New to rabbits-hutch help needed

[TEAM KART]

Well, my daughter talk us into getting a rabbitor two for her. We have not purchased a rabbit yet but thelocal non-chain store pet store is getting anywhere from $50-$100 perbunny! Is this what rabbits go for? I remeber when I was growing up$5.00 was average!

We plan keeping out rabbits outside. My wife has some pretty badallergies and plus she is scared the house will het a funky smell. Nobig deal. I'm in the builing stages of our outdoor hutch and have a fewquestions!

let me share a few images of how far I've got so far:

couple of front views:

rear access door:

I still need to install the rabbit screen, add a couple small ventilation holes in their sleeping area.

Can a hutch be painted to help perserve it? I'm not to concerned about painting the interior, just the exterior.

What size screen is everone using?

The size of the hutch area is 48" x 24" the front (to be screened in) area is 48" x 36"

I have one access door in the rear of the hutch and one in the pen area.

The floor is insulated w/2" thick styrofoam. the roof is asphalt shingles with tar paper.

The floor, walls, roof is 3/4" exterior grade plywood. framework is all2x4 construction- no nails, all screwed together with deck screws.

That's as far as I've got so far!

Any comments or suggestions?

 

[missyscove]

As for the actual rabbits, why don't you lookinto a local shelter, or a site such aswww.petfinder.com? You can findrabbits much cheaper and already bonded pairs that way, and you'll besaving a life.

For your hutch, that's impressive. Just make sure you caneasily reach every part of the hutch so that you can cleanit. You really don't want to be stuck in a situation whereyou can't reach the back of it and there's a giant mess inthere.

That's all I have to say for now. Welcome!:bunnydance:

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

Welcome!

I am sorry to say that I don't condone housing rabbitsoutdoors. When acquiring a new cat or maybe dog, one wouldn'twant him outside. As a rabbit owner, they are domestic, preyanimals by natureand should be housed as a member of thefamily safely inside. In a cage but with some excerise andproper diet, need to be "fixed" for certain reasons depending uponhousing. Please read information at: House Rabbit Society.comfor all kinds of information about our priceless babies.

 

[naturestee]

Welcome to the forum! :wave2

I definately agree with adopting from a shelter. You'll get amuch better idea of a rabbit's personality, plus they're oftenspayed/neutered. The shelters here adopt spayed/neuteredrabbits for only $15-25, but the operation itself is $100+.Not to mention most of these rabbits are dumped by kids who got sick oftaking care of them so there's nothing "wrong" with them.They're not bad pets they just had bad luck. My shelter bunLoki is the best littertrained bun I have and he's also the mostsocial. Call your local shelter or check Petfinder.

Plus a shelter or rabbit rescue can find a bonded pair for you or helpyou bond two rabbits. Rabbits are social animals and do getlonely. House rabbits can often be kept singly without toomuch of a problem because they get a lot more attention, but an outdoorrabbit should have a friend if he'll take one.

I don't know much about hutches but it looks pretty good sofar. I'd recommend keeping only one or two small-mediumrabbits in it and getting a secure, preferably covered run to let therabbits play in the yard under your supervision.

 

[naturestee]

Oh, and I just wanted to add that rabbits smellmuch less than cats or dogs. I have four house rabbits, andmy friends have commented that aside from a slight smell of fresh woodfrom their wood pellet litter, they can't tell I have animals atall.

Of course, that's out the window now because I have cats. Idon't notice it, but non-cat people do notice the slight scent of catfur.

Is your wife actually allergic to rabbits? I'm allergic tohay but don't have too many problems if I keep everything clean and usean air purifier. I much prefer having rabbits in thehouse. It's so much more fun! They jump on thecouch with me and check out what I'm doing.

 

[Pipp]

:yeahthat But as far as shelters go,I'd try the city shelters, Humane Society and/or SPCA and not the localHRS-sanctioned rabbit rescues, which seem to be fairly anal about notallowing their bunnies to be adopted intooutdoorhousing,(the nature of the 'House Rabbit' society).

They'll do fine outside as long as you have a bonded pair and supplythem with lots of hay and straw to keep them warm. I've foundthat ordering hay (and in your case, straw as well for their bedding)by the bale is really cheap -- you're often paying $5 for 60 lbs ormore instead of $5 for a 2lb bag from the pet store) and the best thingfor the health of the bunnies. They can't have too muchhay! (Just make sure it stays stored off the ground in a dryplace).

Although the dwarf breeds apparently don't hold their body heat all that well, so best not to go for the really small ones.

I'm not sure about the paint, maybe one of our breeders will chime in on that one!

Good luck with the bunny hunt! (Er... search!!)



sas )and the gang :bunnydance::bunnydance::bunnydance::bunnydance::bunnydance:

 

[Pipp]

Additional: Maybe the breeders canalso recommend good wiring, which isgoing to be the mainproblem with outdoor bunnies -- much moreof a problem thantheweather. I just had raccoons trying to get intomy porch area where two of my larger bunnies are, and that'sinside! Even if you don't think you have a predator problemnow, with a couple of rabbits in your yard, you'll have onesoon. Neighbourhood cats and especially dogs aswell as wildlife may alltry to get at them, and they can beamazingly strong and persistent.Make sure thewireisstrong and verysecure.

Try to have the hutch very closeto the house because thebunnies can be frightened to death by even an attemptedattack.

(And my rabbits are also 'couch rabbits' and lap bunnies -- they reallyare affectionate and very bright when living with humans).

