Creative DIY ideas for your rabbits’ housing

Rabbit housing can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Do you have an old set of drawers that you’re going to be throwing away? Or an old garden shed that hasn’t been used in years? We’re going to show you how to use them. 

First of all, you need to ask yourself a few questions:

What do I have that I can transform?

Where do my buns live, indoors or outdoors?

How much time do you have?

These are some of the things that will affect what DIY rabbit housing you will end up with, if you don’t have a lot of time may be simply upcycling an old piece of furniture to add to your existing rabbit housing will be all you want or if you are wanting more of a project this blog will hopefully give you some ideas.

1. DIY Outdoor Ideas

If your buns live outside this section will show you some great ideas on how you can create some DIY outdoor housing for your rabbits that will help repurpose old garden sheds and inspire you to build your own outside rabbit housing.  

From the_yorkshire_fluffle 

Remember we mentioned how much time you have? This is because of the fantastic example of a DIY homemade outdoor rabbit enclosure from the Yorkshire fluffle shared with us. Her set-up shows an amazing homemade outdoor rabbit enclosure with sheds incorporated into it that provide her rabbits with lots of space to perform natural behaviours and also plenty of areas to feel safe. Catherine also uses shade sails in the summer to make sure her buns are staying cool in the heat.

 

From raspberry.juice.toffee.butters 

This brilliant example from raspberry, juice, toffee and butters owner that shows how she has used two sheds as part of her rabbit’s outdoor housing. Both her 8ft x 6ft sheds permanently have 6ft runs attached to them, which are made from 16g wire mesh to protect them from predators. 

Not using that old shed at the bottom of your garden, why not get creative and make it part of your rabbit’s housing like these…


 2. DIY Indoor Ideas 

If your buns live indoors you should look to every old piece of furniture ready for the tip as an opportunity to make it an addition to your rabbit’s housing. Old pieces of furniture are great for rabbits are they are keen chewers so nothing can be ruined. Here are some great examples of DIY indoor housing ideas. 

From 5 Fluffy Bunnies 

Throwing away some old drawers? You won’t be after this example from 5 fluffy bunnies, whose owner has upcycled a set lot of old furniture to add to her indoor housing setup. She has upcycled an old magazine rack which has been transformed into a fantastic hay feeder, a set of drawers that her buns use for different levels and hiding places and a children’s bookshelf that is now a bunny castle. All Poppy’s amazing upcycles have cushions which she made herself from an old duvet.

3. Homemade Rabbit Toys 

Already have a great housing set-up but want to get creative and make some homemade toys? Take a look at our step-by-step guides on how to make easy homemade rabbit toys and DIY rabbit hay feeders. You’ll never throw toilet roll tubes out again! 

Hanging Hay Dispenser with a toilet roll tube 

This hanging hay dispenser gives our curious rabbits a chance to reach and tug on tasty hay, this kind of toy is great for their mental enrichment, and it can encourage them to eat their hay!

Time: 5 minutes

Equipment: 2+ toilet roll tubes, a pen, some string or twine and high-quality feeding hay

1.   Poke holes in the centre of each tube with the pen

2.   Tie a big knot at one end of the string and thread it through the first tube

3.   Tie another knot so the first tube stays in place

4.   Repeat with the remaining tubes

5.   Tying a final note in the last tube

6.   Stuff all the tubes with feeding hay and maybe the occasional treat

7.   Hang It in your rabbits’ housing

Top tip: hang this above their litter tray and we know rabbits love to poo and chew! 


DIY Dig Box 

Don’t fancy your rabbits being your landscape gardener? How about making them a dig box that allows them to exhibit their natural behaviours in a more constructive way that won’t destroy your home or garden.

Time: 5 minutes

Equipment: a large cardboard box, some scissors, some old newspaper, feeding hay 

1.   Remove all tape and staples from the cardboard box

2.   Fold in the flaps to make a base on one side, and cut the flaps off the other side

3.   Shred the old newspaper and create enough to fill the box, add different textures by crumpling the paper as well

4.   Sprinkle a small number of treats or leafy green through the paper to encourage foraging behaviour

Top tip: use a plastic tray or box and fill it with soil for those who are less bothered about mess.

Excel Hay Boxes are great for this! 

Hidden treat ball 

Would your rabbit fancy something more to chew on? Try making a hidden treat ball, this will encourage your buns to chew and grind down their teeth while they try and figure out the puzzle.

Time: 5-10 minutes

Equipment: scissors, toilet roll tubes and rabbit treats 

1.   Cut the toilet roll tubes into four pieces

2.   Put one piece sideways inside another, like a cross

3.   Squeeze the two pieces together to fit them inside a third section of the tube

4.   Place a treat inside the ball that is forming

5.   Squeeze the fourth piece of the tube over the others to complete the ball 


Minimum Space Recommendations 

Whether you are creating a DIY housing set-up for your rabbits or just want to add some DIY elements, remember that the minimum recommendation for two average-sized bonded rabbits is 3m x 2m by 1m high. This allows for your rabbits to display positive behaviours, for example, running rather than just hopping.