Monday 27 February 2017

Choosing The Best Outdoor Rabbit Cage in 2017

Despite firmly believing that rabbits must stay indoors, I have helped countless rabbit parents design outdoor rabbit cages from the ground up. And I must say that in a secure premise and in ideal weather, a rabbit hutch can provide your rabbit with more space than any indoor cage can.

That does not mean that you don’t give your rabbits their share of indoor-socializing. But if you have a small house with a yard, then it may just be better to keep the rabbits outdoors.

Having said that, making a rabbit hutch isn’t the simplest of DIY tasks and it is much better to pick one of the best outdoor rabbit cages in the market.

As always, you are bound to be confused at the wide variety in the market. But you can trust me on this, appearances can be very deceiving when it comes to rabbit hutches. There are more factors to consider than buying an indoor cage.

For now, here are my picks for the best outdoor rabbit cages.

  1. Merax Wooden Pet House Rabbit Bunny Wood Hutch House
  2. TRIXIE Pet Products Rabbit Hutch
  3. Advantek – The Stilt House Rabbit Hutch
  4. Petsfit 42.5 x 30 x 46 inches Bunny Cages, Outdoor Rabbit Hutch
  5. Pawhut 91″ Deluxe Large Wooden Bunny Rabbit Hutch

The Best Outdoor Rabbit Cages Available on The Market

Let’s now go into more details about each of the five selected models.

#1 – Merax Wooden Pet House Rabbit Bunny Wood Hutch House

The Wooden Pet House from Merax is one of my favorite outdoor rabbit hutches. It is made of fir wood and has a natural cedar colored stain finish with a contrasting dark green roof for the hutch. And the remainder of the running area is made from a closely knit wire mesh which keeps it airy and bright.

Merax Wooden Pet House Rabbit Bunny Wood Hutch

The total cage is 61 inches in length making it one of the roomiest hutches that you can get for your rabbit. There’s ample room for all the accessories too like a litter box, hay feeder, bottle and food dish.

The hutch connects to the running area by a non-slip ramp making it easy for the rabbit to scamper in and out when needed. Also, it is divided into two separate chambers that have a hole that the rabbits can use to run through.

The hutch can be accessed via a top opening roof which has two hinges with locking arms. This makes it possible to access your bunnies easily without holding the roof open.

What makes this one of the best outdoor rabbit cages is the quality of construction. Both, the fir wood and the wire mesh are extremely durable and can easily sustain extreme weather conditions. You’d still want to keep an eye out for mold forming inside though.

Best features

  • Extremely roomy outdoor cage
  • Separate hutch and running area for rabbits
  • Connected by a non-slip ramp
  • Two chambered hutch with a run through hole
  • Top opening hinged roof with lockable arms for easy access
  • Durable construction

Buy from AMAZON.COM

How many rabbits can you house in this: You can easily house two large sized adult rabbits in this and multiple smaller ones. This can also be used as a chicken coop if need be.

#2 – TRIXIE Pet Products Rabbit Hutch

This rabbit hutch from Trixie is not as huge as our #1 pick in length. Instead, it has a more vertical design with the upper level housing the hutch and the lower level being the wired cage area. Both the levels are connected with a non-slip ramp and access is effortless for bunnies.

TRIXIE Pet Products Rabbit Hutch with Peaked Roof, Small

You can also use the hatch door to prevent the bunnies from coming to the lower level at night.

The wire mesh is made of powder-coated metal lattice that is resistant to rust and corrosion.

The hutch is roomy and can be separated into two chambers with a door that lets your bunnies move freely from one room to the other.

It has a hinged roof with locking arms which open upwards allowing you to access the interiors easily. Also, you can access the interiors using the front opening doors which are protected by wire mesh. This keeps the hutch bright and airy too. The hutch contains a removable plastic plate that makes it effortless to clean.

The Trixie Pet Rabbit hutch is made from solid wood and has a natural pine finish with a glaze. Not only does this look absolutely stunning, it is also extremely durable. It is low on maintenance and will last for years without any problems whatsoever in all kinds of outdoor weather.

Best features

  • Space saving vertical design
  • Two chambered upper hutch
  • Multiple access doors including hinged roof and wired front door
  • Removable plastic pan
  • Wire mesh made of powder-coated metal lattice
  • Solid wood construction with natural pine finish

Buy from AMAZON.COM

How many rabbits can you house in this: You can easily house two rabbits in this outdoor hutch.

#3 – Advantek – The Stilt House Rabbit Hutch

The Stilted Rabbit hutch from Advantek is a stunner. It has a beautiful auburn and white finish with a stilted hutch designed like a house and a lower wired bottom connected with a non-slip ramp. This will blend right into your lawn irrespective of the setting.

Advantek The Stilt House Rabbit Hutch

It is not as roomy as some of the other best outdoor rabbit cages that we have seen so far. But it is spacious enough for two large sized bunnies.

The hutch is a single chambered one and has a wide opening front door for access. Also, there’s a pull out tray which can be removed for cleaning.

The wire mesh is a tad flimsier than one would expect, especially if you have large sized adult rabbits who like to chew. You can however, get some 14 gauge wire mesh and add some reinforcement if you notice your rabbits making attempts to break out of this.

