SEATTLE HOLLAND LOPS

Cages, Set-ups & Supplies

Do your research & pick what works best for you & your bun. Everyone does it different & that’s okay! We’ve tried just about everything!

Below are some of our must haves.

Free Roam Areas

Free roam areas or home base cages with an extensional run are the best way to go for 1-3 bunnies! Either route you go, free roam time is necessary for daily exercise. Hard bottoms are highly recommended but wire bottoms are okay as long as bunnies have many places to get their pads off the wire. Leaving their feet on wire too long can cause sore hocks. Plastic bottoms, linoleum, blankets, tiles, and foam or hard vinyl puzzle pieces are all great alternatives. Every bun is different so if you notice your bun chewing bedding or materials it shouldn’t, remove it and find an alternative. I continuously upgrade and change my setups until I find what works best for each bun. Bun proofing is a must! No wires/cords, toxic plants or chemicals, remove anything you don’t want chewed. Use gates to block off areas you don’t want them to access. Keep in mind, if they can claim it as their own…they will!

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Cages

Wire
Wire bottoms are a controversial topic. Over all though they’re less indestructible and easier to clean/ keep sanitary when you have more than 3-4 bunnies. I currently use KW 30X24X14 cages. They’re tall enough for the bunnies to fully stand in and run around. Pee guards keep the buns from spraying urine. Pull out trays catch all their waste that falls through the wire. You can attach wheels for easy mobility when you need to hose them (the cages) down (bunnies don’t take baths). I cover most of the wire flooring with plastic guards to prevent sore hocks. I also throw in grass mats, wooden boards and blankets for everyone to lay on. I currently use wire cages for sanitary purposes otherwise, previously when I was a 3 pet bun herd, I had everyone in gated solid bottom free roam enclosures. Remember, exercise is necessary and required daily so you’ll still need a free roam area!

Solid Bottoms
An ideal set up, in a free roam style home with a solid bottom base cage! This is what we aim for all of our babies forever homes to look similar to.

♡@sablethelionhead♡

Many people use solid bottom cages as a partial free roam home base or build their own custom ones! I recommend having a cage even if your bun is going to be fully free roam. You never know when you might travel longer distances than usual or need to put a bun up for their own safety. You can also buy solid bottom wood hutches or XL dog pens. I tend to tell people to stay away from wooden hutches because bunnies love to chew and urine seeps through the wood and they’re not as transportable.

If using fleece blankets, puppy pads, puzzle mats or towels to line your cage flooring make sure your bunny doesn’t eat and ingest the materials. It could cause a fatal blockage. Linoleum & marble stone plates are also great flooring alternatives.

Gates/Pens
X-pens are great for free roam set ups or blocking off areas your bunny shouldn’t be! They’re inexpensive, easily transportable and you can attach multiple to expand their area. I recommend buying at least 30 inches tall. I find that my juniors can easily squeeze through most metal gates, and legs and feet may get stuck and cause freak accidents.

I use Clearly Loved Pets pens. They are expensive, but I find they are baby bunny proof and good quality.

Flooring, Litter, and Nesting

Interlocking Hard Vinyl Mats
I currently use this flooring in my rabbit free roam room. They work amazing and have yet to be chewed & liquids haven’t been able to seep through. Highly recommend purchasing these from Lowe’s. I always place puppy pads underneath just in case.

Pet Rugs
This is also what I currently use. Ruggable has many designs & sizes to choose from and they’re affordable! They’re machine washable so accidents that take place can be easily washed out! The best yet….NONE of my chewers have been able to pull even a single thread!!!

Puppy Pads
I line my cage waste trays and litter boxes with these. Makes for quick and easy clean up. I scrub litter boxes and waste trays with metal scrubbies and a strong vinegar solution every few days.

Paper Bedding
I use this in my nest boxes once babies are about 10 days old! Makes for easier clean up and keeps the babies warm. I used to use it in my litter boxes as well but it gets really mushy and doesn’t mask the smell as well. For litter I now suggest and use natural pine pellets. This is also great for dig boxes! My does LOVE to dig! Fill a large cardboard box with this stuff and let them go at it. Entertains my girls for hours! Some brands are even compostable.

Wood Pellets
I use these in my litterboxes! They last a few days and mask the urine smell really really well. Makes cleaning the litter boxes easier compared to sticky paper bedding. Use aspen wood to avoid bad oils.

Linoleum
The use of linoleum as a floor base for hutches or free roam rooms has become more popular! Its a solid bottom that’s easy to clean and sanitize daily! Some rabbits may find it slippery, so test it out with your buns!

Hay Feeders/Water Bowls

Hay Feeders/ Hay
I currently use these grocery bag holders from Ikea/Amazon. They lock tight but I also zip tie the backs to keep them extra secure. I hang them just over their litter box!

Timothy hay is best. We will occasionally add in dried herbs, alfalfa & meadow/orchard grass for diversity.

I highly recommend purchasing from your local feed store. You get so much more bang for one’s buck. For example a compressed 50LB hay bale locally for us at Tractor Supply costs $29.00.

Recommended feed stores in Washington-

Tractor Supply
Country Coastal Farms
First Fruit Feeds
Wilco
Bothell Feed Center

Water Bottles/Bowls

I personally give our bunnies both options! I give them a water bottle so that I know they have unlimited clean water. I also give them gravity water bowls. Keep in mind they can knock over their bowls & get junk in them so check them regularly.

Litter Box
I line my litter boxes with puppy pads, then add a scoop of litter and place a makeshift grate on top. I use the grate (custom cut for each litter box) to separate their paws from their waste (Egg Crate Panel pictured below). I scrub litter boxes and waste trays with metal scrubbies and a strong vinegar solution every few days. I use high sided storage bins in my free roam areas (pictured below).

Feed
We originally started with Oxbow pellets until I decided to switch our herd to a cleaner more high quality feed.

Now I highly recommend Haystack Naturals Rabbit 16% feed. Sun Cured Alfalfa based. A 40lb bag for us locally costs $15.00 and lasts forever!