Rabbit Welfare Requirement 1: Environment 🏡
#AHutchIsNotEnough! Rabbit hutches are not adequate housing for rabbits. Rabbits need space to stretch and exercise. Can they do three hops with no obstructions? Can they stand up on their hind legs comfortably? We recommend a MINIMUM space of 3m x 2m x 1m high. Hutches can be used as sleeping areas, but rabbits should never be confined to them.
The Importance of Rabbit Enrichment
To a rabbit owner, our rabbits are our babies 🥰 – and just like babies they are a huge commitment, expensive, and get bored very easily! Enrichment activities are vital to stimulate their natural behaviours, prevent boredom, and improve their wellbeing. You can encourage enrichment through many different and creative ways, such as giving your rabbits rabbit-safe toys, tunnels and boxes to play and hide in, pits to dig in, and hide their food to encourage foraging.
Rabbit Housing Shed Conversion
Want to keep outdoor rabbits but know that a hutch is not enough? How about a shed conversion! Converting a shed to a dedicated rabbit residence is a great way to keep outdoor buns safe from predators, warm in the winter and provide plenty of space to hop and stretch. There are several factors that need to be considered when converting a shed, such as natural lighting, ventilation, and escape and predator proofing. For hopful advice on shed housing, please visit our website.
Say no to Dust Bunnies!
Spring cleaning? 🫧🧹 Don’t forget about the dust bunnies! As the weather brightens up, this means more bugs are about! 🦟 Bugs can carry diseases that are dangerous to rabbits so it’s important that your rabbits’ housing is cleaned out regularly and bedding changed daily to keep your buns clean, the pests at bay, and reduce the risk of transferring disease.
How to keep your buns nice and toasty this winter ❄️
Do you have outdoor rabbits? Make sure to keep them protected from the cold weather by providing them with a well-insulated, draught-free sleeping area. Please visit our website for helpful advice on how to keep your rabbits comfortable this winter.
How much space do rabbits really need?
Check out this AMAZING display by D&T Veterinary Centre in support of our #AHutchIsNotEnough campaign, demonstrating how much space rabbits actually need. Sadly, a lot of rabbit owners are unaware that rabbits need a lot more space than a commercially sold rabbit hutch has to offer. We always recommend at least 2m x 3m x 1m high. This will provide two buns with the space they need to hop around and rear on their hind legs. For more guidance on rabbit housing, please visit our website 🐰🏡🐰
Rabbit Friendly Gardening 🐰🌳🌼
Whether you share a segment of your garden or like free range rabbits, creating the perfect rabbit-safe garden can be hugely enriching to their lives. There are many factors to consider when sharing your space with rabbits, from poisonous plants to predator proofing 🌻🦊 If you are looking to cultivate a backyard bunny haven, then check out our brand-new webpage on rabbit-friendly gardening.
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Fireworks are no fun for a bun! 🐰🎆
As New Year approaches, so too do fireworks! Just because your rabbits can’t make themselves vocal doesn’t mean they aren’t in great stress. Now is the time to prepare for the New Year fireworks by moving your outdoor rabbits into a quiet indoor space (such as a shed or garage) or cover their housing with a thick cover or duvet to shield the loud bangs. Also, providing your buns with plenty of toys will help distract them through the night.
How to keep your rabbits’ water from freezing 💧❄
Cover water bottles with a thermal glove or wrap them in bubble wrap. Always check that your rabbits have enough clean, fresh water and the metal spout doesn’t get clogged either. If possible, provide a water bowl as well – but make sure to keep an eye on that too in case your bun decides on an impromptu bath!
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Making a Cosy Bed for Winter 🥰❄
With winter rolling in, it’s important that your outdoor buns have a nice, cosy bed to sleep in. First, ensure that your rabbits’ housing is in a dry, draught-free zone. Tarps are a good way to keep the elements out. For sheds, line with roof insulation boarded in with plywood for effective, long-term insulation. Next, line the sleeping area with newspaper and fill with plenty of dust-extracted bedding straw. Finally, rabbit companions share body heat to stay warm all night! 🐰🐰
Do you know your hay from your straw? 🤔
Just like feeding hay, finding high quality bedding straw is important to rabbit welfare to provide warmth and comfort, especially for outdoor rabbits. When choosing bedding straw, look for one that is dust-extracted, sweet-smelling, and as soft as possible to minimise any risk of eye damage. Nobody likes an uncomfortable bed, not even your buns!
Did you know that rabbits are classed as an ‘exotic’ animal?
Just because rabbits are an exotic animal, it doesn’t mean that they like the hot weather! 🥵🌵 In fact, rabbits are crepuscular which means that they are most active at dawn and dusk when it’s cooler. This is one of the reasons why we recommend that rabbits have access to a safe and secure run at all times so they can run around on their own time, not ours. If you do have a separate run, please do not leave your rabbits outside all day without a safe, cool shelter.
What is the best bedding to keep outdoor rabbits cosy?
Straw bedding is ideal for keeping rabbits warm and comfy as it traps warm air and is absorbent. When choosing a quality bedding straw, it must be dust-extracted, sweet-smelling, and as soft as possible to minimise any risk of eye damage – look out for products labelled as super-soft and dust-extracted and your buns will sleep sound this winter 💤
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