New rabbit hutch required

Author
Discussion

Fusss

Original Poster:

285 posts

87 months

Friday 1st September 2023
quotequote all
Current hutch is on its last legs unfortunately, so in the market for a replacement.

It houses two rabbits overnight, they go in a separate run for most of the day.

Currently have the 5ft pets at home bluebell 2 tier one, but the quality is shocking and after 2 years its absolutely done, despite being painted/treated and plastic tiling the floors to help protect it.

Any recommendations on a 5ft(ish) good quality hutch, with an attached run would be even better, but can’t be too huge due to garden size. Budget in the £200-250 region if possible??

What are the best/most reputable companies to look at?

moorx

3,931 posts

121 months

Friday 1st September 2023
quotequote all
We have 8 rabbits (4 pairs) so have 4 hutches.

Unfortunately, none of the 'off the shelf' hutches are particularly good quality/last very long, although a decent weatherproof cover helps.

We used the P@H 5 foot Bluebell hutches when we had guinea pigs, but I wouldn't use them for rabbits (they're not strong enough and not really big enough). Ours are in 6 foot double height hutches. Two were homemade (not by us) and two are the 6 foot Chartwell hutch. All have permanently attached runs of between 6 x 3 and 8 x 4 foot.

My OH always installs vinyl floors and paints the hutches (generally two coats) with good quality woodstain, but even then the shop-bought hutches don't tend to last more than a couple of years. They are not cheap either!

There are specialist companies who build rabbit hutches, but they are even more expensive. You may be better off finding a local carpenter/handyman who can make you something, but with materials being so costly now, it probably won't be cheap.

Other options which may be worth looking at are chicken coops or dog kennels.

Planet Claire

3,349 posts

216 months

Friday 1st September 2023
quotequote all
My brother got a double-decker hutch, run and lots of other stuff all for £50 from Facebook Marketplace. Think I would start there before spending hundreds on new stuff.

breamster

1,042 posts

187 months

Friday 1st September 2023
quotequote all
Just in case you see these ones....

https://homeandroost.co.uk/product/6ft-chartwell-d...

We have one and again quality is really poor. Wafer thin back and floors. I've had the roof, back, doors, floors replaced under warranty. The next hutch will be home built.

Fusss

Original Poster:

285 posts

87 months

Friday 1st September 2023
quotequote all
breamster said:
Just in case you see these ones....

https://homeandroost.co.uk/product/6ft-chartwell-d...

We have one and again quality is really poor. Wafer thin back and floors. I've had the roof, back, doors, floors replaced under warranty. The next hutch will be home built.
Oh wow, yeah we did spot these and for the cost that's really bad.

I will avoid, thank you.

Custom build would be awesome but budget wouldn't allow at the moment unfortunately.

breamster

1,042 posts

187 months

Saturday 2nd September 2023
quotequote all
Fusss said:
breamster said:
Just in case you see these ones....

https://homeandroost.co.uk/product/6ft-chartwell-d...

We have one and again quality is really poor. Wafer thin back and floors. I've had the roof, back, doors, floors replaced under warranty. The next hutch will be home built.
Oh wow, yeah we did spot these and for the cost that's really bad.

I will avoid, thank you.

Custom build would be awesome but budget wouldn't allow at the moment unfortunately.
I have seen someone who bought an old kids playhouse 2nd hand and converted it. They did a really neat job. Just a thought.

moorx

3,931 posts

121 months

Saturday 2nd September 2023
quotequote all
breamster said:
I have seen someone who bought an old kids playhouse 2nd hand and converted it. They did a really neat job. Just a thought.
Yes, good point, I have done that in the past, although I bought it new from B&Q. It lasted fairly well, although it did need the floor and roof replacing during its lifetime.

The best tips I've learnt for making hutch floors last is to cover them in vinyl and to train your rabbits to use litter trays.

The main advantage of an 'off the shelf' hutch is that you can generally buy a made to measure cover for them.

Scabutz

8,162 posts

87 months

Saturday 2nd September 2023
quotequote all
breamster said:
Just in case you see these ones....

https://homeandroost.co.uk/product/6ft-chartwell-d...

We have one and again quality is really poor. Wafer thin back and floors. I've had the roof, back, doors, floors replaced under warranty. The next hutch will be home built.
Oh. Was just about to recommend that one. We have 4 rabbits of our own and foster as well. This is one of the better ones. We've had no issues with ours.

The run is a little flimsy though.

We like the large bolts on the doors. The others have flimsy small ones which don't feel very secure.

moorx

3,931 posts

121 months

Saturday 2nd September 2023
quotequote all
Scabutz said:
breamster said:
Just in case you see these ones....

https://homeandroost.co.uk/product/6ft-chartwell-d...

We have one and again quality is really poor. Wafer thin back and floors. I've had the roof, back, doors, floors replaced under warranty. The next hutch will be home built.
Oh. Was just about to recommend that one. We have 4 rabbits of our own and foster as well. This is one of the better ones. We've had no issues with ours.

The run is a little flimsy though.

We like the large bolts on the doors. The others have flimsy small ones which don't feel very secure.
Yes, have to say we are pretty happy with our two Chartwell hutches. OH agrees that the back panel is not really thick enough, but no issues with the roof, doors or floors. The newer one we bought also has much thicker mesh on the doors. We have the Scratch & Newton covers for them.

breamster

1,042 posts

187 months

Saturday 2nd September 2023
quotequote all
moorx said:
Scabutz said:
breamster said:
Just in case you see these ones....

https://homeandroost.co.uk/product/6ft-chartwell-d...

We have one and again quality is really poor. Wafer thin back and floors. I've had the roof, back, doors, floors replaced under warranty. The next hutch will be home built.
Oh. Was just about to recommend that one. We have 4 rabbits of our own and foster as well. This is one of the better ones. We've had no issues with ours.

The run is a little flimsy though.

We like the large bolts on the doors. The others have flimsy small ones which don't feel very secure.
Yes, have to say we are pretty happy with our two Chartwell hutches. OH agrees that the back panel is not really thick enough, but no issues with the roof, doors or floors. The newer one we bought also has much thicker mesh on the doors. We have the Scratch & Newton covers for them.
Maybe they have improved them over the years to be fair. Ours is five years now and needs replacing. We have the same cover and have also replaced the bolts

Greenbot35

190 posts

100 months

Saturday 16th September 2023
quotequote all
Go to a shed place, we had a massive shed to our spec for £500, all the pet shop huntches are far too small and bunnies are far happier out of them