Underground tunnels

[ssjcox]

Hi
We thought we had a made a great more natural outside space for our rabbits before we got them.
We dug up the lawn placed 16 guage wire under the run/house area and whilst we were at it we placed two tunnels.
One under ground wrapped in wire with gravel under for drainage and the tube has drainage holes too. And then placed a shorter tunnel on top which we mounded with soil and turfed all over it.
We made sure we could reach into the tunnel
As we know sick bunnies could hide in there.
Well our two new bunnies sleep in the lower tunnel all night long and I’m now worried sick that they’ll get cold.
My hubby has stuck his hand in there after it rained to make sure (under my orders!) it wasn’t getting wet. And he thinks I’m being stupid as it they got cold he says that they will go into their house…
Am I being stupid?
I’d like to think that being underground and having another tube/ turf over the top acts as some insulation.

 

[Shimmer]

It's usually quite warm underground, as long as it's dry and out of the wind. It is where rabbits would live in the wild, after all.
Although it's a lovely space, I would be worried about predators (cats, foxes, birds of prey), and the rabbits being able to dig out as it doesn't seem to be enclosed.

 

[ssjcox]

It's usually quite warm underground, as long as it's dry and out of the wind. It is where rabbits would live in the wild, after all.
Although it's a lovely space, I would be worried about predators (cats, foxes, birds of prey), and the rabbits being able to dig out as it doesn't seem to be enclosed.

Sorry I posted the photo of when we were setting up so you can see the tunnels clearly.
This is what it looks like now!

 

[a reader of books]

What a wonderful space for them. I think that your husband is right and that if they get cold they'll seek somewhere warmer on their own. But I would think the tunnels aren't actually that cold, like Shimmer said. Remember, too, that your bunnies are wearing nice fur coats.

 

[Shimmer]

I'm glad my bunnies can't see your setup - I think they would be packing their bags & moving in

 

[Omi]

Hello and a very warm welcome to our forum I would agree with the comments that others have made. It looks to be a super set-up, all the more so as it is a more natural outside space. I would add how lovely it is to have a new member, who seems to have done their research properly before getting their rabbits.

I love their outside ark, as it looks so well constructed and with available space properly considered. Who is the supplier please? My outside bunnies might be competing with those of Shimmer to move in I see you have meshed the ground to protect against predators, which is great. I can't tell from the photo, but is the run also on a similar type of protective mesh? You might also need in time to consider moving the outside run, depending on the weather (ie heavy rain and mud). I love the idea of their underground tunnels, which as others have said will be similar to their natural environment in the wild. My concern would not be about warmth, but safety from predation. So you might want to satisfy yourself about garden visitors, daytime and after dark, with a basic outside camera, where the data could be archived and monitored each day. Overall I am very impressed though.

Now that you're here, have a look at other parts of the forum, which you might find interesting. We cover all aspects of rabbit care and it is good to share experiences. We would also be interested to know a little about your new rabbits too

 

[ssjcox]

Hello and a very warm welcome to our forum I would agree with the comments that others have made. It looks to be a super set-up, all the more so as it is a more natural outside space. I would add how lovely it is to have a new member, who seems to have done their research properly before getting their rabbits.

I love their outside ark, as it looks so well constructed and with available space properly considered. Who is the supplier please? My outside bunnies might be competing with those of Shimmer to move in I see you have meshed the ground to protect against predators, which is great. I can't tell from the photo, but is the run also on a similar type of protective mesh? You might also need in time to consider moving the outside run, depending on the weather (ie heavy rain and mud). I love the idea of their underground tunnels, which as others have said will be similar to their natural environment in the wild. My concern would not be about warmth, but safety from predation. So you might want to satisfy yourself about garden visitors, daytime and after dark, with a basic outside camera, where the data could be archived and monitored each day. Overall I am very impressed though.

Now that you're here, have a look at other parts of the forum, which you might find interesting. We cover all aspects of rabbit care and it is good to share experiences. We would also be interested to know a little about your new rabbits too

Thank you, we did our research before committing to being bunny parents!
The hutch/run is from flyte so fancy it’s abit pricey!
We’ve added full 16 gauge wire under all the grass with about a foot around the outer perimeter of the house/run before we placed turf over the top plus added a anti dig skirt above ground outside the hutch/run…
All doors have extra fitted locks with Carabenas on them.
I think the only place which would be the weak spot is where the omlet tunnel door attaches to the run. They only go out into the extra run when we’re in the garden as I feel the holes in the omlet run are too big for the babies at the moment and a cat could put their paw through but we’re going to wrap something around that I think… not sure what yet.
Thank you for the warm welcome!

 

[Omi]

Thank you, we did our research before committing to being bunny parents!
The hutch/run is from flyte so fancy it’s abit pricey!
We’ve added full 16 gauge wire under all the grass with about a foot around the outer perimeter of the house/run before we placed turf over the top plus added a anti dig skirt above ground outside the hutch/run…
All doors have extra fitted locks with Carabenas on them.
I think the only place which would be the weak spot is where the omlet tunnel door attaches to the run. They only go out into the extra run when we’re in the garden as I feel the holes in the omlet run are too big for the babies at the moment and a cat could put their paw through but we’re going to wrap something around that I think… not sure what yet.
Thank you for the warm welcome!

Thank you I had in fact remembered where I'd seen it previously, ie on the flyte so fancy website. I had seen it previously when looking at chicken accommodation. I am aware that their accommodation is expensive, but then I think you are paying for the quality of the build and materials. Plus it looks as though a lot of thought has gone into the design.

 

[joey&boo]

Oh my word, what a brilliant set -up you've made, lucky bunnies What are their names?

 

[ssjcox]

Oh my word, what a brilliant set -up you've made, lucky bunnies What are their names?

Coco and marshmallow

 

[Omi]

Nice names Are they male and female? How long have you had them?

 

[bundit]

Wonderful! We also dug a tunnel for our rabbits. The tunnel is in their run and leads to a big container full of straw - they never use it, monkeys! The concept is good, if I did it again, I'd have tubes leading in and another out, like a warren. I'm pleased to hear their are some sensible bunnies out there that use their burrows! I understand your worrying, I am always worrying about mine being too hot or too cold. The temperature of a wild rabbit's burrow, I read, is 10 degree C, this temperature remains the same in the winter and summer, which is perfect for them. Rabbits suffer more from heat than cold. If you are worried, could you stick a thermometer down there? You can get ones that go down holes I'm sure.

I let ours free in the garden, with the back door open summer and winter.. I let them out before and after work. In the morning they are out for a couple of hours, have some brekkie then put themselves to bed! When I'm back from work, they come out again, and on a day like today will stay out till I go to bed. I have a very small garden, so it's easy to keep an eye on them.