Since there are many different options for housing, this article can't cover nearly all of them. Here are the most popular forms of housing for the domestic rabbit, and my opinions on which are best for pet rabbits and which are best for show rabbits.
For pet rabbits, there are several options for housing. Many house rabbit owners let their rabbits have free-range of the house, like a dog or cat. However, this isn't a realistic expectation of most owners.
A more realistic option for most rabbit owners is some form of confinement for their rabbit. It seems most pet rabbit owners these days are of the hutch persuasion. Hutches are an okayish form of confinement, but they pose numerous problems. The main reason is that no matter how often you clean it out, the rabbit will spend some amount of time sitting in its own urine and feces. This makes issues like sore hocks and hutch burn more common. It stains up their bottoms too, which can bother some people, especially if it is a show or 4-H rabbit. It's also really nasty for the poor rabbit. Also, many rabbits are terrified of hutches, and will slip and slide in sheer terror, especially rabbits that are used to being on wire flooring. This has happened at least twice with rabbits that I know personally. In addition to the above, be aware that young rabbits absolutely must not be kept in flat bottomed hutches, as it can cause splay legs.
Others keep their rabbits permanently in an exercise pen. This is a nice set-up for a pet rabbit owner but only if it is housing a couple of rabbits since it isn't very practical space-wise. If you keep a rabbit in an exercise pen, do not use linoleum flooring, as rabbits will chew it. I had a friend whose rabbit died from ingesting the linoleum flooring he lived on.
A much better alternative in my opinion is a wire cage. There is much outcry and propaganda against wire cages spread by well-meaning but extremely misinformed HRS extremists. The primary arguments against wire cages are that they are 'cruel'. I just don't see how they are cruel. How is a hutch any less 'cruel' than a wire cage? The wire cage has far better ventilation. This means it is less unsanitary and less prone to fungus or bad odor. It also means more nice fresh air for the rabbit. Wire cages have space for pee and poop to fall into a tray below. This means the rabbits are never sitting in their own waste, which REDUCES the incidence of sore hocks and hutch burn. There is less friction on the rabbits' feet. This means no carpet burn and redness. They do not contain any plastics or paints that the rabbit could ingest. They does not stain, and there is no wood to rot. It is sturdy and less prone to collapse or breakage. It is harder for a cat or other predator to get to the rabbit. The wire spacing is designed so that it is impossible for a rabbit's foot to fit through, so it is impossible for the rabbit to get stuck. It is close to impossible to break a toenail. It is easy to catch the rabbit, so the rabbit is easier to tame. In my opinion, there is no better form of caging for the domestic rabbit.
I think the reason behind some people thinking wire cages are cruel is that they look at the cages from a human perspective, and think it resembles a 'prison'. This is a human projecting a human concept onto a rabbit. You shouldn't expect a rabbit to have human emotions and thoughts. Yes, rabbits have emotions. Yes, they have thoughts. But their emotions and thoughts are unique to them as a species. They do not share a human's same values and concepts. Rabbits have no concept of a prison. Remember, we must not provide rabbits with what WE would want...we must provide them with what is best for THEM.
The House Rabbit Society and their followers would like all rabbits to have exercise pens or other very large forms of confinement, but as great as this sounds in theory, it just isn't practical for those of us who want to keep our rabbits clean and safe. It isn't cruel for breeders to use wire cages, these rabbits in general lead very nice lives with lots of handling and attention. After all, who would buy or show a fearful or aggressive rabbit?
Personally I am against free-range house rabbits for most owners and homes. If you are up to the task and are fine with bunny-proofing your entire house, that's great. Some people do have free-range rabbits with success. An impressive feat! However, I don't feel that most owners are able to handle having a rabbit roaming their house, and it isn't practical to ask that of them. I would never do it even with my pet rabbits, because rabbits can chew on cords and get electrocuted, can get poisoned by household plants, can ingest toxic material, can get accidentally stepped on, can chew on valuable items, can get lost, or could get hurt by a cat or dog. They also create a lot of mess with their pee, poop, litter, and hay. I would also worry about the rabbit escaping the house. I would also certainly never do this if you have any other pets, or any loud and boisterous children who might step on the rabbit. Personally I wouldn't risk it.
For show rabbits, you definitely want to use wire cages. I even recommend wire cages to people who buy pet rabbits from me. Of course, everyone has their own opinion on this subject, but I am a firm believer that wire cages are the best form of confinement for rabbits.
