Safe Woods For Rabbits

Question
Hello! I am about to get my first rabbit and I'm in the process of building a hutch.  I am getting a French Angora Junior Doe.  The thing is, I read so many conflicting things about safe woods online.  I've read several places that plywood is safe if you give them something to chew on, but is that true?  And I need some sort of hard wood as well.  I was wondering if non-treated oak wood was alright?  I'm on a budget but I want to make sure everything is safe for my new furry friend.  

Thank you so much for your time and effort in answering this question!

Emily

Answer
Dear Emily,

You might be asking the wrong person about hutches.  I can tell you that untreated wood of almost any type (avoid walnut) is safe.  Fir, pine, oak, maple, etc. all can be used, as long as they are not pressure-treated or have any chemical additives or preservatives.

But we don't use hutches.  We keep our bunnies inside where they are safe from the elements and predators (there is no such thing as a predator-proof hutch!).  If you need to enclose the bunny for a time, then an exercise pen is ideal.  Just supply it with litter box, fun boxes (glued into shape with two "doors" cut in the sides), toys, and other enrichment, and bun will be fine.

For everything you need to know about living with a house rabbit, please go to:

http://www.rabbit.org/

Note that angoras are pretty high maintenance:  they require regular, gentle grooming to prevent matting.  And you'll likely have to trim around the face to keep fur from irritating her eyes.

Hope you have many years of love and fun with your new pal!

Dana