PS: That's an awesome hutch!! I'm sure we'll bebookmarking this threador reposting in greatexamplessection.



sas et al

 

[Bunnys_rule63]

Welcome to the forum.:wave:I keep myrabbits outside and the most important thing is good housing! Rememberthat your rabbit should be able to take several hops from one end ofthe hutch to the other, be able to lie flat out for the width and beable to stand right up without it's ears touching the roof. The hutchshould also be very secure so strong mesh (not chicken wire) and boltsare a good idea!Also painting it with a rabbit safe woodpaint will help keep out any bad weather! They also need several hoursexcercise in a secure run to keep them healthy and mentally stimulated.I'd also reccommed going to a rescue and getting a bondedpairof rabbits because although outdoor rabbits still needlots of attention they can get lonely because we can't be with them24/7.

 

[TEAM KART]

Hutch is just about done!!!!! Was able to getsome "animal" safe paint from local farm supply store. Used heavy gaugeRABBIT wire/guard for the rabbits pen area.

There will be plexi-glass installed on the sides except the area wherethe water bottle hangs (aprox 18" high by 8" wide for addedventilation) during the cold winter months. They will come off inwarmer weather. On the side that you can't see is a small vent for thehutch area.

All locks are a sliding deadbolt style that allow for the use of a lock or pin to stop the bolt from sliding open.

The hutch is placed inside a fenced in area that should also stop some other animals from taking a peak at the bunnies!

Here's a picture:

 

[missyscove]

It looks beautiful! Any luck lookinginto shelter bunnies? I'm planning to get another bunny thisweekend. My shelter has spayed/neutered, microchipped rabbitsfor $25, though they're about to double the price because of foodcosts. Still a great deal.

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

That is beautiful, even matches the house, how cute.

 

[aeposten]

I'm not really famaliar with the care of outdoor rabbits, but I think the hutch looks great!

It's very cute. I love how it matches the house!

-Amy

 

[TEAM KART]

Thanks for the compliments!!! Not to much luck with area shelters

I did locate a couple of local sources and will be checking them out within the next week!

 

[Michaela]

Wow what a great hutch! I can't believe you made it! Your new rabbit(s?) are sure to love it!!!:bunnydance:

 

[MyBabyBunnies]

That hutch is amazing! My dad helped me build myhutches and they are no where near as impressive as that. Then again,my dad's whole perpective is to make it functional and who cares how itlooks, LOL.

Just one point, do not use more plexi-glass than necessary tokeepthe weather out (snow, rain, wind). Ventilation is anabsolute necessity and plexi-glass severely limits the ventilation.Seeing as how there appears to be no wire floors, it's even morecrucial that some of the sides be open to allow air to flow through thecage. Not to mention that covering up to much can increase the sun'sintensity and decrease the other natural elements that keep them cooland can be dangerous even in the cold weather (for the same reason theytell you never to leave your pets in a carthat is in directsunlight even in the winter).

 

[NZminilops]

That is a very pretty hutch - great job!

I just wanted to put in my two cents. I agree with what has been saidso far, though I don't think that it's at all mean to keep bunniesoutdoors (depending on where you live). BUT there are more worriesthat's for sure! Flys in the warmer weather is one worry that I have. Ifind that I have to always be cleaning out poo constantly from myoutdoor hutch, especially the big soft 'nighttime' cecal poos whichreally attract the flys. You will find yourself having a hard time withpoo getting stuck to the floor of your hutch if it's wooden.

Outdoor rabbits sometimes don't get as much attention as indoor ones,but also at the same time some people find they ignore indoor bunniestoo as there is always the thought "Oh he's indoors, I can stop andplay with him any time - just not now though, maybe later". With myoutdoor rabbit I go out to see her once every hour and stay and talk toher for at least 10 minutes. She is free range mostly but we've hadsome very bad weather these last few days and she has been cage boundso I try to spend as much time with her as possible. In the summer wespend almost all day together - gardening, hanging out washing, dozingoff in the sun. It's a lot safer to that in NZ though as we don't havethe dangerous animals that you have.

I also have an indoor rabbit and even when he wasn't neutered he neverhad any funky smells at all. The only thing that would ever smell wasthe litter tray and only if my nose was withen 5 inches of it and Ihadn't cleaned it out fora couple of days! The hay in his hutchactually makes the house smell nicer if anything.

I was thinking, you might want to consider adding in another level tothe bottom part of the hutch with a ramp going down to it just to giveyour rabbit(s) more room. I don't know the dimensions of your hutch butrabbits usually don't spend much time in the covered up part and therun bit doesn't look very big. And if you're going to have two rabbits,there will be even less room for them.

Good luck and let us know how you go.

 

[TEAM KART]

I was also thinking about making another level on the bottom but amscared of wild animals having more access to try and brake in. Bycreating another area for them to romp around in down below, it wouldmake the bottom floor only about a foot off of the ground. Do you thinkit would be an issue?

 

[Bunnys_rule63]

Nice job on your hutch.About thespace issue, if I were you I'd make a separate enclosed run for yourrabbits to be put in for several hours a day to get exercise. Somethinglike thishttp://www.freewebs.com/brrescue/rabbitruns.htmwouldwork well. It also means that you can move it around your lawn so yourrabbits can have fresh grazing.

 

[Alij]

That is beautiful work!! Love thehutch. As far as adding a lower level goes rabbitslove to rump and play so as long as there is an incloser therabbits can go into for safety then an added basementwouldgreat. The more space to play the better.

People feel very strongly one way or another whether rabbits should beinside or out. There are strong arguments bothways. I would suggest though ifyour rabbit will be outside most of the time then you should have tworabbits who are bonded together because rabbits are social creaturesand are very unhappy alone.You said you were looking at localshelters for rabbits. There are also goodrabbitrescues in your area. That really is the cheapest and bestway to go. If you adopt a rabbit theywill already have some litterbox skills, have passed theterrible teenage stage and are usually fixed. For personalityand spraying reasons it is very important to have them fixed.They make much better pets if they are. Good luck with yousearch and hope you find just the right bunny for your home!