The magic of those times remains with me to this day and as a consequence I have recently acquired a Black Alaskan and a Mini Lop, for my grand daughters of course!
Buying a rabbit is easy - go to a breeder or local pet shop and voila! Setting up a responsible suitable home for them is something else!!
First things first:
The breed dictates the style and size of hutch that's required to house them, whether you intend to have them inside or outside your home
There are numerous hutches on the market for inside and outside use but be careful - those that appear outwardly attractive, in my experience, don't do the job
Wooden
This outdoor style appears rather cute and offers a built in run on the bottom level. The problem with this, in my opinion , is that the bottom is open to the elements, it's difficult to secure from predators such as rats or foxes and allows damp to rise into the small upper level which is intended to house the rabbit. It's only 147cm wide and 85cm high with a maximum depth of 53cm. Not enough space for a rabbit, especially the larger breeds, more suited to Guinea pigs. Experience has taught me that the better option is a hutch with an integral bottom, one that is large enough to house the animal of your choice. The downside of this is that appropriate sized hutches are not cheap but I'm sure you'll agree that it's utterly cruel to house any animal within the confines of an inappropriate space.Take a look at this 4 foot model - legs to raise it from the damp ground, integral bottom layer that is both protective in terms of unwanted predators, shelter and warmth
The RSPCA state that the minimum recommended size for the living space, e.g. hutch or cage, is 12 square feet (1.1 square meters), for example 6'x2' (1.8mx0.6m), with the addition of a larger area (32 sq. ft.) for exercise. This is just the minimum though; try to give your rabbit as much space as you can.
The Rabbit House website is an informative site that tells you all you need to know about keeping a rabbit as a pet
'A hutch should be large enough for your rabbit to move comfortably, have enclosed area for your rabbit to sleep/hide in, and provide secure shelter from predators and inclement weather. Sturdily built hutches in larger sizes and with multiple levels are becoming more easily available, but if you can't find a supplier try commissioning one from a local carpenter - or make your own.
If you're intending to house your rabbit outside in a hutch, the following are some points you should consider:
Plastic
Although I have not used one of these I have had good reports on their viability. All the plastic rabbit hutches have in common innovative technical features rendering them very safe and comfortable: inside, they have a rabbit house with wooden wall and entrance door, a useful openable side door and efficient secure lock systems. As for maintenance, no problems! The plastic hutches Grand Lodge have a fully opening roof and a practical pull-out tray.
Outdoor runs
These obviously come in all shapes & sizes and are made from various materialsAs always, the type you choose depends on the rabbits that you have and the outside space that is available to you
Wooden
Pet Planet
Pets at Home
UK Pets Online
Runaround
Amazon
and many more.................
Metal
I have an apex version which is 8 feet in length and approx. 6 feet wide but there are flat topped versions which work just as well -the idea of the top is protection - stops them from getting away and also protects them from other animals, birds, cats and the like
These can be sourced from various outlets
Ebay, Amazon, Zooplus and many more........
Word of warning - noticed some articles on rabbits that have been left unattended in these runs. They have injured themselves trying to get through the bars. Use common sense - all animals need to be monitored and if you are going to use one of these only use them when you're about to watch what's going on - DO NOT LEAVE RABBITS UNATTENDED
If you're going all out on the latest 'grand design' then remember
Rabbits need shelter from the sun as well as the colder elements
They need access to either their hutch or a rabbit hide in the run
They need access to fresh food and water at all times
Indoor rabbits
Keeping rabbits inside as house pets is becoming increasingly popular. Some owners give their rabbits free-range of the house or their own room, others prefer to setup a cage or pen and provide supervised access for exercise.Even though house rabbits do not have to cope with changing weather or predators they still need access to an enclosed area to retreat too. Unlike hutches most indoor cages do not provide this so you will need to add a separate sleeping box.
The most common options for indoor housing are listed below:
A wide range of indoor 'rabbit' cages are available, but only a few provide enough space to meet the minimum guidelines on housing size. Most designs are similar with a plastic tray forming the base and a wire section for the top. You'll need to add an enclosed box to provide a sleeping/hiding area.
These cages are neat and easy to clean. However, large cages are expensive compared to the amount of space they provide, and not available in most pet shops so you'll need to order one in or buy online. Unless your rabbit will be spending a lot of time free ranging out of the cage, you'll also need to factor in the cost of attaching an exercise pen.
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| 5ft x 2.5ft approx £120 |
A dog crate makes an excellent and cheaper alternative to a rabbit cage. A large dog crate will cost around half the price of a similar size rabbit cage. Dog crates are wider than most cages making the floor area roughly equivalent to a 6'x2' cage. The extra height (as they are designed to accommodate dogs) means there is plenty of room for a shelf to increase the floor area further. The down side with dog crates is the shallow tray, which does not contain mess, but this can be remedied by adding a large storage box as a litter tray.
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| 4ft x 2.5ft approx. £50
Making your own custom cage is a good alternative to commercial
cages. It allows you to create something that fits the space you have
available - ideal if you want to build up, in a corner or have an
L-shape space. You can also build something that matches your rabbit's
needs for example a large flat cage for an elderly or mobility impaired
rabbit or a high cage for a rabbit that likes to climb.
There are lots of different ways to build a cage - you can start
from scratch, customise a piece of furniture or use ready-made
materials. Storage cubes are an easy way to make a cage even if you
aren't comfortable with DIY. They are simple grids that you fix together
with cable ties to create the shape you want. These are very flexible
and you can extend later by adding addition panels.
5ft x 2.5ft cage - cost approx. £40
An indoor playpen is a good way to provide an exercise area if
you have a cage or dog crate, but it can also be used on its own instead
of a 'cage', just with a sleeping box for shelter.
Pens are available is a wide variety of sizes and many can be
extended by adding extra panels. Most pens do not include lids or floors
so you may need to make some adjustments to protect your flooring and
prevent escapes. One big benefit of a pen is you can walk in and sit
with your rabbit. A 2ft x 6ft cost approx. £55
 LITTLE FRIENDS Indoor Rabbit 100 Cage with Run£44 for both
Whatever bunny you decide on and whatever 'des res' you decide to build always take a peep at the following guides - they'll give you all the information, hints & tips you'll need for a happy future together
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