Cage / Cement Mixing Tub question

[Miss M]

Pinto, our wry-neck bunny, has adjusted to his new life. He eats and drinks on his own, plays with toys, cleans himself very well, and takes naps in strange positions on whatever lap is available. He even has different preferred positions on different laps. :roll: In Bunny-Wan Kenobi's lap, he likes to be belly-up. Really. He will work to get into this position. :lol: His head is still tilted, but he can straighten it out when he wants to.

So anyhow, he's been living inside in a small animal carrier ever since July 4th, when the wry neck started. We added a raised wire floor to it for cleanliness and to give him some traction. The small space was good for him, as he never got too far away from his food and water and hay. During the day, we take the lid off of the carrier and wrap a bungee outside the door to keep it up.

It's time for him to have a larger space, though, and we've been trying to figure out how to make this happen.

I don't think I could do the usual cage-and-litter box thing, as I don't think he could get into and out of a litter box. He cannot really hop, and he cannot climb. If he gets a leg stuck over the side of the carrier, we have to rescue him. He does occasionally escape the carrier, when he leans his head out over the side, and then loses his balance. Maybe he does it on purpose. :hmm:

I had seen some of y'all mention putting a regular cage in a cement mixing tub. It's supposed to suspend the cage several inches up, I believe? Does anyone have a setup like this? Any tips or better ideas?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

The mixing tubs work great because they have such high sides to contain the mess.

When I made my transport cages I had the bottom wire flush with the side wire and made the cage large enough that it was supported by the sides of the tub itself. Unfortunately, it isn't very sturdy that way, and the cage would sometimes tilt in the tub.

When you build the cage make it so the floor wire is up from the bottom of the side wire by 2" or more (just like a cage with a pan), depending on how often you want to clean the bedding out of the tub. Since he is going to be a house bunny, 2" is probably more than enough. I assume he probably can't stand upright on his hind legs, so I think 18" wire will be fine, giving him 16" inside clearance.

I'm glad he is doing better! He probably got sick on purpose so he could go into retirement in "the lap(s) of luxury"!

 

[skysthelimit]

I need to get some picts (like always). I have two in the rubbermaid tubs, which aren't quite as high. Originally they were used for transport cages, now they are standbys for separating JW. Next spring I'm going to make some more that will sit in the cement tubs. I believe the biggest tub is 36 long?<br /><br />__________ Thu Nov 21, 2013 3:12 pm __________<br /><br />

 

[PSFAngoras]

Ooh, look! It's the all new 'Escape Bunny'!

 

[skysthelimit]

Those were the strangest kits I had yet. Escape artist at three weeks.

 

[mystang89]

I don't use that setup but i do use the cement tubs as poop catchers and they work great imho because of the high sides and they don't get brittle like the normal tubs you buy from Walmart

 

[Galadriel]

Those were the strangest kits I had yet. Escape artist at three weeks.

:rotfl:

 

[Miss M]

The mixing tubs work great because they have such high sides to contain the mess.

When I made my transport cages I had the bottom wire flush with the side wire and made the cage large enough that it was supported by the sides of the tub itself. Unfortunately, it isn't very sturdy that way, and the cage would sometimes tilt in the tub.

When you build the cage make it so the floor wire is up from the bottom of the side wire by 2" or more (just like a cage with a pan), depending on how often you want to clean the bedding out of the tub. Since he is going to be a house bunny, 2" is probably more than enough. I assume he probably can't stand upright on his hind legs, so I think 18" wire will be fine, giving him 16" inside clearance.

THANK YOU! I was going to make the same mistake!

I have seen him sit back on his hind feet and lift his front paws, sometimes to wash his face. But I doubt he'll ever really be able to stand and stretch up again.

I'm glad he is doing better! He probably got sick on purpose so he could go into retirement in "the lap(s) of luxury"!

For real! He is so spoiled now! :lol:

I have two in the rubbermaid tubs, which aren't quite as high. Originally they were used for transport cages, now they are standbys for separating JW. Next spring I'm going to make some more that will sit in the cement tubs. I believe the biggest tub is 36 long?

Those were the strangest kits I had yet. Escape artist at three weeks.

Oh my goodness! I see the other one exiting the picture stage left! :rotfl:

And you have those set up exactly how MSD mentioned. I like that... it looks very stable.

I don't use that setup but i do use the cement tubs as poop catchers and they work great imho because of the high sides and they don't get brittle like the normal tubs you buy from Walmart

I remember you having those now... that's nice to know they don't get brittle.