Rabbits may be housed either
outdoors in a sheltered area of the 
garden in a spacious hutch or live indoors as house-rabbits.
There are some excellent indoor cages available for pampered house-bunnies and we strongly recommend that your bunny lives indoors with you wherever possible.
These are the recommended minimum hutch sizes for bunnies living outdoors (outdoor buns should always live in neutered, compatible pairs):
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For a pair of SMALL rabbits (Netherland Dwarfs).
Hutch - 10 sq ft & 2ft high /0.9 sq m & 60cm
high (i.e. 5ft x 2ft x 2ft Single Storey) .
For a pair of MEDIUM rabbits. Hutch - 16 sq ft & 2 ft high / 1.44 sq m & 60cm high (i.e. 6ft x3 ft x 2ft Single Storey or 4ft x 2ft x 2ft Double Storey). For a pair of LARGE rabbits. Hutch - 18 sq ft & 2 ft high / 1.65 sq m & 60cm high (i.e. 6ft x 3ft x 2ft Single Storey or 5ft x 2ft x 2ft Double Storey (20 sq ft)). These do not have to be the exact measurements for each hutch, as the size can be made up with more than one storey. Rabbit Runs (L x W x H): Run For ANY size pair of rabbits, minimum size - 6ft x 3ft x 2ft / 180cm x 90cm x 60cm (18 sq ft / 1.65 sq m) |
Hutch Sizes
Small rabbits living outdoors will require a hutch of at least 5' x 2' x 18" high as an absolute minimum for a pair of small/medium sized bunnies such as mini lops.
Large breeds require
considerably more space - French Lops will need a hutch of 6' wide x 3' deep x 2'
high to allow ample room to stretch out, move around comfortably and groom
themselves.
All bunnies will also need a larger exercise pen or safe area as shown on the EXERCISE PEN page.
All outdoor bunnies should be housed in neutered pairs to provide companionship and stimulation to help prevent boredom. The ideal pairing is boy-girl while girl-girl littermate sisters as second preference. Boys should be neutered at puberty, ie about 12-14 weeks of age and girls should be spayed at 6 months of age.
Unless the hutch is sheltered all round, approximately 25-30% should be divided into 'sleeping quarters' (though this area is more commonly preferred as the toilet/litter tray area) and must be weather-proof.
Always ensure your hutch is placed in a sheltered area of the garden. Shelter from rain and draughts is essential as is shade from direct sun. Your rabbit can very rapidly develop heatstroke from being forced to bake in the sun and this leads to a very miserable death.
We do not like or recommend the cramped 3' hutches sold by many pet shops are suitable only for guinea pigs or a single Netherland Dwarf rabbit - at a squeeze but we still recommend a 4' hutch for a Netherland Dwarf. They are far too cramped for all other breeds. However, if you have two of these then it will take only a few minutes to remove the thin, flimsy plywood side panels and join them together to make a 6' long hutch. This offers more options and allows space for a pair of mini lops, dwarf lops or other medium-sized buns. They do not have the height required for a large breed such as a French Lop. In the interests of rabbit health and welfare, we would like to see these hutches banned.
'Pet Shop' Hutches:
Generally, most typical 'pet shop' hutches are of a very poor quality constructed from 4mm plywood which rots quickly and has a drumming effect if your bunny is a thumper while the floors soon begin to sag. The 3' hutches sometimes promoted as 'starter' hutches are far too cramped for any breed, even a single Netherland Dwarf. Nor are they particularly practical....
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There is seldom a roof overhang to the fronts and sides so rain tends to soak the bedding and general weatherproofing is minimal. |
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The hinges soon rust and those which don't have hinges suspend doors on pins which, apart from snapping after a few months of use, actually create a gap in which a youngster's neck could become trapped. |
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The thin 4mm plywood soon rots and it doesn't take a thumping bunny long to shatter the floor! |
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Most are just 14-18" deep which is inadequate. A depth of 2' offers much more space to move and turn around. |
We neither like nor recommend buying this type of hutch. Although they are relatively cheap, spending £50 on these hutches is usually false economy as they tend to have a very short lifespan and will very soon need replacing.
'DIY' Hutches:
It is usually *much* better to either make your own hutch or to buy a better quality hutch which could last for 10 years or more. A local handy-man may construct one for you using quality tongue & groove timber or 3/4" hardwood ply.
Alternatively, you could contact one of the hutch manufacturers listed below. These produce tried and tested hutches of a vastly superior quality to those sold by most pet shop branches. We feel it is far better value to invest in a good quality, spacious hutch which will have a longer lifespan, offer better value for money and a happier, healthier life for your bunny.
As a rough guide, when fully-grown your bunny must be able to do at least 4 bunny-hops along the length of his hutch and be able to stand up on his/her hind legs without hitting the roof.
Remember: bunnies are designed to run, jump and binky - not to be confined to small hutches or cages.
Please do not allow your bunny to become a caged prisoner.
We have listed a few local and national suppliers at the foot of this page.
The floor should be lined with a layer of absorbent and insulating bedding such as wood shavings (not sawdust which can irritate eyes and ears) or chopped straw, with a thick layer of hay or straw to provide warmth. The remaining 70-75% should be carpeted with wood-shavings or chopped straw. Your rabbit will probably soil only one corner of the hutch and wood-shavings in this area should be replaced daily.
Alternatively, a litter tray lined with shavings could be placed in this corner, for convenience. Bedding should be replaced weekly or more frequently if it becomes soiled. For more tips on litter-training, please go to: litter-training page
Some rabbit-keepers (often Americans or UK breeders of Angora) like to use mesh-floored hutches. These can be excellent for large rabbits who are not litter trained. However, they can be cold and draughty in inclement weather and can lead to sore hocks (feet) in rabbits with smaller paws. Rabbits housed on mesh will need a timber platform or similar - plastic dog beds filled with hay and straw are excellent and our bunnies residing in 'The Octagon', love them!
Combined hutches and runs, whereby the hutch is placed on the run and connected by a ramp is a highly practical option - giving your bunny/ies extra freedom and shelter in inclement weather.
A sample combined outdoor hutch and run design appears on our hutch-design page, along with a few pics of a well-designed hutch for outdoor bunnies.
Our (breeding) hutches are shown in the following albums:
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These are occupied overnight only as the buns are out in runs or free in the garden during the daytime.
We have included links to some UK Hutch Manufacturers on the Hutch-Makers page. We also offer a small range available via mail order from our online shop.
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