Building an outdoor enclosure

[Echo]

Hi, new member here with 2 rabbits.

Captain is my rescue NZW cross and Jack is my pet shop DutchLionhead mix bought as company for Captain.

They are indoor rabbits but I have limited indoor space and have about 9' x 6/7' space to build them an outdoor run.


I can't have a conventional run or keep them as proper house rabbitsbecause we have 3 dogs that wander freely through the house and avisible run in the garden would cause my rescue collie to focus hisOCDs on staring at them.


It's already concreted because it is the site of an old greenhouse we had.

There's 2 walls already, the block wall of the shed at the back, andthe wall of our garden, and the other 2 walls will be rigid mesh withwoden framework, and a wooden false wall up to about 5' to prevent mycollie stalking them. There will be a wire 'roof' as well because wehave a lot of birds of prey and cats around here.

I'm looking into making a wooden 'house' for them about 1/4 of the sizethere, so about 5' x 3-4' and about 6' high with a couple of levelsinside, and then the oudoor area with tunnels and toys to play with.

Was just wondering do you think this is an ok shelter for them during the day?

I hope to be able to let them enjoy the fresh air and sun from themornings till evening until it starts to be a bit cold. Then be movedinto their warm indoor cage for the night.

I want the shelter there as a place to hide from the sun and rain, if Iam not available to go out and bring them in from a sudden shower.

(obviously if I can see it is raining/about to rain i'll just let them exercise in my shed.)

Since they are moving outdoors for the first time (even though just forthe daytime) is there any precautions I need to take to makesure it isnt too big a shock to their system?

They are used to a warm room, although Captain was out loose in a townfor a few days before we managed to rescue him and I adopted him so Ithink he is able to cope ok, considering it was a very cold period.

I have ordered their vaccines - the myxo and the VHD, I work in a vet clinic so it's no problem.

Anything else I am missing or could be done to improve this plan?

I will have lots and lots of hay for them to snuggle in



Thanks

 

[naturestee]

It sounds like a good plan to me!Although you might want to wait until the temperature warmsup. I don't know what it's like where you live, but thenights still get very cold here and an indoor bunny won't have a wintercoat like an outdoor bunny would.

You'll also want to make sure you clean frequently and check them often for flystrike.

 

[Echo]

Yeah that is why I am making preparations now,so it will be built and ready for the buns when the warm weather ishere. I'll be taking them in evening time before it gets too cold. I amjusthoping for them to get more exercise and know they wouldlove to laze about in the sun.

I live in ireland so at the moment its still raining one minute and hot the next!

Actually thanks, you just reminded me of the flystrike issue, I had itin the back of my head to ask since I havent had to worry about itbeforehand.

I havent read up much on it, i'll go do so now. The reason I am keepingthe concrete ground is to make it easier to keep clean and hygenic.They are litter boxed trained.. for the most part sohopefully it wont be too messy anyways.

I'll go read up on flystrike now and come back to ask any questions if I have some concerns.

1 more thing.. there is a large amount of building behind our house andit was lots of fields beforehand, so any rats in the area have somewhatbeen uprooted. My sister told me she saw a rat in a neighbour's gardentoday, which is very unusual, so I want to check is there anything Icould do likeother less common vaccines or anything that Iwould need if there could be rats in close proximity to protect my bunsfrom any illness? I'll try make the run rat proof but just in case.

Can rats carry myxo? I know they cant get it but was just wondering if they can harbour the virus anyways.

Thanks a lot Just wanna make sure I do this right!

 

[Bunnys_rule63]

Echo wrote:

Actually thanks, you just reminded me of the flystrike issue, I had itin the back of my head to ask since I havent had to worry about itbeforehand.

I havent read up much on it, i'll go do so now. The reason I am keepingthe concrete ground is to make it easier to keep clean and hygenic.They are litter boxed trained.. for the most part sohopefully it wont be too messy anyways.

I'll go read up on flystrike now and come back to ask any questions if I have some concerns.

There is a product called 'rear guard' which stops fly eggs hatchinginto larva. I use it on my girls in the summer, it can be bought atmost vets.

Your idea sounds good, having the run on concrete and with a roof willmake it safe enough as I know some people who let their rabbits out24/7 in runs like this. For a shelter you could use a shed as they arecheaper than most hutches and are alot bigger. You can slo add shelfsetc inside to make it more interesting for your bun. You can make a catflap from the shed to the run so that your buns can go inside if it iscold or wet.
Here is a good link for outdoor homes:

http://www.rabbitrehome.org.uk/care/hutch.asp

 

[Echo]

My original idea was to use a shed but they takeup too much room in the spot and I want it to be primarily an outdoorplace for them to be, but to have a comfy shelter as well.

I would rather build my own so I can make it to my own specificationsand make it as interesting as possible for them. My dad is quite handywith woodwork so he'll be building it mostly He built oneyears ago for the last set of rabbits we had and that was great so havehigh hopes for this new one.

I'm just about to leave for work now so i'll ask do we have the rearguard. Might have to order it in as vet clinics in ireland rarely seesmall animals.. there's still a sort of 'it only lives a few yearsanyways, why pay for a vet' mentality around here.