How do I Choose the Best Outdoor Rabbit Hutch?
Outdoor Rabbit hutches are still the number on choice in the UK for Keepping Pet Rabbits. Keeping Rabbits outside means that you do not need to rabbit proof the inside of your house, you dont need to litter train your rabbit and allows your rabbit to enjoy the sounds and smells of the outdoors. To raise healthy and happy rabbits outside there are somethings that you need to consider. Uppermost is the choice of hutch where your pet will spend most of their time.
Firstly you need to account for the effects of both sun and rain on your hutch. Cheaply made hutches will warp from prolonged sunlight, rot from mositure and blow over in strong winds. They are also almost always too small when your pet grows up. At best you will waste valuable time and money repairing or replacing it. At worst it will colapse or break injuring your pet or allowing it to escape.
Rabbits need respite not only from the heat and cold but also need pelnty of ventilation. Outdoor hutches with poor ventiliation lead ot heat stroke, become un-hygenic and remain damp. Conversley Outdoor rabbits should have access to shelter from Winds and Rain. Ideally an outdoor hutch will have a large mesh door with constant access to a wire Run and a seperate Nesting area to shelter from the wind and rain.
Secondly you should consider the security of your rabbit. All Rural and urban areas now have a whole range of Preditors from domestic cats to foxes and Dogs. Your hutch should be heavy enough to prevent preditors nocking it over and should have heavy duty weldmesh. Secure door catches are also a must. Choosing a hutch that prediors can not get into is not however enough. Rabbits have a powerful flight instinct to escape preditors. These instictual fears ar so strong that rabbits can die simply from the stress caused by a preditor being near by. Rabbits also have relativly weak spines and many litteraly break there backs trying to escape a preditor dispite a sturdy hutch providing all the protection they need. You must provide Hiding places for you rabbit. A house with 2 Entrances or a large tunnel is ideal, Also deep bedding in the sleeping area will also help.
Thirdly you also need to conside what size of hutch to buy. There is no set standard size that you should have and recommended sizes can vary wildly. One thing that all rescue centres agree on is that the hutch should be as large as you can make it. You should choose the biggest hutch you can afford and can fit into your garde. Consider buying a modular hutch that you can add additional levels or runs to at a later date. Remember your baby bunnies will grow.
Fourthly you should consider how practical the hutch will be. It should be easy to clean and easy for you to catch an look after your Pet.
Lastly you should look at the style and look of the hutch. There are a lot of different types and styles of hutch, but remember your rabbit does not care!
I hope these guidelines will help you to choose the best hutch for you and your rabbit.
See our quality Outdoor Rabit Hutches
Trixie Natura Apex Rabbit Hutch & Large Run 186cm x 93cm x 143 cm Review
This large rabbit hutch and enclosed run really has to be se
en. With slide out easy clean plastic deep dish floor, trap door and access ramp and large covered run it is ideal for larger breeds and more than one rabbit. Unlike many mass produced hutches all the natura range from trixie have maintained good head room and are larger then most hutches. This rabbit hutch and run has more than enough room for your pet to exercise.
With additional storage space in the “Attic” and large access doors to both the hutch and run this hutch is very practical. It is also very well Put together with Jointed timber framing, screws in place of nails and heavy duty “dog cage” type mesh making it strong and foxproof.
There is also winter cover available to give extra protection in the winter! Definatly not the cheapest rabbit hutch you can buy buy but given everything that you get with one of these hutches it could be the smart choice.