Sturdy but affordable Bunny hutches

[Dally]

Hello guys, I have been looking for a outdoor hutch for my bun, because ours broke (She is currently in a large dog crate). Does anyone know of affordable hutches that protect against predators? I live in the middle of nowhere, and foxes are common where i live. The hutch would be against the house, and there’s a small chance of something trying to get i the hutch, but i just want to be safe. My budget is $100, which i know is really low, and i could keep the bun inside until i can get a better hutch, but does anyone know of any good hutches?

[DanaNM]

I definitely recommend keeping your bunny inside until you can get something secure, as a dog crate will not protect her from predators.

As far as hutches, I’m not really sure, and for that price it may be difficult. You would probably have the best luck looking locally for something used or for a local maker.

Is there any way you can keep your bun inside permanently?

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Dally]

I wish I could, but my mom hates mess, and already she is getting annoyed. I found one good hutch, Its called the Frisco wooden rabbit run on chewy, but i dont know if even that would be okay outside. I have some chicken wire and some wood, and i was thinking of making a custom bun hutch.

[DanaNM]

Chicken wire will not keep predators out, it only keeps small animals in. Coyotes and foxes can chew or rip through it easily. “Hardware cloth” is better, but determined predators can get through at as well if the hutch is not well constructed and if they work hard enough at it. Growing up a group of stray dogs knocked my hutches over, ripped them open, and killed my rabbits (outdoors at the time for the same reason… mom didn’t want them inside), so I’m especially sensitive about this subject.

Not sure if it’s the same thing, but I looked up the “Frisco wooden rabbit run” on chewy and it doesn’t appear to have a floor, so it would not be predator safe. Ideally the whole thing would be elevated off the ground, but it should at least have a solid base.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[DanaNM]

Here are some examples of safe outdoor housing: https://binkybunny.com/bunnyinfo/safe-outdoor-runs/

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Dally]

Thanks! Sorry, by chicken wire i meant hardware cloth. We have some that we put on our chicken coop (that’s why i think of it as chicken wire) that has stopped dogs/foxes before. for that hutch i would put the hardware cloth i have on the bottom so nothing could get in, i liked that particular hutch mainly because of the size.

 

[DanaNM]

Ah gotcha! Of course I can’t guarantee any particular thing will work (my rabbits were fine until one day they weren’t), but if you have a method that has worked for chickens before then that should also work for the buns. I would still worry about them being face to face with a predator though with it being on the ground. Even if the predator couldn’t get in, the stress of that could give the bun a heart attack.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Dally]

I agree. Maybe i could make a floor and legs for it? I don’t have that much free time though…

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