Rabbit Housing

Rabbit Housing Guide

Bringing a rabbit into your home can be a truly rewarding experience, but it's important to understand what’s involved before you make the commitment.

Rabbits are not low maintenance pets. They need a safe, bunny proofed environment and plenty of attention. While they’ll enjoy spending time with you and their favorite toys, they’re social creatures and most need the companionship of another rabbit to feel truly fulfilled.

It’s also crucial to consider the long term responsibilities as rescues are already overflowing and finding homes for rabbits can be tough. If you’re ready to meet their needs, keep reading to learn more about what’s involved!

Finding the Right Space for Your Bunny (Indoor)

Free Roam (Recommended)

More Social Interaction: Free range rabbits have more opportunities to interact with their owners throughout the day.
Less Boredom: With access to a variety of environments and spaces, they’re less likely to get bored and more likely to stay entertained.
Natural Behavior: They can express more natural behaviors, such as exploring, hopping, and chewing (in safe areas), which contributes to their overall wellbeing.

Dedicated Room/Space

Safer Environment: With more control over the area, you can ensure the space is bunny proofed, preventing potential accidents or ingestion of harmful items.
Separation from Other Pets: If you have other pets (like dogs or cats), a dedicated room can help keep your rabbit safe and separate from potentially harmful interactions.
Great for Starting Off: For first-time rabbit owners, starting with a dedicated space gives you the opportunity to manage your rabbit’s transition into your home while keeping them safe and adjusting to their new environment.

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Preparation of an indoor area

Before your bunny starts hopping around, you’ll want to bunny proof the space.

Start by hiding or protecting any cables. Rabbits love to chew and electrical cords aren’t safe for them. You can use cable protectors or tuck them away where they can’t reach. Consider getting baseboard protectors in case your bunny decides to chew on the edges of your walls. Better safe than sorry!

Make sure your house plants are out of bunny’s reach. Many plants are toxic to rabbits, so it's best to move them to higher spots or get rid of any risky ones. You can always swap them for safe, rabbit friendly plants like wheatgrass if you’re feeling creative.

Rabbits have sensitive feet, so hard floors can be really tough on them. Without our cushy feet, they’re at risk of developing sore hocks if they’re on hard surfaces for too long and that can be tricky to treat.

To help prevent this, make sure to add a cushiony layer such as foam play mats to their favorite areas if they’re free roaming, or covering the entire space if they have a dedicated area. Then, just add your favorite absorbent liner or rugs on top, whatever works best for you!

Add the Final Touches

Space is Key

Rabbits are active animals and need plenty of space to hop, explore and stretch their legs.

If your rabbit has a dedicated play area or a pen, a good rule of thumb is to provide a MINIMUM of 3m x 2m x 1m high. This size will give your bunny room to move freely, which is essential for their physical and mental health.

Litter Box Setup

When it comes to rabbit litter boxes, there are many options out there, but a popular option is using a litter tray that’s ideally siftable. This makes cleaning much easier. I recommend adding a layer of wood fire pellets. These pellets are not only affordable but also do a fantastic job at soaking up both pee and odor. You can sift out the used pellets easily, keeping the tray clean and hygienic.

Since rabbits tend to toilet where they eat, it makes sense to combine their litter box with a hay feeder. Place the hay feeder near the litter tray and your rabbit will enjoy munching while they do their business.

Hides and Tunnels

As prey animals, rabbits are naturally inclined to seek out safe spots where they can hide when they feel stressed or threatened. To ensure your rabbit feels secure in their space, provide plenty of hiding spots.

Tunnels, cardboard boxes and hideaways with both an entrance and an exit are perfect for this purpose.

These spaces mimic their natural instincts and will help your bunny feel safe while still allowing them to explore.

Water and Food - Dishes Over Bottles!

It's crucial to provide your rabbit with fresh hay and water at all times. Water bottles are not suitable for rabbits, as they don’t allow the bunny to drink at their own pace and can cause unnecessary stress.

Instead, opt for flat and wide food and water dishes. This allows your rabbit to drink comfortably and you'll be able to easily monitor how much water they're consuming.

