When we got our first Netherland dwarf rabbits, Mars and Jupiter, we didn’t know anything about house rabbits. The Internet wasn’t was it it is today, and none of the dwarf bunny or rabbit books we bought gave any information about keeping rabbits in the house. So in preparation for their arrival we bought the biggest hutch we could find. It was about 5 feet long and a standard rectangular wooden box with an enclosed compartment down one end. It was the biggest hutch we could find and we thought it would be lovely for our new bunnies when they arrived.
Building Our Own Bunny Run
Our Rabbit Hutch and Home Made Run
As we had a small enclosed garden, we already knew we were going to let the bunnies run free in it, but we still needed a bunny run to keep our dwarf bunnies safe when we weren’t there to keep an eye on them. All the rabbit runs we found were quite small and designed to be attached to the front of a hutch, which also made them very low. So Derek decided to build one himself. The run we made was nice and big, about 6 feet by 6, and it was high enough to go over the top of the hutch, which was up on legs to protect it from damp. We also added lids to the top, to keep our bunnies safe from predators and to give us access to their hutch. Most importantly it had a bunny door on the front so whenever we were home to keep an eye on them, Mars and Jupiter could have free run in the garden. Derek also added a ramp to the hutch to give our bunnies ease of access. They didn’t use the ramp much at first, just hopping in and out, but as they got older they did start to use it.
Not Quite Outdoor Bunnies
Because our bunnies were so small and cute we could never bring ourselves to leave them out at night. Instead they had a cage in the corner of our dinning room, where they slept at night. As they got older we found Mars and Jupiter preferred spending more and more time inside during the winter months. So that lovely big hutch we bought them was never really used as much as intended.
Did Our Bunnies Really Like Their Hutch?
Mars & Jupiter at Their Bunny Door
We were very proud of our bunnies home, although I don’t think Mars and Jupiter really agreed. To our surprise, when shut in their run, even when it was cold, wet or snowing Mars and Jupiter preferred to sit huddled up underneath their hutch, or if loose in the garden behind a shrub. They still would never sit inside the shelter of their hutch. No matter how cold the weather got they never actually slept inside it. They only ever went in their hutch to eat, or occasionally to mess up the contents of the nesting box.
Looking back I’m really not sure Mars and Jupiter liked their hutch. When inside it they could only see what was going on in front of them, not all round like when they were underneath it. And the entrance opening was large, not really very warren like at all. Maybe they would have been happier with a smaller hutch that would have felt more snugly and protective, or more compartments instead of that large open area.
Then take a look at this: "How To Train, Care and Build Trust With Your Pet Rabbit"
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7:53 pm on June 23rd, 2009
Hi, my name is evelyn and my husband and i were wonderging how you made your bunny hutch and run. we have two bunnies and are looking to get a third so we want them to have a lot of room to run around but also be safe. your hutch and run seem perfect for them.
1:26 pm on June 30th, 2009
Evelyn,
The run was made out of items all bought from our local DIY store. It was made up of treated wood sections, angle brackets, hinges and garden wire, with corrugated plastic over the hutch.
There was a door at the front and the top had three openings, one large at the back-half (that opened backwards) and two at the front-half with opening sideways.
Lindsay.
12:01 pm on July 2nd, 2009
Lindsay,
The basic construction of your rabbit seems easy to duplicate but how did you attach the garden wire to the wood to form the “cage” of the run? And what do you mean corrugated plastic over the hutch? Why did you that there? Thanks.
- Wes
4:50 pm on July 14th, 2009
The wire was just attached with metal staples, U-shaped ones from the DIY store.
The corrugated plastic on the top was to help keep the run dry and the bunnies as well :-)
1:40 pm on August 3rd, 2009
Hello again! I was wondering when you let your bunnies roam free in your garden, how did you do that? I can see myself doing that in my backyard but there’s lots of open areas where it can run away, (and not to mention cats!)
-Christina
2:41 pm on August 3rd, 2009
Hi,
My back garden is very secure, there is no way my bunnies can get under or through the fence. When I first let my bunnies run free I did watch them like a hawk. There have been times they disappeared under a bush for a nap and I couldn’t find them, and even though I knew they could not get out I was still close to panic.
Cats can be a problem, Fortunately I have a cat of my own and he is really good with my rabbits. Having a cat also keeps other cats away, because of the territory thing. You could use cat repellent to keep unwanted cats away.
Look out for them digging under your fences. This is more likely with females then males. I put a row of bricks along the bottom of the fence wherever my bunny Fern has started digging just to be safe.
You have to think of everything before you let your bunnies run lose in the garden, because if they get out you may not get them back.
Lindsay.