Rabbit Housing

 
6ft hutch and romparunhutch with romparun extensionRabbit hutches and runs sold in pet shops are often woefully inadequate for adult rabbits.  This is especially true when people buy pet shop hutches along with a baby rabbit when they have no idea of it's adult size.  A rabbit should be able to stand on its hind legs and stretch out full length in the bed section of the hutch as a bare minimum requirement.  The average hutch is nowhere near big enough to afford most rabbits the space they need for exercise.  Rabbits need to be able to exercise safely either indoors or in an outside run every day.  The 6ft hutch top left is suitable for a pair of small to medium  rabbits allowed access to an outdoor run  Even then I would still recommend adding the Rompa extension (illustrated top right on a smaller hutch).

This rabbit hutch and run combination can be used indoors or out.The best accommodation is the kind that offers spacious indoor shelter with access to an outside run.  Rabbits dig and so do foxes in pursuit of them so grass runs need to be extremely secure if left unattended.  A permanent run, such as that attached to a shed, should either have strong mesh sides buried 500cm into the earth or have been constructed on a concrete base which is both rabbit and fox proof.  For moveable runs, a heavy duty mesh base through which the grass is accessible is recommended. 

This hutch and run combination is a good size for a pair of rabbits with space for added shelves, runs and toys.  It can be used indoors or outdoors.

Poultry arks also make good runs for small rabbits but should be at least 6ft long and preferably supervised or fitted with a heavy duty wide mesh base to makes them 100% fox proof.  6ft poultry ark suitable for small rabbits

Foxes are adept at swivelling open the flimsy toggle catches on pet shop hutches.  They are also able to rip open puny chicken mesh panels.  For outdoor hutches padlocks are recommended.  An outdoor rabbit hutch also needs to be protected from extremes of temperature, from damp and draughts, and in the summer from the fleas and mosquitoes which spread infectious diseases to rabbits.  Pet rabbits should be protected from contact with wild rabbits to prevent infection and this includes the situation where wild rabbits might have contaminated the grass area where you might place a portable run for your pet rabbit.

 

Forsham Safe Housing - great for rabbits and guinea pigs

Greenfields Rescue and Doe Drop Inn Boarding for rabbits are a good example of how to properly house rabbits.  House rabbits and shed bunnies alike will enjoy the cardboard play house promoted by Bobtails Rescue to help raise funds for their rescue work.  They also recommend Forsham Cottage Ark's  Really Big Hutch - and I'm not surprised.  Forsham have also created secure poultry housing to protect chickens against bird flu and, although expensive, also makes an excellent secure rabbit run for the really pampered bunny.  It is also extendible.

Hutch HugggerEven if you house smaller rabbits in hutches, they will need extra protection in winter.  Hutch Huggers are ideal and come in regular (illustrated) and thermal.  There is also a Runhugger and even a Bottle Snug to keep water cool in summer and prevent it from freezing in the winter.  Hutchhuggers have been designed to provide adequate ventilation.  If you design your own bad weather hutch protection please bear this in mind. 

Never keep your rabbit in a garage where vehicles are stored.  The fumes from motor vehicles are toxic to rabbits.

For bigger rabbits the best type of accommodation is a traditional dog kennel and run or an adapted shed as used by Greenfield's Rescue and Doe Drop Inn which allow you to build in storage, ramps, cat flaps and otherwise tailor make the accommodation to suit both yours and your rabbits needs.

Dog kennel and run suitable for rabbitsIndoor house bunnies need a secure place to retire to and where you can leave them securely when you're not there to supervise them.  Rabbits make great house pets but there are considerations.  Wires and cables need to be made 'chew proof'.  You should not use chemicals like Febreeze or Shake and Vac because these can cause skin problems in rabbits.  House plants are a far too attractive to rabbits and many are poisonous.  Considering they are prey species, they can be extremely tardy removing themselves from the pathway of an opening door and their tendency to dance around your ankles in a bid for attention demand a level of awareness to prevent injury to either party.

Rabbits are pretty easy to house train to a litter tray, especially if there is a hay rack within easy reach of it.  They benefit from toys to alleviate boredom even when there is lots of space for them to exercise in.

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