This is a specific conversation about Rabbit housing — space and setup that works — ask about yours and get one honest answer for your exact situation.
inparticular.ai
Moving a rabbit from an indoor cage to an outdoor setup is a big change — and honestly, most cages sold for indoor rabbits are just as undersized as the hutches you'll find in pet shops. Before we talk specifics: most rabbits need space for at least three full hops, room to stand completely upright on their hind legs, and separate zones for sleeping and toileting. A hutch-and-run combo is the right instinct, but size and weatherproofing matter enormously. Is your Havana currently alone, and what sort of outdoor space are you working with — patio, garden, a specific corner?
She's on her own, about two and a half kilos. We have a decent-sized patio, maybe three metres by two metres, but we'd probably keep the hutch against the fence. She's been indoor-only her whole life so I'm a bit worried about the transition.
inparticular.ai
Good — two and a half kilos is a medium-sized rabbit, and being alone means she'll need that run space to stay mentally and physically stimulated since she won't have a companion to interact with. Your worry about the transition is well-placed. Rabbits who've only known indoor temperatures can struggle if they're moved outside suddenly, especially into a hutch that traps damp or doesn't insulate well. What time of year are you planning to make the move, and has she had any outdoor time at all — even supervised garden time?
We're planning to do it over the next few weeks, so late spring. She's had a bit of time in the garden on sunny days but always supervised and never overnight.
inparticular.ai
Late spring is actually the best possible time for this — mild nights, no sudden cold snaps likely, and she's already had some outdoor exposure which helps. For her size and your patio space, I'd recommend the Chartwell Two-Storey Rabbit Hutch with Integrated Run by Rowlinson. It's a solid, well-built unit — the hutch section is genuinely spacious with a separate sleeping compartment upstairs, and the ground-level run is permanently attached so she has access to both areas throughout the day. The timber is pressure-treated, which matters a lot for longevity on a patio. It fits comfortably against a fence and you're not assembling two separate units that can shift apart. The run floor is open to the ground or you can add a removable tray — I'd go tray on a patio to keep it manageable. For the transition, bring her bedding from indoors so the sleeping area smells familiar from day one, and give her a few nights indoors still before the full switch.
That sounds sensible. Will she be warm enough at night even in summer? And what about predators — we do get foxes.
inparticular.ai
Summer nights are fine for a healthy acclimatised rabbit — they actually handle cold better than heat, so summer is low risk. Foxes are a serious concern though, and this is where hutch quality really separates itself. The Rowlinson Chartwell uses 16-gauge galvanised wire mesh, which is the minimum you want — thinner mesh can be torn or chewed through by a determined fox. I'd also add two bolt locks to the run door rather than relying on a single turn-latch, because foxes are surprisingly good at working those open. A paving slab or two along the base of the run will stop any digging underneath. Those two additions — extra bolts and base slabs — will make the setup genuinely fox-resistant rather than just fox-deterrent.
Perfect, that's really helpful. I'll look up the Rowlinson Chartwell now. Thanks.
inparticular.ai
You're well set up for this — late spring move, gradual acclimatisation, familiar bedding, and a hutch with a proper sleeping compartment will make the transition much easier on her. One last thing: check the hutch floor and roof seams for gaps before she moves in and treat any bare wood edges with pet-safe wood preserver — it significantly extends the life of outdoor hutches. Good luck with the move.
