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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think thathat my pet rabbits are quite happy, actually?

59 replies

rainbowfudgee · 15/05/2018 14:59

My friend keeps posting 'ban the hutch' petitions on FB. I know they are aimed at me.
I have two dwarf rabbits who go into a hutch at 9pm to sleep and then are put into their run at 7am where they have breakfast. They spend most of the day in the run, which is large and on grass, plus a couple of hours' free hopping time in the garden
The garden is very secure as it is walled. We keep an eye on them when they are out in case local cats jump over the wall etc. I usually bring them in the house in the evening to cuddle them which they love- they are really friendly and like hopping around the lounge as well as being handled.

Personally I think it's terrible to leave rabbits in a hutch all day and a couple of people I know do this. But as a sleeping area surely it's ok? Luckily DH or I are at home every day so we can give the rabbits lots of time and space.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
MirriVan · 15/05/2018 15:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sunnyshores · 15/05/2018 15:35

why is she still your friend if this is rudely directed at you? (fair enough if thats her opinion and she is posting generally about it being wrong)

e1y1 · 15/05/2018 15:38

I agree with your friend, watch this 3 minute video of you think differently, you will need the sound and listen to the words.

I have watched this video ONCE (I couldn’t a second time)

Bearhunter09 · 15/05/2018 15:40

Sounds a good life to me. People do go a bit over the top sometimes. I think there’s some people who will only really be happy if humans were wiped out together with any evidence of their existence and bunnies were hoping round with tigers and elephants in a new garden of Eden. Try posting an ironic message about passive aggressive people underneath her hutch ones

dayinlifeof · 15/05/2018 15:43

We had rabbits, they had a hutch and a large run and could have free time all day in the garden. Stupid animals would sit next to the run until we put them in a smaller, confined space rather than being free range in the garden.

e1y1 · 15/05/2018 15:45

But as a sleeping area surely it's ok? Luckily DH or I are at home every day so we can give the rabbits lots of time and space.

Damn, should read the whole OP.

Your setup is fine, if out in the day and in the hutch at night, that’s fine, as long as sheltered, secure and have food and water. Which I’m sure yours do.

The thing that must stop is the ones who are in the hutch constantly. Don’t know who mentioned it, but yes, hutches were the norm when rabbits were kept in the garden to the kept as food.

purpleme12 · 15/05/2018 15:45

I think really it depends how big your Hutch and run are...
Why can't you have a hutch attached to a run outside so they can go between both?

StormTreader · 15/05/2018 15:49

Rabbits spend a lot of their time in their warrens, don't they? Is she suggesting you should dig your rabbits one of those in the garden instead?

urbansprawl · 15/05/2018 15:59

Hi OP,

If your hutch is a decent size (I think 6' x 2' is RWAF standard), then I really wouldn't worry. It would be ideal if their hutch had a run attached, so your buns could make the most of their active time at dawn (which is obviously earlier in the summer than winter), but 14 hours of exercise per day is plenty. Especially if they're anywhere near as lazy as mine.

Our house rabbits are free range, and they voluntarily spend all night squashed on top of each other in one tiny compartment of their house. They have our whole flat to choose from, but I think being cuddled up and boxed in makes them feel safe. They do live in warrens, after all.

Tara336 · 15/05/2018 16:00

It sounds like your rabbit has a lovely life! Stunned by the poor bunny that was kept in a shoe box, thank goodness she’s been rescued! I must admit I wouldn’t keep birds as I hate the thought of them in cages. What is annoying is people posting things on Facebook but not having the guts to just directly voice their opinions, it’s a bit cowardly really. I had similar thing with a relative who’s a kennel club breeder posting nasty things about crossbreed dogs after I bought one.

pigpoglet · 15/05/2018 16:02

I hate pets in cages and don't see the point but you are looking after your rabbits very well . This isn't however the norm . A lot of people get rabbits and leave them in grotty cages which is very sad . Just ignore her !

DoubleRamsey · 15/05/2018 16:20

We always locked our rabbits in their hutch overnight! Double layer protection from foxes! But they had free range of a large run during the day.

Sadly I developed an allergy so can't get another one, they make lovely pets!

FaFoutis · 15/05/2018 16:43

Mine is very happy boy. Well, not that you can tell by his face but he has a lovely life. He runs about all day either in the garden or house. His hutch is his bedroom and he goes into it voluntarily.

IIIustriousIyIllogical · 15/05/2018 16:52

watch this 3 minute video of you think differently

The OP has already said that the rabbits are in a large run all day, so the video isn't really relevant. Her "friend" needs to wind her neck in.

It's aimed at people that, well, just leave the rabbit in a hutch......

GothMummy · 15/05/2018 16:59

Your rabbit sounds fine. We just converted the Wendy house to a guinea pig house though, and in retrospect I wish we had done it earlier as they look so happy with the extra space.

theSnuffster · 15/05/2018 17:02

Outdoor rabbits need a secure, suitably sized hutch or similar overnight for safety, surely? Your situation sounds similar to ours- the (large) hutch is inside a big run (used to be an aviary) so during the day one of the hutch doors is clipped open for the rabbits to come and go as they please. They also spend supervised time having free run of the garden. They're perfectly happy and healthy.

e1y1 · 15/05/2018 17:40

@Illustriouslyillogical

And as I said a whole hour before you posted, that I really should read a whole OP and corrected myself.

BlackeyedSusan · 15/05/2018 17:43

yabu op. you should leave the lovely fluffy bunnies in the garden overnight to be fox food

NotExactlyHappyToHelp · 15/05/2018 17:45

Your bunnies sound like they’re living a very happy life. Pay your friend no attention.

We’ve a similar set up for the Guinea Pig. She potters around the secure garden all day then once she’s taken her self off to her hutch to sleep we ‘tuck her in’ as we call it. It’s most amusing when people come to visit and spot her. Lots of “Oh my god your guinea pig has escaped!!” squealing.

I’m not against hutches, I’m against irresponsible pet ownership. I personally think you should have to pay a lot more to buy a rabbit or guinea. It’d put off the fairweather pet owners.

Carolynnnna · 15/05/2018 18:01

I don't think rabbits or birds (or any animal that needs to be caged for any length of time) should be kept as pets.

SM2132 · 15/05/2018 18:05

YABVU OP to not provide a cute bunny photo... I want to see them! You sound like a great owner.

JenBarber · 15/05/2018 18:25

You can see my bunny if you like...

to think thathat my pet rabbits are quite happy, actually?
to think thathat my pet rabbits are quite happy, actually?
Lonecatwithkitten · 15/05/2018 18:25

The biggest single issue in rabbit welfare is rubbish museli food this is what the rabbit action welfare are campaigning about.

MyPuppyIsADick · 15/05/2018 18:30

OP your set up sounds fine.

The thinking behind ‘ban the hutch’ isn’t to stop people keeping rabbits as pets, but to ensure people give them adequate living space and yes, to stop them being shoved in hutches and forgotten about, as sadly happens to many rabbits. Sad

Luisa27 · 15/05/2018 18:50

How sweet! @Jenbarber