stacking cages as indoor system

[akane]

The rabbit hutch we have leaks horribly all the way around the pan. I have a moat of long, narrow planters with some barn lime set up around it. We bought some custom pans to turn a tall bird cage in to multiple cages for small animals and they are the wrong size. On top of that I just can't put a bullet in my amchin x cinnamons and I can't sell them.

So I'm thinking of setting up an 8' wall in the hedgehog room for the rabbits I can't part with and maybe one weanling cage. I can fit 3 rows of 30". I'm thinking of 30x24" stacked 3 foot high with plexiglass or similar screwed to the back to avoid pee spray on the wall.

I've been looking at both bass equipment and kwcages stacking systems. They are pretty much evenly priced so I'm wondering what people suggest? What 3 stack cage system is best for indoor use? I will house 2 netherlands, 1 mini rex with probably a permanent held tilt requiring special needs, 1 mini rex cross, 1 american sable seal colored buck, 2 amchin x cinnamon crosses and I'd like to have the odd litter out of them possibly keeping a full chin colored rabbit. These are the rabbits it hurts too much to part with.

I can buy cages over time so immediate cost is not a concern. It would actually be a benefit to go with the cage system I can buy piece by piece. I might do a slightly smaller stack for the ND and mr cross which would allow for doors to open in the corner of the room because I plan to cover the other all in critter nations for hedgehog expansion. Amako would benefit from lots of space to exercise as rehab to adjust her posture and learn to live with a head tilt so she would do better in a 30x24 or 30x30 like the big rabbits. We may have to pad the floor and sides at first.

 

[luvabunny]

I only have stacking cages, but my rabbits don't get to live in the house. I build my own, which for me is much cheaper and allows me to make them exactly what I want.

For my English lops, I make a 24 x 36 cage that is 18" high with a 4" space between cages for the pan. I like a 2" pan and if you leave a smaller space, you catch toenails when you clean.
My stackers are 3 high which is about the max I can reach for the top and as low as I care to get for the bottom. I buy legs to put on them, but with my new barn, I will be hanging them, which helps keep the cages from collapsing. (I made 1 using bottom wire for everything but the front and the cage is VERY unstable).

This set up suits me, as I keep a very clean rabbitry, but if you are lax about cleaning pans the odor will build up very quickly, especially indoors where the urine will not evaporate. I like to put a covering of pine shaving to help absorb the urine and keep the smell down, plus I like the smell of the shavings. I also like to use the wood pellets, such as for horse bedding or wood stoves, but it makes the pans very heavy.

For doors, I use those squares that can be put together to make shelving...?? They come in a box and you can create cubicle type shelving. They are also used for C&C guinea pig cages. My babies can't fit thru, but smaller breeds probably could. I like them because they are welded well and have a nice hard frame all the way around. No scrapes.

If you have access to wire without having to order it and pay shipping, I would suggest just making your own. It's simple and I enjoy it a lot.

 

[akane]

I can't make my own but you gave me an idea for stacking them. I have about 100 of those shelving panels. I just tied up 20 and put them away and I've got another structure to take apart. I can just ziptie the cages with the spacing I need instead of buying all their fancy stuff which adds another $20-40 on to the price of the cages.

 

[skysthelimit]

I've been dealing with Bass for years and I just like them. I know there were some complaints about the floors, but using more J clips solved that.