Emma's Rabbits

How to Clean out a Rabbit Hutch

It's a chore, but you need to know how to do it properly.

Steps

Get the bin bag and the dustpan and brush.
Put the rabbits in their run.
Scoop up the dirty shavings and put in binbag. Hopefully, you will have put newspaper down under all the wood shavings / hay, in which case you can roll up most of the debris into a newspaper roly-poly.
Scoop up all the remaining loose shavings and hay and then brush up all the last bits with the brush and dustpan.
Wash and disinfect the floor. Use an old bucket and cloth; put some warm soapy water in the bucket - you can use household washing up liquid for this, but make sure that the disinfectant you use is bunny-friendly. Never use bleach or household cleaners.
Dry the floor with an old towel.
Put down new shavings. Aim for a coverage of up to 1cm thick all over the floor.
Give new food and clean water.
Fill up bedroom with fresh hay. The more the better! Hay is preferable to straw, as the animals eat it as well as play / sleep in it.
Put the rabbits back in and leave!

Clean the cage out at least once a week and make sure all shavings and hay are clean and dry.

Warnings

Make sure there are no thistles in the hay, as they can kill rabbits.
Never use pine or cedar shavings - these can result in respiratory problems and liver disease.
If you have a pregnant rabbit leave her nesting box alone and clean around it.
Don't use household disinfectants - get a special one from a pet shop which is friendly for rabbits.
Don't use the bucket, cloth or towels for anything else, to prevent cross-contamination.