Using Chicken Coop Plans To Build A Rabbit Enclosure
There are a number of reasons why you might want to use chicken coop plans to build a rabbit enclosure. One is that rabbit cages are often much smaller than they should be. Or, you might be using input from a variety of sources, and the more sources that you read, the more tips and tricks you pick up.
Rabbits that live or spend any time unsupervised outdoors need protection from predators and the weather. Rabbits don't do well in the heat, and care should be taken to make sure they have shade, water, and plenty of airflow in the heat. A protected area is important for cold weather, so that they can stay warm enough, too.
Rabbits should live indoors if possible. They get more socialization, less exposure to predators, bugs, foul weather, and other detriments, and are healthier, happier, and longer lived. But even indoor rabbits can enjoy the outdoors on temperate days from the safety of an enclosure. And if you must keep your rabbits outdoors, safe housing is essential.
Keeping rabbits for agriculture has done nothing for their happiness, and many hutches and cages are too small for bunnies to be comfortable. Bigger is better when it comes to rabbit homes, except for one essential part. The nest box should be small enough to retain heat, and completely enclosed except for the door. It should not be drafty, and straw or hay can be added for additional warmth.
The right flooring helps keep your rabbit safe while keeping the cage clean. Flooring is essential, even if you place the enclosure directly on the ground. Rabbits can tunnel out, and predators can tunnel in when cages do not have bottoms. Wire mesh is a good option for flooring if you want your rabbit to have access to the ground, such as grass.
If a hutch or enclosure using wire mesh flooring is above the ground, it is important to protect the rabbit's exposed toes and underbelly with a tray or other material that blocks access. Predators have been known to try and munch on your bunnies from underneath, and this protects them. In cold weather, three of the four sides should be solid, either wood or heavy tarps. In warm weather, three of the four walls should be wire mesh, except the completely enclosed nesting space.
It is possible to find chicken coop plans that you hardly need to modify at all, and there are also ones that wouldn't really work for a bunny. Finding the right plan can be a bit of an adventure, but it is out there. And you don't need to follow any plan exactly - so long as it is sturdy, your bunny doesn't care what it looks like.
Rabbits that live or spend any time unsupervised outdoors need protection from predators and the weather. Rabbits don't do well in the heat, and care should be taken to make sure they have shade, water, and plenty of airflow in the heat. A protected area is important for cold weather, so that they can stay warm enough, too.
Rabbits should live indoors if possible. They get more socialization, less exposure to predators, bugs, foul weather, and other detriments, and are healthier, happier, and longer lived. But even indoor rabbits can enjoy the outdoors on temperate days from the safety of an enclosure. And if you must keep your rabbits outdoors, safe housing is essential.
Keeping rabbits for agriculture has done nothing for their happiness, and many hutches and cages are too small for bunnies to be comfortable. Bigger is better when it comes to rabbit homes, except for one essential part. The nest box should be small enough to retain heat, and completely enclosed except for the door. It should not be drafty, and straw or hay can be added for additional warmth.
The right flooring helps keep your rabbit safe while keeping the cage clean. Flooring is essential, even if you place the enclosure directly on the ground. Rabbits can tunnel out, and predators can tunnel in when cages do not have bottoms. Wire mesh is a good option for flooring if you want your rabbit to have access to the ground, such as grass.
If a hutch or enclosure using wire mesh flooring is above the ground, it is important to protect the rabbit's exposed toes and underbelly with a tray or other material that blocks access. Predators have been known to try and munch on your bunnies from underneath, and this protects them. In cold weather, three of the four sides should be solid, either wood or heavy tarps. In warm weather, three of the four walls should be wire mesh, except the completely enclosed nesting space.
It is possible to find chicken coop plans that you hardly need to modify at all, and there are also ones that wouldn't really work for a bunny. Finding the right plan can be a bit of an adventure, but it is out there. And you don't need to follow any plan exactly - so long as it is sturdy, your bunny doesn't care what it looks like.
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Check out our guide on how to build a chicken coop for a summary of the things to consider before choosing chicken coop plans, now.
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