Indoor hutch

[Heather Wallace]

I keep the rabbits hutches in a spare room, at the moment there are 3, one on top of the other, and it is making quite a mess. So what I've decided to do is buy a couple of indoor hutches where the rabbits can sleep at night, they are much more compact and won't let all of the saw dust escape on the floor, the other hutches can go outside so during the day the buns can get some fresh air etc, which i think will be much better for them.

What do you think, do think it is a good idea?

Does anyone have indoor hutches? Are they better tahn the old outdoor hutches?

Incase you are wondering who the black and white rabbit is, it's Ivory, he now has a new home.(one of the other babies that Bunny had).

[Daisylover]

I guess whatever works is fine. I know that's not much help. My buns have the run of the kitchen/dining room and a cage on the floor they can retreat to but the door is always open, so I have no experience. The only trouble I see is that sometimes bunnies ar threatened by a hand coming into a cage and lifting them out; it's usually better to open the door and let them come out on their own. But if your guys are used to being picked up and taken out it probably doesn't matter. Are you trying to litter train them? Any luck?

[Heather Wallace]

I put a litter tray out for the bunny girls yesterday as I let them out to run around for a while in both rooms. I took them over to it and showed them what it was for but no luck I'm afraid. The good thing is they only seem to poo in the room where their hutch is which is good I suppose.

I am going to buy two new indoor hutches tonight, which means the old style wooden one can go outside - the buns can use them and there run during the day.

[Daisylover]

Have you tried putting some hay in a pile at one end of the litter trays? That usually works very well.....or a favorite food, like parsley. It may take them a few days to find it...for all that they are supposed to have such a great sense of smell, I find that my buns often can't find the carrot i put right in front of them. They are limited in their frontal vision..they have a blind spot directly in front of their nose, which is why the often jump and run away, growl, or charge at you if you come at them too fast. Keep trying, patience is the answer, I promise! ;)

[Heather Wallace]

I am so excitted, I go one of the indoor hutches and the girls are settling in to it now.

It looks so much nicer than the old wooded hutches.

I shall post a pic when I get them.

[Sam's My Baby]

If you are having trouble litter training your bunnies, here is a great link that might help you:
http://exoticpets.about.com/library/blrabbitlt.htm
I used to have a rabbit, and so did my friend up the street (and still does), and she litter trained her rabbit all by herself, so I am sure you can too.

[Bunnicula05]

Indoor hutches are SO much better! Let me tell you! They can get in and out of them whenever they want. I actually bought an indoor hutch and then went and bought a dropping pan and basically, their cage is their giant litter box. It's a pain to clean though. That's why I clean the one corner they go in every night. To eliminate odor and to keep it from looking gross. But they are really much better in the long run. A tip for litter box training: put their litter box where they seem they like to go, even if it's behind the couch or something.

[Heather Wallace]

Thanks everyone, I don't know if they like their new hutch, suppose they will get used to it. I put a litter tray in the new hutch but had to move it as they didn't like it where it was. they done good though.

I had cadbury out last night for a cuddle, he was jumping about on the sofa, I had a little plastic tray there by chance and guess what? He done a pee in it, I was really happy about it - at least I didn't have to clean it up eh?:)

[Sam's My Baby]

Yay! Im glad he is finally catching on! :)

[Daisylover]

Yeah Cadbury, you are THE man!!!! Now teach everyone else.

Actually Heather, you've got some great tips from everyone. I think it's just going to take patience and some time. It usually takes young buns a while to figure out it really is not very cool to have their poo and pee just in any old place. I'm confident that they will catch on. :D

The director at the sanctuary mentioned last week that sometimes adolescents who may have been litter trained, regress somewhat when their hormones kick in. She said that they usually refigure it out. Here's hoping to a successful transformation at your house!!! :cool:

[Heather Wallace]

Daisy thanks, with this new indoor hutch the girls use their litter tray most of the time, si when they are in their run today i will put the tray in with them see how they go, will let you all know.

The 2 boys go for their neutering op next week so I am hoping that will calm them down a great deal. After which I am hoping they will be friends again. Also they will be getting anew indoor hutch just like th girls have.

[Daisylover]

Heather,
You are such a maniac when it comes to your bunnies, I just love it! It is VERY reassuring to know that I am not the only one who spoils my bunnies outrageously!!!! :D

Just out of curiousity, what is the difference between and indoor hutch and an outdoor hutch? :confused:

[Heather Wallace]

I would say this is an outdoor hutch

[Heather Wallace]

I haven't seen that pic in so long, that was taken when I split Bunny up from 4 of her babies, leaving only Ebony and Twinkle.

