I get a lot of questions about what my cages are and where to buy them, especially from my YouTube Rabbitry and Rabbit Barn “Tour” videos.
Here is a bit of an overview and a meat rabbit cage review. I think it will give some insight into the cages that are available and worth buying, especially in the lower to mid-range of affordability.
Prices are current as of publishing, and though they are subject to change, that is true of all cages, and the range and comparison should be accurate enough to help you decide on which cages fit your budget.
Jump to:
- Dumor Stackable Cages from Tractor Supply Company
- My Summary & Review of DuMor Meat Rabbit Cages from Tractor Supply Company:
- Pet Lodge/Miller Manufacturing
- My Summary & Review of Pet Lodge Meat Rabbit Cages by Miller Manufacturing
- Bass and KW Cages
- My Opinion on Low to Mid-Range Rabbit Cages, Affordability, and More
- Other things to know when buying cages for meat rabbits:
Dumor Stackable Cages from Tractor Supply Company
Cost, Dumor cages from Tractor Supply Company:
These prices come directly from the Tractor Supply Company website. They are listed without shipping, assuming you will either buy in store or ship to store. All prices are in USD.
- 24x24x16 inches: $34.99
- 30x30x18 inches: $39.99
- 36x30x18 inches: $42.99
Frame Kits and Pans:
- Full 24x24 Cage Kit: $64.99 *Cage kit includes the stacking frame kit and dropping tray and also a J feeder and water bottle
- 24x24x16 frame kit only: $15.99
- 24x24 dropping pan only: $16.99
- 30x30 and 30x36 frame kit: $17.99 (These size cages use the same frame kit)
- 30x30 inch dropping pan: $20.99
- 30x36 inch dropping pan: $20.99
The cost to piece together the 24-inch cages, frame kit, and pan comes to $67.97, so the full cage kit is slightly cheaper, but it is often difficult to find the kits in enough quantity to suit your rabbitry’s needs. When you can find them, they are worth buying (and they’re more convenient!). You will still find this is a far cheaper option than the rest of the cages we will outline below, even if you can’t get the kits.
Of course, you may be looking for just the cages anyway!
Cage kits are only available for the 24-inch cage size. The 30 and 36-inch cage assemblies will have to be bought individually.
Points and Considerations for Dumor TSC Rabbit Cages:
I know the most about these cages because these are the cages I have the most of. They are also the cages that I have had the longest. I started with DuMor cages over five years ago. Those original cages are still in use today, are still in good shape, and will continue to be used for some time.
Here are some pros, cons, points, and considerations I have gathered about the DuMor rabbit cages:
- Cages are powder coated, not galvanized
- These cages are extremely easy to construct (they basically pop up and go together)
- Anyone, regardless of mechanical ability or inclination, can build these cages
- Latches can be a little sticky and inconsistent, but often, you need to turn the latch all the way up and make sure you pull it all the way back
- Some surface rust has appeared in the five years of use, but I’ve never had any rusting through
- I do recommend reinforcing the cages with J clips and pliers (set bought separately but also good to have on hand for all cages)
- With reinforcement, cages have done well with no major issues
- Frame kits are easy to install and stack easily, but the stacks do have some wobble; however, I doubt the wobble is any more than you would have if you were using hanging cages
- These cages could probably be used in a hanging system, but you would definitely want to reinforce the seams where the sides come together and hang from the strongest point at the seems
- I would recommend more for use indoors in a barn or shed or outdoors in a rabbit house with a roof
- Outside and exposed more to elements, the cages probably wouldn’t last as long
- The rust that has appeared I have treated by power washing the cages and then spraying with Rustoleum paint, which is said to be safe for rabbits (this was after several years of us,e and you will also get rust eventually even with galvanized)
- Quality control has been more of an issue over the last two years or so and is one reason I have decided to give the Pet Lodge cages a try
- The biggest issue I have had in terms of quality control is weak welds where the wire is welded together; there has been some popping at the weld points; this has occurred mostly on floor wire but sometimes on side wires, and I have fixed it with zip tie -- workable, but not ideal and really should not happen
- The floors themselves are a sturdy wire that takes the weight of the animals well (as well or better than other galvanized cages I own), even in large cages with does and litters of kits
- I like the side opening feature of the doors (doors open outside the cage and to the side)
Buying Tips:
Order the cages online for curbside pickup. That way, they will be pulled for you, but more importantly, you’ll be able to see where and how many are in stock. I find that TSC does not keep a large stock quantity on hand, especially for larger cages. The 24-inch cages and cage kits are usually more available.
However, you can also have them shipped to the store if they are not in stock. If you order ahead and have them sent to the store, they will be there in under a week.
Pick a day for pickup when the entire order can be filled. Sometimes, I order partially from one store and partially from another -- it all depends on who has what and when. It's not ideal, but they’re spread around enough near me that it’s workable.
