Article From SubmitYOURArticle.com: The Double Rabbit Hutch & the Rabbit Cage: What Is the Difference?

One of the newest in living style of pet rabbits
today is what they call the double rabbit hutch.
It is much touted by some as one that is fit for
a king and by some as one that will help you
avoid some troubles for your pet rabbit.

But how is it different from the old fashioned
rabbit cage?

The double rabbit hutch and the rabbit cage

Pet rabbit lovers and other people who have
interest in pet rabbits (those in the business of
selling or manufacturing cages, hutches and runs)
seem to have a silent cooperation as far as
improving the lives of pet rabbits.

In the course of the interaction between the two
groups, bits of information are exchanged and it
is probable that one or both sides come up with
ideas that will address certain problems of
rabbits. The end result is the improvement of the
life of rabbits - its health, comfort, and safety.

And consequently the double rabbit hutch. But are
there differences between the two that will merit
a pet owner's attention and consideration to buy
or build one for his or her pet?

1. The purpose. Cages have been in use for
rabbits for a long, long time, in fact, since
people started domesticating rabbits for pets.
They have been used to house rabbits both indoors
and outdoors.

However, there was an increasing awareness among
owners of the dangers that usually confront
rabbits when left even in a cage outside the
house especially at night. The dangers come in
the presence of predators like dogs, cats and
feral cats, foxes, owls, hawks, opossums, weasels
and raccoons which view rabbits either as enemies
or an item of delectable food.

Because of the basic design and construction of
the cage and realizing the limited purpose it
serves, they were most often consigned for indoor
use only. Consequently, other types of
construction were made for outdoor use, like the
rabbit run and hutches. Even the runs and
hutches did not escape the ever present desire
for change because of the need to adapt to the
conditions, temperament, needs, and nature of
rabbits.

These most likely engendered the development of
the different types of housing available today.
It is probably not just the passion of business
to innovate in order to prop up their business,
which by the way, is also a big help to pet
owners.

And the double rabbit hutch was introduced in the
market to serve the purposes that seem lacking in
cages.

They are hutches all right but not like the
ordinary hutch whose legs elevate it from the
ground. The lower level space on the ground is
enclosed to serve as a place where the rabbit can
play. There it can stay and have the sunlight and
plenty of air it needs.

If there is enough space in the house, what will
prevent an owner to have it for indoor use also,
if proper modifications are done such as having
an elevated the floor and a wheel? Or if the cage
has roof that protects the rabbit from sunlight
or little rain or shower, what will stop an owner
from enclosing it with wire mesh that will serve
as a run for the rabbit?

2. Design. Cages are conceived as of simple
construction which can be an all wire one, that
is, the top, the sides and the floor are all made
of wire mesh.

Or it can have a room that will serve as a place
for the rabbit to rest and relax when it needs
to. The room can be of the same level as the
floor of the entire cage or it can be elevated
with a ramp leading down where the rabbit can run
up and down. The latter is what they call a
rabbit condo, which is similar in concept to the
double rabbit hutch.

The hutch looks more like a house with the lower
level, more or less open to view but enclosed by
welded wire for protection. It is on the ground
where the rabbit can run and play. There it can
have all the fresh air and the sunlight it needs.
The upper level has walls to protect it from
strong winds and which serves a place of retreat
for the rabbit, where it can relax and rest or
sleep.

Also double hutches tend to be bigger than the
cages because they are outdoors for the purpose
of giving the rabbits more space in which they
can run and play.

This is especially true when the rabbit is from
one of the American Fuzzy lop, the Florida White,
the Holland lop, the Champagne French Lop and the
Belgian hare breeds which are by nature curious
and are fond of exploring their surroundings.

The hutch has its door properly secured, while
the cage can have its door open to allow it to go
around the house if it wants to and come in at
any time. One thing is the cage has rollers
for ease of movement while the double hutch does
not have them.

Also, the materials used in constructing a double
rabbit hutch are sturdier than those used in a
rabbit cage.

A hutch or a cage?

Well, it all depends on your purpose and the
place where you will use it. A double rabbit
hutch is certainly needed for rabbits which are
by nature active and thus require more space. It
has to be constructed using stronger materials
because it is placed outdoors for protection
against predators; but it needs a solid roofing
that serves as a shelter from the heat of the sun
and from the rain.

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For more details about double rabbit hutch and
rabbit cage, please visit us online at
http://www.the-rabbit-hutch-shop.com

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