New outside area help

[feral]

Can anyone recommend a small shed/hutch and run set up that I can put on slabs (or if someone cold suggest something else that is secure?).
My bunnies currently have the run of the house and tube from the house to a hutch and run, the problem is one bunny is tunnelling day and night and I have to back fill every day before work, it's getting hard work and I'm worried it's not secure. So I'm thinking of getting a new small set up on some slabs for the day time, so at least they can sit outside (they will have the run of the house too). I was going to keep their old run as a dig pit that can be shut off during the day so she can still dig at her hearts content when I'm in!

 

[feral]

The other option isn't to put the new set up on slabs but to put to dig up turf and lay mesh down, then recover with turf, has anyone done this? Does it hurt their claws/teeth if they try to dig?

 

[Shimmer]

I would look at getting a Wendy House (new, or used from a local selling website) straight on to slabs, and attach an aviary style enclosure or large (existing?) run to it or around it. You can grow grass in a raised bed type set up within the enclosure, on top of the slabs eg using 4 decking planks to make a square, line the sides with plastic (from old compost bags turned inside out) and filling with soil / compost before adding turf, seed, or weeded grass from the garden.

One of mine randomly digs quite impressive tunnels at certain times of the year. It's surprising just how quickly they can appear, and how much longer it takes to fill them in again.

 

[feral]

Thanks Shimmer. I think a second hand wendy house could be good Mine also digs impressive tunnels! I can't keep up with it, if I back-fill in the morning 3 areas, they are back and bigger than ever when I get back. I'm thinking slabs are maybe not the best option as it gets so hot in our garden - I'm leaning towards mesh and turfing over the mesh. I have some omlet bits and bobs and wondering if I can use spare panels as underflooring - can anyone advise what size should the holes should be to avoid any accidents? It will be covered in turf, but obviously she will probably try to dig.

 

[Shimmer]

You can use bigger hole mesh under turf - they are not going to accurately dig a tunnel through eg a 2" square mesh (or even 4"?). It doesn't need to be the same quality finish as above soil mesh as they are not going to be snagging themselves on it if it's a couple of inches down. It does need to be a much thicker gauge as it will rust through faster - so think more industrial stuff than eg chicken wire. Old puppy pen panels or a dismantled dog crate would also do. Wonky dog crates often go for next to nothing if you can collect. A local dog rescue may be glad to get rid of some that are not fit for purpose.

 

[feral]

I actually have some solid mesh panels that are from an omelet run top, almost enough to do the job, I have 5, I'm just one short - I might be able to pick one up on ebay - they have quite big holes approx. 3 inches by 2 inches, my only worry was that she could get her head stuck, but that's not really going to happen on the ground even if she tried to dig - I just need some reassurance here I'm a bit of a worrier!

 

[feral]

In the end I got rid of their hutch, so they now have two runs, one is muddy and for digging and the other is safe with a wire floor, I covered the wire with playground grade wood chips. The runs are connected to the house, so they don't need a hutch. When I'm out I can shut off the digging run, so they just have the safe one - finally got there, looks quite tidy too

 

[Omi]

Great, sounds as though it will be fine. It will be interesting to see how they make it work.

 

[feral]

Hi Omi, only the girl digs, and she loves having the dig area, she vanishes for ages then pops up out of a hole it's funny, it also means that she leaves the rest of the garden alone. She doesn't want to go in there every day, when she's been digging she sleeps well, she is completely nuts, so it's good to see her tired. She zooms around the house like a dog.