Housing

Regarding the ideal set up for housing your new rabbit or adding a second or third rabbit, there are safety measures to keep in mind.  While the worst case scenario is a rabbit being kept in a cage or hutch 24/7, a free roam bunny may not be 100% safe or ideal, either.  Every rabbit is different and for some less space may be better than a larger one. 

Before you adopt your bunny, please set up an area just for them and be prepared. 

You may need additional floor coverings if you have carpet, tile or wood floors that you want to protect from urine, water, digging/chewing (carpet).  Rolls of linoleum are available for purchase at home stores like Lowe’s.  Inexpensive, low pile carpets may work for you & your bunny from IKEA depending on if they chew or shred.  Other items you will need:

  • Cat litter box

  • Equine wood pellets for the litter or paper litter (no clumping cat litter or wood shavings)

  • fleece blanket or a soft bed

  • heavy duty water bowl (crock) for water is preferable to a water bottle for most bunnies

  • toys like a plastic cat jingle ball, wood chew sticks or toys, tossing toys like nesting cups, baby keys, and a snuggly stuffed animal like a bunny for companionship and to groom.

  • a hiding structure to go underneath (plain cardboard box) or store bought cat house, etc.

  • a cat tunnel, space providing

  • soft flooring of fleece or other types, bath rugs, mats, etc

Starting out: 

I recommend using an x-pen, which is a 4ft x 4ft space to begin with.  An x-pen is what you see people using for puppy training and consists of a wire fence type arrangement.  They come in standard heights of 24” high up to 48” high and are all 24” wide per panel.  Some bunnies are better jumpers than others and some may scale a pen that is too low in height, so the recommended height to use is 30” -36” inches on average, with a door.  You may regret trying to save money, thinking a door is not necessary, but believe me, it is.  If you think you can easily step over a 24” pen, keep safety in mind for yourself and your bunny.  If you trip over a gate or pen you may harm your bunny in the process.  If you feel a lower height pen is best for your home, you can add a pen topper (cover) at any point.  Toppers may add a safety factor if you have other pets in the home, like a predator cat or dog you are unsure of.

As your relationship with your bunny grows and as you are confident your home space is bunny proofed, you can start to leave the pen door open for free roam time when you are home.  I do think that for most people, the safest scenario is to close the pen door at night.  If there is an emergency or if you have trouble catching or picking up your bunny in a hurry, the safest thing would be to contain the bunny at night.  You might also keep a carrier nearby or always set up to grab quickly (not packed away in the garage) in an emergency. Space permitting, a 4ft x 4ft pen could be expanded to allow for more run space, toys, tunnels, etc, by adding a second pen or extension panel sets.  You may find gently used pens on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, etc.  If you are not able to provide ample free roam time for your bunny while you are at work, etc, building a bigger area is really the best idea.

Special needs bunnies may do well in a small x-pen. 

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