fence or wooden run for an outdoor pen?

Hey! I have 2 bunnies, both of which are not bonded and can't be bonded at this time (one is too young and too dominant, the other is handicapped..I'm going to wait until the other is older to try). My mom and I really want to have a playpen for them outside, but we're not sure if we should go for a woodren run or a fence playpen. They would not be in it all the time, just a few hours each day. Help me decide?

Choice one: The Fence Playpen

This is from Rabbitstop, it comes with 11 [font="Arial,Helvetica"][size="-1"]18" wide and 29" high fence panels that interlock and a mat (that red thing) which can attach to the bottom or the top. This package is $85 (excluding the the shipping- which is probably run $15-20 more for UPS Ground). Is it worth that much? Can I get fence panels elsewhere, for cheaper?
I've heard of people using chicken wire and posts. I'm not confidant in the sturdiness of that, so I'm going to ixnay that idea. Because my buns aren't bonded, if I want to let them out at the same time, I'll have to put something in the middle of the pen to seperate them , so maybe I could use chickenwire for that? What else would you suggest?

Choice 2- The Wooden Rabbit Run
My mom's friend can build us one. I was thinking something along the lines of this:


but a little bit bigger, with fencing in the middle to seperate the two buns.
This is obviously the more expensive choice (right?) Terrible question, but how much would the wood cost to build a run, let's say [/size][/font]60”x48”x18”high? We'd have to pay for labor as well as the wire and hinges.
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So, those are the options. Personal experiences are realllllly appreciated. I'm siding more towards the wooden hutch because it's nicer to look at and seems the most sturdy/will give the most protection.

Thanks!

(because I like to show off)

Hidey
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and Tanner


(no, he's not fat =P it's just the way he's standing)

If I have too many pictures in my post, let me know. I wasn't sure if there was a limit on here or anything =]

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Your buns are CUTE!!
Perhaps you can do a search on this forum for all the posts that have been made using NIC panals for cages.
I think they would work outside, because the steel wire is covered in a vinyle-type paint.
You could make a really large pen with a divider in it - or two separate pens. They could be movable - collapsable for storage - and you can take them apart and try different things with them!
I'm trying to attach a pic of the indoor pen I built to give you an idea...

sfritzp wrote:

Your buns are CUTE!!
Perhaps you can do a search on this forum for all the posts that have been made using NIC panals for cages.
I think they would work outside, because the steel wire is covered in a vinyle-type paint.
You could make a really large pen with a divider in it - or two separate pens. They could be movable - collapsable for storage - and you can take them apart and try different things with them!
I'm trying to attach a pic of the indoor pen I built to give you an idea...

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Thanks doll!
My only worry about those small panels is how sturdy they are. I'd be afraid the small panels on top of one another could fall apart and tumble down. How are the connectors and where can I get them? I'll have to look into these panels more.

My husband built a hutch/pen for Miffy when I put her outside for the day and I really like it, I just do not know how much it cost to build it. He made it almost entirely out of scrap wood after he built out girls a playhouse. Here isa pic of it, inside I put some hay for her to lay down on, I just wish the outdoor part was longer so she could run in it but otherwise I love it!

They are connected with cable ties which are very strong, yet can be cut off easily with a boxcutter.
My pen doesn't have a top, and it is connected to a wall making it very sturdy.
But, if you have four sides, and you put a top on it, it will be sturdy. And if you opt to have a 'floor' of coroplast, it will be even more sturdy! If you are having them outside, and you have a nice chemical free lawn - you may want them to just have the grass for a floor. But - seeing you are in PA - I don't think you have much 'green grass' there this time of the year!!
Once I got a couple of boxes of the panals, I was off and running with ideas. They are really fun to work with - and my buns LOVE their pen! I can't get them out to clean it now!!

I have three of the pens you've shown (without the bottom or top or whatever)....and I plan to get four more in a few days. They're great because they can be hooked together for one large pen or used for smaller pens.

For us - it was one of our best investments for our rabbitry and our rabbits love the chance to play outside!

