How big should each rabbit cage be?

Hello!

We are bringing in 2 does a 1 buck and are looking at building a wooden hutch for them. I have seen so many variations of the appropriate dimensions for a hutch that I thought I would just ask

A friend of ours built a double hutch for his pet rabbits at 50"W, 25"D and 57" H (it has legs and a slanted roof which is why it is so tall)


After looking into it a bit, it seems reasonable to make each cage area 36"W, 30"D and 18-20"H. Is that an appropriate size for New Zealand whites? Taking into account that 2 are does so we will be putting in nesting boxes.

Thanks!

your dimensions sound like the standard, but if you got the wood and wire to space no rabbit ever refused the legroom to hop more than once. You asked how big vs what is the standardized minimum, i keep my giant chins in a really big pen that would infuriate most case breeders. I just find when they have litters it's a meat locker by harvest time, so i keep them in about 30 inches wide by 5 feet long by 4 feet high. I have open kennels so i can get in so it's not exactly a hutch, but i feel there's just enough space for them to get enough back and forth that i don't feel like im keeping veal. I have 4 does and 1 buck, so there's always someone with a growling litter, I think if I had new zealands I would be happy with 3 feet by 3 feet there just not going to get to 12 pounds and stretch out to 2 feet long.

So i think your spacing's pretty normal and well tested, I know if I had caged rabbits i could fit 3 times the amount in the same space but I wouldn't be happy and id probably have rabbit problems i don't have now.

Hello Saybian Nice to see another Lower Mainlander!

I appreciate your thoughts here and like the idea of having a bigger than standard hutch. We are not hurting for space here on 3 acres so considering we have the room to go bigger, we might as well. I am going to build a couple of moveable runs as well so that in better weather we can have them out and about.

The depth of the building we want to put them along is 30ft from front to back and we will need extra space for growing babies (until they "meat" their fate). I prefer single height hutches but will go double high to save some space. I would also like to use about half of the building to continue to store our wood (rather than move it to a less dry location).

I have seen hutches that are double high but can be opened up when the space is available. So essentially there is a trap door that opens up the top and bottom hutch doubling the space for the rabbit.