Anyway an indoor hutch is ine with a plastic botton and caged top with no cover.

The outdoor hutch in the last pic has a woodfram and top, weather protection.

[Daisylover]

Ok, I see...the outdoor is on legs, while the indoor hutch sits on the floor!!! Duh! :rolleyes:

Sometimes I'm a little slow. Thanks!

[Heather Wallace]

Don't worry:)

The rabbits are having so much more fun now. During the day they are out either in their run or in the outdoor hutch. at about 8pm the come indoors to their indoor hutches.:)

[Bunnicula05]

You're doing so terrific with ur buns, Heather. Unfortunately, I thought I would try an "experiment". This "experiment" is concluded in this sentence, "DON'T EVER TRY IT!" By now I'm sure you're wondering, "what's the "experiment"?" Well, since the buns were in their indoor hutch most of their time during the day, I thought I would leave their door open during the day. It made out really well until the third day when they got up on my little coffee table and chewed up the spine of my book, and my unreplaceable picture (somehow they had gotten it out of the frame). I was really steamed, so I put them in their hutch and screamed at them, which now I feel guilty about. I know it wasn't their fault, they were just doing normal bunny things. So I'm going to apologize to them when I go to bed. But then we've had a big storm last on and off for three days and my carpet is soaked. So now they can't get out of their hutch while the carpet is drying. There is nowhere else to put them but back outside, and they've already had their share of mother nature.

[Heather Wallace]

I replied to this in the other post.

Bemay they will be ok for a while outside and when you get organised again you could bring them inside. Remember buns love fresh air anyway.

[Bunnicula05]

Yes I know, but it's still rainy outside and I have gotten rid of their old outdoor home-made hutch. The only thing I could put them in is their play pen, but they will get wet. I wish I had a portable play-pen so I could bring it inside. My play-pen is home-made ,too.

[Heather Wallace]

Could you not use some kind of wood to cover it. When it rains, which is quite a lot here, I use shower curtains to protect them, although the rabbits aren't in them at the time.

I hope you figure things out.

[Daisylover]

You both have given me some good ideas in this thread....I think I'll try to make an outdoor run for my guys or breakdown and buy another metal portable fence that they sell for dogs. Since I'm in a townhouse it has to come down when they aren't in it.

Bunnicula, it sounds like you learned a lesson on leaving the bunnies out unsupervised. I've done that too and had my share of disasters. I've learned the hard way that you cannot leave anything on the floor or down low in a bookcase.....Daisy chewed up several good hardcover books and took some nibbles out of my dresser and has cut the phone cord several times. Chocolate likes to chew on the NEW living room sofa when my back was turned, right in the front, in the middle of course. Also the TV cabinet. I've learned that you can disguise the chewed up wood by sanding and then re-staining the wood the same color. The big thing to be careful with are the electrical/phone cords. Daisy was lucky but I've heard horror stories about bunnies being injured by chewing the cords. The best thing to use is plastic tubing that is sold in the plumbing section of the hardware store. You just split it with an exacto knife and tuck the wire inside. You'll need to keep checking the tubing because a determined bunny can eventually chew through the tubing. :(

I often think it's a good thing I love these guys as much as I do....they're a LOT of work!!! :D

[Heather Wallace]

Yes you should make some kind of portable run for the buns. My run folds up but I don't really need to as we have a garden, thank godness.

[cavialova]

Heather Wallace, i like your indoor hutch! where did you get it from? did you make it?

[Heather Wallace]

The one in all the pics is the outdoor hutch, the indoor ones look like giant hamster cages. You can get them from most pet shops.

What kind do you have?

[cavialova]

i...um..dont have one! lol. buddie has a room for herself and goes in her litter box when needed and has her food there too...:D

But it would still be nice to have hutch, i think! because she does have some accidents...

[tazz1227]

OK...Ok...Ok...Tell me this. Is there anyway for my kids to want to go into a cage once they have been out so long? They have run of the whole upstairs but I sometimes think they need some "boundaries" and "structure". :) :D For instance, I am going away for 2 weeks and I have a couple of people to watch them but everyone doesn't want them having run of their house and I need to know if they are put in a cage, will they be ok or is it my "overprotective mommy" way of thinking? :( I don't want my kids unhappy. HELP !!!:confused: :confused: I was going to buy that indoor hutch.

