Rabbits are extremely fun pets to have. They’re energetic, curious, and have an incredible personality that you can’t get enough of. As a good rabbit owner, there is a good chance that you let your rabbit roam and play around your house for a good portion of the time that you’re home. However, no matter how much freedom you give your rabbit, there are some times when they will need to be caged up, and that’s when rabbit hutches come into play.You’re most likely tempted to get your rabbit the first hutch that you happen to see, but the reality is that all rabbit hutches are not created equal. Rabbits have a certain specific needs for their environment, so we’ve created this guide to make the process of finding the best rabbit hutch easier.
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Product
OUR #1 RATED
PawHut91″ Deluxe Large Wooden Rabbit Hutch
This rabbit hutch is excellent all-around with its large size, great quality, and combination of covered area and long run.
Purlove71″ Wooden Rabbit Hutch
A very smart-looking hutch that’s quite well-built with several convenient access points and a large run area.
PawHut40″ Wooden Rabbit Hutch
This hutch is quick and easy to construct with great quality, nice accessibility, and a safe and secure design.
PawHut54″ Wooden Rabbit Hutch
Another hutch that’s easy to construct and features a variety of different spaces inside with easy access points.
Trixie61″ Wooden Rabbit Hutch
An overall excellent value, this hutch provides a large outdoor run area for rabbits while being very easy to access and clean.
What Is A Rabbit Hutch?
A rabbit hutch could be considered a necessity for any rabbit owner that wants to give their rabbit a good living experience. Rabbit hutches are cage-like structures that are generally set up outside, are made primarily of wood, and have wire mesh on one of their sides to allow monitoring, ventilation, and safety.
Hutches are essentially the homes for rabbits that live outdoors. They have proper space and features to allow rabbits to eat, sleep, and play in a natural environment that can’t be matched by having a basic cage indoors.
While rabbits are fun and social at times, they absolutely need a space where they can relax on their own, especially after a period of playing or being social. If a rabbit doesn’t have a comfortable environment to unwind between social sessions, then their overall mood will shift towards not wanting to be touched or held. Rabbit hutches provide them with this environment to unwind, enjoy nature, and live stress-free.
How Are Hutches Different From Cages?
Rabbit hutches differ from rabbit cages in one major way – they’re made for outside living for your rabbit. While cages are made to contain rabbits within your house, hutches are designed to provide a living environment for your rabbit outside while taking into account weather, predators, and general safety.
There are several benefits to choosing a rabbit hutch over a rabbit cage, such as the fact that it’s easier to clean a hutch, your house doesn’t smell of rabbit, and your rabbit gets to live in a more natural environment.
In the end, choosing whether you should keep your rabbit indoors in a cage or outdoors in a hutch is up to personal preference. As long as the hutch is adequately built with several key characteristics taken into account, it will provide your rabbit with a safe and comfortable living space on par with cages.
What Makes Up The Best Rabbit Hutches?
Not all rabbit hutches are created equal. Because you’re keeping your rabbit outdoors in a less controlled environment, factors such as weather and predators must be considered and taken care of by the hutch. Below we have compiled a list of features that the best rabbit hutches all have:
- Large size – The size of a hutch is extremely important, and you should aim to get the largest hutch that you possibly can to give your rabbit more space to run around in. While rabbits come in many different sizes, all hutches should be several feet long with 2 or more feet in width and height, with added size only being more beneficial. In addition to the shelter part of a hutch, a run should be included. Runs are large areas where rabbits can play or just roam around.
- Durable construction – When getting your rabbit a run, you want to make sure that it is built to endure years of staying outside in the constantly changing weather. Even if you live in an area that’s primarily sunny, the odd windy or stormy day can be problematic if you don’t have a durable hutch. The best rabbit hutches are made from strong, weather-proof wood and have metal parts that are rust and corrosion proof.
- Predator proof – When your rabbit is kept outdoors, they can be subject to predators such as weasels and various birds of prey. A hutch should be able to keep these predators away from your rabbit easily, as only slip-up could spell disaster. The most secure hutches are ones that are raised off of the ground, as this makes it much harder for predators to reach your rabbit. If you have a hutch on the ground, very tight wire mesh with no places for predators for squeeze through is essential. If there’s ever any doubt about the security of a hutch, choose a new one or make modifications to create a safer hutch.
- checkComfortable living – A rabbit hutch can be secure, but if it isn’t comfortable for your rabbit, it may affect the overall happiness of your pet. Floors of the hutch should either be solid or have thin, wide chicken wire if your hutch is on the ground but your rabbits like to dig. A closed space must also be available for your rabbit to hide in if they get scared or just want to be alone.
