Rabbit Cage, Exercise Pen, or Free Roam?
It couldn't be more confusing. Every rabbit owner probably has told you the one and only "perfect" enclosure for a pet bunny, but it's not that simple. Depending on your home environment, work schedule, and bunny's personality, certain enclosures just aren't ideal.
The ONLY enclosure I DO NOT recommend is the typical small wire floor cage that many pet stores unfortunately still sell. These are incredibly small and can hurt your bunny's feet over time (and cause sore hocks). Free roaming your bunny most or all of the time sounds wonderful but requires a well-behaved bunny, owner who is usually home, and may cause damage to precious furniture and flooring. Let's take a look at some more practical bunny enclosures that keep your bunny safe and secure while still offering space to hop about. |
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Exercise Pens
Paws down, exercise pens are the cheapest, most spacious, and most flexible housing option for your bunny. Whether it's your bunny's full-time enclosure or simply to keep your bunny out of trouble while you are sleeping or away from home, you can likely find an exercise pen that fits the size of your room and your budget as well.
Exercise pens come in many sizes, heights, and range from metal to plastic materials and budget-friendly to extravagant luxury. My Amazon store has several examples to choose from, and check out the bunny exercise pen enclosure examples below as well:
Paws down, exercise pens are the cheapest, most spacious, and most flexible housing option for your bunny. Whether it's your bunny's full-time enclosure or simply to keep your bunny out of trouble while you are sleeping or away from home, you can likely find an exercise pen that fits the size of your room and your budget as well.
Exercise pens come in many sizes, heights, and range from metal to plastic materials and budget-friendly to extravagant luxury. My Amazon store has several examples to choose from, and check out the bunny exercise pen enclosure examples below as well:
How tall of an exercise pen do I need?
This depends on how high your rabbit jumps, size of your rabbit, and whether you have objects placed near the perimeter of your bunny's exercise pen.
I use 27" and 30" tall exercise pens with my 4-5 pound Holland lop bunnies. However, if my bunny was an excellent hopper or I placed boxes near the perimeter, I would opt for around 36" tall. If the pen is indoors and you don't mind your bunny hopping out on occasion and would prefer a shorter pen that you can easily climb over (if it doesn't have a door), then 30" or slightly less should be fine. Outdoor pens where your bunny could hop loose are more crucial to make sure they are tall enough.
This depends on how high your rabbit jumps, size of your rabbit, and whether you have objects placed near the perimeter of your bunny's exercise pen.
I use 27" and 30" tall exercise pens with my 4-5 pound Holland lop bunnies. However, if my bunny was an excellent hopper or I placed boxes near the perimeter, I would opt for around 36" tall. If the pen is indoors and you don't mind your bunny hopping out on occasion and would prefer a shorter pen that you can easily climb over (if it doesn't have a door), then 30" or slightly less should be fine. Outdoor pens where your bunny could hop loose are more crucial to make sure they are tall enough.
What flooring do I use for an exercise pen?
Ideally, place the exercise pen in a room with vinyl or tile flooring for easy clean-up of any messes (and YES, there will be hay, poo balls, and occasional urine accidents, even with litter trained rabbits).
My favorite flooring for exercise pens is to buy a small precut roll of textured vinyl from Home Depot or Lowe's and cut it to the size of your exercise pen (with a bit extra outside the pen's perimeter). Others have used foam puzzle mats (which are easier to dig/chew), carpet squares and remnants, rubber mats, blankets, or fleece fabric liners.
DO NOT spread a layer of absorbent bedding material (pine pellets, shredded paper/cardboard, etc) on the floor of your bunny's enclosure. This material ONLY goes in your bunny's litter box. Otherwise, your bunny will be confused where to do his/her business.
Ideally, place the exercise pen in a room with vinyl or tile flooring for easy clean-up of any messes (and YES, there will be hay, poo balls, and occasional urine accidents, even with litter trained rabbits).
My favorite flooring for exercise pens is to buy a small precut roll of textured vinyl from Home Depot or Lowe's and cut it to the size of your exercise pen (with a bit extra outside the pen's perimeter). Others have used foam puzzle mats (which are easier to dig/chew), carpet squares and remnants, rubber mats, blankets, or fleece fabric liners.
DO NOT spread a layer of absorbent bedding material (pine pellets, shredded paper/cardboard, etc) on the floor of your bunny's enclosure. This material ONLY goes in your bunny's litter box. Otherwise, your bunny will be confused where to do his/her business.
Here are three more bunny exercise pen examples. First is my bunny Sunny Jim playing in a 6x6' Clearly Loved Pets exercise pen followed by my outside bunny exercise pens. I have two sets of three 30" tall gold Midwest metal exercise pens and three chain link fence pens. Note how there is plenty of shade and protection offered by the porch, trees, and PVC pipe tunnels. If you're wondering if it's safe to let bunnies play outside, watch my video.
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Kennel Style Enclosures
If your bunny's exercise area is separate from where the enclosure needs to be, a dog kennel style enclosure could be a great idea for your bunny to sleep and live when you are unable to supervise play sessions. Kennels aren't as spacious as exercise pens but have solid floors that are easy to clean, take up little space, and offer a way to keep your bunny safe when you're away.
If your bunny's exercise area is separate from where the enclosure needs to be, a dog kennel style enclosure could be a great idea for your bunny to sleep and live when you are unable to supervise play sessions. Kennels aren't as spacious as exercise pens but have solid floors that are easy to clean, take up little space, and offer a way to keep your bunny safe when you're away.
