If you’re looking to get a pet rabbit, it’s important to buy the perfect rabbit hutch. Many pet rabbits spend most of their time in their hutches, so it’s important to make sure they are as comfortable as possible. Rabbits need a safe place where they can relax, but also plenty of enough room for activity and exercise. You should take your rabbit’s needs into consideration when purchasing a hutch, and with a little effort you can turn your rabbit’s “house” into a “home” ensuring their physical and mental well-being.
Requirements
- Rabbit hutches are usually comprised of a wooden box on tall legs. They can be simple and single-story, or complex and multi-level. An ideal hutch should be at least 6 feet x 2 feet x 2 feet for an average rabbit. It might sound big to us, but since it will be the rabbit’s main home, it needs all the living space it can get. Rabbits need plenty of room for exercise, and a hutch any smaller won’t allow them to move around freely. In fact, the larger the hutch, the better. Lack of space for exercise can have terrible effects on your rabbit’s health, even causing its muscles to deteriorate.
- Most rabbit hutches include a raised base or tall legs to elevate the main living area. This helps to prevent moisture or dampness in the ground from reaching your rabbit’s living area. Tall legs also help make it a little harder for creatures to get into it.
- The roof of your rabbit hutch is essential. You want to keep your bunny dry in rainy weather, and protect it from excessive sunlight when it’s hot. A waterproof roof that extends past the hutch, and preferably with a slope, will help shield your bunny from the sun’s rays while protecting it from the rain. The roof must be firmly secured to the hutch so that it cannot blow away during strong winds and bad weather.
- The walls and of your rabbit hutch should be sturdy. Avoid hutches made from a thin plywood, which isn’t strong and may eventually need replacing. Investing in sturdy walls will help them to last longer and be more durable.
- The flooring of your rabbit’s hutch should never been made out of hard wire because it can damage your rabbit’s feet. Solid floors are best for rabbits and are easy to clean. Cutting a sheet of linoleum or vinyl and laying it on the floor of the hutch will make life easy for you and your rabbit. Adding some hay on top will make it even more soft and cozy.
- The doors of the hutch should have strong bolts in case of strong winds and bad weather. Many shops sell hutches with weak bolts which are easy for predators like wolves or foxes to break open.
- Mesh or chicken wire used on the hutch’s siding should be strong and durable because rabbits or predators can chew through thin material.
- Your pet rabbit should have a private corner area in the hutch to sleep in, or to hide if predators are around.
- Your rabbit hutch needs to have fresh water and food available at all times. A drip-feed water drinking bottle is a must and allows your rabbit to conveniently access water when it’s thirsty. Food and timothy hay should be in strong bowls that won’t be easily tossed or knocked over.
- Add a litter box to your hutch so your rabbit has a designated place to relieve itself. It’s necessary to have your rabbit trained to use it, otherwise you will end up with a dirty and smelly hutch which is also bad for your rabbit’s health.
- A good hutch should have a few toys that your rabbit can play with, and they don’t have to be expensive. Some toilet paper rolls or safe plastic toys should keep your rabbit amused.
It is extremely crucial to make sure your hutch is secure because dangerous predators can easily claw at weak hutches and get to your precious rabbit. Predators such as cats and foxes, for example, are most active at night. Many unfortunate pet owners have woken up to their rabbits missing or injured due to a poorly structured hutch. Some predators are even able to bend flimsy wires on a hutch and attack rabbits. Using strong bolts or a padlock ensures that no predators are able to open or break the hutch. Even if they aren’t able to reach your pet, the mental distress and fear your rabbit experiences can result in health problems or even a heart attack! That’s why a private, hidden area is vital to have in a hutch.
Outdoor temperatures might not always be suitable for your rabbit. Temperatures that are too hot or too cold are dangerous for anyone. Additionally, insects, harmful plants, and pesticides are another reason why keeping rabbits permanently outdoors is not always ideal. Luckily, having a safe rabbit hutch is attainable if you take the right precautions. Some people attach hutches to small playhouses or sheds with air conditioning or heating for a mild environment and as a safe haven from other animals. If your pet rabbit is still a small bunny, make sure you consider the potential adult size of your rabbit in order to invest in a hutch that will always be size appropriate. Many rabbit owners even attach a “rabbit run” to the hutch in order to provide even more room for your rabbit to hop around in. With some thought and effort you can make your rabbit perfectly content with a hutch that provides both comfort and security.