- checkAccessibility – While your rabbit will mostly be in their hutch with no interaction, it’s important that your hutch is accessible in case of emergency or just for general cleaning. A hutch with one or several large, secure doors will make access quick and easy. Make sure that you can reach all corners of the hutch, too, so that the hutch can be properly cleaned.
Rabbit Hutch FAQs
- Does my rabbit need a cage/hutch?
- Giving your rabbit a cage or a hutch is essential as for their well-being. While rabbits can certainly be given a lot of free-roam abilities within the house, too much unsupervised freedom can result in a rabbit hurting themselves. Additionally, rabbits like a secure place for themselves when they’re not being social, so a hutch would give them that security.
- Can I keep more than 1 rabbit in the same hutch?
- Absolutely! In fact, it’s almost essential that your rabbit is kept with one or more other rabbits as they’re very sociable and are a lot happier when they have another rabbit to interact with. It’s important to note that more rabbits living together will require more space within a hutch, so take their size into account when making a purchase. Some of the best rabbit hutches listed in this post would be acceptable for 2 average-sized rabbits.
- How much space does my rabbit need in their hutch?
- It’s been agreed upon that a rabbit needs a living space of at least 6’x2’x2′, but hutches larger than this are definitely preferred. Two or more rabbits will obviously need a larger hutch, and an additional run should be included for them to roam more freely. If you plan on giving your rabbit a lot of free-roam time within your house, then a smaller hutch may be acceptable as they’ll be spending less time in it.
- Should I cover my rabbit hutch?
- While it’s entirely up to you if you want to cover your rabbit hutch, it’s generally a good idea if your hutch could be exposed to predators. At night, you won’t be able to keep an eye on your rabbit, so making sure that your hutch does this for you is very important. Covering the hutch and keeping your rabbit out of sight is a great way to deter predators and prevent any accidents.
What Are The Best Rabbit Hutches?
There are a lot of rabbit hutches available, with each of them having various pros and cons that they’d bring your rabbit. We’ve taken a look at many different rabbit hutches, taking into account things such as size, safety, price, and quality of construction. Through this process, we’ve found the five best rabbit hutches that would provide your rabbit with a great outdoor living space.Remember that the quantity of rabbits that you have determines the size of the hutch required. Because of this, if you have two or more rabbits, you may want to consider the bigger hutches listed below.
our #1 rated
OUR TOP PICK
PawHut
91″ Deluxe Large Wooden Hutch
Quality
Value
Our Rating
The 91″ Deluxe Large Wooden Hutch by PawHut is a hutch that would make a fantastic home for your rabbits. This large hutch has taken into account the size requirements of rabbits, giving even 2 rabbits plenty of room to eat, sleep, and play. The top of the hutch provides a secure and spacious place for your rabbits to hang out, and from there two ramps lead to the attached run that’s surrounded by galvanized wire mesh. The wood used to build this hutch is durable, the roof is waterproof and sloped to help it withstand harsh conditions, and the two large doors make for easy access of the entirety of the hutch. Additionally, a slide-out tray is included to make for even easier cleaning of the top shelter. Overall, this hutch checks all the boxes for necessary features.Rabbit owners that keep their rabbits in this hutch have some great things to say about it. The sizing and ease of construction is frequently noted as a plus, and the overall quality of the hutch is said to match the price point well. The included run is also loved by rabbits, with owners noting how they like how their rabbits can eat and relax in the grass.Some owners have opted to make a few modifications to the hutch to better match their needs, which is a common trend among rabbit hutches. More secure locks are frequently added, and some owners have even added hinges to the roof to make it easier to access and clean.
PROS
- Very large size
- Quality matches price
- Accessible yet secure
CONS
- Weak locks
our #2 rated
Purlove
71″ Wooden Rabbit Hutch
Quality
Value
Our Rating
Purlove has been making fun and effective rabbit hutches for a while, and this 71″ Wooden Rabbit Hutch is no exception. Aside from the attractive design that would make it a great addition to any yard, the combination of nesting box and outdoor enclosure gives rabbits a varied and safe living environment. Strong fir wood makes up the bulk of the hutch, with tight wire mesh surrounding the outdoor enclosure and a weatherproof roof keeps the nesting box safe from the elements. A nice feature of this hutch is an accessible pole that allows you to open and close a door separating the outdoor and indoor space, making it a very secure choice.Owners really enjoy the style and overall construction of the hutch, noting that it comes together very securely with ease. The outdoor enclosure is nicely sized and great for rabbits living in a climate that’s nice for a good part of the year. For one rabbit, maybe 2 smaller ones, it’s a hutch that meets the necessary requirements and keeps rabbits safe.Some owners have said that the wood used is slightly thin and they’re not sure how it would hold up over time, with a few opting to weather coat it to be safe. Small quality issues are present in some cases, but no glaring issues are commonly seen.
