Best rabbit hutch

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,
who are still very active and healthy despite being 8 years old!

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 ilustration is actually a hen coop, that can also be used for rabbits.

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.

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.

Rabbits are clean animals and will use the same area for toiletting. The hutch and run will need clearing out regularly. This is particularly important in warm weather as their droppings and urine will attract flies, which can be a major hazard to keeping your rabbits healthy.

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.

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

No matter how big their hutch, your rabbits will also need a secure place to run around in during the day, providing the weather is not too severe and if this run is not attached to the hutch, then the rabbits will need somewhere to shelter or to get out of the sun. Rabbits cannot tolerate hot conditions!

Rabbits dig, so the run will need a wire floor and 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.

We put our rabbits in their hutch at night, which we then cover.

Although we rarely see predators such as foxes in our garden, rabbits can become ill if frightened and so we make sure they are unable to see anything that could visit under cover of darkness.