Dog kennels as cages?

[BlueLove16]

I keep my house bunnys in a large dog kennel, it's spacious and easy to clean. Going to be having larger breeds and not planning on more than a couple litters a year (more for the meat rabbit) I was thinking about maybe getting dog kennels, which would be cheaper and give them more room. Any thoughts?

 

[Whipple]

If it works for you why not? I use a dog kennel as a grazing pen for my bunny.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Wire crates or plastic kennels?

Personally, I would prefer all wire for maximum ventilation, and would replace one panel with 1/2" x 1" floor wire. The panels that were removed and replaced with floor wire could be used to make more cages.

If using plastic kennels, each half could be floored with 1/2" x 1" wire and would be great winter cages when you want to conserve warmth.

 

[3mina]

If you're using them for breeding and not just growing pens, wrap the bottom 6" with 1/2" x1" wire as well to prevent kits from being lost through the walls and door

 

[Piper]

a dog kennel - like a chain link kennel or a dog carrier, which some people refer to as an indoor kennel?

 

[Iggysbabysitter]

I used the solid kennels for a while, but they retain so much moisture. Not just the urine, but moisture seemed to coat the walls somedays... ew. Not enough ventilation.
I use the wire cages for grazing, but when I used to use them in the house with the panel floor, it was too low and many does aimed their urine outside the panel, getting mess all over the laundryroom floor. Ew.

 

[BlueLove16]

Be the wire dog kennels, not the travling crates. And litter boxes..even when not fixed theyll use it for majority of poop and all pee so itll make cleanup easier.

 

[Piper]

I have pictures, here
post93877.html#p93877
Same thing as your house bunnies, but you will have the rabbits there at night. You can also search "colony" rabbits. There are some good threads here and what you will have is a type of colony.
Problems:
1) Getting doors predator proof - As I write this, I am taking breaks to check on a live trap, that I set for an egg eating, young possum. You will need a roof, to keep out possums, raccoons, owls, hawks, and so on.
2) rabbits will dig - you need a wire floor
3) young rabbits will go right through the chain link - the kennel will need to be wrapped with a smaller diameter cloth, to keep the babies in.
4) rabbits can climb - So far, the highest I have heard of is 4 foot, you will need a full roof, to keep, your rabbits from traveling.

 

[ZRabbits]

My Flemish is in a dog crate. Lots of room, easy to clean. When we get a Flemish Doe, plan on getting the same kind of crate. Will just put wire on the bottom till babies are weaned.

Karen

 

[BlueLove16]

It will be in a shed so no big wire kennel, the yard isn't huge. Although that would be nice.

Z, I knew Peg kept all hers in dog kennels, I always liked the idea. Even as show bunnies theyll still be pets and I would feel horrible spoiling murphy and sebi how i do and putting my big show/breeder rabbits in teeny cages