For approximately five million families, rabbits are the family pet. Their cuteness goes right off the meter and both children and adults are drawn to them. But even though some families love their fuzzy animal it is simply not feasible for them to live in the home. It may be because of the odor, the animal waste or more commonly, their tendency to chew. For these reasons outdoor rabbit hutches are a popular way to humanely house your rabbit.
When picking out the correct one there are many things to consider. Since it is outside it needs a good, sturdy roof with shingles or metal roofing to repel water. While many believe the outside construction should be pressure treated wood so as to give the hutch a long lifespan, you have to remember chemicals are used to impregnate the wood to make it have this longer life. Using inferior products, however, will give you a shelter that will need frequent repairs and could, inevitably, collapse onto your pet. A better option might be to look into naturally resistant woods.
Make sure that the wood is not exposed too much to the rabbit because they will chew on it. This is not only bad for the security of the structure but the chemicals used in the treatment of the wood is not good for them. If you do use pressure treated lumber you may want to consider limiting its use to legs and braces which will actually come in contact with the ground and rabbit manure and urine.
Whether buying outdoor rabbit hutches or building one you need to keep some things in mind for your design. Rabbits need plenty of fresh air so make sure that at least two sides of the structure are wire mesh to allow proper air flow. On the other hand, they also cannot tolerate the heat very well so make sure that you have a shaded portion of the cage for them to retreat to.
Rabbits can tolerate cold fairly well as long as they have ample shelter. The nesting area should be well insulated with plenty of soft, nesting material for them to get cozy in. Depending on the extent of your cold temperatures, you may also want to invest in a hot water bottle or some other heating mechanism to place under their nest area.
Outdoor rabbit hutches should also have several escape areas for them to retreat in case a predator comes around. This allows them to feel safe and helps to calm them, which is important since a bunny can actually die from fear even if they are safe. It would be better to ensure your outdoor rabbit hutches are in some type of enclosure that minimizes visits from would-be predators and a neighbor's dog.
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