You can always add an exercise pen around, connected to, or near your bunny's kennel to expand the available space when it's time for your bunny's exercise and play time.
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DIY C&C Grid Enclosures
"C&C" refers to cubes and coroplast. The cubes are painted or powder coated wire grid panels and coroplast is corrugated plastic panels. You can use zip ties or plastic connectors and even create wooden ramps and hideouts to construct some amazing bunny enclosures!
C&C grids offer a very flexible canvas for your bunny enclosure creation, but they aren't the cheapest option. When building your C&C bunny enclosure, keep in mind that your bunny will be most comfortable if the height is tall enough for standing and a bit of hopping and there is plenty of room for horizontal movement as well. Check C&C grids out on Amazon.
Add some vinyl flooring (check Home Depot or Lowe's for small pre-cut vinyl rolls), foam mats, carpet squares, blankets, or fleece cage liners to create soft flooring for your DIY bunny enclosure. Take a look at two viewer-submitted C&C style bunny enclosures:
"C&C" refers to cubes and coroplast. The cubes are painted or powder coated wire grid panels and coroplast is corrugated plastic panels. You can use zip ties or plastic connectors and even create wooden ramps and hideouts to construct some amazing bunny enclosures!
C&C grids offer a very flexible canvas for your bunny enclosure creation, but they aren't the cheapest option. When building your C&C bunny enclosure, keep in mind that your bunny will be most comfortable if the height is tall enough for standing and a bit of hopping and there is plenty of room for horizontal movement as well. Check C&C grids out on Amazon.
Add some vinyl flooring (check Home Depot or Lowe's for small pre-cut vinyl rolls), foam mats, carpet squares, blankets, or fleece cage liners to create soft flooring for your DIY bunny enclosure. Take a look at two viewer-submitted C&C style bunny enclosures:
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Spacious Solid Floor Cages & Condos
Here is a poor example of a bunny cage. Not only does it have wire flooring that can cause sore hocks (sores on your bunny's feet), but it also is way too small for even a tiny Netherland dwarf to live comfortably. I purchased this for my pet rabbit when I drew upon the mindset of rabbits as farm animals and knew nothing of the pampered pet life of bunnies.
This solid floor cage style enclosure by Homeypet is a better option. The owner added a DIY shelf for sleeping, and it's low enough to leave the door open inside an exercise pen or small room for play time or partial free-roaming. Your bunny can stay safe when unsupervised, but it really is only a good option when paired with a method for daily exercise outside of this enclosure.
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Finally, we have the 2-story Bunny Villa condo style enclosures that I have used with my bunnies. They have solid vinyl flooring and ramps to a second (or even third or fourth) story! They dismantle easily for cleaning and have wheels for maneuverability.
Still, even though generously sized, daily exercise outside of this enclosure is highly recommended. I use both indoor and outdoor exercise pens as often as possible.
Still, even though generously sized, daily exercise outside of this enclosure is highly recommended. I use both indoor and outdoor exercise pens as often as possible.
Whatever enclosure style you decide - exercise pen, kennel, DIY bunny enclosure, solid floor cage style enclosure, or complete free-roaming - as long as there is ample time and space for your bunny to exercise and your bunny is safe, don't let others shame you into feeling guilty about your choice. Do what is best for your bunny's and family's well being. ♥
Can my Pet Bunny Live Outside?
Bunnies CAN be housed outdoors in a hutch, but it isn't ideal as the elements, predators, and neglect are very real dangers. Your bunny will need wind/sun protection, fresh water at all times (difficult during cold weather), and be cautious that the wire flooring can harm their feet over time. More importantly, outdoor bunnies don't have the opportunity to bond with family members like an indoor bunny. Indoors is also safer and an all-around more ideal situation. Bunnies CAN be litter trained members of the family, but it will take perseverance on your part and an understanding that you’ll still find dry “bunny pellets” here and there. Neutering/spaying will help with litter training too.
Bunnies CAN be housed outdoors in a hutch, but it isn't ideal as the elements, predators, and neglect are very real dangers. Your bunny will need wind/sun protection, fresh water at all times (difficult during cold weather), and be cautious that the wire flooring can harm their feet over time. More importantly, outdoor bunnies don't have the opportunity to bond with family members like an indoor bunny. Indoors is also safer and an all-around more ideal situation. Bunnies CAN be litter trained members of the family, but it will take perseverance on your part and an understanding that you’ll still find dry “bunny pellets” here and there. Neutering/spaying will help with litter training too.
Looking for more bunny enclosure ideas?
Check out all of the beautiful rabbit room setups on our Rabbit Room Tour video series!
Check out all of the beautiful rabbit room setups on our Rabbit Room Tour video series!
Should I Let my Bunny Play Outside?
In short, if you have plenty of inside exercise space for your bunny, it's safest NOT to let your bunny play outside. However, if you have a SAFE, bunny-only place with shade and protection, most bunnies absolutely love a bit of supervised outside playtime.
In short, if you have plenty of inside exercise space for your bunny, it's safest NOT to let your bunny play outside. However, if you have a SAFE, bunny-only place with shade and protection, most bunnies absolutely love a bit of supervised outside playtime.
Want to share your bunny's cage or enclosure? Email me a photo, and I might include it on this page!