Forum

OUR FORUM IS UP BUT WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF UPDATING AND FIXING THINGS.  SOME THINGS WILL LOOK WEIRD AND/OR NOT BE CORRECT. YOUR PATIENCE IS APPRECIATED.  We are not fully ready to answer questions in a timely manner as we are not officially open, but we will do our best. 

You may have received a 2-factor authentication (2FA) email from us on 4/21/2020. That was from us, but was premature as the login was not working at that time. 

BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately! Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

What are we about?  Please read about our Forum Culture and check out the Rules

BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately!  Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES 

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum HABITATS AND TOYS is this space big enough

Viewing 19 reply threads
  • Author
    Messages

    • grundoapril
      Participant
      17 posts Send Private Message

        I have 2 bunnies both around 3.5 pounds. (in the profile pic.)

        The picture i just posted is the area i was going to make a cage in for them with NIC grids. it would only be able to be around 3×2, and 2 panels high.

        i would make a 2 grid shelf where that small area is taped off.

        the black and white one cannot jump, as she seems to have hip problems, and would only use level 1. she also does not hop around too much

        is it too small if i am going to give them roaming room for a few hours every day in my bedroom.

        The taped area is where it would go, and that is how she would fit in there.

        unfortunately, that is the largest I can make it. as of right now, they have a dog pen in the basement, which is dark and is poorly lit.

        it is bigger, but i think it would be nicer for them to be in my room.

        HELP  


      • Sarita
        Participant
        18851 posts Send Private Message

          Not really – the minimum for one rabbit is 4 x 4. Even if they are out for a few hours a day, this cage is not large enough, in my opinion.


        • Mr.Buck
          Participant
          142 posts Send Private Message

            A lot of people will tell you no because they want more room for the buns, but Buck has a 2×3 NIC cage and it’s 2 high, he does just fine with it as long as he gets time to play every day. He use to be pretty much free roam until we got cable and he bit the cord and also started losing litter habits so we have to work on that. But Buck doesn’t seem upset, and when he does get out, he’ll play just a little but then go hide under our rocker/recliner.

            My suggestion is that if the pen they’re in now is bigger, if you were ever not able to let them out for the weekend or something you transfer them to that so at least they have more room.

            Also, have you taken her to the vet, a bun that doesn’t jump just sounds bad. How does she get around?


          • Sam and Lady's Human
            Participant
            2001 posts Send Private Message

              A lot of people will tell you no because it really ISNT enough space. Rabbit.org recommends 4×4 square feet per bun for regular size breeds (as yours are ). Plus a few hours run time daily, of course.
              Are they litterbox trained? Is it possible to gate off and rabbit proof your room?


            • Malp_15
              Participant
              601 posts Send Private Message

                I agree with Sarita and S&L. I have a 3.5 lb rabbit in a 4’X4′ x-pen. The pen is left open all the time and he is free range in that room. Whenever I lock him in the pen (if I’m out of town or something) he gets soooo bored within hours. Once you put in a litterbox, food/water dishes, and a bed area there really isn’t any room to run around, even in the 4’X4′.


              • grundoapril
                Participant
                17 posts Send Private Message

                  Mr. Buck, she has gone to the vet because she had to have her eye removed because it was completely dead. he did see her hips, but it doesnt seem to bother her too much (can get in and out of litterbox), and she sort of walks(??).
                  grundo is potty trained, april “is”. she has many accidents with pee and i have wood floors.
                  the situation is right now they are in the basement and i feel like even if it was a little less space, they could see sunshine all day long, not just when i bring them upstairs.

                  Thank you for all the input. i will see if i can somehow make it bigger.


                • grundoapril
                  Participant
                  17 posts Send Private Message

                    so the most i could figure in is a 4×2 cage for 2 buns that size.
                    its in my room and my mom is very strongly against it but i really want to have them where there is some sunshine all day. the most i can do right now is bring thm up from the basement every day/every other day and let them run around for about 2-3 hours.
                    it just doesnt seem very fair to me. theyre both around five and six y.o


                  • Beka27
                    Participant
                    16016 posts Send Private Message

                      While people have used a 2-level 2×4 foot space for two smallish buns in the past (with plenty of exercise time), my concern is the bun with limited mobility. Place a litterbox (big enough for two buns), a food and water dish, one toy, and a hidey house in the taped off rectangle. That will show you how much space your mobility-challenged bunny will have. The healthy bun can always go up, in fact you could make a 3 or 4 level condo and that bun would have a ton of vertical space to run up and down within a small footprint. I think the bun with hip problems could only benefit from having a larger area.

                      As far as the hip issues themselves, what kind of tests were done? Was the bun evaluated for arthritis, is this something that medication could make better, or at least a little bit more comfortable? I am going to send this post out to the other forum leaders, some of which have more experience with older rabbits, including those with mobility issues/arthritis.


                    • Sarita
                      Participant
                      18851 posts Send Private Message

                        If your rabbit has motility issues I would not do a 2nd level – it will be too difficult for her to use and she most likely won’t.

                        Did you get a diagnosis as to what is causing the hip problems – dysplasia, arthritis? Any advice from your vet on what to give her for relief? I have had numerous rabbits with arthritis and can offer some advice on that if you are interested in making her more comfortable.

                        I also agree that is way too small for 2 rabbits and all their stuff that is needed. There will be no room for them to stretch out without bumping into anything on the floor and it will not be easy to keep clean.


