Pet Information > ASK Experts > Exotic Pets > Rabbits > how big?

how big?

22 11:18:26

Question
hi there, hope you can help.
I am wanted to get an outdoor hutch for my rabbit to sleep in overnight and stay in during winter days now and again. He is a dwarf breed but was wondering what is the correct size or measurments (would you say)to comftably keep a dwarf rabbit in. He is excersised EVERY day. Thanks a lot! :}


Answer
If he is used to being indoors, I would say that putting him outside at night and during the winters days would be asking for illness. Indoors are usually climate controlled (air conditioner and heat), so putting him outside for long periods of time, especially in times when the outside temperature may be vastly different than the indoor temperature, could easily make him ill. It could even lead to death from the shock.

Instead, if you would like for him to get fresh air, why not place him outside during the warmer parts of the day in the winter (unless it is very cold where you are, then keep him indoors in the winter) and the cooler parts of the day (mornings and evenings) in the summer. The idea is to keep him in a fairly constant temperature range, so if your home is usually around 75*F, you would want to only let him out doors in temperatures that are 70-80*F. You will also want to be around while he is outside. Outdoor rabbits are prone to a lot of dangers that indoor rabbits do not face. A loose dog might get in the yard and kill your rabbit. Dogs can pick a rabbit through a wire cage, piece by painful piece. There are other predatory animals that can harm a rabbit through a cage. This includes rats, racoons, foxes, sukunks, coyotes, and weasles. These animals are especially active at night, which is another reason not to leave your rabbit out overnight. The temperature could change, causing the rabbit to overhead or chill.

That being said, I would need a little more information about your rabbits actual size to be sure. Dwarf breeds can be as small as 1 1/2 pounds and as large as 5 1/2 pounds. Many supposed "dwarf" rabbits don't even have the dwarfing gene, so are not true dwarfs. A lot of pet stores label rabbits as "dwarfs", even if they are not, because that sells better. A lot of shelters and rescues label any smallish rabbit as a "dwarf" whether they are or are not.

A very small dwarf needs at least a 2 foot x 2 foot cage. A larger one would need more space as a minimum. Of course, larger is always better. The amount of space needed will also depend on how long he is out of the cage every day. If he is only out for and hour or two, the cage will need to be bigger. If he is out for a good portion of the day, you can get away with the minimum size.