Rabbits N'Rodents

 

Why a shed?

 

Sheds have the potential of making a fantastic rabbit home for those rabbits that cannot be kept as house bunnies. Sheds are larger than any hutch and it also means that the rabbits are free from drafts, rain and you can spend more time with your rabbits as you can sit in with them.

 

The larger the shed the better, and the minimum size for 2 small/medium rabbits is 4ft by 6ft. There is no size limit, the bigger the better, and if you have the room, you should consider adding a cat flap that leads into a secure run.    

 

N.B. Avoid sheds made from cedar or American pine or any other softwoods as they release toxins known as phenols. UK pine is not as strong, but if you can find a hardwood that would be better.

 

Turning a shed into a bunny haven

 

My Shed

 

 

 

1) Window for sunlight

2) Felt roof- keeping the shed dry

3)Lighting and electricity supply- out of reach for rabbits

4)Stable Door- easier to get in and harder for rabbits to run past you!

5)Lock- To keep our bunnies safe 

 

 

 

 

Roof

The roof, ideally should be sloping to allow rain to run off, and should be covered in mineral felt (the same as seen on hutches) to keep the shed from leaking. In addition to this, you may wish to add silver paint on top of it to reflect heat in summer, however, in winter this will have the opposite effect.  

 

Door

If you can, buy a shed that comes with a stable door, it makes life a lit easier as you can step over the half door rather than risk naughty bunnies from running out as soon as you open the full door, especially when it is dark!

 

You may want to add in a second door, one made from a wooden frame and with strong, fine wire mesh securely fitted. This second door would go in behind the front door and provides much needed ventilation on hot summer days.

The door can be removed in autumn when it is no longer needed until the spring if you so wish.

 

Security

There is always a chance that a burglar will break into the shed, not realising it is a bunny house, or even if they want your bunnies!! So a lock is a must! Some sheds come with a lock, and if yours doesn’t have one, buy one and make sure you have a spare key!

If you have a burglar alarm for the house (which I also recommend) then it may be able to be set so if anyone attempts to get in the shed at night the alarm will go off. I have mine set for the shed and garage as well as the house.

 

Window

You must have a window that allows natural light in all the time, no one wants to live totally in a world of darkness day and night!

 

 

Floor

The rabbits should not be expected to sit on a concrete floor all day, so the floor should be wooden and raised off the ground to stop dampness. A lot of rabbits pee in several corners until they find their ‘pee corner’. Adding in their litter tray can help, but it is not a guarantee that they will use it, at first. Therefore some people use lino that is secured down well so as naughty rascals cannot pull it up and chew the corners. This not only protects the floor from urine stains, put also means you can wash the floor and dry it easily which is essentiual for basic hygiene. 

 

Rabbit Chew Proofing

Rabbits chew everything and anything, including wooden sheds, so the best way to protect your shed from the rabbit invasion is to use a very fine metal mesh stripes around the shed edges (inside obviously!!) and to ensure no injuries can occur from sharp edges etc!!  You can see the mesh if you scroll down.

 

Lighting

Very useful and almost a necessity! Sure beats using torches in the dark and easy enough if you know how.

You need to get an energy supply out to the shed and protect the cables from the rain!

Any wires from the light must be kept well away from any bunnies’ teeth!

 

Storage 

I store all my hays and pellets in the basement as it is dark and cool under there. The pellets are in an air-tight container and the hays are in bin bags lifted off the floor. Both are kept in cool dark conditions, however if you do not have a basement and therefore need to store foods else where, the shed can be used. Although, in summer it may become too hot and all food must be stored well out of reach of the rabbits. If kept in warm, moist conditions the hay and pellets will go mouldy, so try and keep them somewhere else.

In my shed I have one shelf that goes along the top and I have a sea-grass basket containing spare water bottles, unused rubber gloves (for cleaning), spare toys and a spare brush-and-pan. I also have bin bags, and a large brush up there used when cleaning out the shed.

 

 

By attaching hooks and nails out of reach of bunnies, you can hang small brushes and a net bag for imperishable objects like toys.  It works well and makes a good use of space.  

 

Somewhere to sleep, play and hide

 

Rabbits are prey animals and need somewhere to sleep, play and hide, plus like us, they like having somewhere private. So in the shed you can put in a hutch with the large door taken off or you can provide them with some cardboard boxes with holes in them- though they will not last long with rabbits!

 There are now large wooden and plastic houses available at pet stores, which may be used if large enough and well built. Never use anything with sharp edges or made from flimsy, indigestible materials. Also make sure the wood is not softwood like cedar or pine.  

 

 

 1.) Hutch- provides second level as well

 2.) Fine metal mesh to prevent chewing of shed

 3.)Private sleeping box

 4.) Cardboard boxes

 

Shelves

 

Rabbits enjoy climbing, so to add extra space, you can add in another level by adding some shelves. The shelves should not be too high off the floor, but should be high enough to allow easy cleaning and for the rabbits to get under it. The shelf should be large enough to allow the rabbit to lie down and move about. The best place to put a shelf is in a corner thus it is not taking up as much room as if it was in the middle of the shed. A ramp should lead up to the shelf, but it shouldn’t be steep.

 

Toys

 

Good toys for sheds are tunnels, empty carboard boxes with a hole cut out of them. For some ideas go here:  

 

The Run

 

If you have room left, then please consider a run, many rabbits love to get out of the shed for some fresh air and a view of their surroundings. Mine have a run attached to the shed and they spend the majority of their time sniffing and snoozing out there.

 

How to make the ideal run

 

The run should be large enough to allow all the rabbits to lie down and hop around. It should be attached to the shed using a large cat flap or a tube with a  suitable flap so as the rabbits can be shut in at night and to stop vermin from   getting into the shed at night time!  

 

The run can be raised off the ground with a secure wooden floor, or it can be on the ground. If it is to be on the ground then care must be taken that the rabbit cannot burrow out, or worse a dog or fox can burrow in!!!! So if you were planning a nice patch of grass, be careful and be sure to always lock the rabbits in at night and patch any burrow attempts as you find them! If you have an open garden where rabbits can easily move from your garden to another, do not place the run on burrow able ground!

 

The run itself should be made from a sturdy wooden frame, with strong wire mesh attached very well. There should be no glue, nails or splinters left where a rabbit can hurt themselves and a lid on the top of the run for easy access are important factors to consider.

 

In wet weather, a waterproof cover should be put over the run to stop wet feet from soaking the inside of shed and all the nice hay!

 

The cat flap or tube should be secured well and big enough for rabbits to charge in and out off! When you cut a hole in the shed, remember to seal it with a waterproof sealer/paint to stop damp from getting in. The waterproof sealer/paint is very strong smelling so all pets should be kept away until the fumes have gone.