3 Important Issues to Consider Before Building or Buying Large Rabbit Hutches
After cats and dogs, the rabbit is the third most popular pet in the United Kingdom. Families keep nearly 1.5 million rabbits as pets and many rabbits have similar creature comforts of our much-loved felines and canines, which include homes consisting of large rabbit hutches and runs.
As ancestors of the wild rabbit, your pet rabbit will quite happily reside outside in rabbit hutches or indeed inside your home. It is the overall responsibility of the rabbit owner to ensure that the behavioural and physical needs of a rabbit are met so that they remain fit and content.
If you are thinking of building one or several large rabbit hutches then you might save a considerable amount of money in doing so. However, before you begin building large rabbit hutches or indeed contemplate buying large rabbit hutches from a retail seller then you should consider the 3 main critical factors discussed below.
1) Rabbit Hutch Length
It is very important that your pet rabbit has ample room to flex and stretch in every direction. Large rabbit hutches measuring 6 feet (approximately 1.80 metres) in length maybe suitable for one large rabbit or two medium size rabbits. To be specific, the length of a rabbit hutch should be determined by the amount of hops your rabbit can make within the rabbit hutch.
We recommend that this length should be a minimum of 3 to 4 clear hops. Anything smaller than the recommended size may result in health concerns for your rabbit that could include muscle reduction, stoutness or spinal complications.
2) Rabbit Hutch Width
When resting, a rabbit will often stretch out along the full width of their body. Consequently, a rabbit hutch should be wide enough to accommodate a resting rabbit and this will also provide ample room for your pet to change direction inside the rabbit hutch.
3) Rabbit Hutch Height
As with wild rabbits, your pet will check the safety of its immediate surroundings. Standing on their hind legs, your rabbit will listen, smell and view the area around it. Therefore, the height of a rabbit hutch must allow your rabbit to stand on their hind legs without their ears touching the top of the rabbit hutch. Some merchants describe their hutches as large rabbit hutches but these could be multi-purpose hutches used for housing other animals such as ferrets and do not have the necessary height for a rabbit.
Multiple Storey Rabbit Hutches
If you have restricted garden space around your home that it would be advisable to consider large multiple storey rabbit hutches. The length of a multiple storey rabbit hutch does not have to be long if it has more than one level. For example, a two storey rabbit hutch measuring 5 feet long (approximately 1.50 metres) will offer ample space for your rabbit. However, multiple or single storey rabbit hutches measuring 3 feet (approximately 1.00 metre) in length are too small and therefore not suitable for your pet.
Rabbit Runs
Rabbit runs can be an integral part of large rabbit hutches or be a separate stand-alone item. Runs compliment large rabbit hutches by allowing your rabbit to freely roam, exercise and rest within a contained area and prevents them from escaping and predatory animals entering this area. We recommend that any run floor area should have at least 16 square feet (approximately 1.44 square metres). Materials used in the construction of rabbit runs usually consist of zinc coated welded steel mesh supported by a treated wooden frame.
Tips for Constructing Impressive Large Rabbit Hutches
Constructing impressive large rabbit hutches is not solely about cosmetic features. There are different features that can be added to hutches that not only improve the look of it but will also be pleasing for your pet rabbit. To build impressive large rabbit hutches with additional or different aspects will require time, patience and effort.
Here are a few tips to help you arrange and construct impressive large rabbit hutches.
Paint
Impressive does not imply that you only have to paint the hutch with vivid colours. It is far better and more aesthetically gratifying to paint hutches with colours that combine well with the colour of the walls on your home. For example, if your home is built in brick then it would make sense to match hutches by painting them with similar but simple colours.
Design
The general design of large rabbit hutches should be equivalent to that of your house. In addition to painting the hutch with simple colours, you can also install a number of bricks around the base of it to visually match the aesthetics of your home.
Spoil your Pet Rabbits
There are many things your pet rabbit loves and one of them is laid fully stretched. Try to keep as much as the hutch areas clean as far as reasonably possibly. If your rabbit is to remain outside during the winter months, keep him or her warm by insulating the sidewalls, roof and under the floor with polystyrene insulation and then cover it with a hardboard overlay. Feed and water bowls and dispensers are essential items found in rabbit hutches and for impressive large rabbit hutches you can use vibrantly coloured bowls for this purpose. Ensure that any paint used to colour bowls etc., are non-toxic and waterproof.
Stylish protection
A sturdy rabbit hutch with strong steel wire mesh is essential to protect your rabbit against any attacks from foxes, dogs or other such predators and the elements. It would also be wise to consider the protection of your pets from wild rabbits, as these might carry diseases that could kill your rabbit. Any incorporated rabbit run should also be made of strong materials to deter any attack on your pet. However, you can make use of this essential safety part of a hutch and/or run construction to improve the appearance of impressive large rabbit hutches. Whilst run security can be made to appear stylish, it is imperative that they are strong and secured well enough to prevent your rabbit from pushing through or burrowing under it and to keep predators from entering.