Update: I went to the Dollar store & bought cardboard that already is bent on 3 sides. I cut it in three strips & the strips are all about 10 in high, just a little higher than the bars.
I put items from Heaven's cage including the wheel in the play pen. She constantly wanted to escape. Jumping against the cardboard towards the end. She did run in the wheel a little.
I also ordered her a toy that arrived today. It's the border breaker colorful toy with holes on all sides for her to crawl through. She will probably explore it tonight. I'll stop putting her in there if it's only going to make her anxious.
I held her afterwards & her heart was beating fast.
Edit: all the enthusiasm regarding taming in the play pen is 90% gone. A failure
Dakota was panicking & biting, tried to pick up Melody, had to lift up her house & she moved away fast but she waited to see if I would chase her which I did not do. I put the house back & things are back to normal with me & Melody. She still trusts me somewhat.
Lilyanna tolerated it but would rather be all cozy, sleeping. I'll just wake her 1x/week. I won't ever wake Melody again, maybe I'll use that fleece pouch to catch her for cage cleanings. Not a happy outcome regarding the playpen attempt.
I'll use it for short periods of time with Lilyanna (1x/wk), Dakota, maybe 3x's/wk, same with Heaven 3x's/week.
If they don't like it still then I'll pack the playpen up. Sad but at least I tried