5 Practical Tips For Keeping Rabbits In A Small Garden

**Collaborative post**

Keeping a rabbit in a small garden can be a bit of a challenge.

When you don’t have much room to play with, you have to make efficient use of every square meter at your disposal.

This will not just allow you to give it the shelter it needs outdoors, but also afford it the space it needs to roam and investigate its environment using a run enclosure, too.

There are a few common-sense and practical steps you can take to make sure your pet rabbit thrives regardless of the size of your garden.

We take a look at five of them below.

Table of Contents

Use a Tiered Hutch

Your rabbit needs to feel safe and secure – especially when sleeping.

However, a small garden can pose a bit of a challenge when it comes to providing a secure environment, as a rabbit hutch can have a large footprint.

But there are workarounds.

Tiered rabbit hutches work well in small spaces, with the living quarters below and space to move around up above.

But remember that even though a tiered hutch makes economical use of space, you shouldn’t underestimate its space requirements – a 5ft hutch plus a small run will mean you need at least 6–8ft of linear space in your garden.

Use Modular Runs

A rabbit needs space to exercise outside its hutch if it’s to stay happy and healthy.

Rabbits are also naturally burrowing and tunnelling animals, so they need somewhere they can do some digging.

The problem is that a rabbit run that allows the animal to venture out into the garden and roam can take up lots of space, as it needs a clear linear space.

A modular rabbit run and tunnelling system can work in small spaces, as they can be arranged on an ad hoc basis and positioned as your garden space allows.

Keep it Shady

Rabbits are sensitive to heat and direct sunlight, so your small garden must be well sheltered from the elements if your rabbit is to survive.

If you are working with a small space, it’s a good idea to place the run in a shady part of your garden (under a tree or near a fence).

As for the hutch itself, it doesn’t need to be completely covered, but it’s a good idea to cover part of the hutch off with dense foliage, a fabric cover or some tarpaulin.

The cover should ideally be both water-resistant and shady so the rabbit is protected against the elements.

Use Corners

When positioning a rabbit hutch in a small garden, you have to think cleverly. Using the garden’s corners is a big part of adopting a clever approach to space use.

By using a garden’s corner spaces, you maximise the space available to you.

And by placing a hutch in a corner, you have two sides already protected by the fence or wall against which it rests, helping to block wind and rain, and keeping predators out.

A corner space also gives the rabbit peace of mind – rabbits are known to feel more secure when they can nestle in corners against solid surfaces.

Removable Litter Trays

Cleaning a rabbit hutch in a confined space can be a bit of a headache, so it’s a good idea to use a waste system that allows you to keep it clean without having to clean the entire hutch.

A slide-out or lift-out tray works well here.

Because you can slide the removable trays in and out of a hutch, you can keep the rabbit’s living quarters clean without having to get into a cramped space.