Netherland Dwarf housing?

[donna4909]

There are some beautiful netherland dwarf bunnies at a local rescue center, and I find myself thinking of them more and more. I've owned rabbits before and I used C&C cages, but would prefer something more sturdy that doesn't have to set directly on my floor.

Anyway, what do you all think of the Deluxe Rabbit Cage (D-240) from Martins? Would it be large enough for two, or just one? It's 36" x 30" x 18".

But that's only IF I get one or two of these feisty lil guys... They're adorable but ferocious. Hard to resist.

[ShadowWolf]

Donna - a cage that small is just that - entirely too small.  Rabbits need a lot of room to romp and play.  I would seriously check out rabbit.org and cavycages.com for more information on bunny housing.   Heck, look at the picture with Amelia's new digs.  That's perfect for a pair of dwarfs, but they still need a LOT of free range time.

[donna4909]

Well, don't I feel insulted... Yes, I do realize that rabbits need lots of space & play time. I've read every article at rabbit.org, and I have also been to cavy cages, which you would know if you read my post. I said:

"'I've owned rabbits before and I used C&C cages, but would prefer something more sturdy that doesn't have to set directly on my floor."

Last year I fostered a himi/dwarf mix, and she did wonderfully in a 2x3 C&C cage which is only slightly larger than the Martin's. However, I do not like how unstable the grid cages are. I know rabbit cages should be at least 4 times the size of a rabbit, and the Martins cage does fit that description for a bunny this size. It is most definately 4 times the size of a 2 lb. netherland dwarf. I feel it is plenty large enough for at least 1 dwarf and not "entirely too small", but I'm not going to argue.

[~Lin]

Have you checked out KD cage? When I was a breeder, I got ALL of my cages from KD cage. They were the best cages and the cheapest price, but I always bought 6 stacks and 3 stacks. I know they do sell single cages as well. Another great place, is Bass Cages. You can check them out at http://www.bassequipment.com/ and I believe you can order online. Thats where I got my most recent cage, a single when I had a house bunny. They have nice sturdy legs, and then a drop pan under the cage. Only problem I had, was there is a large amount of space between the cage floor and the drop pan, so urine was getting inbetween the urine guards and the pan and going on my wall. This was fixed with a corner litterbox though. Anyway, I highly recommend both KD cage and Bass Cages. And I would get the largest cage you can afford to get, especialy housing 2 bunnies together. As a breeder, my rabbits were always seperated so I'm not sure how great they would get along. The only time I, or friends that were breeders, had rabbits housed together was when they were very, very old.

I know KD Cages used to have a website, but looking just now I couldn't find it... I'm sure theyre still in business though? They are located in Indiana, but do ship. I did find a phone number online for them. KD Cages, New Castle Indiana (765) 332-2678

Edited to add: I forgot about Da-Mars, thats another good company I used to order from. You can check them out at http://www.damars.com/

[Scubbs]

Rabbits on wire = bad idea.

Rabbits need solid flooring, they are not physically made to live on wire.  With C&C cages, you can easily reinforce the different levels with wood dowels.  I have made many grid cages since I used to volunteer for Michigan Rabbit Rescue, and the levels, once reinforced, were extremely sturdy and didn't waiver at all, even when my fosters would bunny dance or do the infamous Bunny 500.  The D-240 from Martin's probably isn't even big enough for one rabbit, it might JUST be the minimal for a small dwarf, but it'd still be cramped.  I suggest you either get a large dog pen or make a grid cage.

[ShadowWolf]

Depending on how well made the C&C cage is, it can be made very sturdy and does not have to go directly on your floor.  There's a picture on the web of a lady who made her HUGE C&C type cage on a rolling platform so the buns were not on her floor. 

I'll admit, before I researched (when I first got Amelia as a foster), I thought those cages (like the ones made by KD) were suitable for long term.  After seeing a breeders facility and how crammed those cages looked, I knew that it wasn't the right size for buns (especially when you see a flemish giant crammed in one!). 

Breeders, beware, I will not agree with you on the size ratio for cages.  I think cages that small are inhumane - especially since rabbits don't have actually paw pads.  When I think of cages that small, I think of small breed puppy mill bitches living their lives in them raising litter of puppies after litter of puppies.  Not a pleasant thing in my mind.

I guess breeding rats has me with the bigger is better caging method.  I couldn't see letting a single bunny of mine (heck, single rat of mine) live in a cage that didn't allow lots of room.

Oh, and to give you a matter of speaking - my two buns aren't that much bigger than a full grown ND.  One weighs in at 5# and the other is 2.5 (he's a young mini rex).

[~Lin]

wire floors are fine, as long as the entire floor isnt wire. You need mats for them to sit on, bass equipment has an EXCELLENT mat. Its made out of plastic but has holes to allow urine to still drain. Otherwise pegboard makes good mats. Because you cant let them be sitting and laying in urine soaked bedding.

[Scubbs]

Because you cant let them be sitting and laying in urine soaked bedding.

That's why you give them litterboxes and change the litter often.

And honestly, wire flooring isn't fine.  I've seen rabbits, namely breeds such as Rex and ND that have thinner hair on their feet, get pododermatitis even when they have mats in the cage.  Wire caging's simply a convenience for the owner that hurts the animal.  It makes clean up quicker so there's less work for the owner to do.

[ShadowWolf]

I'm going to have to agree with Succubus on this.  Even on the wire, you still get seriously urine stained feet because the wire still collects droplets of urine.  That's disgusting and unfair to the rabbit(s).

[~Lin]

Ive never had problems with wire flooring. Ive never even had a case of sore hocks. I used wire flooring for the base, then they had towels, mats, and litterboxes in their cages.

