I did a quick search on the internet, which you may be doing now as well, and I quickly decided that buying a pre-built hutch was probably going to be my best option. While I did find plans for building our bunnies new home, it appeared to me that the materials and time investment would not be significantly lower than getting one ready to go, out of the box.
I would say that my carpentry skills are quite average but I was not willing to risk the safety, and sanity, of my rabbit or daughter should something happen to him. We live out in the country and although I do not beleive we have mountain lions or the such, I know we have hawks, eagles, foxes and other predators that love rabbit meat... not to mention my ex husband as well!
Outdoor rabbit hutches come in many different styles and price ranges. I wanted to make sure mine was big enough to give our pet room to move about and also provided an area where he could seek shelter from the elements. I also did not want to have to spend a lot of time cleaning the cage.
After doing some research I learned that you could actually use a wire mesh floor so the pellets simply fall to the ground under the cage or collect in a pan hung beneath. I was worried about the rabbit standing on a metal grate but experts agree it can be done without harm to their paws.
My daughter would undoubtedly disagree with these experts so I decided to find a hutch that had the main area of the cage with a wire floor but offered a comfortable solid floor inside the small living area. I learned that rabbits can be trained to use a litter box and don't generally poop where they sleep.
I ended up getting a cage that had two levels. The lower level actually gives access out to a rabbit run that my neighbor added for me to give the bunny some much needed hopping around room while keeping him safe from predators.
For a look at the outdoor rabbit hutch I purchased, just follow this link:
WARE Premium + Bunny Barn
When you buy a rabbit you must understand that they need a nice home to live in and it should probably be outside of the one you actually live in! There are many different sizes to choose from and I would get the biggest one you can afford. Rabbits like to hop and move around. Also, make sure they have some concealed area to hide in as well.
