Preparing for Your Bunny
Updated: Sep 1, 2022
You have picked out the perfect bunny for your family, now what?! Bringing a new pet into your life is an exciting event. You’ll want to make sure you are fully prepared so that your bunny has a smooth transition between our home and yours. Below is a checklist of recommended bunny supplies to help you prepare for your new bun. We have included links to many of the items.
Cages, Hutches, and Ex Pens
When it comes to selecting an enclosure there are many options. We will go over the three most common options. Most importantly you want to make sure you pick an option that fits your available space. I can never stress enough, the importance of purchasing a high quality, larger enclosure in the beginning.
If you go with a traditional cage, make sure the cage is tall enough for your bunny to stretch up without his ears touching the top. It's long/wide enough that your bunny can stretch out fully in any direction with some room to spare. You will want a door that opens outward so that the bunny can hop in and out of his cage on his own. Plus make sure the cage is roomy enough to have space for a litter box, a food dish, and water supply. The larger the better, especially if your bunny will spend many hours a day in his cage. Pros: Can be more travel friendly, a good fit for smaller spaces, full enclosure, and come in kits normally. Cons: small space, not as hygienic, breaks down over time quicker than other options, and has lots of smaller pieces to keep up with. An ex pen is a great addition around a traditional cage to provide your bun more space.
If you prefer the look of the hutches, make sure you keep in consideration the same size requirements as a traditional cage. Pros: More esthetic, offers multi levels, more durable, little more hygienic. Cons: Bunnies can chew on the wood, wood can absorb stains and smells, and while they seem larger, they can limit their space. We like to add a small ex pen around a hutch for additional roaming space.
Ex Pens
Ex Pens are a great alternative to traditional hutches and cages. They are our preferred enclosure and first choice. We love ex pens for many reasons! You can adjust the size to your space, they are easily movable, easier to clean, and provide your bunny more space. If you go with an ex pen make sure the pen is at least 30 inches or taller and will be placed against a wall on at least 1 side, preferably 2. If you have other pets that might be able to jump into the ex pen, a traditional cage or hutch would be a better option. Bonus time: Keep an extra ex pen on hand, so that you can setup playtime outside or on the porch.
Here are some of our favorite exercise pens:
Resting Surface
Your bunny's cage should include a solid surface for resting. If the cage you have has an all-wire bottom, you can provide a solid surface by inserting a carpet sample, folded newspaper, cardboard, etc.