Fox proof rabbit hutch

[SharkyBait]

We’re planning on getting a couple of rabbits and I need advice on hutches and how to protect the rabbits from foxes (a particular problem as we live in the countryside). Can anyone recommend a specific hutch or a brand that are particularly good at making fox proof hutches. Also, is there any general advice about how to protect rabbits and how to deter foxes that I need to consider. Thank you!

Have you considered keeping them indoors? I only ask as I have guinea pigs and we put them out in the run in good weather but they are otherwise kept inside in a c&c arrangement in our dining room and we love having them in with us.

I know rabbits would need more space than guineas but if you have room would you be able to? For peace of mind if foxes are a problem.

Well I was wondering about keeping them in overnight and then putting them in a fox proof run during the day. Or else, my dh has said he can construct something extra/reinforced around the rabbits hutch and run to give more protection.

Depends how much you want to spend. The metal Omlet walk in run is very fox proof you just have to make sure the hutch is inside of it.

We’d have a few different foxes that would walk past a few times a night.

Money isn’t a problem if it means they’re protected. So thanks, I’ll look into that @PinkWaffleMaker

You need a lot of space for rabbits. I think much more than people usually think. Some people use a shed with a run attached. Presumably that would be fairly fox proof?

You can teach them to use a litter tray as well

We had a hutch opening out into a large run. You have to be really careful as rabbits will quickly dig their way out! We put boards and slabs over the ground and my DH buried chicken wire around the edges just below the surface. Never had any fox issues. Rats on the other hand…

We had 2 rabbits with a double storey hutch for sleeping in and DH constructed a huge walk-in run with a concrete base. It lasted years but one day a fox got in and killed one of our bunnies. It took us a while to see where it had got in - a piece of mesh on the roof had been torn. The other bunny became a house rabbit that day. So, whatever set-up you end up with just make sure you inspect it thoroughly for damage.

Most hutches are ridiculously small and cruel for rabbits. Ours were open and in a shed. Then a run for the day.

Hutches are cruel and cramped.

We had a large kennel run/shed setup for ours. 3x2m is advised as a minimum.

Hutches are for overnight use only. They cannot be locked in them 24/7 - this is cruel. You need a huge run or to let them free-range if your garden can be predator proof. Even then the hutch needs to be bigger than most commercial ones - a shed is better. Rabbits are harder to keep than cats, in terms of meeting their needs effectively and maintaining good welfare.

We had a large two storey hutch in a shed for overnight. He was free range but the hutch was left open so he could go home when he wanted.

Omlet actually do a rabbit hutch and run now, I've had their chicken runs in the past and can confirm defo fox proof. I've had them scratching at the metal wire of the run before now but never got in the omlet eglu.

Thank you everybody! Lots of great advice to ensure we get the best set up possible for the rabbits, that will not only give them the space they need but also the safety.

Keep them indoors …

IMO there’s no such thing as a fox proof rabbit hutch, nor a guinea Pig cage nor a hen coop.

We kept our rabbit indoors. She had free reign of the garden during the day time, would come when called and did all her wees and poops in her cage in the kitchen.

We did have a fox manage to take the back door off the eglu once 😢 it learnt how to turn the dial.

Next time we’ll put everything inside of the walk in run as that is boob proof!