Your pet bunny will need a rabbit hutch and run so that he can have both the comfort and the exercise he needs. If you buy both together, you’ll end up saving money in the long run.
Even though many hutches are quite large, for their physical and emotional, rabbits need to be able to move freely about. They need to have that freedom yet at the same time, because they are small animals that can be targets for other animals such as cats or foxes, so they must be protected. They also need that fresh air and sunshine.
It’s never a good idea to let a bunny alone in a yard. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you can take your pet out of a hutch and turn him loose in a fenced in backyard and he’d be fine.
Predators can get over or under a fence to get to a rabbit. The purpose of a rabbit run is to keep him safe from harm. The run is usually made of wire mesh or chain link fence material. The spaces between the wire are made so that the rabbit can’t get a foot caught up in the wire.
When you get a rabbit hutch and run check with the manufacturer details on the kind of lumber or other materials that were used to make the run. Know ahead of time what’s safe for your bunny to be around and what’s not since some wood is toxic to a rabbit.
A good wood to use in a run is fir wood that’s not been treated with any kind of sealant that has a noxious fume to it. You’ll want the run you purchase to have an access door for you to be able to get to the bunny easily but you’ll want that door to be sturdy enough so that if he pushes against it, the latch won’t spring open.
A run that’s too small defeats the purpose. A good rule of thumb to follow when considering what size run to get is to make sure it’s at least twice the size of a medium hutch, which would be about 36 inches in width.
Some runs come with flooring but most do not which allows owner to simply move the hutch to a new area in the yard if the ground becomes muddy or is no longer suitable for the pet.
Having flooring on a run is a matter of personal preference but being able to nibble on untreated grass and be on a natural setting is more of a treat for the bunny than using synthetic means.
Your pet needs both a rabbit hutch and run already in place before you bring him home. He’ll want to familiarize himself with his surroundings and the sooner he learns he’s home, the more secure he’ll feel. Buying a hutch and run that you can just assembly can give you that convenience factor as well as save you money.