This article will help you purchase your first rabbit hutch. It is not as easy as buying the first rabbit hutch you come across with a '' sign on it. One rabbit hutch design does not suit all rabbit raising situations. Here are a few scenarios which would lead to requiring quite different shelters.
Some rabbit owners might want to keep their rabbits inside.Others (most) will choose to keep the rabbits outside.Some families will need a mobile rabbit house.One might be expected to shelter one rabbit.Another will be home to six rabbits.
Before we look at the features of a good rabbit shelter, it is probably helpful to first look at where you might find .
Where to find second-hand rabbit hutches.
Community notice boards at the local library and supermarket.In the 'second-hand goods for sale' section of the local newspaper.You may have luck on the internet at a site like 'craigslist'.
Where to find new rabbit hutches.
A hardware store.An urban farming supply depot.A carpenter in your area who may make animal homes.Online.
A very quick discussion of each possible place to source from will help us discover where you should purchase your first rabbit hutch. This won't take long.
First, let's look at second-hand hutches. Experience has taught me to be very wary of second-hand pet containers and houses. This is especially true if they are constructed from wood. Old, porous wood readily carries diseases. A vet gave me that piece of information. I have no wish to bring diseases to my pet animals and of course the children who play with the animals. The other thing that makes me shy away from second-hand hutches is their lack of structural strength. A hutch can sit for years in one place and stay very serviceable. However, try moving it and even before you load it onto a trailer, joints will start falling apart. I suggest to steer clear of purchasing second-hand items; they are not value-for-money.
Now, let's try to find a good place to purchase a new rabbit house.
A hardware store: While you might find the occasional pre made pet cage at a mega hardware, I would be very surprised if you find rabbit hutches. If you did get lucky and find a specific item I really can't imagine a hardware store stocking a decent range of hutches to choose from. Please don't believe the sales person's spiel that a hamster cage can serve as a rabbit home.
An urban farming supply depot: My guess is that many urban farming supply depots will have a range of rabbit hutches available to them. You would probably order via a catalogue and would have to wait for it to arrive from the manufacture. While this isn't an ideal situation, it isn't a bad option. However, how many of us have a depot near us?
A carpenter: You might know a local carpenter who may be willing to make a new rabbit hutch for you. This could be a good option if you have suitable plans for your design. You definitely don't want to end up with a carpenter's version of what a rabbit house should be! Buying plans, buying materials and employing a carpenter might not be as cheap as first thought.
An online purchase: Many rabbit owners purchase new hutches online. An online purchase is convenient in many ways. Prospective buyers can easily research a variety of items. They can even read reviews from current owners. The hutches are pre made and arrive at your doorstep! This is a huge advantage. Transportation of a hutch need never be a hassle for you. The majority of hutches arrived fully assembled. If an assembly is needed it will be easy and very minimal.
As you can see there really is only one option which guarantees that your family can have a high-quality, value-for-money rabbit hutch easily setup in your backyard soon. Online is the best way to go. Can I recommend to you Trixie rabbit hutches? Trixie Hutches has been around a long time and has a reputation for designing and building high quality, value-for-money, pre made rabbit hutches.
I feel I must put in a quick word of warning. We are talking about buying pre made items, not kit hutches. Experience with a kit purchase has taught me to warn against the kit option. I am quite good with plans and wood working tools, and still the kit project turned into a never-ending nightmare. Please steer well clear of this option.
Even though we have uncovered where to buy and who to buy from we still need to consider the features your rabbit hutch will need to suit your particular backyard. Here is a simple self-explanatory list to check-off against as you consider which design to choose.
Indoor or outdoor.Number of rabbits to be kept.Weather protection. Very hot or very cold regions will necessitate an insulated shelter.Predator protection. Most cities still have the occasional snake and hawk.Will you need a mobile item?Cleaning requirements.Consider the space required for feeding, sleeping, exercising and raising young.Quality of materials is critical as most rabbit homes will be exposed to climatic elements.Value-for-money.
As you can see there are many points to consider. The good news is that a well-designed rabbit hutch will address most of these issues for you. By now you should be armed with enough knowledge to purchase a rabbit hutch that will be suitable for your rabbits and your back yard.
Your family will soon be enjoying watching rabbits at play in your backyard. Wonderful!
Paul is a writer who enjoys keeping family pets. You can check out Paul's latest website at Rabbit Hutches Designs, where he provides advice on buying rabbit hutches that are designed to suit the needs found in your backyard, including useful topics like Rabbit Hutches Cheap, and more.
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