Best Rabbit Hutch 2021: The ultimate guide

£159.99

This is a top choice on Amazon. This large double rabbit hutch offers very spacious living conditions that is vital to the health and well being of your very precious pets. It can be used indoor or outdoors and has 4 access doors, the top floor can be shut off at night.

The curved edge felt roof ensures water runs off the hutch keeping your pet dry and the secure wire mesh and latches help keep your pet safe from predators. It’s a great looking product and highly practical. The hutch arrives flat packed with all instructions and consumer reviews say it is easily put together.

Pets Imperial® Wentworth Large Chicken Coop Hen Ark House Poultry Run Nest Box Rabbit Hutch Suitable For Up To 4 Birds – Integrated Run & Cleaning Tray & Innovative Locking Mechanism

Pets Imperial® Wentworth

AffiliateLink

This is a large multi purpose hutch that can be used fr other animals such as chickens, rabbit, ferrets, guinea pigs and birds. It has an integrated run and is totally fox proof meaning you can rest assured that your pets are safe and secure.

The hutch/coop is made form animal friendly treated timber with a roof access. It arrives flat packed and when erected has the following dimensions 203cm x 75cm x 103cm (including the nest box). Again reviews say it is easy to assemble with one review saying ‘there is loads of space for the bunnies to run around in and then a lovely cosy nest area for them to keep snug! Excellent value for money too.

FeelGoodUK Rabbit Hutch, 150 x 66 x 100 cm

FeelGoodUK Rabbit Hutch

AffiliateLink

£149.99

Another hutch from FeelGoodUK, this hutch and run is really nice looking. It is also offers spacious living conditions, keeping your pets happy and healthy. It is manufactured using fir wood, this combination produces a great looking and highly practical hutch and run for your pet.

The hutch and run arrive flat packed but is easy to assemble resulting in a hutch and run of the following dimensions: overall width 150cm, overall depth 66cm and overall height 100cm. The same company also offers an extension run giving your beloved pets even more freedom.

FeelGoodUK BUNNY ARK – Hybrid – Double Tier Rabbit Hutch Guinea Pig House Cage Pen Home (RH10) – In Stock

FeelGoodUK BUNNY ARK

AffiliateLink

£144.99

This stunning Bunny Ark Hutch & Run is fantastic looking. Another pet house from FeelGoodUK with consumers rating the hutches higher than most others available on Amazon. This hutch double height, has 2 access doors and is manufactured using wood and plastic, this combination produces a great looking, highly practical hutch and run for your pet.

The lower run area has a secure locking door to allow your pet to roam out of the hutch if needed and it is suitable for indoor and outdoor use. The overall dimensions when assembled are: Width 150cm, Depth 66cm, Height 100cm

Confidence Pet 3ft Rabbit Hutch

Confidence Pet 3ft Rabbit Hutch

AffiliateLink

This is a 2 story great looking hutch which provides a safe and durable home for your pet. Upstairs is a resting/sleeping area providing your bunny with some privacy to feel safe a secure. Downstairs which is accessed via a ramp offers an integral run. There are top and bottom access doors making it easy to allow your bunny out or to clean the hutch.

The hutch is fox proof and comes flat packed which when fully assembled has the following overall dimensions:92 x 45 x 85cm. Its a well made hutch whichgives your cute bunny a place it can officially call home!

Shopping Guide: Everything you need to know about rabbit hutches

With rabbits being such a popular pet to own, it’s important to protect them and keep them safe from predators. Continue reading to learn more about what makes a good rabbit hutch as well as understanding more about these loveable pets through our commonly asked questions.

Beautiful young woman holding cute rabbit in pet shop — Rabbits are sweet and loving animals who, thanks to their character, have become popular companion animals. (Source: belchonock: 97323585/ 123rf.com)

Should my rabbit leave its hutch?

A hutch will provide your rabbit with a private home where it feels safe and protected, but every animal also needs fresh air and new stimuli. So, even if you have a nice big hutch, experts recommend that you let your rabbit run around the house or the garden for at least two hours every day. This will give them enough exercise and stop them from getting bored.

Some rabbits are quieter and may not want to go out of their hutch everyday but they should always have the opportunity. On the other hand, you may have a very adventurous rabbit who wants to get out and explore, if this is the case, you should try and make his/her time outside as stimulating as possible.

little rabbits. rabbit in farm cage or hutch. Breeding rabbits concept.Rabbits — Remember that it is important that your pets spend time in the fresh air. (Source: Glushchenko: 83045343/ 123rf.com)

What are the advantages and disadvantages of having a rabbit as a pet?

Owning a pet rabbit began in the 1980s, when the idea of the domestic rabbit as a house companion was promoted but domestic rabbits were exclusively farm animals. The breed of rabbit you choose will really depend on your and its character but if you love rabbits and are thinking of adopting one, here are the key advantages and disadvantages of having one as a pet:

Advantages

Rabbits don”t need very much attention. If you work all day, it won”t be a problem.
They are calm and affectionate animals, so they”re perfect for young children.
They are very clean and their droppings will be collected in the bottom section of their cage.
They adapt well to different environments
They are clever animals and you can teach them to do their business wherever is most convenient

Disadvantages

Your rabbit may gnaw at the bottom of your furniture or your electrical cables if you don”t keep an eye on them.
They often have delicate health, so you may need to visit the vet regularly.
They don”t get along with dogs or cats
Rabbits are nocturnal so they may be noisy while you”re trying to sleep.
Once they reach sexual maturity, they become very unruly when in heat.