[ShadowWolf]

Ive never had problems with wire flooring. Ive never even had a case of sore hocks. I used wire flooring for the base, then they had towels, mats, and litterboxes in their cages.

If you're going to use litter boxes then why would you put them on wire floor instead of training them to use a litter box?

[Scubbs]

Ive never had problems with wire flooring. Ive never even had a case of sore hocks. I used wire flooring for the base, then they had towels, mats, and litterboxes in their cages.

If you're going to use litter boxes then why would you put them on wire floor instead of training them to use a litter box?

Way to respond with exactly what I was going to say, Amanda   

If you're going to put a litter box in the cage, it might as well be a solid-floor C&C cage.

[~Lin]

Ive never seen a 6 stack of cages come with solid floors.

I know many on this board love Martin's cages. Does everyone had all solid floors? I don't think so. Many do yes, but not everyone. As long as there is suitable flooring thats solid for the rabbit to rest on, whats the issue?

[Scubbs]

Martin's Cages has two good type of cages: ferret and rat, and maybe hamster.  The guinea pig cages, and the rabbit, are way too small.

[ShadowWolf]

Ive never seen a 6 stack of cages come with solid floors.

I know many on this board love Martin's cages. Does everyone had all solid floors? I don't think so. Many do yes, but not everyone. As long as there is suitable flooring thats solid for the rabbit to rest on, whats the issue?

Because we as humans have the obligation to care for them in a proper manner.  If I were a rabbit, I sure as heck would not want to be walking around on wire mesh all darn day.  We won't get into debating on that many rabbit cages because the rescue aspect of me comes out - rescue first.  Breeder animals always have homes - at least for rats with good breeders.  I see too many rabbit breeders giving their "used up" rabbits away or culling them.  Senseless waste.

[DazzleMe]

Stop the bickering before this gets out of hand. With enough research I think Donna can make her own decision on which cage would be best for her rabbits.

On a much more important note () those bunnies are ADORABLE and should fly STRAIGHT to me.

-Melina

[~Lin]

Are you trying to say the rat cages you've purchased from Martin's have solid floors? Because mine sure don't. Only the bottom does.

And, Ive never known a breeder that gave away, or culled babies. I find that horrible. Your point is, the rabbit needs to be taken care of, right? Well of COURSE the rabbit needs to be taken care of. Wire floors are not an excuse to neglect your pet. But in my opinion, wire floors are much better than solid floors. Would I leave a rabbit on purely wire floors with nothing else to walk on? No. But I also wouldn't want a rabbit walking around in their own urine or poop. Even litter boxed trained rabbits leave poops around. They expel them while playing. Ive had rabbits for 15 years. As pets, while breeding and showing, and as free range house bunnies. I would take a wire floor with suitable options for the rabbit, over a purely solid floor (in a cage).

edited to add: Ive also rescued rabbits. I would take them in from free ads, from friends who made poor choices (usually it was friends with younger siblings that got bunnies then couldn't care for them), and any rabbit that was up to be euthanized. Then I re homed them.

I was not trying to bicker, so my apologies if anything I said was misconstrued. I was just trying to present a differing opinion.

[Scubbs]

Are you trying to say the rat cages youve purchased from Martin's have solid floors? Because mine sure don't. Only the bottom does.

And, Ive never known a breeder that gave away, or culled babies. I find that horrible. Your point is, the rabbit needs to be taken care of, right? Well of COURSE the rabbit needs to be taken care of. Wire floors are not an excuse to neglect your pet. But in my opinion, wire floors are much better than solid floors. Would I leave a rabbit on purely wire floors with nothing else to walk on? No. But I also wouldnt want a rabbit walking around in their own urine or poop. Even litter boxed trained rabbits leave poops around. They expel them while playing. Ive had rabbits for 15 years. As pets, while breeding and showing, and as free range house bunnies. I would take a wire floor with suitable options for the rabbit, over a purely solid floor (in a cage).

I actually don't like Martin's cages because of the wire flooring, be it for rabbits, rats, ferrets, or any other animal.  And I have no idea where you got that we were saying anything about Martin's having solid flooring.

And as for rabbits leaving pellets around, easy solution: clean their cage daily and, tada!  All gone!  Easy as that. 

*shuts up so Melina doesn't come after her*

[~Lin]

Martin's Cages has two good type of cages: ferret and rat, and maybe hamster.  The guinea pig cages, and the rabbit, are way too small.

I don't understand this post then? You said they only make ferret and rat cages well. I pointed out the rat cages don't have all solid floors. Therefor, not all solid floors still equals good cage? Wheres the disagreement then? lol.

[Scubbs]

Martin's Cages has two good type of cages: ferret and rat, and maybe hamster.  The guinea pig cages, and the rabbit, are way too small.

I don't understand this post then? You said they only make ferret and rat cages well. I pointed out the rat cages don't have all solid floors. Therefor, not all solid floors still equals good cage? Wheres the disagreement then? lol.

I meant size wise, not flooring.  Per ferrets and rats, the sizes for the cages are great.  But for rabbits, those are basically breeder cages that are made too small so that a great many of them can be fit/stacked where ever.

I'm a bit of a cage elitist.  This is the cage I made for my foster rabbit, Missy, last year:



And even at that, I felt it was too small.

[LittleRatBaby]

in response to the OP, i think that size cage is definately plenty enough room for one rabbit and probably enough room for two, although im not sure why you got so offended by the first response to your post because you DID ask for others opinions and thats what you got
is a C&C cage the same thing as an NIC cage?  cause ive made NIC cages and they were extremely sturdy...
what cage did you wind up going with?

[Lise]

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