Rabbit Habitat
Things to Consider When Creating a Rabbit Habitat
If you are thinking of getting a rabbit or already have one and want to make sure that you are providing a good rabbit habitat, there are a few basic things you have to keep in mind. As a rule of thumb, each rabbit needs four times its size as available space to move around. Given that it is recommended that rabbits get three hours a day of exercise outside the cage, moving space is critical for these creatures. But space is only a part of what you have to think about.
Rabbit habitat refers to the kind of places where rabbits live - but this is not just a matter of recreating a physical structure but an understanding of the role the habitat plays in keeping the rabbits engaged and occupied.
Rabbits in the wild live in dense thickets, grasslands, woods, forests and meadows and all these are places with lots of running room but they are also places where these creatures can burrow and explore. Given that rabbits in the wild are vulnerable as preys they also know how to hide in small places. These are instincts built into this species and when providing them home, pet owners will do well to recreate this environment.
A herd of rabbits tend to live in what is called a warren which is in essence and collection of burrows interconnected by tunnels. Female rabbits are the ones which dig the burrows and there is designated space in these warrens for sleeping or raising baby bunnies. This collective approach to housing is an interesting feature of rabbit habitats and this has prompted many rabbit owners to create rabbit condos. A rabbit condo is really a multi-level cage or home where rabbits can explore without feeling cooped up. The idea is to recreate the feel of the warren and this is particularly attractive if you choose to have more than one rabbit. You can be creative in how you set up this condo because imagination is the limit on what can be used to create diversity and entertainment for the rabbits. Tunnels, shelves, balls and other safe toys can make this space a real home for your rabbits.
It is fairly easy to be creative with some of the office cubes available from stores to create your own design for a rabbit condo. If doing this, make sure you keep safety top and centre in your plans. Experts advise against using cubes with grids bigger than an inch because this may tempt the rabbit to push their head through and they can get stuck and this can be traumatic. Also in home-made constructions, there is the danger of nails or zip-ties being inadvertently left facing the inside of the cage. Rabbits, given their inquisitive nature, may set out to chew or sniff something and there is a real danger of their getting hurt.
Another factor to keep in mind is the placement of the rabbit cage or pen. Rabbits are gentle creatures that do startle easily and it will be good idea to place their home where there is not too much loud or sudden noise. The Humane Society does not believe rabbits are good pets for children for this reason that they will not do well with the natural boisterousness of most kids. Keep this in mind when locating the pen and make sure your pets have a calm and safe environment.
There are some domestic rabbits which are not kept inside the house but are pet rabbits which live in a hutch outside the house. Some owners use the hutch during the day for access to fresh air and then they move their pets in for the night. Whether housed indoor or outdoor, the same principles apply for creating a good rabbit habitat for your domesticated rabbits.