Another possible flaw is that rabbits may dig up the ground or if you live in an area with rain, rabbits can track the dirt inside the hutch. A workaround is to grab a piece of treated lumber and place the cage on it. This solves both the problems.

The construction of this rabbit hutch from Advantek is amazing. It is made from durable Cypress Fir that is rot and insect resistant.  With some simple workaround and some basic maintenance, this will last you for years without any problems.

Best features

  • Beautiful design
  • Cypress Fir construction
  • Upper hutch with a removable tray for cleaning
  • Stepped access ramp
  • Wire mesh lower cage
  • Ideal for two adult rabbits

Buy from AMAZON.COM

How many rabbits can you house in this: You can easily house two rabbits in this one.

#4 – Petsfit 42.5 x 30 x 46 inches Bunny Cages, Outdoor Rabbit Hutch

My next pick of the best outdoor rabbit cages comes from Petsfit and this too, is a space saving tiered design with two levels. The upper level houses the hutch and the lower level is protected by a wire mesh.

Petsfit 42.5 x 30 x 46 inches Bunny Cages,Outdoor Rabbit Hutch

Petsfit ticks all the right boxes when it comes to rabbit hutches. The levels are connected by a non-slip access ramp, the upper hutch can be divided into two chambers and a removable pan on the bottom makes cleaning easy.

But it is the multiple access doors that makes this one of the best designs not just for rabbits but for a variety of small pets. The roof can be opened completely and it has two side doors on either side of the hutch.

The wired bottom area also has a door which can be opened and also features a latch. You can leave this open during the day and secure it with the latch at nighttime to keep predators at bay.

There is a makeshift balcony on the side of the upper hutch which can be used to add some aesthetic appeal. Maybe, you can grow some flowers or your bunny’s favorite munchies here.

The construction and the design are top notch. The wood is weather and insect resistant and is coated with a water-based non toxic paint.

Overall, if you are crunched for space in your yard and are looking for a tiered rabbit hutch, then this is one of the best options you have.

Best features

  • Tiered design with two levels
  • Upper level hutch with two chambers
  • Connected via a non-slip ramp
  • Multiple access doors
  • Removable tray in the bottom
  • Wire mesh with secure latched door

Buy from AMAZON.COM

How many rabbits can you house in this: Ideally, this should not be used to house more than two adult sized rabbits.

#5 – Pawhut 91″ Deluxe Large Wooden Bunny Rabbit Hutch

Last but not the least; this is one of the best outdoor rabbit cages in the market and also one of my personal favorites that I’d recommend to anyone without a second thought. This is the Pawhut Deluxe Bunny habitat and it is 91 inches long. That’s close to 8 feet in length folks and your rabbits will enjoy their time in this one.

Pawhut 91 Deluxe Large Wooden Bunny Rabbit Hutch

Like most outdoor hutches, it has a tiered design and the upper level houses the hutch or the living area while the lower level is the running area covered by wire mesh.

There are front access doors to both upper and lower levels which give you easy access to your bunnies. Both levels are connected via multiple slip-proof ramps.

I have also helped some pet owners make modifications to this and extend the front portion of the run into another running area that is protected by wire mesh. This allows them the freedom to keep the door to the run open at all times allowing the bunny to come in and go out freely.

The downside though is that the quality of the wood is not the best. If you live in an area that experiences rain, then you may want to cover this with a tarp at least. Also, the latches may need some reinforcements if you have an escape artist at home.

The niggles are only minor according to me and are not deal breakers.

Best features

  • Super spacious outdoor rabbit cage
  • Tiered design with multiple ramps connecting the two layers
  • Wide front opening doors for easy access to the pets
  • Beautifully designed

Buy from AMAZON.COM

How many rabbits can you house in this: You can easily house up to five dwarfs or three large sized rabbits in this.

Buying The Best Outdoor Rabbit Cage

Contrary to popular notion, buying rabbit hutches for the outdoor is not very different from buying an indoor rabbit cage. You’d still have the same factors to consider, starting with the availability of space.

If you have a thumbnail sized yard, you’d want to consider an outdoor cage with a tiered design that has the living space stacked above the run. This reduces the length of the cage and it will easily fit into any yard.

However, if there is no dearth of space, then by all means go for a single tiered one in which the living area is only slightly elevated and the run extends horizontally. This gives the rabbit more space to move about.

The second most important thing is the construction. Most outdoor hutches are made of solid treated wood. But you’d want to double check if it is resistant to insects and rot. You will find outdoor cages in all sorts of designs. But nobody said that rabbit cages had to be boring. All our recommendations for the best outdoor rabbit cages have stunning designs. They are beautiful and durable too.

The wired mesh is an often overlooked part of an outdoor cage. But it is one of the most critical parts of the purchase that can protect your rabbit from predators and also prevent them from breaking out. If you discover after the purchase that the mesh is flimsy, please add some reinforcements to keep your pet safe.

Just because it is kept outdoors does not mean that a rabbit cage does not need maintenance. You will still need to keep it clean to prevent fungal infections and mold from setting in.

That sums it up people. If you need any further assistance with your outdoor rabbit cages, feel free to holler here in the comments section.

The post Choosing The Best Outdoor Rabbit Cage in 2017 appeared first on Rabbit Expert.

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