Indoor hutch

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.:)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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?

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...

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.

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

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. :)

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: :)

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.