How do I keep my rabbit hutch clean?

Rabbits are very clean animals so it is important to keep their space free from urine and droppings to prevent unpleasant smells and a place where bacteria will breed that can be harmful to your rabbit. It is advisable to have separate areas within your rabbit hutch, and having a tray in the area where you want your pet to do its business.

You can train your rabbit to use a litter tray by placing a few droppings into the tray until your rabbit learns that this is the place to do its business. This makes cleaning the tray very easy and gives your rabbit a hygienic environment to live. The tray and surrounding area should be cleaned pretty much everyday and the cleaned thoroughly once a week.

Funny baby white rabbit with a carrot in grass — Rabbits need a fair bit of space in order to run around as much as they’d like.
(Source: Melnychuk: 41557977/ 123rf.com)

How can I disinfect my rabbit hutch?

As part of regularly cleaning the hutch, you must disinfect it every month. You can buy products designed for this purpose or you can use vinegar and boiling water. It is important to disinfect all parts of the hutch as well as all objects which are inside it.

It’s important that you completely submerge the drinking bottle in boiling water, as well as all other objects which your rabbit uses. You should also remove all stains from the tray, which can be done with vinegar, in order to eliminate odours.

We recommend you clean the wires of the cage one by one with soapy water.

How big should a rabbit hutch be?

Experts say that your rabbit hutch should be as large as possible for the space you have available. Your rabbit should have sufficient space to be able to stretch and and stand up in its home. Under no circumstances should your rabbit have to bend over or crouch as it walks around.

As we briefly mentioned earlier in this article, it is advisable for your rabbit hutch to have different areas for eating, playing and resting. The areas do not need to be separated with walls, but should have distinct elements to differentiate them. To ensure the comfort of your rabbit in its home, fresh bedding should be plentiful and well padded in the sleeping area. Straw, hay, wood shavings or shredded paper are all good options.

white and black rabbit in a cage eating — Rabbit hutches are ideal for keeping your pet safe.
(Source: Petrunina: 80958236/ 123rf.com)

Where should I put my rabbit hutch?

It’s important to keep your rabbit hutch somewhere well ventilated, but away from a draft and not in direct sunlight, rabbits very easily overheat so to keep your pet safe and comfortable by following these guidelines. Additionally, the hutch should be close to the parts of the house where there is activity.

This is because rabbits like human contact, and will become bored and even depressed if they are left in an isolated area. At the same time, you should avoid placing it somewhere where there is a lot of traffic, or you may keep tripping over it.

Can I keep a rabbit hutch in my bedroom?

Whilst you can put your rabbit hutch wherever you choose to, remember that rabbits are nocturnal animals so may well keep you awake during the night when they become active. This will depend on how well trained, clean and healthy your pet is, though remember that the cage will always smell at least a little.

Rabbits are often very active between midnight and 2am. They also generally like to play in the hour before dawn, from around 5 to 6 in the morning.

Your cuddly pet will take the opportunity to sleep during the day while you are at work or busy with other activities.

What should I feed my pet rabbit?

As we all know, rabbits love carrots. In reality, these little animals are big fans of any kind of vegetable. To keep your pet well fed and happy, be sure to give them a range of vegetables including broccoli, lettuce, parsley, cabbage, coriander, spinach, tomato and celery.

Another important part of your rabbit’s diet is hay, and it should be given in unlimited quantities. The long hay fibres are essential to keep its intestine healthy as well as stopping hairballs from forming in the stomach. Finally, make sure that your rabbit doesn’t start eating vegetables until it is at least 3 months old.

Young man playing with pet rabbit at home — The lower part of the hutch is very important, as it is where your rabbit will spend the majority of their time. (Source: Evgenii-Vershinin: 106091969/ 123rf.com)

Is a rabbit hutch suitable for a hare?

People often get rabbits and hares confused. They are actually completely different animals. You can tell them apart because hare are generally larger and faster than rabbits, and also have longer ears. Hares have also not been domesticated.

In a nutshell, while a rabbit makes an excellent pet, a hare would be very unhappy inside the house and even more so inside a cage.

In fact, most species of hare are not even suitable as farm animals. While rabbits are happy to be around people, hares will always be cautious and reluctant to get close to humans.

What kind of floor should my rabbit hutch have?

If rabbits sit on hard or wet surfaces this will often lead to a condition called pododermatitis, which means sores develop on the hind legs. This is why you need to make sure your hutch has a comfortable floor. If the base of the hutch has bars, be sure to cover them with something flat and solid.

