Choosing The Right Size Rabbit Hutch
Anyone who owns a pet rabbit knows that the animals need space to play and exercise in order to stay healthy. Exercise time can, to a certain extent, be provided by an outside run or letting the rabbit roam the house (supervised). It’s important to have a hutch that provides enough room for your rabbit to move around freely though, otherwise it may suffer both mentally and physically.
Despite this, many rabbit owners still used old fashioned hutches that were designed to be used when breeding rabbits for food. These hutches were designed to be small and relatively in order to “fatten up” the animal. It goes without saying that these don’t provide the space and comfort that a pet rabbit needs!
There is still some confusion about the size of rabbit hutch that a pet owner should be, and research is still ongoing. This can make it difficult for pet owners as there is a lot of conflicting information. It does depend on the size of the rabbit – a single dwarf doesn’t require as much room as larger breeds – but there are some general guidelines to follow. The following were recommended by the RSPCA, although they are currently undertaking more research into the “ideal” hutch:
Rabbits need to be able to stand up fully as well as move around freely. Many hutches have low roofs, so keep this in mind when choosing one.
It’s important to keep in mind that these guidelines should apply when the rabbit is fully grown. The RSPCA recommends buying a hutch that will last the lifetime of the rabbit, rather than a “starter” home and a larger “adult” home.
Aside from the size of the hutch, there are a number of other considerations. The hutch should be made up of both a shelter and a living area. The living area is where the rabbit can hop around, eat, and play, while the shelter is a place where it can feel secure and rest. If you keep several rabbits in the same hutch, they should all be able to rest in the shelter at the same time. The shelter is particularly important for rabbits kept in outdoor hutches, as it provides shelter from the environment and a place to hide if there are any predators around.
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