Expanded Metal for Cage Bottoms

[cowcreekgeeks]

I've only raised one rabbit in my life. He was a dwarf something or other that I rescued from a pet shop that I worked in. The shop owner had Lovebirds displayed over the bun's cage and the little demons kept climbing down to bite on his ears. I raised h*** with him and when I left for the day he handed me a box with the bun inside. He lived to be about twelve years old.

Anyways......I had the idea to use expanded metal for the cage flooring instead of hardware cloth. I think that it would allow for ventilation and evacuation and it wouldn't bother the rabbits' feet. I wouldn't have to worry about leaving them something else to rest on and one less thing to clean. I'm thinking about using 1/2 inch like so...



My father-in-law has raised meat rabbits most of his life. I ran this by him and he said good idea.

What do y'all think? Anybody using this? I can get a 4x8 sheet for $40.

[o&itw]

It might work great.

It seems it would be eaiser on the rabbits feet.

Concerns:

I would wonder a bit if the poop-pellets would go through OK
If you have cold winters it might draw a lot more heat out of the rabbits feet than regular floor wire.

The thing I would most be concerned about, is that it does not appear to be galvanized, or at least very heavily galvanized. Paint will not hold up well, although you might find some epoxy paint or something similiar that will.

If you do not need all the cages at once, you might buy a scrap and give it a try before you build a bunch of cages with it.

Let us know.. it might be a great idea.

PS.. personally I would never use hardware cloth for the floor of a cage.

It is too thin and will cut into the rabbits feet more.

After a period it will start to break apart at the joints... it is only held together by the galvanizing.

If you use wire floors the 1/2 x 1 wire is much better. If you go that way, the
14 ga, "galvanized after" wire will hold up for many years.

[Ryan NC]

I think it would likely work but I have two concerns.

#1 - normally there are sharp edges on the expanded metal that would likely cause foot problems for the adults. I can't recall if this is only on one side on not, I vaguely remember the stuff being rough when you run your hand over it.

#2 - the shape of the openings may cause a hazard to new kits legs as they are coming outa the nest box. This would be my biggest fear, I've never had a litter that didn't have feet poking through the wire and the triangle shape looks like a perfect place for a baby to loose a foot to me.

[Bearfootfarm]

After a period it will start to break apart at the joints... it is only held together by the galvanizing.

It's actually welded
http://www.twpinc.com/twpinc/control...ry_id=TWPCAT_4

[ladysown]

I have that on cage bottoms for some of my rabbits.

The mini rexes like it. The others (meat and holland lops) seem to not mind one way or the other.
Easy to clean and to keep clean.

I don't get 'poopy' piles like I can in the 1/2 x 1 inch cages

BABY bunnies do not do so well on it. their feet can fall through the bottoms. They do learn to watch where they are going...but start off...they aren't happy with it so I try to raise out of the nestbox babies on the 1/2 x 1 inch and leave the rest on this type of wiring.

[cowcreekgeeks]

Originally Posted by Ryan NC

I think it would likely work but I have two concerns.

#1 - normally there are sharp edges on the expanded metal that would likely cause foot problems for the adults. I can't recall if this is only on one side on not, I vaguely remember the stuff being rough when you run your hand over it.

Depends on the type you have. There's the flattened type (like the stuff on outdoor patio furniture) as seen here...

and the twisted, raised type ( like the stuff you see on metal stair treads and some heavy duty trailers) like this.