How do you house your rabbits? Tell us below in the comments section!
For pet rabbits, there are several options for housing. Many house rabbit owners let their rabbits have free-range of the house, like a dog or cat. However, this isn't a realistic expectation of most owners.
A more realistic option for most rabbit owners is some form of confinement for their rabbit. It seems most pet rabbit owners these days are of the hutch persuasion. Hutches are an okayish form of confinement, but they pose numerous problems. The main reason is that no matter how often you clean it out, the rabbit will spend some amount of time sitting in its own urine and feces. This makes issues like sore hocks and hutch burn more common. It stains up their bottoms too, which can bother some people, especially if it is a show or 4-H rabbit. It's also really nasty for the poor rabbit. Also, many rabbits are terrified of hutches, and will slip and slide in sheer terror, especially rabbits that are used to being on wire flooring. This has happened at least twice with rabbits that I know personally. In addition to the above, be aware that young rabbits absolutely must not be kept in flat bottomed hutches, as it can cause splay legs.
Others keep their rabbits permanently in an exercise pen. This is a nice set-up for a pet rabbit owner but only if it is housing a couple of rabbits since it isn't very practical space-wise. If you keep a rabbit in an exercise pen, do not use linoleum flooring, as rabbits will chew it. I had a friend whose rabbit died from ingesting the linoleum flooring he lived on.
A much better alternative in my opinion is a wire cage. There is much outcry and propaganda against wire cages spread by well-meaning but extremely misinformed HRS extremists. The primary arguments against wire cages are that they are 'cruel'. I just don't see how they are cruel. How is a hutch any less 'cruel' than a wire cage? The wire cage has far better ventilation. This means it is less unsanitary and less prone to fungus or bad odor. It also means more nice fresh air for the rabbit. Wire cages have space for pee and poop to fall into a tray below. This means the rabbits are never sitting in their own waste, which REDUCES the incidence of sore hocks and hutch burn. There is less friction on the rabbits' feet. This means no carpet burn and redness. They do not contain any plastics or paints that the rabbit could ingest. They does not stain, and there is no wood to rot. It is sturdy and less prone to collapse or breakage. It is harder for a cat or other predator to get to the rabbit. The wire spacing is designed so that it is impossible for a rabbit's foot to fit through, so it is impossible for the rabbit to get stuck. It is close to impossible to break a toenail. It is easy to catch the rabbit, so the rabbit is easier to tame. In my opinion, there is no better form of caging for the domestic rabbit.
I think the reason behind some people thinking wire cages are cruel is that they look at the cages from a human perspective, and think it resembles a 'prison'. This is a human projecting a human concept onto a rabbit. You shouldn't expect a rabbit to have human emotions and thoughts. Yes, rabbits have emotions. Yes, they have thoughts. But their emotions and thoughts are unique to them as a species. They do not share a human's same values and concepts. Rabbits have no concept of a prison. Remember, we must not provide rabbits with what WE would want...we must provide them with what is best for THEM.
The House Rabbit Society and their followers would like all rabbits to have exercise pens or other very large forms of confinement, but as great as this sounds in theory, it just isn't practical for those of us who want to keep our rabbits clean and safe. It isn't cruel for breeders to use wire cages, these rabbits in general lead very nice lives with lots of handling and attention. After all, who would buy or show a fearful or aggressive rabbit?
Personally I am against free-range house rabbits for most owners and homes. If you are up to the task and are fine with bunny-proofing your entire house, that's great. Some people do have free-range rabbits with success. An impressive feat! However, I don't feel that most owners are able to handle having a rabbit roaming their house, and it isn't practical to ask that of them. I would never do it even with my pet rabbits, because rabbits can chew on cords and get electrocuted, can get poisoned by household plants, can ingest toxic material, can get accidentally stepped on, can chew on valuable items, can get lost, or could get hurt by a cat or dog. They also create a lot of mess with their pee, poop, litter, and hay. I would also worry about the rabbit escaping the house. I would also certainly never do this if you have any other pets, or any loud and boisterous children who might step on the rabbit. Personally I wouldn't risk it.
For show rabbits, you definitely want to use wire cages. I even recommend wire cages to people who buy pet rabbits from me. Of course, everyone has their own opinion on this subject, but I am a firm believer that wire cages are the best form of confinement for rabbits.
How do you house your rabbits? Tell us below in the comments section!
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