Pens / Enclosures/ Tunnels / Pen Toppers
Light Weight Pens
These pens can be purchased from various places including The Warehouse, K-Mart, Animates, TradeMe etc. and are available in a range of sizes up to around 91cm tall. Although cheap, they are also easy for a rabbit to shift around and even lift up to crawl under so we don’t recommend them.
However, I do find these pens really useful for protecting my gardens from unwanted bun 'attention'!
Medium Weight Pens
The ‘Yours Drooly’ brand make collapsable pens that are really good quality and are available in a range of heights - 60cm, 75cm, 90cm, 105cm & 120cm. These are much stronger and heavier than the cheaper KMart and Warehouse pens but maintain the convenience of folding up quickly. I purchase mine from TradeMe trader - Petworkz.
Heavy Weight Pens
These pens are stable and strong and are usually 80cm tall. They are available on TradeMe from various sellers. Search under ‘dog pen’. These are available on TradeMe. Search for ‘heavy duty dog pen’.
Large Walk in Enclosures
TreasureBox and Bingo type pens - These provide a good amount of free space when combined with hutches etc for shelter. The tarpaulins that come with them are light weight and will need to be replaced. The roof structure can be quite fragile according to group member’s reports. The door also has a gap around it that will need blocking off to prevent escape.
‘A-Frame’ Roof pens - Enclosures like the one below with an 'A Frame' type roof, are stronger and easier to add solid roofing to.
Ruby Stay Home pens are very strong and secure. These are used at the Masterton SPCA and they swear by them.
Suggested modifications for walk in dog/chicken enclosures -
Especially needed with the runs that have gaps around the door frame and that use large gauge Hurricane Mesh -
Gaps around the door or in large mesh -
Add a kick board to the door so there are no holes around the door base, use plywood or mesh.Attach finer gauge netting around the bottom of the inside of the pen. When you attach the netting allow at least 1/2 meter overhang for you to bury into the ground to create a dig barrier.
To attach the wire/weld mesh, don’t use plastic cable ties as they break and the bunnies chew them, go to Look Sharp or a $2 dollar shop or Bunnings and get metal cable ties.
Tipping or wind lift prevention
Buy the biggest steel tent pegs you can from Bunnings and use at least 3 in each footing to secure to the ground and prevent tipping.
Hammer Waratah/Y posts into the ground at a 45 degree angle and secure the base of the enclosure to these with tie downs or wire to prevent wind lift/tipping.
Use a product like a trampoline JumpFlex Anchor Kit to stop wind lift.
Roofing
Heavy duty Tarpaulins or canvas covers can work but do flap a lot in the wind.
Buy a heavy duty UV stable tarp from Bunnings or Mitre 10 to cover over the top. The blue ones don’t work and break down in the sun and also don’t prevent heat. The best one to use is silver on one side and black on the other. Install it with the silver side up so it reflect the heat. It should last about 2-3 years before degrading.
Have a custom heavy duty UV stable waterproof canvas cover made.
Make a solid roof out of ply, roofing iron or Polycarbonate. Clear roofing will need the addition of a shade sale in the summer.
See ‘Enclosure Run Bases - Solutions and Suggestions’ file for ideas about how to escape proof the base.
Other Options to Explore -
Wooden Kitset Setups
There are a few companies who supply high quality timber and mesh enclosures.
Omlet Outdoor Rabbit Runs
Please note that whilst we recommend the Walk In Omlet runs and the Lo-rise Zippi Runs we do not recommend the Omlet housing. As an addition to your set up along with other, larger housing it is fine but it is too small to be used as sole/stand alone housing for any size of rabbit.
Linking Tunnels
A really secure and solid option is the Omlet Zippy Tunnel system -
This can be seen in use in Anne Buchanan's and Westley's World, above.
Some other tunnel ideas below -
The green tunnel below is a ‘Pet One’ brand. The large size is 20cm in diameter and 80cm long when fully extended. Sections can be screwed together to make a tunnel as long as you want. Usually available from Pet.Kiwi (most affordable option) and sometimes from other pet shops like Animates.
Please note that these tunnels are not chew or dog proof and do degrade in the sun over time.Welmesh arched over and attached to the side of the timber...
Cheap puppy pens, timber slats and cable/zip ties ...
Solid Timber tunnels
Pen Toppers
Some ideas to cover open pens to increase security -
Alcathene pipe hooped over a run and held in place with saddle brackets, then heavy bird net stretched over the top and stapled in place.
Pen toppers made from Whites Supa-Net (Bunnings). This netting is strong and stable. Here is it zip tied onto a pipe so that it can be quickly and easily rolled up along the top of the pen, out of the way. When the netting is in place the side are held secure with clothes pegs.
Hinged lids made from framed timber covered with Weldmesh. Strong, secure, cat and dog proof.
Lids made from light weight framing and weldmesh. These are light and easy to lift off.
Pen top using cheap pen panels stiffened with pieces of timber cut to length and attached with zip ties.
Another option is to extend the height of the pen with a ‘wobbly’ extension, to keep cats out. An ‘unstable’ vertical surface is not something a cat will happily or easily climb up.
Run/Pen bases - How to Prevent Sore Hocks - see the ‘Sore Hocks / Ulcerative Pododermatitis’ file
SUPPLIERS
Kitset Buildings NZ
Kiwi Cabins
Sheds and Shelters
Outpost Buildings
Treasurebox - Large covered dog runs, sturdy X-Pens
Hercules Store
TradeMe - search heavy duty dog pen, chicken enclosure etc.
Copyright 2019 - Jen Herd/Westley’s World