Bunny enclosures

How To Build an Indoor Bunny Enclosure

It's important to have an enclosure in your home where you can keep your bunny safely when you are at work or at night or when they are unsupervised.

Although you can buy bunny cages in pet stores, many people find their bunnies outgrow these spaces and then choose to expand them into an enclosed area. This gives their bunnies space to binky about and leaves enough room for toys and other essentials like litter trays and hay feeders.

In this guide we show you how to build a typical indoor enclosure

In this guide we show you how to build a typical indoor enclosure, commonly used by many bunny owners and where the best place is to put it in your home.

We also have a guide to how big it should be and ideas for the best flooring to use.

How do I build a rabbit enclosure?

What do you need to build a bunny enclosure?

The simplest way to build an enclosure is to use one or more pet pens to create a perimeter fence.

These come in a pack of large sheets of wire fencing that can be clipped together, look out for ones with a gate built into them which can give you access without having to un-clip or climb over the fence to get in.

Products we recommend for building a bunny enclosure

These fences come with plastic clips or systems where they slot together or are secured using cable ties.

Remember bunnies, especially young kits can be good climbers so make sure it's a full-sized fence, the bigger the better.

You may want to keep an eye on it at first to see if your bunny can climb out. If so, you will need to either build the sides up a bit or put a cover over the top.

Some pens come with covers which can be great if your bunny is a bit of an escape artist.

It can be helpful to build the enclosure around a more secure cage such as a bunny cage or large dog cage. This can be a place of security and shelter inside the enclosure for your bunny and help you manage the space.

dog cage bunny enclosure button Folding metal dog cage

This can all be clipped together using cable ties which will make the whole structure more solid.

What's the best type of bunny enclosure

How do I build a bunny enclosure?

How big should your bunny enclosure be

There is no limit to the maximum space you can give your bunny and the bigger the better so this really comes down to how much space you can give up in your home. You do need to be careful about the minimum space required and you can find some good advice regarding this on the RWAF website.

winters pet pen bunny enclosure
Winters luxury pen from the Bunny proofing Facebook group
Bunnies need lots of room to stretch out and relax

You should consider the minimum space to be big enough for your bunny to carry out its natural behaviors such as hopping about, at least three steps, it needs to be able to stretch up and reach its full height.

You will also need extra room for the other things inside such as a litter tray, water bowl or feeder, hay feeder and some toys and a hideaway. Remember bunnies can pick up quite a lot of speed when they binky about so you don't want them crashing into things.

How big should I make my bunny enclosure?

Where is the best place to put your bunny enclosure?

You will need to find somewhere calm for your enclosure to live, remember bunnies don't like loud noises and are easily scared so avoid chaotic spaces like a utility area with noisy appliances or kitchen or pantry where there are food smells that may be disturbing.

Rooms where children play can also disturb your bunny and if they are in a den make sure it is not next to stereo speakers or a TVs to avoid loud amplified noises.

Lastly make sure the temperature in the room is even and does not overheat in the summer or get too cold in the winter and conservatories that get very hot can be unsuitable.

Check for drafts at floor level as this can be uncomfortable for your bunny.

The best place is a heated and ventilated room in your home that does not get much traffic and is not in direct sunlight so your bunny can be safely left alone to relax.

Where is the best place to put your bunny enclosure?

What the best floor to use in your bunny enclosure

Bunny enclosures can get a bit messy so it's best to cover the floor to stop any damage occurring.

This can also offer a bit of insulation and add a bit of grip to slippery floors to stop your bunny sliding about.

It can be especially helpful to cover carpeted floors which can be hard to clean and get damaged from by your bunny chewing them.

black rex bunnies room
Stan and Marv from the Bunny proofing Facebook group
With a bit of bunny proofing a utility room can make a great bunny space

Typical floor covering used for house bunnies

Floor covering we recommend to use in a bunny enclosure

What the best floor to put in my bunny enclosure?