Housing and Environment

Enclosure requirements

It is important to make sure you have everything ready for your rabbits before bringing them home, including their accommodation. Rabbits can live happily either indoors or outdoors, or both!

Obviously, I would have them in free range if predators were not around. I like to give them both however New Zealand weather can be unpredictable, also there are a lot of cats in the area so I prefer to keep them indoors and outdoors as playtime on nice days.

If your rabbits live outside

• Your rabbits will need a roomy enclosure and an exercise run that is high enough to allow them to stand up fully on their hind legs, as well as being big enough to allow plenty of room for them to hop around.

• Place the enclosure in a position that faces the morning sun.

• Make sure that your rabbits have access to shade, especially on sunny days, and that they are protected from rain, wind, and any adverse weather conditions.

Enclosure and run size

Many hutches sold in pet stores are far too small for rabbits to live in. Your enclosure should be no smaller than 2m long. You should buy or make an enclosure as big as you can afford/manage/fit!

• SPCA recommends a minimum hutch size of 3m (length) x 1.5m (width) x 0.75m (height) or the equivalent area with other dimensions. However, the bigger the better.

• Your rabbits’ enclosure should connect to, or be contained within, a run (which should be as large as possible) to allow your rabbits to hop, run, jump, and stand fully upright on their back legs.

• The exact amount of space the rabbits will need depends on the number of rabbits being housed, their size, and their breed.

• The sleeping area should be raised off the ground slightly and must be weatherproof.

• It must be predator-proof as dogs, cats, and other animals can be harmful to your rabbits.

• There should be areas for your rabbits to hide, play and explore.

• Include some raised areas for your rabbits to look out, sit on, and sunbathe.

• Digging is a normal rabbit behavior. If digging is leading to problems such as escaping, refer to our SPCA for advice.

If your rabbits live inside

• It’s possible to litter train rabbits, meaning that they can easily live inside your house as part of the family. 

• A safe and rabbit-proof place (where they can’t escape) for sleeping and unsupervised play. This includes a water bowl, hay, bedding, food dish, litter tray, and toys.

• Close supervision when loose in the house in non-rabbit-proof areas.

• Access to a large outdoor area for additional exercise and enrichment.

• A rabbit-proof environment

• Tape electrical and phone cords where they can’t be chewed (remember your rabbits will have extra reach on their hind legs).

• Consider getting cord protectors and covers for electrical outlets.

• Move potted plants where they can’t be eaten, as they may be poisonous to rabbits.

• Remove children’s toys, clothing, etc. that could be dangerous or you don’t want to be chewed.  

Exercise

You can train your rabbits to use a cat flap if you would like to give them easy access to a secure and safe outside area.

 If your rabbits do not have free access to an outside area, you should consider providing them with daily exercise in the garden where they are free to hop around for at least one hour a day. This area would need to be secure and rabbitproof and might consist of a large exercise pen.

Your rabbits will also need:

• Mental stimulation

• Add ramps, tunnels, boxes, climbable objects, and toys to your rabbits’ home (ensure that these are made from rabbit-safe materials).

• Bedding for rabbits can consist of dust-free straw, shredded paper on a layer of newspaper, pet beds, blankets, or rugs. Rabbits have their own individual bedding preferences, just make sure what they choose is warm and dry.

• Do not use products made from treated timber or wood shavings as bedding because these can be fatal to rabbits.

Safe spaces

In the wild, rabbits use the higher ground to feel safe and check for danger. Provide objects or higher surfaces for your rabbits to jump up on so that they can exhibit this natural behavior.

Rabbits naturally live underground, so it is great to provide them with hidey holes where they can feel safe and secure such as cardboard boxes, untreated wicker baskets, and tunnels.

So that's all, for now, subscribe for more information as my next topic will be Litter Training your rabbit.