It is also common to use woodchips to cover the floor, as they are great for absorbing urine odours while being comfortable for your rabbit. In your pet’s sleeping area you can place something soft like newspaper or a soft, fluffy blanket.

little boy feeding two rabbits in farm on beautiful sunny day — Rabbits are very loving with people and are not dangerous for children. (Source: levranii: 17640180/ 123rf.com)

Can I put a pregnant rabbit in the same hutch as a male rabbit?

Rabbits can live together as long as the hutch is big enough to allow them to do all of things a rabbit needs to do as previously described. If a female rabbit becomes pregnant, it must be separated from the others. Pregnant female rabbits become unruly and may attack others, as part of their instincts to protect their young. Therefore it’s important to give them their own private space.

Giving birth is arduous and can even be harmful to a rabbit’s health, so it’s not advisable to let them give birth more than twice a year. Vets tell us that rabbits are ok to breed between the ages of eight months and four years. It’s also advisable to wait for the rabbits to be in season.

Size

If you get your pet rabbit as a baby, do your research about the breed so you know how big it will be fully grown. Rabbits need to have adequate space to stretch and move around so you want to ensure they have adequate space. It is best to buy the biggest hutch as possible depending of course on the space you have available.

Even if your pet is let out of his hutch for a few hours a day, it also needs space to move around in its little house. It needs to be able to run around and play in order to be happy. The RSPCA recommends that a rabbit hutch should be at least 50cm high.

View this post on Instagram

How #amazing is #princess Penelope's set up 👀 we love how our bunnies are pampered ❤ . . #pamperedpets #princesspenelope #setup #bunny #toys #weeklyfluff #bunniesofinsta #rabbitsofinsta #justtoohiptohop

A post shared by Lollipop Lops (@lollipoplops) on Jun 5, 2019 at 11:24am PDT

Materials

If you are concerned about keeping your rabbit hutch clean, skip ones which are entirely made of wood, as this material will absorb and retain urine and makes it very difficult to get the smell out. Plastic and metal materials are easiest to keep clean. On the other hand, wood is comfortable for the sleeping areas and also helps to keep the hutch warm.

If you are planning to keep your pet’s home outside, it must be waterproof, especially the roof. You’ll also need to make sure that the materials and paint are not toxic, especially considering rabbits like to gnaw at parts of their hutch.

Keep weather and climate in mind when choosing your rabbit hutch’s materials. Rabbits cannot tolerate extreme temperatures.

Design

As already mentioned, a rabbit hutch should have different spaces to suit your pet’s different activities. You can buy a hutch which already has separate areas, or alternatively, you can buy a more simple cage and make partitions to divide it up. Here are the most common designs for rabbit hutches:

Wire cage:This design gives you many possibilities to come up with your own design and create the perfect space for your rabbit, using different wire cages and connectors. You can also buy cages which are pre-assembled, and join more than one cage together.
Stable style:This is usually the most spacious and deluxe style of rabbit hutch. They are divided into separate areas and usually some open areas for the rabbit to play in, and other sheltered zones for sleeping. Many models have multiple levels, connected by steps or a ramp.
Simple style:Many rabbit hutches are a simple wide rectangle with an opening on the top or the side. These are most often made of plastic and metal and can be divided up by placing partitions inside.

View this post on Instagram

Nice clean cage that will only last a whole 5 minutes 😂 . . . . #housebunnies #animalsofig #petstagram #bunny #bunniesofinstagram #bunniesofig #lionheadbunny #petsofinstagram #cleancage #bunn

A post shared by Floss (@badbunfloss) on Jun 5, 2019 at 11:21am PDT

Accessories

A good rabbit hutch should have various accessories to make it pleasant and comfortable for your pet. It must have different areas for your pet to eat, play and sleep. It should also have the elements your rabbit needs on a daily basis. The key ones are:

Water bottle. Rather than a bowl for water, you should give your pet rabbit a drinking bottle which keeps the water fresh and clean. An open bowl risks pieces of hay or even droppings falling into it. The bottle should be fixes surely to the bars or side of the hutch.
Hay rack. Rabbits always need plenty of hay on hand. It is a critical part of their diet and you can buy hay racks to neatly put the hay all in the same spot.
Feed bowl. This is where you can put the food pellets or vegetables you will be giving to your rabbit daily.
Litter tray. This hygienic tray is designed for your rabbit to do your business so that it can be easily cleaned up.
Toys. To keep your rabbit happy in its hutch be sure to give it toy to chew him, as well as provide ramps or stairs for exercise.
Brush. You need to brush your rabbit from time to time to remove dead hair.
Blanket. The perfect way to create a comfy spot for your pet to sleep is by putting down a fluffy blanket.
Hut or box. Your pet will appreciate a quiet and safe place to rest, so having a little hut or enclosed box as part of your rabbit hutch is ideal.

Base

The bottom of your rabbit hutch is very important as it is where your pet sits for most of the day. As we’ve already covered, these animals’ hind legs are very sensitive. Often, the hutch’s own floor will be perfectly adequate, but in other cases, you’ll need to put something down to ensure your pet’s comfort.

A hutch with a metal or smooth plastic base will be easiest to clean, but less comfortable for your pet. This is where newspaper or woodchips come in handy. These materials will absorb urine and will need to be regularly changed for hygienic purposes, but are also much better for your pet.