Amanda Teixeira
Rabbits need privacy in their enclosure, but they also need to be able to occupy themselves and run around. Here you can find out how a species-appropriate rabbit enclosure should be set up.
A species-appropriate rabbit enclosure must be large and varied and also give the rabbits a place to retreat. These aspects must be met urgently because a species-appropriate enclosure is important for the physical and mental health of the rabbit. Otherwise, the animals may develop behavioral problems or become ill.
Food: hay rack in the rabbit enclosure
Fresh hay is the main food for rabbits. So that the hay is not contaminated, it can be given to the animals in the hayracks.
You can also build your own hay rack, for example by getting a brick with holes in the hardware store and sticking branches (e.g. from apple and pear trees, blueberry, or currant bushes) into it. The hay can be spread between the branches and leaves.
Alternatively, if your rabbits won’t contaminate the hay with feces, it can be placed directly on the floor in a corner of the cage.
Be careful: Many cage hay racks that can be attached pose a risk that the animals can jump in or otherwise injure themselves. Better are hay racks that are attached to the outside of the enclosure.
For dry or fresh food, rabbits need solid, heavy food bowls that they cannot knock over.
Drinking bowl or drinking bottle for rabbits?
In addition to hay racks and food bowls, rabbits also need constant access to freshwater, i.e. a drinking bowl or a suitable nipple drinker.
Drinking bowls have the advantage over drinking bottles in that they allow the animals to drink naturally and are easier to clean. However, drinking bowls have the disadvantage that the water can be contaminated by dirty litter. Therefore, consistent, regular cleaning and renewal of the water is necessary.
Since bacteria can easily settle in drinking bottles, the bottle must be thoroughly cleaned at least once a week.
Hiding places for rabbits
Caves and other hiding places should not be missing in the rabbit home. Rabbits also love floors of different sizes, which they can access via flat ramps or stairs. Each rabbit needs its own little house. In addition, a house should be big enough for all the rabbits to lie in together.
Each house should have at least two sufficiently large exits so that each rabbit can always find a way out. Houses with a flat roof are also suitable as a raised lying surface.
The feel-good house by Resch offers rabbits an ideal shelter that meets all of these criteria. Of course, you can also build the hiding places yourself: With our craft ideas for rabbits, you can offer your darlings a very personal hiding place.
All hiding places must be cleaned regularly. Since materials made of wood and cork are nibbled on, the hiding places have to be replaced from time to time.
Opportunities in the rabbit enclosure
The possibility of employment is very important for the facility in the rabbit enclosure. For example, fodder trees are suitable for this, but also branches and twigs. Other structural elements for the rabbit enclosure are roots, tree trunks, tree discs, and cork tubes. Wooden bridges are also an option. They are also suitable as a hiding place. Replace individual elements with new ones from time to time to keep the enclosure exciting!
The ability to scratch and dig is also essential for rabbits. Provide your rabbits with one or more digging boxes with sand.