Shopping for your First Rabbit Hutch?
If you’re getting your household ready to welcome your first pet rabbit you have undoubtedly been researching all you need to know to provide an appropriate environment for your newest family member. One of the first things you should have learned is that unlike cats, rabbits should not have the run of the house. You’re going to need a well equipped cage for your rabbit. Hopefully, you’ve also learned that rabbits enjoy the outdoors and most devoted rabbit owners have both indoor and outdoor quarters for their furry friends. An outdoor house is generally referred to as a rabbit hutch while an indoor house is known simply as a rabbit cage.
If you’re searched the Internet using either “rabbit cage” or “rabbit hutch” you know many commercial pet web sites use the terms interchangeably. All commercially available indoor rabbit cages are made of wire and although some owners make use of larger cages both indoors and outdoors, special precautions need to be taken if you do.
If your home is a single story with minimal stairs, some wire cages have wheel casters mounted to their bases for easy portability, and transforming the indoor cage into an outdoor rabbit hutch is a simple matter. However, wire cages are completely open and even though you might be able to place the cage in a shady area of your yard to protect the rabbit from the sun, the pet will also need to be protected from the wind. At best, wire cages used outdoors have their place if you prefer to space out major purchases and want to wait before investing in a rabbit hutch. For long term use, you really need to get a commercially available rabbit hutch created specifically for outdoor use.
Outdoor rabbit hutches are available in a wide variety of styles and price ranges. There are single story and two story and even three story styles. They’re typically constructed of wood treated with weather resistant preservatives. Some of the better ones have asphalt shingles on attractive sloped roofs. What should you look for to get the best hutch for your new rabbit?
The average life span of a domesticated pet rabbit is 8 to 9 years, although smaller rabbits well cared for have been known to live as long as 14 years, so you’re going to need to pay careful attention to the quality of construction. Saving a little money in the initial purchase of a cheaply made rabbit hutch almost guarantees you’ll need to replace it within the time you can expect your pet rabbit to share with your family.
Size is also a primary concern. Rabbits like to run and the best rabbit hutches have large enclosed exercise areas along with the living quarters. Exercise yards can be found on both single story and two story models. Generally speaking, the bigger the better, with a minimum size of 1.5 – 2 meters a better rule of thumb than the standard advice of four times the size of the rabbit. Many very attractive commercially available rabbit hutches are simply too small.
Rabbits love to chew, so make sure any wood components the rabbit can get at are safe. Cedar is a special concern, as it contains harmful resin oils. While many rabbit hutches have wire floors in the living quarters to make owner clean up easier, they are uncomfortable for the rabbit to walk on. The better ones have split floors, with a section of solid surface on which to walk.
The final and perhaps most important consideration is safety from predators. If you live in an area of free roaming predators, you may need to take additional measures to secure the hutch to the ground so it can’t be tipped or so that predators can’t dig under it to get at your precious pet.
Big Rabbit Hutches for Small Gardens!
One of the most important things you must provide for you pet rabbit or guinea pig is a safe and secure environment to live in. Over the past 4 years following the introduction of the animal walfare act in early 2007 the RSPCA, animal rescue centres and the Rabbit Walfare Association have been campaigning hard to increase the awarness that Rabbits need Big Hutches.
Here are the RSPCA guidelines for providing your rabbit the best environment.
Things you should do
- Provide your rabbit with a secure living environment that is large enough for it to exercise in and stand up fully on its back legs.
- You should provide both a large exercise area and a secure shelter where your rabbit can rest, feel safe and is protected from predators and extremes of weather and temperature. Ensure all areas of your rabbit’s environment are well ventilated, dry and draught-free.
- Make sure your rabbit has constant access to safe hiding places where it can escape if it feels afraid.
- Allow your rabbit to exercise regularly.
- Provide enough bedding to keep your rabbit warm. Bedding should be safe for your rabbit to eat, e.g. dust-free straw or hay.
- Give your rabbit regular access to a suitable place where it can go to the toilet, separate to where it eats and sleeps.
- Clean the housing and toilet areas regularly.
- If you are going away, try to find someone to care for, and meet all your rabbit’s welfare needs within its familiar home. If boarding your rabbit, try to ease the move by keeping grouped rabbits together and taking familiar items, such as toys, along too.
- When you transport your rabbit make sure it is comfortable and safe at all times. Putting familiar smelling items in the carrier and the new environment can help make your rabbit feel at ease.
- Ensure the size and temperature of any place you leave your rabbit (including your vehicle) is appropriate.
- Make sure that where your rabbit lives is safe, secure and free from hazards
But how do you provide this ideal environment if you only have limited Space? The easiest and often the only way is by using a mulit level rabbit hutch with connecting ramps, by allowing your rabbit access to multiple levels you can triple the amount of space your pet has. Once a rabbit gets used to this layout they are very happy. If you do not have the space for a large rabbit hutch and run then you can always use a triple decker rabbit hutch.
Natura Giant Rabbit Hutch and Run with Wheels
This large rabbit hutch and run on wheels is the perfect choice for more than one rabbit. We have however had a lot of questions about why this hutch and run is relativly expensive.
firstly this is a quality rabbit hutch and run. It might seem quite simple to add a set of wheels on one end and some handles on the other and hey presto a fully mobile hutch and run. It is not however this simple. If you study the pictures carefull you will see that the central upright (between hutch and run) is a triple thicknes, with 2 large metal brackets front and rear This is to give the hutch additional strength and ensure you dont “break its Back” when you lift one end to move it around.
Also the ramp has to be re-designed. You will see that there is an additionl cross member to support the base of the ramp so that it reminas in place as the hutch and run is moved around the garden.
You can also see the Castor type wheels. These are quality wheels that will last as long as the htuch itself.
When you consider all the changes that have been made to the basic hutch design to make this a long lasting, mobile home for 2 or more rabbits you can see how it is a little more expensive than a standard hutch.
More details about this Quality Rabbit Hutch here.
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.