Is there such a thing as a fox-proof rabbit hutch??

[PacificDogwood]

And please don't suggest an Eglu - too dear and never any available used on ebay in Scotland .

We regularly see a fox in our garden, but any potential pet will need to be an outdoor animal due to DH's allergies.

I am now considering GPs as I keep hearing things about rabbits not really being good pets for kids (DSs aged 8, 7, 3 and 1).

I want some furry things, dammit !

Any advice, pretty please?

We are just outside Glasgow, Engelbert.

Yes, I had heard that chickenwire is not enough for a hutch or run.

I had rabbits as a child and my granddad had built their palace of a hutch - it was somewhat overengineered. And where we lived there were no urban foxes...

I do not have a problem with children learning about death when a beloved pet dies, but I'd rather avoid the bloodied-bits-of-fur-on-the-lawn scenario .

Oh, it is YOU ! Nice namechange I don't get it

Weeeell, I might just be very very interested.

I'll PM you when the monsters aka DSs are in bed.
Thanks for offering.

Hi Pacific,

we keep outdoor rabbits and we have a Forsham hutch. You can always add bolts to the doors, too, to make it really fox proof.

We also have a Forsham run for them but they are currently in our chicken run as there is far more space.

that was quite easy to build but it is huge

If you want any pointers let me know. Forsham hutches have thick weldmesh on the front. You could add this to an ordinary hutch instead of the chicken wire or as well as!

Foxes normally don't break into hutches, they'll either undo the catch or they'll get a rabbit from loose in the garden or in an uncovered run.

One more thing, females burrow - makes a big mess but they are generally safe in a burrow if Mr Todd does come looking! Males don't. They will all need lots of space to run about.

They also love company so if you are only getting one, make sure you give it loads of cuddles and attention or it'll be lonely. Also get them neutered, our three are gals and they got very hormonal before we had them done. Much friendlier now.

LOL at the shoe

We once had a large, extremely large rather, male rabbit. we bought two small male rabbits for company and he humped both of them constantly. It was only a month or so later we realised they weren't male after all.

But he carried on with his merry life while they went completely nuts and sadly we released them into the wild as they were so vicious.

This was in the old days when my mother was in charge and I was about 13. If I'd known better we'd have had them neutered and they'd have been fine

Poor things.

The babies were Ok btw.

We kept the mums for ages too but after a year or so it was hopeless so they went off to join their little wild friends.

I wonder how long they survived out there. Our girls dig massive networks of burrows, never having been diggers during their first year or two, so it seems an innate instinct.