To think this isn't particularly excessive?

[Midori1999]

I have had two rabbits for a while and have just got another rescue female. As she can't necessarily be added successfully to my existing pair and rabbits are best in pairs or groups, I intend to get her a 'husband'.

The rabbits have been indoors until now, but as they'll be moving outside I have ordered a large dog kennel and run for one pair and have a converted Wendy house with permenant access to a run for the other pair. Both sets of accommodation will have access via a tunnel to seperate runs on the grass during the days/when I'm about. Both lots of accommodation, excluding the grass access only just meet/are around the minimum space requirements of 44sq ft for a pair of rabbits.

A few friends and family have commented negatively about the rabbits/their accommodation. Surely AIBU to (soon) own four rabbits and provide the correct accommodation for them? Is four particularly excessive?

You can own as many as you bloody well like.

It's your garden, not theirs and you're not asking them to pay for it so I fail to see what it's got to do with them.

My nanna had 13 rabbits at one point when my mum was younger. She bought two females. Soon found out that only one was female

Have as many as you want

YANBU. So many people seem to think its OK to get a rabbit and leave it stuck most of the time in a small hutch in the garden on its own. But actually its quite cruel.

You, on the other hand, are definitely doing the right thing, and your friends and family should mind their own business!

Pets are living creatures, not toys, and if you choose to take on animals then IMO you have a duty to give them the best life you can, including medical care, affection, companionship (if appropriate to that species), and as much space as you can manage.

Its sad that a lot of people seem to regard pets as toys for their children. Then you get them saying 'oh, the dcs won't clean out the hutch'. Teach the children to be caring, by all means, but ultimately you, as the adult, are responsible.

What is their problem? That you're providing the rabbits with too much space?

Surely any pets that need to be kept in some kind of pen or hutch will be happier in one with lots of space. I'd make their pen/run as big as you can comfortably manage for the sake of the bunnies' happiness. Happy rabbits are better pets.

Unless your rabbit hutches are going to negatively impact on any of your friends and family, they should leave you and your rabbits to it Op! YANBU.

If only all pet owners could be so caring and responsible.

My friend mum 'kept rabbits' in a shed with little or no outside time.... I got all excited when they went on holiday as I would clean and scrub those cages and have a strict Rota so everyone had a go on the grass every day

Sounds Like you rabbits are very lucky

My DDs would KILL to have a rabbit. Or a guinea pig, hamster, cat, tortoise, dog, pony, tarantula, any kind of pet really! Mean old mum (e.g. me) says they have to be content with the koi in our pond.

YANBU.

Rabbits need the company of other rabbits and you are happy to give them the space and care they need. Plus you are providing a home for rescued pets... Can't quite see what their problem is TBH.

We had 14 rabbits at one point. We bought what we were assured were 2 girls. Six months later they had babies!
We gave most away to good homes.
Whilst they lived with us we opened the cages and let them have the whole garden to themselves all day. (We bunny proofed the garden to make sure they were safe) Then at about 6pm we put them back in their cages. They were happy and healthy. So IMO YANBU.

I miss my bunnies now.

I don't get the problem either. Rabbits who are just left alone in hutches are miserable, you're actually providing for yours, ignore the haters!