the condos that incorporate wood. If you are good with building things, you might like one like those.
Photobucket "what happened? did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?"

User is Offline Kyoshi
265 posts Send Private Message
07/10/2010 11:29 PM
Good Idea! I really should be worried about keeping my bunny happy and safe. But will it need to be replaced if she soils it?

User is Offline Petzy
Northern AB Canada
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07/10/2010 11:31 PM
If she pees up the cardboard very much, yes, toss it and replace. But if you make her litterbox cozy with the soft-sorbent and hay, chances are she will quickly take to peeing there.
Photobucket "what happened? did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?"

User is Offline Kyoshi
265 posts Send Private Message
07/10/2010 11:34 PM
Should I be concerned about the fact that soft-sorbent is scented? will that be a problem?

User is Offline Petzy
Northern AB Canada
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07/10/2010 11:36 PM
well, to be honest, I'd go with an unscented one like Yesterday's News or Carefresh. That way you can transfer some urine she may leave somewhere other than the litterbox to the box to make it the obvious pee place.
Photobucket "what happened? did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?"

User is Offline Kyoshi
265 posts Send Private Message
07/10/2010 11:39 PM
Could I maybe mix a bit of the scented in? I dont want an overwhelming smell, beause I've heard their urine is worse when they're not spayed.

User is Offline Petzy
Northern AB Canada
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07/10/2010 11:41 PM
well, not at this time where her hormones have not kicked in. you can try mixing it, but if you change the box often, there will be no stink.
Photobucket "what happened? did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?"

User is Offline Kyoshi
265 posts Send Private Message
07/10/2010 11:43 PM
Ok thanks alot! when do there hormones kick in?

User is Offline Petzy
Northern AB Canada
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07/10/2010 11:51 PM
at around 18 weeks, you can't miss it. It is quite evident with behaviors such as biting, marking, territoral defending... circling and mounting things.
Photobucket "what happened? did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?"

User is Offline Kyoshi
265 posts Send Private Message
07/11/2010 06:54 AM
OK, then i can get her spayed right?


User is Offline Petzy
Northern AB Canada
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07/11/2010 07:13 AM
yes.
Photobucket "what happened? did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?"

User is Offline Moonlight_Wolf
United States of America, Pittsford, New York
1137 posts Send Private Message
07/11/2010 01:37 PM
I find that a solution that looks great, is the easiest to clean and is very durable (hard for bunnies to chew) is coroplast. My bunny cage's floors are made of this and it works great!

Some tips are:
For the cage to hold together the best (not sag over time) then you should put the zip ties in a X formation so two cross over each other to give the cage more stability.
Also to support the shelves you should use either dowlels (wooden sticks) Or I used PVC piping because it was cheaper and the bunnies did not chew it.
Before you make the cage you should think of a design. I drew how I wanted my cage to look before hand (what i wanted the shelves to look like and where I wanted the doors) and it worked out great.
Be prepared to get zip tie burn.
Also when zip tyeing be sure to aim the ends of the ziptyes out of the cage so the sharp points (from cutting the zip tyes) won't poke your bunny.
Make sure your bunny is easy to access within the cage so you can get to her if she is sick or something.
I found that dog ear clips (binder clips) work the best for clipping the coroplast or whatever flooring you have into place.
Dog leash clips work the best to hold doors closed.

Um... I can't think of anything else right now I'll let you know if I think of any other tips!
“We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It’s the best deal man has ever made.” M. Facklam

User is Offline Petzy
Northern AB Canada
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07/11/2010 01:40 PM
I was thinking of your condo again, too, moonlight. Maybe post your picture again to show here, or take some new ones showing the details.
Photobucket "what happened? did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?"

User is Offline Petzy
Northern AB Canada
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5938 posts Send Private Message
07/11/2010 01:40 PM
ziptie burn... LOL! i believe it!
Photobucket "what happened? did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?"

User is Offline Moonlight_Wolf
United States of America, Pittsford, New York
1137 posts Send Private Message
07/11/2010 01:41 PM

Ok here is a picture of my condo!

IMG_9956.jpg picture by
jenrefen

“We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It’s the best deal man has ever made.” M. Facklam

User is Offline Moonlight_Wolf
United States of America, Pittsford, New York
1137 posts Send Private Message
07/11/2010 01:42 PM
I'll see if I can get some detailed pictures and post them later.
“We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It’s the best deal man has ever made.” M. Facklam

User is Offline Kyoshi
265 posts Send Private Message
07/11/2010 02:58 PM
Thanks ALOT guys! Is Coroplst to hard though? I think I'll have one floor fragment a bed area. Then a larger fragment of coroplast, and an equal fragment of cardboard. Sound good? I'll see if I can post a plan.

User is Offline Petzy
Northern AB Canada
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5938 posts Send Private Message
07/11/2010 03:01 PM
moonlight, how do your rabbits deal with slippery?
Photobucket "what happened? did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?"

User is Offline Moonlight_Wolf
United States of America, Pittsford, New York
1137 posts Send Private Message
07/11/2010 03:07 PM
They got used to the slippery floors, I did put some grass mats in the cage to help with this though, but before I had the mats they just had to get used to it and eventually they got the jumping right. Now they hop up without even thinking.
“We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It’s the best deal man has ever made.” M. Facklam
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