Housing

Indoor Housing [we do not advocate housing rabbits outdoors]

The X-Pen Option

X-pens are dog exercise pens that can be purchased at local pet supply stores. They cost as much or less than a large cage. You can find “small animal” exercise pens, too, on-line and at some stores. 36” tall pen is suggested. Until you can be sure bunny won’t escape over the top, just clip a sheet to the top of the pen creating a roof (this can be removed after a few weeks) or purchase a taller pen.

Pens can be adjusted to fit various spaces/size.

Setup – use hard waterproof flooring (hard plastic desk mat, linoleum) to protect floor, wrap an old sheet tightly around flooring, and set up the pen on top of the sheet/flooring. The setup in the photo above shows rabbits on seagrass mats over a linoleum floor. Add litter box layered with litter and fresh hay (oat or timothy), toys, water dish, dish for pellets etc.

Why an X-Pen environment? If your rabbit is not able to live in a larger indoor bunny-proofed room or area, then an X-Pen is the next best thing.

• Room for bunny to exercise a bit
• Easier for human companions to interact with the rabbit; bunny does not “defend” against you like in a cage.
• Room for large toys, cardboard boxes, tunnels, hide-aways.
• Much easier to clean than a cage especially when the rabbit is spayed/neutered and litter box trained.

Don’t forget – Bunny still needs exercise time outside of the pen!

Alternatives to the exercise pen: put a baby gate or Dutch door across the doorway to one room, and bunny-proof that room; section off a corner for your bunny; build your own rabbit habitat using 1” x 2” welded wire and untreated lumber.