Just FYI

[mewlingcricket]

Hopefully I wont offend anyone with this, but...... I am in the process of redoing my rabbitry in the sense that I am building a 12x12 bunny barn and redoing/resizing all my cages to make my buns happier, plus it will be moving my rabbits out of my living room. Anyway, anyone who is trying to get started or change things around knows how expensive all the supplies can get. I am always looking for a way to take a regular product and make it more useful, or a way to get similar products for less money. ( you get thrifty when you're a mom).

Anyway, I have found that the prices (15-20) for "drop pans" is really expensive, especially when you are trying to buy for lots of rabbits at once. I realized that I could use the drop pans for ice sculptures and they would do the same job. Only catch is they have a small pencil eraser size hole on one of the sides which is high enough it shouldn't cause trouble but just in case I will put putty in it to seal it off. these 2" deep pans come in different sizes and only cost 5.00 each.....when you are buying enough to outfit 40 holes, that savings is HUGE!!

Just thought I would pass along the find.:big wink:

 

[lelanatty]

That's great! I will have t look into that when I get my own barn

 

[whaleyk98]

How do you find these?

 

[mistyjr]

We just made our drop pans out of wood

 

[mewlingcricket]

I did a google search for ice sculpture drop pans. I will look up the website and post soon.

 

[CoolWaterRabbitry]

mewlingcricket wrote:

I did a google search for ice sculpture drop pans. I will look up the website and post soon.

I would like if you could, I tried googling and found a few, but would love to know I'm on the same wave as you. It's a great idea!

 

[mewlingcricket]

I went through http://www.icesculptingtools.com I found that although they were 5.25 a tray (instead of some other at 4.95) they were better on shipping (I live in VA, they are in Ohio)

Also, it may sound stupid, but those of you in more northern/snowy states may find you have ice sculpting supply vendors in nearby cities where you could purchase from them rather than deal with shipping....just a thought

 

[pamnock]

Great tip!

 

[leo9lionheads]

thats a great idea)

 

[mewlingcricket]

The trays came in and they are fantastic I am so excited, they are really gonna work well

 

[Shaded Night Rabbitry]

Hmn. I've always just bought the ones that come with drop pans. XD It's only like, $10 more from woody for drop pans AND urine guards. Even cheaper if you buy a set of 4 as a stacker.

But that's just me. XD

 

[lelanatty]

Lol. I pay $60 per hole for a cage that comes with legs for stacking, a water bottle and feeder, and the drop pan. Available from Tractor Supply... It is probably not the best or the cheapest way to do it, but it's working for me so far.

 

[CoolWaterRabbitry]

lelanatty wrote:

Lol. I pay $60 per hole for a cage that comes with legs for stacking, a water bottle and feeder, and the drop pan. Available from Tractor Supply... It is probably not the best or the cheapest way to do it, but it's working for me so far.

That's what I did, then I just went to TSC and bought the rolls of cage wire, it's cheaper...or it runs about the same, I can't remember, but I can build the cages to suit my needs.



Edit: I crunched the numbers: I was paying around $160 for the already made cages, drop pans and legs. I pay around $100 for two rolls of wire and pans (if I build them right I don't need legs, or I'll just put legs on the bottom cage) andthat makesa stack of 3 cages.

 

[lelanatty]

CoolWaterRabbitry wrote:

lelanatty wrote:

Lol. I pay $60 per hole for a cage that comes with legs for stacking, a water bottle and feeder, and the drop pan. Available from Tractor Supply... It is probably not the best or the cheapest way to do it, but it's working for me so far.

That's what I did, then I just went to TSC and bought the rolls of cage wire, it's cheaper...or it runs about the same, I can't remember, but I can build the cages to suit my needs.



Edit: I crunched the numbers: I was paying around $160 for the already made cages, drop pans and legs. I pay around $100 for two rolls of wire and pans (if I build them right I don't need legs, or I'll just put legs on the bottom cage) andthat makesa stack of 3 cages.

Thanks, I will definitely consider doing that.

 

[whaleyk98]

Im not crafty enough to make my own cages. It would save me so much money, if I could.

 

[mewlingcricket]

We make our own cages and have it priced at about 30 a cage for feeder, water bottle, wire, j-clips, resting mat, edge protectors, door latch, and tray. (I get coupons off ebay for lowes or home depot, then buy the materials in increments to suit the coupon). Then when I am sitting and watching tv, I make a cage or two each night. Since I am making all new cages for the shed we are building for the bunnies, I will be making all 40 over the next week or two while we watch tv at night. Its actually kind of relaxing, and I enjoy seeing them come together....

 

[CoolWaterRabbitry]

mewlingcricket wrote:

We make our own cages and have it priced at about 30 a cage for feeder, water bottle, wire, j-clips, resting mat, edge protectors, door latch, and tray. (I get coupons off ebay for lowes or home depot, then buy the materials in increments to suit the coupon). Then when I am sitting and watching tv, I make a cage or two each night. Since I am making all new cages for the shed we are building for the bunnies, I will be making all 40 over the next week or two while we watch tv at night. Its actually kind of relaxing, and I enjoy seeing them come together....

40 :shock:Hope you have something good to watch on tv!

 

[SilverBirchRabbitry]

My dad builds my trays out of roofing steel, so I get them free. If anyone here knows anyone into the roofing business, they are cheap. It's worth looking into !

 

[mewlingcricket]

That is a really good tip too! and yes I have a lot of realy good stuff to watch. I have a couple of summer shows, but I am addicted to Criminal Minds so I just record a bunch of the episodes and sit and watch them when nothing else is on!