Peg

I forgot to add that I got mine at www.bunnyrabbit.comand they were under $35 each (but no top or bottom - that red thing). I can hardly wait to get more.

Peg

TinysMom wrote:

I forgot to add that I got mine at http://www.bunnyrabbit.comand they were under $35 each (but no top or bottom - that red thing). I can hardly wait to get more.

Peg

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I
LOVE
YOU

I'm definately buying two! That way I'll have them! I can't believe they're so much cheaper on that site! The shipping sure is a killer, though.
Then in the spring maybe I'll still ask my mom's friend to build the hutch for us too because they're so nice.

--

Thanks everyone for your replies! You've been really helpful as well

I meant to add that I also have another pen that they have...the gold zinc one. I don't like it as much even though it is bigger.

Why? Well, for one thing - the holes or spaces between the wires are larger and I'm thinking if I put my dwarfs in there - they could get out. It also is heavier to move around and it isn't as tall as the other pens.

But I think I really like the versatility of putting the pens together if need be - or separating them - depending upon what I want to do. They are a bit harder to hook together where they join....but to me - that is a small price to pay.

Art brought out a "weanling" last week to show someone - a rabbit that was about 8-10 weeks old. Against my suggestion - he put it in the zinc pen. I told him the rabbit could get out and *I* wasn't catching it. He was like, "Oh yeah...right..".

I'm glad I wasn't the one chasing the baby around...and the baby was almost the size of my dwarfs...

Peg

P.S. He caught the baby easily when Tiny came over to see what was happening and the baby hopped up to Tiny....

I have one of the open round pens for my buns - one just hops around in it cause he's so happy to be outside, and the other has figured out how to get out of it. I have yet to see her do it, but I think she jumps/climbs over the top. lol.

So, if you are decided on those, make sure you always watch them when they are in it - until you figure out if they are going to get out and also I don't know what it's like where you are - if you're right in the city or not, but some people here live in very rural areas where there is the danger of overhead predators (ie. hawks etc).

Your buns are VERY cute, and there is no such thing as too many pictures!!!

____________
Nadia
Misty & Cookie

Ahh! Hummer, that is so cute! I'm going to show it to my dad Tell your husband he did a really neat job on it!

Thanks, now I just have to convince him that we need to bring it with us to New Jersey!

hummer wrote:

Thanks, now I just have to convince him that we need to bring it with us to New Jersey!

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You definitely should bring it to NJ. Was it hard for him to make it? I'm asking because if he has spare time....he could probably make some money making more of them.

I know ifyour familywas in Texas I'd be wanting at least half a dozen!

Peg

If I remember correctly, it was not hard for him to make, just a box with a roof on it and then the chicken wire part. The hard part is moving it. It is quite heavy, we originally planned on me being able to move it in the yard but we had to find it a semi-permanent home back there.

Hi, I like the looks too of the wooden enclosure and I don't think it would cost that much to build.

I use excersize pens for my rabbits. They are so easy to put up and it used to be just a dog thing, but they are great for rabbits. You can hook 2 or more together for more room (I have 4 of them), or you can use just 1. You can also buy tops specially made for ex-pens. They have 8 2 ft. panels and you can also get extenders. Mine are 30 " tall, but you can get them as short as 24" or at least up to 36".

You can also get them with closer spacings so the babies can't get out. There is no bottom though so you will have to watch for digging if you don't have a fenced in yard.

I think I paid just a few months ago about 50.00 for two of them plus shipping was about $16.00. I only have 1 top, but i made tops for the others out of fence wire as the tops would have cost about as much as the pen. good luck!

I noticed too that the ex-pens are sturdier than your wire enclosure shown. I also noticed that you live in Pennsyvania. I am in Ohio, so if you are interested, I could look up to see which catalog i ordered from. Tatum

Tatum wrote:

I noticed too that the ex-pens are sturdier than your wire enclosure shown. I also noticed that you live in Pennsyvania. I am in Ohio, so if you are interested, I could look up to see which catalog i ordered from. Tatum

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Would you? Thanks!