Most of the large hutches don’t have a base so that the rabbits can have access directly on to the grass. Some people also put the large hutches directly on to concrete and then put straw on top of the concrete.

The straw is fine provided that it is changed weekly.

However, if the reason for asking about the wire mesh is because you have a problem with foxes then it’s worth knowing that most rabbit breeds can adapt to to wire mesh but heavy or nervous breeds are subject to sore hocks which is a bacterial infection that develops on the foot pads and is irritated by the wire mesh (too much weight per cm2).

The risk is increased if the rabbit is raised in an environment with high temperatures (31° to 32°C) or very high humidity which is rarely a problem in the UK. It can also occur if the rabbit is frequently under stress and thumps his hind feet on the ground to warn the other rabbits of impending danger.

Hope this information helps you to make a decision.

Regards
Sue

The floor of the sleeping area on the Bunny Shack is made from timber and does not have a removeable tray as the door on the side makes cleaning it out easy.

I have read that cedar wood and cedar wood shavings can be toxic to rabbits as the oils in it if chewed can affect their mucous membrane and cause breathing difficulties. I suspect that this is why most rabbit hutches on the market are made from white wood, pine or Chinese Fir.

It might be an idea to line the hutch with plywood or find some type of animal friendly sealant to prevent the oils from escaping and prevent your rabbit from chewing the cedar.

Regards
Sue

I’m also building this in cedar… do you think cedar lumber is unhealthy for rabbits?

The rabbit hutch shown on this blog is the Bunny Shack which costs £176.95 including VAT & Delivery. It measures 1670mmL x 750mmD x 1050mmH (66.5″L x 30″W x 42″H) The sleeping area measures approx. 525mm (21″) and is raised 330mm (13″) from the ground.

This has proved to be a best seller as it offers your rabbit or guinea pigs lots of space to move around in and a cosy sleeping area.

The Bunny Shack is ideal if you have more than one rabbit or guinea pig or just want your pet to have lots of space for exercise and to play with his toys.

Regards
Sue

Thank You

Thank you for your enquiry.

Rabbits are active little creatures and they need to have plenty of space so the bigger the hutch you can get the better.

As a rough guide, the rabbit hutch you choose should allow an adult rabbit to sit up on its hindlegs easily and to be able to stretch out comfortably – allow at least 3 times the length of the adult rabbit. This would be considered the minimum size to buy.

As rabbits love to exercise you should try and go for a rabbit hutch that has an under-run and if he can’t have the run of the garden, we would advise that you also provide him with a separate rabbit run so that he can hop around in safety.

Sue