Cleaning Rabbit Hutches & Rabbits Explore Their 'New' Space, by Sow and Tare on YouTube. 43 min 24 s.
- Video length
- 43 min 24 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Move your rabbit into a carrier or a secure exercise pen with water and hay before you start. Never leave it loose while you work.
Put on gloves and pull out all the old bedding, hay, droppings and food scraps. Bag it or add it to the compost.
Take out bowls, bottles, toys and the litter tray. Wash them in hot soapy water, rinse well and leave them to dry.
Scrub the floor, walls and corners of the hutch with hot water and a rabbit-safe disinfectant or a vinegar and water mix.
Rinse the surfaces with clean water and let the hutch dry completely. Rabbits should not sit on damp wood or bedding.
Check the hutch while it dries. Look for chewed wood, loose wire, sharp edges and leaks, and repair anything you find.
Add fresh litter to the tray, then new bedding and a good layer of hay. Refill the water bottle or bowl.
Put the rabbit back and watch it explore. Give it a few minutes to settle before you handle it again.
Tips and common mistakes
Spot clean droppings and wet bedding every day, then do a full scrub once a week.
White vinegar diluted in water is a cheap, safe cleaner if you do not have a pet disinfectant.
Keep the rabbit away until the hutch is fully dry and any fumes have cleared.
Check your rabbit's back end and feet after cleaning and trim dirty fur if needed.
Questions
How often should I fully clean a rabbit hutch?
Do a full strip and scrub about once a week, and spot clean soiled bedding daily. In hot weather or with two rabbits, clean more often.
Can I use bleach or household spray in the hutch?
Skip harsh products. Use a rabbit-safe disinfectant or diluted white vinegar, rinse well and let everything dry before the rabbit goes back in.
What do I do with the rabbit while the hutch dries?
Keep it in a carrier or a run with water, hay and some shade. On warm days, avoid leaving it in direct sun while you wait.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
