Exercise is essential for the good health of your
rabbit(s) and they must have the freedom to exercise outside their hutch daily.
A run is not a luxury but is essential and all bunnies need daily exercise
outside their hutch.
Please
remember that rabbits are designed to run, jump and binky and are not
designed to be confined to undersized cages or hutches for long periods.
Please remember, a bunny can be the size of a small dog or cat and owners would never keep a dog/cat confined to a small cage - likewise, a bunny shouldn't be either.
The run shown below is an ideal size for a pair of mini lops (or even a large breed) offering ample space to run around, stretch, clamber onto boxes, run through their tunnels and the enclosed end provides shelter.
A sheet of plywood can be placed on the top to provide additional shade during the summer or protection from rain.
To prevent the occupants chilling, a straw mat has been placed at one end. Eventually, the pen will have a layer of fine mesh added to the floor to prevent the girl bunny, Winnie, from digging her way out!
Ideally, the mesh should be fitted to the inside of the framing to prevent chewing and, if your garden attracts prowling cats or other predators, then adding an additional layer to the outside of the frame will prevent paws or noses coming into contact with the occupants. Providing tunnels and and enclosed area can act as a 'bolt hole' should any predators enter your garden.
A simple but excellent, practical, design for an exercise pen.
We allow our bunnies to run free in our secure garden
during the daytime - boys first, then girls and the boys have another run in the
late evening. Obviously, we have to separate the boys from the girls to
guard against unplanned litters, but the boys still have access to secure pens
during the day - with either flagstoned floors or tough wire mesh. The
bunnies clearly enjoy running free and will play, run, jump then flop in a heap
for a doze and groom each other.
Some commercially-made runs are only slightly larger
than a 4' hutch and are very inadequate. The largest pen you can buy/make is
preferable, or you could allow your rabbit to run freely, but supervised, around
your house and/or garden providing it is secure and free from toxic plants or
other hazards - including dogs, cats and other predators.
A run placed on concrete/flagstones can be easier to keep clean, will help keep toe-nails in check but could lead to sore hocks if your bunny is a persistent 'thumper'. A warm, raised/insulated resting area will be needed as concrete flagstones can be very chilly to lie on.
Provided your garden is well
enclosed and devoid of possibly toxic plants then, with supervision, your rabbit
could run loose - but females will burrow and any rabbit could
eagerly devour your prized foliage!
All of our bunnies exercise by running loose in our enclosed garden during the daytime for at least 12 hours. We also have several enclosed runs with mesh bases and 3 further pens with flag-stoned floors. All have either felt or corrugated tin roofs to provide shelter and there is a 33' long shelter at the foot of the garden providing shelter from any sudden heavy showers.