[Daisylover]

From what I've observed and heard from other bunny owners is that even though the buns have the run of the house they still should have a cage/box/pen to retreat to. The cage/box/pen gives them a sense of protection and safety. In fact most people I talk to never close the cage door so the buns can choose where they want to be. Sometimes my guys will sleep on a blanket on the kitchen floor and other times they'll go into their cage to nap. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

I still think the pen is the way to go....it's roomier than a cage/hutch and yet they are still confined and the pens usually cost less than a cage. This would make you happy because the rabbits would have some running around room and they would get some exercise while you are gone, and it makes your bunny sitters happy because the buns would be confined/easy to find/easy to clean up after. If you don't go with the pen..I don't think having them confined to a cage for 2 wks is harmful...It is only temporary after all....it will probably bother you more than it will them! :D

[tazz1227]

What kind of pen are you thinking of? How much do they run? Because the kids currently reside in the hutch of my computer desk but I m going to take that away while I am gone and if I can find this "pen" you are talking about then they will have 2 weeks to get used to it while I am gone. :)

[Daisylover]

Hi Tazz, Heather and I were wondering where you were!!

I guess I used the word "pen"...when I was really referring to the portable fencing we've been talking about all along.... ;) I thought you said you had a line on finding it or ordering it from a website...????.:(

A cage/hutch would be an extra item....it gives the buns a "safe" place to nap or hide in...
so the cage sits on the floor...the pens starts at either side of the cage/hutch and then extends out into a room....so you may have a 4'X5' cage but the portable fencing adds probably another five or six feet of confined ("safe") space where the buns can exercise and eat and play, without having the run (and potential ruin) of your room-furniture-electrical cables. Does my explanation make sense? (I have had a head cold for 2 wks and I think I'm burning out!!!):eek: :)

[Heather Wallace]

It makes sense to me anyway Daisy. it is a really good idae for Tazz if she is going on holiday.

Did i tell you that the boys went in their run together the other day and cadbury behaved himself, he didn't pick on Twinkles. but twinkle was still a bit scared of him, I would be to after all he has been through with him.

[Daisylover]

I bet Cadbury and Twinks will be best friends again before much longer. Eventually Twinkle will relax around The Cad but it might take several days before he forgets that Cadbury gave him such a hard time. ;)

How is old Scarface doing? Does he look rakish and romantic now that he has a manly scar? It sounds like the Bunmother (you!) hasn't really needed to break up any more disagreements....that is so great! :D :D

[Heather Wallace]

Originally posted by Daisylover
I bet Cadbury and Twinks will be best friends again before much longer. Eventually Twinkle will relax around The Cad but it might take several days before he forgets that Cadbury gave him such a hard time. ;)

How is old Scarface doing? Does he look rakish and romantic now that he has a manly scar? It sounds like the Bunmother (you!) hasn't really needed to break up any more disagreements....that is so great! :D :D

I have let the 2 boys out to run around the spare room at the moment, Twinkle is just hiding in the corner! His face isn't to bad now, you can only see the scar at little bit now. Since we have had the dogs here I haven't really had much time to spend with the buns recently, so today I have spent all afternoon upstairs with them all, cleaning out hutches and feeding them cabbage, Bunny prefers jumping up on the hutch and getting the treats instead, LOL!....

I have just looked in on the 2 boys, Twinkle still can't believe that Cadbury wants to be his friend again, he looks so scared.:p

Hope all is well with you.

[tazz1227]

Hi...I'm back !! I was in a car accident 2 weeks ago and then last week I had an ulcer on my cornea and couldn't see!!:( :( I am getting old and falling apart. Today is my first day back at work. It is clear what you were talking about. The pen is for outside but the only hutch that I found was not big enough for my "healthy" kids. :) I won't be going to Hawaii now because of the car accident !:mad: But my boyfriend said he would take me. :D

[Daisylover]

Tazz, are you ok now? That's terrible that you won't be going on vacation.

You must be really disappointed. Will you take the time off from work anyways? It sounds like you need a break. At least you won't have to worry about leaving the buns, but still that's a real bummer.

I don't think you've missed much on POTD. There hasn't been a lot of conversation involving rabbbits. :(

[Heather Wallace]

Tazz hope you are ok and I ma also sorry to hear what has happened to you, get well soon.

[tazz1227]

Thank you for your well wishes. I will be ok...just getting old at the ripe old age of 36 !! :D Heather, how did you do the pictures under your name?

[Heather Wallace]

Casper and Kitty's mum done it for me as I am useless at that sort of think. Put out a request someone might help you out.