Rabbit Hutch Ideas

Rabbit hutches come in many shapes and sizes. Some provide protection from the weather and predators for outdoor rabbits. Others offer a safe place for rabbits kept inside the house or in a barn. Hutches can be made of wood, wire or metal. Each type has positive and negative characteristics that need to be weighed when choosing a house for your pet. Ultimately, you want to provide your rabbit with a place to feel safe and secure.

  1. Wooden Hutches

    • Wooden hutches are best for protecting your rabbit outdoors. They are sturdy and look nice. Outdoors, your rabbit needs protection from predators such as raccoons, dogs, and opossums. They also need adequate shelter from wind, rain and sun. Wooden hutches may have wire floors or solid floors. Wire floors allow the droppings to fall out of the cage, making it easier to keep clean. Solid floors are easier on your rabbit's feet, but your rabbit will need a litter pan so it doesn't soil its hutch. Wood can be difficult to keep clean because it absorbs urine if your rabbit doesn't use his pan.

    Wire Hutches

    • Wire hutches are designed to be easy to clean. They may come with a tray beneath a wire floor to catch the droppings. Wire hutches work well if you keep your rabbit in the house. They are the cage of choice for rabbit hobbyists and commercial rabbit breeders. They can be set on tables or shelves, or hung from the walls or ceilings of a shed or barn. You can also find wire cages in stacks of two or three cages. This saves you floor space while housing your rabbits individually in safe homes. They are usually referred to as rabbit condos. They offer great ventilation to your pet. Pet-style wire hutches offer a solid plastic floor that you can fill with bedding. These cages are designed to be kept in the house and may be designed to rest on wheeled stands so you can move your pet's home from room to room.

    Design Your Own Hutch

    • If you decide to design your own hutch, take a look at plans online (see References) to get ideas. You can build a standard hutch from wood and wire if you wish. If you have a lot of room available, you can use stackable storage cube pieces to make the hutch of your rabbit's dreams indoors, where it isn't in danger from other animals. If you have a barn, you may choose to make an old horse stall into a large, roomy hutch. You are limited by only your imagination, your budget and your resources. Ultimately, your rabbit will be happy as long as he feels safe.