PROS
- Great style
- Large outdoor area
- Secure, large construction
CONS
- Thin, exposed wood
our #3 rated
PawHut
40″ Wooden Rabbit Hutch
Quality
Value
Our Rating
A more compact hutch option than the previous two hutches, this PawHut 40″ Wooden Rabbit Hutch still provides a great home for a medium-sized rabbit. The equal 2-story design allows for a diverse living experience for your rabbit, with the top nesting area covering the outdoor area which provides extra protection. 3 easy access doors allow you to reach every inch of this hutch easily, with a pull-out tray making cleaning even easier. In addition to the features, this hutch is easy to put together, well-constructed, and stands up to the weather. With the entire hutch fitting under a weatherproof roof, it’s built to last in harsh conditions.Owners of this hutch generally have one rabbit, and the sizing of it seems to be fine. Most people have an easy time constructing the hutch and say that it’s solidly built and should last a while outdoors. The accessibility of the hutch is also something that is noted, as owners find it very easy to keep this cage clean and maintained.A downside of this cage is that it seems to have occasional quality issues, with some owners noting that pieces wouldn’t fit together properly. This doesn’t seem to be too much of an issue, as the owners that contacted PawHut customer support had their problems resolved quickly. The size is also a bit small, making it enough for an average-sized rabbit, but larger rabbits would need a good amount of out-of-cage time.
PROS
- Easy solid construction
- Very safe and secure
- Easy total access
CONS
- Pretty small
- Sometimes arrives damaged
our #4 rated
PawHut
54″ Wooden Rabbit Hutch
Quality
Value
Our Rating
Yet another hutch by PawHut, this 54″ Wooden Rabbit Hutch is similar to the previously mentioned 40″ hutch, with the main difference obviously being the larger size. This hutch has a few features that most other hutches don’t have, with the main one being a hinged roof for easy access. Also featured on this hutch are secure door locks, a weatherproof roof, long ramp between the two levels, and a large slide-out pan tray. The durable mesh and treated wood were designed to last as long as possible in the outdoors.Owners really enjoy how easy this hutch was to put together, with most of them having no quality issues and finding everything fits together well. Cages that have been used for 6 months to a year still hold up strong with no glaring problems. The multiple doors allow these owners to easily reach hiding rabbits and clean all areas of the hutch.Like most hutches, some owners found that pieces arrived damaged or difficult to put together. The biggest thing is that some owners feel that this cage wouldn’t be the best suited for being outside due to the thinner wood. While this cage is kept outside by some customers with no complaints, there aren’t too many long-term reports to draw any solid conclusions.
PROS
- Very easy to construct
- Good sizing
- Good sizing
CONS
- Some quality control issues
- Better for inside than outside
our #5 rated
Trixie
61″ Wooden Rabbit Hutch
Quality
Value
Our Rating
Another smaller hutch, this Trixie 61″ Wooden Hutch still provides a great home for single, average-sized rabbits. The diverse living space of nesting area and outdoor space allows rabbits to have a good sense of freedom and enjoy the outdoors. The most noteworthy feature of this hutch is the fact that it can be entirely opened up, from the hinged roofs to the pull-out tray to the secure side doors. This accessibility is almost unmatched, and makes this a great hutch for owners that want to consistently access the hutch and their rabbit. One more feature is that the run is entirely detachable, allowing for several possibilities that wouldn’t be available otherwise.Owners note that this hutch is very easy to put together for even inexperienced builders. Additionally, the ease of access is noted by almost everyone that owns it as it makes cleaning the hutch and accessing the rabbit very easy. The size of the hutch is also decent, providing a solid living space for even a large singular rabbit.While this hutch works great indoors, it’s not the best for outdoor use, as some of the wood is thin and the metal parts of the hutch rust easily. Overall, the quality of the hutch isn’t on-par with the other hutches listed here, but it is a notably good value for the low price for it.
PROS
- Very nice design
- Surprisingly spacious
- Diverse living spaces
CONS
- Metal parts rust
- Flimsier wood
Our Choice
Every rabbit hutch that we have reviewed would provide a rabbit with a safe and healthy living space. Rabbits have specific environmental needs, especially when they’re being kept outside, so it’s important that their hutch caters to these needsAfter analyzing each hutch carefully, we have determined that the best rabbit hutch is the PawHut 91″ Deluxe Wooden Hutch.One of the leading manufacturers in the rabbit hutch market crafted this rabbit hutch and easily meets all of the necessary hutch requirements for a rabbit. The multi-tiered large design, along with great safety and construction, makes this huge a safe investment for an owner of one or several rabbits that wants to give them a safe place to live inside or outdoors.