Much more than a hutch
Rabbits are active animals that run, jump, dig and stand on their hind legs to look around. In the wild they cover large areas every day. The small hutches sold for decades are now considered far too small by welfare organizations. The UK’s Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWAF) recommends a minimum of 10 × 6 × 3 feet (3 × 2 × 1 m) of space for a pair, permanently accessible, with a shelter inside it.
How the calculator works
- Base area: 60 sq ft (about 5.6 m²) for one or two rabbits
- Each extra rabbit: 25% more space, our rule of thumb
- Large breeds, 9 lb (4 kg) or more: 25% more space and a 20% higher roof
- Shape: the length and width keep the 10 × 6 proportion
- Daily food: about 25 g of pellets, 100 g of leafy greens and 100 ml of water per kilogram of rabbit
Example
Two rabbits of 4.4 lb (2 kg) each:
- Living area: 60 sq ft, for example 10 × 6 ft
- Height: at least 3 ft, so they can stand fully upright
- Pellets: about 3.5 oz a day for both (100 g)
- Leafy greens: about 14 oz a day (400 g)
- Water: about 13.5 fl oz a day (400 ml)
- Plus unlimited hay
Three giant rabbits of 11 lb (5 kg) would need about 94 sq ft and a roof about 3.6 ft high.
Diet
Hay or grass should make up about 85% of the diet: at least a pile as large as the rabbit every day. Constant chewing wears down their continuously growing teeth and keeps the gut moving. Leafy greens such as romaine, cilantro, parsley or dandelion add variety. Pellets are a supplement; too many lead to obesity and dental disease. Fruit and carrots are treats.
Companionship and care
Rabbits are social and are usually happiest with another rabbit; a neutered male and a spayed female is the easiest pairing. Indoors, rabbit-proof cables and give access to a larger room. Outdoors, the enclosure must be predator-proof, shaded and dry. Vaccination against myxomatosis and RHDV2 is recommended where these diseases occur. If a rabbit stops eating or producing droppings for more than a few hours, contact a vet urgently: this is an emergency.