The 24x24 cages come in just the cage or in a “kit” that includes the stackable frame kit, dropping tray, J-feeder, and water bottle. I often buy these because it’s cheaper overall to buy the whole stacking setup this way. However, I don’t like or use J-feeders or water bottles, so there is a sort of waste issue here, but I just pass them along to other breeders who do like to use them (some of my breeding rabbit buyers have gone home with some free stuff!). I also collect to donate to 4H kids.
My Summary & Review of DuMor Meat Rabbit Cages from Tractor Supply Company:
I have seen countless people (sometimes rather rudely) tell people not to buy these cages. I’m not a fan of what I consider “cage shaming.”
I personally would rather see people find an affordable way to keep meat rabbits than stay out because someone says the only cages you can afford aren’t good enough.
If DuMor is what you can afford, buy them!
My only hesitation in wholeheartedly recommending these cages is the recent quality control issues. There is some potential there for animal injury, to be honest, and you shouldn’t have to fix a cage that is brand new or close to it.
If they correct the issues of the popped welds, there would be no reason for me to not recommend these cages. Their longevity has been quite good, and they’ve been an affordable and sustainable way for me to get into meat rabbits.
I would recommend looking the cage over completely before you begin to build it so that you can return the cage to the store for a replacement if there are issues when it arrives (I have had some that arrived with problems). Certainly not an ideal situation, but it is better to find it before you build and add clips and reinforcements, and then you can’t return the cage.
Pet Lodge/Miller Manufacturing
Pet Lodge/Miller Manufacturing has many vendors. Their cages are galvanized and seem to be a bit of a step up from Dumor, with better quality and quality control, at least so far (I’ve just recently started adding in Pet Lodge Cages to the rabbitry in response to some quality control issues with Dumor/Tractor Supply).
I purchased online from Jeffers Pet, Equine, & Vet Supply. They offered a good price and reasonable(ish) shipping, and the cages were in stock and shipped on time, arriving within a week.
Cost, Pet Lodge Rabbit Cages:
*Consider shipping costs; see notes below.
- 24x24x16 inches: $42.29
- 30x30x16 inches: $49.99
- 36x30x16 inches: $56.99
Frame Kits and Accessories:
- 24 inch frame kit $24.99
- 30 and 36-inch Frame Kit: $26.99 (30x30 and 30x36 cages use the 30 inch kit)
- 24 inch dropping pan: $29.99
- 30 inch dropping pan: $37.99
- 36 inch dropping pan: $49.99
Additional pricing notes:
- Purchasing these cages from Jeffers did require shipping, which would likely vary according to quantity, etc.
- Shipping for three cages and three frame kits came to just under $63
- Shipping averages $17 to $20 per cage
- Dropping pans vary in price quite a lot by seller; however, most of them are interchangeable
- I did not purchase dropping pans from Jeffers for these cages
- Tractor Supply dropping pans would fit the Pet Lodge cages, at least the cages I have
- Double-check the height of the pans to determine if they fit the space between the rail and the bottom of the cage
- For the Pet Lodge cages I bought, availability was limited with TSC at the time, and I purchased drop pans separately from KW Cages at a price of $33.95 each and $75 in shipping
- If you can get TSC/DuMor dropping pans and pick them up in the store, that is the most economical way to go
- Pans are not necessary if you are hanging or not using a drop pan system
Points and Considerations for Pet Lodge Cages:
- The cages are galvanized
- All cages are only 16 inches tall (as opposed to 16 to 18 inches tall TSC cages)
- Height and specifications are not clearly listed, at least not on the Jeffers site
- Though the listing says “Easy assembly,” it is more involved than what the listing implies and definitely more involved than the DuMor cages
- Cages come in pre-cut and measured pieces, all of which have to be assembled and clipped together
- Doors are meant to be mounted inside and open in and up to the top of the cages, but for me with stacked cages, I would find that difficult, so I modified the cages and mounted the doors outside with the swing to the side
- Assembly does not require a lot of mechanical ability
- Assembly does require cage pliers and cage clips
- Cage clips come with the cage
- Cage pliers do not come with the cage and must be purchased separately
- For me, each cage took around 45 minutes to construct, plus additional time to build the frame and mount (this is probably another 2+ hours)
- The frame kits are much more substantial, and stacks of these cages are very solid
- Galvanized metal should last a long time, and I expect to get many years out of these cages
- However, I have only owned these cages for a few months, so determining that is in the future
Buying Tips:
Shop around. There are more vendors for Pet Lodge products than there are for Dumor, which, to my knowledge, is nearly (if not completely) a Tractor Supply Company product.
I’ve found Pet Lodge online through several vendors. Some of the best terms I’ve found so far were from Jeffers Pet Supply, but there could be other deals out there, too.
Pet Lodge is also available at some brick-and-mortar stores. Runnings is one store that carries at least some of their products and cages, but I’ve found them at small independent retailers, too.
I find that the pricing in stores varies widely for the same product, which is likely a reflection of volume and buying power.
If you can buy in person at a brick-and-mortar store and the prices are competitive, it would be worth doing so for the simple reason that you won’t need to worry about damage during shipping, and you will not have to pay shipping costs.