                      • Mr.Buck
                        Participant
                        142 posts Send Private Message

                          I understand whats recommended, but the best she can do is still way better than a shelter. As soon as i live with my bun he will become free range, but i know he loves his cage and its a Lot bigger than what he had when i rescued him.
                          Grundoapril, buns always need more room if you do move them maybe you can let them out more often? Maybe in the morning while you get ready and in the evening? Good luck with your decision!


                        • BinkyBunny
                          Moderator
                          8776 posts Send Private Message

                            I think that if the biggest you can go is 4 x 2 in exchange for more interaction and more free range time, then I agree that is a good compromise. You can also bring up the xpen and attach it to the cube cage to give them more room when you are out. Just make sure to securely attach the xpen to the sides so they don’t push it and open up where it is connected.  

                            I forgot to add about mobility issues. For my bunny who had hind leg weakness, I made ramps for even getting up 1/2 foot.   She couldn’t go up a ramp that was steeper than that.   Not sure what your bunny’s capabilities are would be with a ramp. 

                            Sorry — another added comment.  For those that have your bunnies in your room, do you feel you need to clean your bunnies litter more often?  I would think that if you are sleeping right next to your bunny cage, you may need to dump the urine soaked part of the litter more often. Also, bunnies can be active late at night and early in the morning before you wake up.  So that is something to think about. You might want to get some head phones.       Maybe others who have their bunnies in their room will be able to help prepare you as well.


                          • grundoapril
                            Participant
                            17 posts Send Private Message

                              Thank you all so much. I like that idea of connecting the x pen while im out.
                              I would make a ramp anyways for them to get up. I’m off to get some things to make it today and after I build it I’ll see how she gets around.
                              As for the vet, he was not sure and he said he could do X-rays and an MRI type exam, but he is old and does not seem to be in pain(although I know rabbits don’t really show pain)
                              And acts like herself.
                              If it is arthritis, what do you do to help out.


                            • grundoapril
                              Participant
                              17 posts Send Private Message

                                thank you so much.

                                i understand a bigger pen is better, but so is opening a window and having fresh air. im in my room for about 30 min in the morning, then im off to school. i can let them run around then, and after school or even during school let them run around in an attatched x-pen i can fold up when im done.


                              • grundoapril
                                Participant
                                17 posts Send Private Message

                                  this is the space, as you can see it is limited. if it goes out any further, my closet will be blocked off, and i would not like poo in my closet either.

                                  how do you guys keep the mess contained?


                                • kamdynandsunshinesmom
                                  Participant
                                  910 posts Send Private Message

                                    may I ask is your bunny a special needs bunny?


                                  • Mr.Buck
                                    Participant
                                    142 posts Send Private Message

                                      A lot of it is working on their litter habbits/ only feeding in their litter boxes. Im glad you found a way to get them a little more room though. Maybe with them in your room and working on their litter habbits you can get the to be free range, at least in your room? Its a lot of fun being able to watch the buns daily.

                                      Congrats!


                                    • Sam and Lady's Human
                                      Participant
                                      2001 posts Send Private Message

                                        I love the idea of opening an xpen in that whole middle area during the day while your away, then closing it back up when you need that space.


                                      • grundoapril
                                        Participant
                                        17 posts Send Private Message

                                          she is special needs in that she seems to not be able to use her hind very well, and only has one eye.

                                          the boy (grundo) had a jaw abcess and just had surgery to drain it. it is still open to get some pus out and put antibiotics into it. it doesnt seem to be getting much better. any suggestions?

                                          at the moment, they are separated so the open cut does not get groomed by the other bunny.


                                        • KytKattin
                                          Participant
                                          1195 posts Send Private Message

                                            I keep my girl in a closet actually. The space is a little narrow, at only about 2ft, but it is 8ft long or more… It might be more than that, but I am too lazy to measure. The floors in my house are all high quality linoleum, and in order to protect that I bought a cheaper linoleum and put that down. On either end of the closet there cement mixing tubs. One side is empty (it is next to the wall that goes into my mother’s bedroom, so we don’t want to encourage noise from the little monster), the other side has all of her hay. It is just thrown loose in there. Though I am actually going to photograph it and make a new post too as I want feedback on some things…


                                          • Freyja
                                            Participant
                                            159 posts Send Private Message

                                              I have my bun in my room, re the litter issue, i was finding i had to clean it a few times a day so i upgraded his tray to a big tub with a newspaper based litter, a screen and then hay on top, i can tell when he does a wee (he only got desexed last week so theres still that funky male smell) but the smell only lasts a minute and then its soaked up and leaves no lingering smell! i only have to change the wet litter every 1-2 days.
                                              on the noise issue, maybe im lucky but when i first got him he would keep me awake at night, but for the last few months he seems to have adjusted to my sleeping pattern and is awake only when i am. he associates ‘lights off’ with sleep time so maybe your buns will adjust as well?
                                              I think the biggest issue i have is with him chewing on all my wood surfaces..but being a poor student i dont really have any furniture of value so im not too fussed but keep that in mind.
                                              Also make sure you hide all cables, even if you think they cant get to them they will! i lost two iphone and a laptop charger in the space of a few hours that i thought were well hidden!
                                              lastly, dont leave any books at bunny height or they will be chewed up, especially expensive textbooks !
                                              if anything having a bun in my room means i keep it a lot cleaner than i used to as leaving anything out means it will most likely have holes in it when i pick it up

                                          Viewing 19 reply threads
                                          • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.

                                          Forum HABITATS AND TOYS is this space big enough