This old house magazine

[Eepster]

The May issue of This Old House magazine just arrived (our local post office has issues) and there was an article about beautiful garden that was created on a budget, which includes a hutch for the owners 3 bunnies.  The garden is indeed quite beautiful, including the outside of the rabbit hutch.

It’s obvious that a great deal of thought was put into decorating the outside of the hutch, it is adorable and charming.  However it is also very clear that not one iota of thought went into making the inside of the hutch comfortable for the bunnies.

The inside of the hutch is completely empty of anything but bunnies and hay.  It is quite literally just a flat octagon.  There is no hide box or shelter.  The adorably shingled roof is very high in relation to the sides, so it provides minimal protection from bad weather.  The door is open in the photo, and the bunnies don’t even have a ramp to hop down to get out for exercise.  

[LittlePuffyTail]

Wow, id say your post is a bit late! Is there a Letter to the Editor section you could write a polite letter to voice your concerns?

[Beka27]

I’m sure their concern was strictly for the esthetics of the hutch and garden, not as a primer on rabbit care… That’s not really their purpose. I don’t even know if I’d bother with a letter.

(We watch a lot of those home remodeling and buying/selling shows and most of those places aren’t set up for real living either. They have a big beautiful kitchen with empty counters: no coffee pot, toaster, napkin holder, etc… It’s implied that you need to add your own finishing touches.)

[LBJ10]

Was it on TV? Why do I remember seeing some crazy rabbit “house”?

[LBJ10]

It even had Christmas lights.

[Cochin]

I saw the photo and don’t see the big deal. The fact that the rabbits don’t have a water bowl just proves they don’t live like that. I’m sure they provide toys or bring them in the house. And I doubt to bunnies run in & out as they please. The most concerning things is that they don’t have a covered area, however they probably throw a tarp or something over the rabbits during the night.
The top of the roof isn’t shown, so you can’t tell if there’s a hole or not, but if they put a tarp over it then it’d be fine.

Anyways, Im pretty sure it was just for aesthetics and doubt the bunnies actually live in there, therefore I don’t see a big concern 

[justwildbeat]

Outdoor hutch pic

Agreed, that the hutch probably isn’t their actual living space. Since it’s a photo shoot, I’m sure they just plopped them in there as props.

[Beka27]

That is a really cute hutch! And beautiful bunnies! That would be a cool structure to have indoors if it were lower so the buns can get in and out.

[Eepster]

Why would the caption mention easy cleaning and using droppings to fertilize the roses, if they didn’t live in the hutch?

[Beka27]

Idk, I didn’t read the article. If it bothers you, I guess send them an email. If they respond, let us know what they said.

[Author]

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