My Summary & Review of Pet Lodge Meat Rabbit Cages by Miller Manufacturing
Overall, I am very happy with these cages. I like the sturdiness and stability of the cages. I don’t love the time and work of assembly, but if you plan ahead and know this, it is also not that much of an issue. Just a time issue.
I also compare them to the ease of assembly and reinforcement of the DuMor cages, which is much faster, but the Pet Lodge cages are a step up in quality and so far have not shown the quality control issues that DuMor has in recent times.
The cages are more expensive, at least when shipping is added in, so they are a higher price point, but probably worth it if you can afford to invest a little more in your cages.
Price-wise, they still beat higher-end cages like Bass and KW by quite a bit.
The only real issue I have with the Pet Lodge cages is the height. It’s a negligible point, but I do prefer 18-inch high cages, especially so does with kits can escape to the top of the nest boxes if they so choose. I have not kindled does in these cages, but I am skeptical whether they’d be able to do that in the Pet Lodge cages. I do wish that the dimensions were clearly listed in the description and specifications. It might have been more of a deciding factor.
Overall, I can, so far, recommend the Pet Lodge cages and frame stacking system.
Bass and KW Cages
These are two different cage companies. They both have excellent reputations. I have not purchased or owned these cages, so the only information I have to offer other than their reputation is pricing. I don’t doubt their reputation; I just have no experience with them.
Cost, Bass Equipment:
- 24x24x18: $38.90
- 30x30x18: $58.45
- 36x30x18: $67.20
*Note that Bass offers many options, and some things, like door opening directions, require an upgrade of $1.50 to $2 or more for other options. These are base prices for comparable cages only.
Frame Kits and Accessories, Bass Equipment:
- 24 inch frame kit $27.60
- 30 and 36-inch Frame Kit: $27.60 (30x30 and 30x36 cages use the 30 inch kit)
- 24 inch dropping pan: $19.25
- 30 inch dropping pan: $31.90
- 36 inch dropping pan: $36.25
- Shipping costs average $18 to $20 per cage
Standard pans are only 1.5 inches deep unless you pay for oversized pans. Bass does not appear to have a plastic pan option.
Cost, KW Cages:
- 24x24x18: $48.97
- 30x30x18: $59.30*
- 36x30x18: $69.63*
- Shipping costs average $28 per cage
Large-sized cages are available with prefabricated baby saver wire for an increase of around $10 per cage.
KW does offer full stackable cage setups as a sort of “pre cage” kit, starting at $97.51 for the smallest cage size (24x24x14). Note that the height of their stackable 24-inch cages is only 14 inches high in the kits.
Frame Kits and Accessories, KW Cages:
- Frame Kit for all 18 inch high cages: $32.56
- Tray slides for stackable frame kits sold separately -- add $5.12 to $5.28 per kit
- 24 inch dropping pan: $29.08
- 30 inch dropping pan: $34.95
- 36 inch dropping pan: $40.81
- Shipping costs average about $9.50 per pan
Points and Considerations for Bass and KW Cages:
- High-quality cages that should last for many years
- Not in love with the door-opening options or the price upgrade for a better option
- Have experienced long wait times for fulfillment and shipping in the past (especially during Covid when it could take 6 to 8 weeks or more to get cages to you) -- this seems to have improved more recently, but do check into it before you commit
- High price point
- High shipping costs
I can’t say I’ve found anything really “wrong” or negative with these cages, and full disclosure; I’ve never used them.
The major reason why I have not purchased from these companies is the price point. While I understand that you get what you pay for, it can be difficult to justify the expense when there is a more affordable, workable option.
The other reason I have not used them is the availability and shipping issues. Two months is enough time to have an entire litter of kits weaned or very close to it. That might be 10 or 12 or 20 or more rabbits that are not in your freezer.
I do think they have improved on shipping and fulfillment, and I am, for sure, generalizing here, but I definitely would find out and weigh delivery time before you commit to these cages.
Buying Tips:
There are a few buying tips for me to offer. These cages are sold directly from the company, so what you see for the price is what you get.
My Opinion on Low to Mid-Range Rabbit Cages, Affordability, and More
Especially in my more protected indoor environment, the lower-end cages do fine, and I’ve also gotten many years out of them.
Don’t be scared away from keeping meat rabbits because someone has a strong opinion on the cages you plan on buying or using.
Either DuMor or Pet Lodge are perfectly fine cages if that is what is affordable for you. (But again, check the DuMors before you start to build. Maybe even before you leave the store lot.)
Other things to know when buying cages for meat rabbits:
- Frame kits do not come with the cages except for the TSC/Dumor 24-inch kits and some KW kits (if they are available)
- You have to buy frame kits separately in most cases, and you’ll need to buy one per cage
- Keep this in mind when you’re doing the math and deciding on the most economical route
- Always take shipping costs into consideration
- Shipping costs vary a lot by vendor -- the cheaper option often ends up being the most expensive! (I find this to be true of all rabbit supplies, and it pays to shop around
- Cages and trays (especially metal) take some beating in shipping, which may be a factor, too
- If you can pick them up in store, the cages and trays are often in better condition just because they aren’t going through a private shipping company as single units
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