Rabbit wisdom please!!!!

[nevernotstruggling]

Hi there. So we rehomed a lovely mini Rex - the harlequin one and he came with the hutch pictured. We have just bought the silver one to keep him company and the breeder gave lots of helpful advice about socialising them. All good.

I want to order a run to put on the lawn as I don't really like the hutch and may ditch it altogether. I don't have an infinite budget though I have plenty of room for the run.

There is either the rectangular wood and mesh runs with no shelter or the traditional triangular prism shaped type which arnt that big. Is it better to have a big run and just take them in at night?

What do you all have? I want to get it right

If you can it's better to have as big a run as possible available 24/7, so attached to the hutch. It would need to be secure and possibly have a mesh floor as some of them dig out! Our hutch is going inside a greenhouse (door will mostly stay open, it's just for shelter from rain and snow as we are quite exposed) which Is inside a corner of the garden we've sectioned off. A shed can be a good option instead of a hutch, and you could let them in the garden when you're home. We've had ours in a stable over winter with a strong mesh across the door, it's been great.

Rex rabbits are beautiful ! I had a large wooden run for my rabbits but they had the run if the garden which was secured. But isn't a huge garden. If you look at the site Run around they have some neat tubes Nd connections that might give you ideas.

This one?

As PP have said, it is best to have the run attached to the hutch. There are lots of ways you can do this from cat flaps to 'runaround' systems and their DIY (cheaper!) counterparts. The most important thing is that the run should have shade (a piece of wood/tarpaulin over the top) and a place to hide like a wooden box (moult and bolt boxes are perfect for this). If the run is on grass it needs to be sunk/dug a foot down into the grass to stop rabbits digging out or predators digging in. Rexes can also get quite big so a big run is best. Are they also having supervised garden time? They are gorgeous buns.

To be honest a lot of the products made specifically for rabbits just isn't good enough and a lot of the custom stuff made by rabbit companies is really expensive so DIY is often the best way to go. You can make a run relatively cheaply with some fox proof wire frames (not chicken wire) or make some wooden frames yourself with wire mesh stapled across. Ready made aviary panels are also perfect for bunnies. If you don't want to dig up the lawn then place the run on pacing stones which you can usually get off fb selling sites etc. cheaply. Rabbits should have permanent access to 10' x 6' at all times in line with RWA guidelines.

Hi folks the run around site isn't working properly but I got loads of ideas. Now we are thinking of attaching to existing hutch like in my drawing - what do you think?

Looks great! Some things to consider from my own practical experience... how big is your hutch and run? Will the run be on slabs or grass and sunk? Will there be shade/shelter/access to hay in the outside run too (you can get mini racks that attach onto mesh)? When you need to handle the bunnies where will you access - ie will you be able to shut off the tube so you can catch them in the hutch/run or vice versa? Lucky bunnies!!

@Synecdoche I found a better photo! So this is the plan now. Better use of the existing hutch. We are socialising new friends so limiting loads of space together at first so plenty of time to assess whether they dig or not. Also going to get the handyman to block off the back gate as otherwise garden is fully enclosed so if they get out not the end of the world. Planning to chase them in at night as we are next door to an NT property so high risk of foxes but I can't post the photo argh

That sounds great. I would definitely dog proof the run whatever as it's as much about cats/foxes in the daytime getting in as buns getting out! Hope they make friends soon - enjoy them!

*dig proof!

Buckets of outdoor housing inspo here:
www.thebigrabbithutch.co.uk/outdoor-ideas.html

Do make sure both your buns are neutered before introducing them :)

Hey, gorgeous Rex Rabbits you have there.
Just wanted to say Rex buns are prone to sore hocks so just keep an eye on them.
Also Rex buns are mostly soppy sods and I’m sure introductions will be easy for you.
Have fun with them buns are amazing.

Lovely rabbits! Lots of hutches and runs made for rabbits are nowhere near big enough and really poor quality, wouldn't touch big pet shops with a barge pole! As per the Rabbit Welfare Association Foundation (RWAF) an absolute minimum set up for a pair of rabbits is 6x2x2 ft hutch with a permanently attached 8ft run. Hutch and run either needs to be on paving slabs or meshed at the bottom/just under the turf to stop predators getting in. Really recommend Manor Pet Housing, they are expensive but fantastic quality!

@Crazybunnylady123 the harlequin came with sore hocks :-(. I didn't know what they were as my previous Dutch was hard as nails. Luckily the breeder I got the smoke pearl from was very knowledgeable and caught us up. After a chat with her we started planning the bunny extensions! Hence the thread! The harlequin is the softest cuddliest trabbit I've ever met I'm amazed!!!

Just out of interest, how were you advised to deal with the sore hocks?
My mini Rex is six now bless him, his partner died earlier in the year she was a Netherland dwarf.
Dutch rabbits are also so amazing, my top breeds are Dutch, netherland dwarf and mini Rex.

@Crazybunnylady123 make sure the floor is dry and not hard do lots of floor covering and litter box which we are working on

Also I was wondering if I can put fabric bedding in - an old towel or something or will they chew it?

To be honest they will probably chew it and it’s not good if they injest that. The one thing about bunnies is they have a very sensitive digestive system.
My advise is all buns should obviously be kept dry and yes the bedding should be very deep.
You can get a product called derma gel on amazon. It builds a barrier and protects the skin.
That should fix it unless it’s really bad, in which case the bunny would need pain meds (metacam) and the foot bandaged up to relieve the pressure.
But hopefully it’s just a mild case. My Rex gets a little bit now and again. They are very prone to it.
Hope that helps.

Not got advice as my bunny is indoors, she has run of the (bunnyproof obvs) she thinks she is a human ha. Just wanted to say how sweet yours look!

*run of the flat

I have a rabbit which has made it to 11 years old and still going strong. He lives in a Wendy house with run attached to the side accessed by a cat flap.

@WhenZogateSuperworm
11 is good. My oldest is 14! Hehe

Don't chase them in at night, lure them in with food. You can train them to come when called with a few tasty treats.