There are two types of hutches: indoor and outdoor. Indoor hutches can be somewhat small and simple, since your rabbit will most likely be out playing when you are at home. Outdoor hutches must be sturdy and protect your pet from the weather and any predatory animals that come along.
Animals that may harm your rabbit include dogs, cats, raccoons, opossums, skunks and weasels. Even mice and rats can stress out your rabbit if they are getting into his cage or his food.
While all breeds of rabbit will appreciate large rabbit hutches, it is a necessity if you are getting a medium to large rabbit. These include breeds like Californian, New Zealand, Champagne D’Argent and Flemish Giant. Any rabbit that ranges from 7 to 20 pounds or more when fully grown needs a large hutch. Breeds on the large end like Flemish Giants and Giant Chinchillas will need a hutch with reinforced flooring. This can easily be done by adding support struts on the bottom every six to nine inches.
The general rule of thumb for cage sizing is one square foot per pound of adult rabbit. This translates to six square feet for a six pound rabbit like a Dutch and ten square feet for a ten pound rabbit like a Champagne D’Argent. If you can’t find large rabbit hutches that are readymade in the dimensions you want, you can increase the square footage by adding a play yard. You will need a ramp so your rabbit can go to and from his hutch to the play yard. Wire should be used to make a flooring for the play yard. Grass can grow through the wire just fine. The wire is to keep your pet from digging out and predators from digging in.
If you can’t build a play yard, you can offer your pet time out of his cage on a regular basis. Bring him in the house to play and let him run about every day. This will keep him happy and healthy as well as give you more enjoyment of your pet.
Large rabbit hutches can also offer more than one floor for your rabbit to enjoy. Two story hutches work great for smaller breeds because they are more agile. If you want to offer this type of hutch to a larger breed, the ramps should be wider and stronger. Both floors should be reinforced so your rabbit feels safe.
Large rabbit hutches will offer your pet lots of space as well as the security they need. Your rabbit should be able to stretch out fully and relax. There should be plenty of room for his feed dish and water bottle. Some people like to provide their rabbit with toys. Rabbits enjoy wooden bird toys, empty toilet paper rolls stuffed with hay and toys they can toss around.