Enrichment - Keep Your Bunny Busy

Rabbits are highly intelligent and need plenty of mental stimulation to stay happy. Providing a variety of toys and activities will prevent boredom and help keep your rabbit engaged. Here are a few options to consider:

DIY Toys: Get creative with cardboard! A cardboard dig box or a hay feeder made from toilet rolls can be great DIY options that encourage your bunny to forage and play.

Store Bought Toys: There are plenty of great options you can purchase like hay balls, forage boxes, wooden toys and apple sticks which will keep your rabbit entertained and promote healthy chewing behavior.

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Outdoor Setup

When it comes to keeping rabbits outdoors, there's one common misconception that needs to be shattered, hutches alone are not sufficient housing for rabbits. While a hutch may seem like a quick and easy solution, it doesn't meet the essential needs of a rabbit's physical and psychological wellbeing.

Let’s dive into what makes a proper outdoor setup and why we need to rethink the traditional "hutch" approach.

Think Big, Think Creative

To give your rabbit the best outdoor experience, you need an enclosure that's far bigger than a typical hutch. The minimum size for your outdoor setup should be 3m x 2m but the bigger, the better! One way to think outside the box is by converting existing structures. For example, many rabbit owners repurpose dog runs or catios or even a kids playhouse to create large, safe spaces for rabbits. These setups are great because they offer a secure environment with plenty of room for exploration and shelter.

Shelter and Sleeping Quarters

Rabbits need a quiet, secure place to sleep and feel safe. Even if they have ample space to roam and explore a sheltered area for sleeping is essential. While many people associate a hutch with an outdoor shelter, it’s important to know that a hutch should not be your rabbit's primary living space.Instead, a sleeping area (hutch) should be considered an addition to your outdoor setup, not a standalone home. This shelter should be a minimum of 1.8m x 0.6m x 0.6m. Think of it as a cozy, protected space where your rabbit can sleep, eat, and relax without feeling exposed to the elements or predators.

Protecting Your Rabbits from Predators

When your rabbit is housed outdoors, it’s crucial to protect them from predators. You might think that just any old fence or wire will do, but that's not the case. Outdoor enclosures must be secure enough to keep out predators, from roaming cats to even tiny stoats that can sneak through the smallest openings. The most important consideration is the quality of your mesh. Avoid flimsy chicken wire, rabbits can easily chew through it! Instead, opt for welded mesh with a heavy gauge that’s strong and durable. The size of the holes in the mesh is also critical. The perfect hole size for keeping your rabbits safe is around 13mm, small enough to prevent them from squeezing through but big enough to allow for good ventilation.

Securing the Ground

Rabbits are expert diggers so it's essential to secure the bottom of your outdoor enclosure. To prevent your rabbit from digging their way out or predators from burrowing under, you'll need to lay down mesh at the base. Cover the entire enclosure with welded mesh and secure it to the frame of your setup or use weedmat pins to pin the mesh firmly into place. Once the mesh is in position, cover it with natural bedding like topsoil (without fertilisers) or barley straw.

Rabbit Housing Guide

Finding the Right Space for Your Bunny (Indoor)

Free Roam (Recommended)​​

More Social Interaction: Free range rabbits have more opportunities to interact with their owners throughout the day.

Less Boredom: With access to a variety of environments and spaces, they’re less likely to get bored and more likely to stay entertained.

Natural Behavior: They can express more natural behaviors, such as exploring, hopping, and chewing (in safe areas), which contributes to their overall wellbeing.

​ ​Dedicated Room/Space

Safer Environment: With more control over the area, you can ensure the space is bunny proofed, preventing potential accidents or ingestion of harmful items.

Separation from Other Pets: If you have other pets (like dogs or cats), a dedicated room can help keep your rabbit safe and separate from potentially harmful interactions.

Great for Starting Off: For first-time rabbit owners, starting with a dedicated space gives you the opportunity to manage your rabbit’s transition into your home while keeping them safe and adjusting to their new environment.