Best rabbit hutch
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What is the best rabbit hutch?
Even if your rabbit has a very large hutch, it will still need to exercise in a bigger area for a couple of hours at least, each day. The best rabbit hutch will keep your rabbit safe from predators, provide shade in hot weather and protection from adverse weather conditions.
This page tells you about the best hutch for your rabbits and the minimum recommended sizes. There's also information about giving your rabbit enough exercise and links to free or very inexpensive rabbit hutch plans if you want to make your own hutch and run.
Photo © aj2008
Contents at a Glance
We have kept rabbits for many years
and have a wealth of experience to share,
as well as some lovely photos of two of our rabbits.
Sadly one passed away last year aged 9,
and his sister stayed pretty active and healthy
surviving him for a year until her recent passing.
Oh, we do miss them!
Although these rabbits would be out in a run during the day,
they would still enjoy running around freely in the grass -
watched over by Sparky and Lizzie
Photo © aj2008
We put our rabbits in their hutch at night, which we would then cover.
Although we rarely see predators such as foxes in our garden, rabbits can become ill if frightened and so we would make sure they would be unable to see anything that could visit under cover of darkness.
Recommended size for your rabbit hutch
What is the right size for a rabbit hutch?
The minimum recommended size for your rabbit hutch is:5 feet or 150cm long
2 feet or 60cm high
2 feet or 60cm wide
This will suit one large or two small rabbits and will allow them to move comfortably along the length and easily turn around.
They also like to stand on their hind legs and they need to have enough head room to allow them to do this.
Two large rabbits will need a bigger hutch!
If you don't quite have enough space for a 5 foot long hutch then consider a multi-storey hutch, with two levels.
The recommended length for a multi-storey hutch is 4 feet - anything less than this will be too cramped. As with a single storey hutch, the height and width of each level should be at least 2 feet.
The rabbit hutch in the illustration is actually a hen coop, that can also be used for rabbits.
However, if the run does not come ready fitted with a base, make sure you add some heavy duty wire mesh to the floor. This will stop foxes and other predators from digging into the run.
Rabbit Homes
Plenty of room in these rabbit coops!
These hen coops are great used as rabbit homes. They fit all the important criteria that make for a safe and roomy environment for your rabbits. However, most do not come with a wire floor to the run, so be prepared to fit one - you need to keep tunnelling bunnies IN and tunnelling predators OUT.
Features to look for when buying a rabbit coop:
The living/sleeping area is raised from the ground
The minimum height of 24" in the living/sleeping area
The run and sleeping/area are at least 24" in depth
There's a covered area in the run
Separate access points to living/sleeping area and run
Door to shut the bunnies in the sleeping area at night - particularly important during cold weather or if in a area where there's predators
Precision Pet Cape Cod Chicken Coop or Rabbit Hutch
WARE Premium + Chick-N-Villa Chicken Coop
or Rabbit Hutch
Please note: UK Visitors should search for rabbit hutches on Amazon UK
Search for Rabbit Hutches at Amazon.co.uk
Buying a rabbit hutch?
Make sure it meets the minimum size recommendation
UK Visitors should search HERE for Rabbit Homes
More rabbit hutches
Again - check the size!
Make your own rabbit hutch
DIY rabbit hutches
- DIY Rabbit hutch plans
- DIY wood working plans.Easy to read drawing in pdf. instant download.
- Free rabbit hutch plans
- How to build a rabbit hutch or cage, free rabbit house plans and instructions
- A-frame rabbit hutch
- Learn how to make a rabbit hutch following guidelines from the RSPCA.
- How to Build a Rabbit Hutch
- How to Build a Rabbit Hutch Keeping a rabbit around the house or farm means building a warm and dry place for it to live. A rabbit hutch can suit a rabbit or other small animals as long as it includ
What else makes a good rabbit hutch?
Other considerations
The rabbit hutch should be raised off the ground and sited in a sheltered location. It must be completely waterproof with an overhang at the front to keep the rain out.You should also consider having additional covers for nightime, particularly during winter.
There should be a separate, more enclosed sleeping area with plenty of straw for bedding and this should have it's own door, to make cleaning the hutch and catching the rabbits a lot easier.
Photo reproduced under a Creative Commons License granted by: peterastn on flickr
It is easy to litter train a rabbit. Once you can see which corner in their hutch or run they prefer to use as a toilet, place a litter tray there.
Make sure the tray is big enough for your rabbit to use comfortably. This will make it far easier to keep the accommodation clean.
Keeping your rabbit hutch clean
Essential for the health of your rabbits
You can line the bottom of your rabbit hutch with newspaper covered with straw and this will need to be replaced regularly.
Special rabbit hutch disinfectants will be available from your pet store. Be sure to read the instructions properly as some require the solution to be dry before you can return the rabbits to the hutch.
A natural alternative is a solution made from two parts warm water and one part vinegar.
Fly deterrant
Recipe for homemade fly deterrant
Ingredients:
250ml cold tea
250ml cider vinegar
10drops citronella
10drops lavendar
Add to a 1ltr bottle, shake it up and spray around the rabbit hutch. Flys hate it and it is totally harmless.
Source: Golden Bunnies Forum
Ingredients for your natural rabbit hutch fly deterrant
Rabbit runs
Your rabbits need exercise
Rabbits dig, so the run will need a wire floor, not only to keep bunny in but to keep out predators, such as foxes, and rodents, such as rats.
The top of the run should also be covered to keep out predators. It is also a good idea to cover parts of the run to provide shade, even if they do have a shelter.
Make your own rabbit run
Free plans for rabbit runs
- The Rabbit House - Rabbit Run Plans
- Rabbit Run Plans and DIY Advice
- Collapsible Rabbit Run by Skelekitty - Google 3D Warehouse
- Life size rabbit run - real life plans, ready for actual construction
Keeping pet rabbits
Advice on the care of rabbits
More Pages about Keeping Rabbits
Feeding Pet Rabbits & Rabbit Health Problems
Feeding Pet Rabbits
Rabbit Health Problems
Keeping Rabbits
Sources of information about rabbit hutches and care of rabbits
- How Big or Small Should Your Rabbit Hutch be?
- Looks at the essential size of hutch needed for rabbits.
- Right size rabbit hutch
- It's common knowledge that the rabbit hutches and runs that are sold in most pet shops are often far too small to keep adult rabbits in. Unfortunately, many
- The Rabbit House - Rabbit Hutches
- Info about rabbit hutches
- Caring for your rabbits
- Pet information and downloadable fact sheets
Have you found the best rabbit hutch for your bunny?
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wheresthekarma
Feb 5, 2012 @ 5:54 pm | delete
- I miss my bunny reading this lens. Man i wish i would of seen some of these hutches when I had her! Very nice.
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bejeezers Feb 5, 2012 @ 5:17 pm | delete
- Nice lense - full of good advice.
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sousababy
Oct 27, 2011 @ 6:26 pm | delete
- Oh, I think I want to live in a rabbit hutch! A friend of mine just acquired a pet rabbit, I must show her these. Thanks for sharing!
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jbhumbug
Oct 25, 2011 @ 7:39 am | delete
- wow great lens and very informative. thanks for the recipe for repelling flies. will visit again so much to read and we want the best for our bunnies :)
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sidther
Sep 23, 2011 @ 8:31 am | delete
- Oh I love this! We are about to build a new home for Backsplash (our very BIG bunny). We bought the biggest that they had at the pet supply place when we bought him last year but he is just too big for it now. We have to keep him indoors here so he is right next to the computer (we put baby gates all around the desk to keep him away from the wires).
Thanks so much for the size recommendations, it really helps to know how big this needs to be!
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