About Rabbit Hutches

A rabbit hutch is a safe habitat to keep pet rabbits shaded, off the ground and enclosed if they are going to be living outdoors full-time. The perfect rabbit hutch has enough room for the rabbit to hop around, and a ceiling high enough for the rabbit to stand up on its hind legs and look around. Here are more facts about hutches.

  1. Function

    • The function of a rabbit hutch is to house outdoor rabbits safely and comfortably. A rabbit is susceptible to illness caused by heat, so a hutch will need a shady roof and should be located in a shady section of the yard to prevent heatstroke.

    Features

    • A rabbit hutch can be one room or can be two with a passage big enough for the rabbit to move between them. One room is generally used for food and water dishes, the second room is used for the rabbit to rest or pass waste. The walls of a rabbit hutch are made of strong wire mesh that the rabbit can't chew through. The frame of the hutch is generally made of wood. A hutch can stand up to four feet tall to keep the rabbit off the ground and safe from predators. Most hutches come with a metal litter tray that slides underneath the wire floor of the hutch. There is a hinged, slide-locking door for getting the rabbits in and out of the hutch.

    Potential

    • Having an outdoor hutch gives a rabbit more room than an indoor cage. This makes it easier for the owner to have more than one rabbit. Rabbits are social creatures and enjoy company.

    Size

    • A rabbit hutch usually rectangular, and averages 5 feet by 4 feet. Hutches can be custom made in any size.

    Expert Insight

    • To keep rabbits who live in hutches comfortable, it's a good idea to make the hutch as cozy as possible. Put in a blanket, hang a bell from a wire to dangle into the center of the cage for the rabbit to play with, add in a littler tray with newspapers the rabbit can jump in and out of and shred the papers up for fun. Keeping two bunnies together makes the rabbits feel secure and bonded. Handle the rabbits daily.

    Considerations

    • If you have dogs, it's a good idea to place the hutch in an area that the dogs can't access. Because a hutch has a wire mesh bottom, a dog can easily gnaw from underneath the hutch. Rabbits are very social, so locating the hutch near to where the family traffic is highest benefits the rabbits and the human families for more frequent interaction.

    Theories/Speculation

    • A rabbit hutch keeps rabbits sequestered out away from the family. If the family prefers a rabbit well-socialized to people, the family should make a practice of continually bringing the rabbit indoors for family exposure and playtime.