Setting up a Simple and Modern Bunny Home
So exciting! This is your first step (after hours upon hours of research) to bringing a new family member into your life! Let’s get your rabbit journey off to a strong start by setting up the perfect rabbit home.
First, I want to talk about what kind of physical space a rabbit needs to be healthy and happy. Horizontal (flat) space is much more important than vertical space. This just means that hutches and cages with lots of levels are cool, but the vertical space is really where the most importance should be placed. We usually try for about 4 x 6 feet of floor room for a single Netherland Dwarf (or other small breed) bunny or pair. Add another 2 to 4 feet of space for each additional rabbit. Keep in mind that larger breeds will need more room appropriate to their size and exercise requirements. A commercial breed rabbit or Flemish Giant may need close to the size of a small room!
And remember, this is just a guideline. If your enclosure needs to be smaller, but your rabbit comes out for free range time a couple hours a day, that’s still awesome! There’s no one “perfect” situation for every rabbit and home.
Pink Hearts Theme Bunny Home Set Up
The Perfect Bunny Home Should Include:
A pen with a gate. This is the most expensive purchase you will make for bun if you are not going for a traditional cage or hutch. Even if you are getting a cage or hutch, I still suggest getting a play pen for litter training and exercise time. Invest in a nicer one that has an easy to use gate, has smaller (2” or less) openings between the bars, and is high enough that a full grown rabbit cannot jump out. (They are mostly escape artists.) That’s around three feet high for a Netherland Dwarf and probably even higher for a larger breed. The gate makes it easy to let your bunny out for free range playtime and lets you access their area easily with only one hand, as you may be holding food, a water bowl, or a bunny! Here’s a link for the pen shown above (no longer available in white.)
A hide or tunnel (or both!) There are tons of options for finding something that will serve this purpose. I love Tokihut’s castles and buy these nice pads to cover the top areas because they tend to get a bit messy over time. Cat tunnels are fantastic and many makers are beginning to design rabbit specific tunnels as well. They don’t mind, and perhaps even enjoy, the crinkly noise cat tunnels so don’t let that deter you if you find one that you like. Keep in mind that you do NOT need to buy something fancy to serve this purpose as your bunny will love cardboard boxes just as much as anything else. Try designing a cute cardboard village with nontoxic glue and colored paper instead of using paint on the boxes. But don’t get too invested in your designs! Many rabbits love to destroy cardboard, making the boxes dual purpose - a hide AND a chew toy.
A litter box. We all have to go at some point, right? Don’t even bother buying one of those small corner litter boxes. Find something much bigger. Trust me, it will make your life easier in the long run. A large cat litter box is great. Or you could try using the wide shallow storage tubs from Target. Just leave off the lid, fill with your favorite compostable litter and you’re all set! Try placing your hay inside or above your litter box to encourage litter training because buns like to go while munching.
A hay basket or holder. Since a rabbit needs access to fresh hay at all times, it’s useful to keep it as neat as possible to reduce waste. Once it’s spread around in the litter box, its gets soiled and starts to smell not so nice. We use washable hay baskets from Nancy and the Baskets on Etsy. It keeps the hay down on your bun’s level to encourage them to forage. It clips easily to the side of a litter box or cage bars with a clothespin, and if the basket gets dirty, just pop it in your washer and dryer.
A rug (or two, or three.) Rabbits need traction to entertain you with binkies and zoomies! This is so important for their health and is the most joyful thing you will ever see them do. I find that flatweave rugs that are not too plushy work better for litter training. Make sure it is easily washable in your machine and maybe even get more than one for when you are washing them. This photo does not show it, as the rabbit living here is already litter trained, but you will want to order a rubber mat as well. Place the rubber mat underneath to waterproof the bottom of your rabbit home, and place a beautiful rug or two on top to cover it up. This might actually be the most important part of your set up because this will determine how you clean up your rabbit’s space. Preparing well for the mess can reduce your resentment of the cleaning process. Don’t spend a lot of money on the rugs, as you will eventually need to replace them from wear and tear.
Water and food bowls. These seem self explanatory, but I’ll let you in on some tips I’ve learned over the years. Choose heavy glass or ceramic dishes that are not easily breakable. Rabbits will throw around the plastic ones, so unless you find this cute, go for something more substantial. The food bowl usually goes inside the litter box for the same reason as the hay. (Aren’t you glad I told you to get a huge litter box now?) I like bowls of water best for rabbits, BUT it’s not taboo to have a backup water bottle around! Here’s an awesome water bottle that is a tiny bowl at the bottom - the best of both worlds! It’s not necessary for the water to be in the litter box, but it also can’t hurt. I leave this choice up to you.
Decorations, toys, and treat holders. All of these are optional, but make bun’s life more beautiful and fun! There are many seasonal garlands to choose from on Etsy, or you could make you own. Just be sure to use rabbit safe materials in case they get ahold of it. The heart one shown is from Nancy and the Baskets. Willow balls, snuffle mats, and hay blocks are all boredom busters for rabbits. Plus, they love to the throw the balls around! And treat holders or hides are so cute. Your rabbit will eventually figure out how to get the treats out by pushing the lid off or grabbing and throwing it with their teeth.
You did it! You’re ready to pick out your new family member because you’ve created the perfect bunny home. I hope you had fun designing your rabbit’s space. Leave me a comment below if you have found an outstanding product that you’d like me to try out next!
