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What does a rabbit hutch cover do?
A cover is a fitted fabric jacket for an outdoor hutch. It stops wind blowing through the mesh, keeps rain off the bedding and holds in a little warmth. PDSA says outdoor rabbits need a shelter that is sturdy, waterproof and raised off the ground, and warm and insulated in winter, and that if it isn't, you should use an insulated cover or move the rabbits somewhere warmer.
A cover can't make a small hutch into a good home. The RSPCA says a traditional small hutch should never be a rabbit's only home: a pair needs at least 3 m × 2 m × 1 m (10 ft × 6 ft 6 in × 3 ft) including the shelter and run. Check your setup against our hutch size guide before you spend money on a cover.
Do rabbits need a hutch cover in winter?
Most outdoor rabbits do. The RSPCA says domestic rabbits lack a wild rabbit's thick coat and are more sensitive to low temperatures, and gives an ideal range of 10 to 20°C (50 to 68°F). In winter it advises:
- Cover most of the shelter at night, leaving a small area open for air
- Leave the front open during the day
- Insulate walls with cardboard, blankets or insulation boards on the outside
- Cover part of the run with plastic sheeting or tarpaulin against wind and rain
- Give plenty of dust-free hay and straw on top of newspaper
- Remove wet bedding every day, because it can freeze
- Check water at least twice a day and keep a spare bottle indoors
- Move the hutch into a shed or unused outbuilding if it nears freezing
Never move rabbits into a garage where a car is used. The RSPCA warns exhaust fumes are harmful. Our rabbit temperature guide covers the signs of a rabbit that is too cold.
Thermal, heavy-duty or showerproof: which cover?
Pick by your weather and your hutch. The Rabbit House points out that most hutches already have a waterproof roof, so the main job of a cover is stopping wind and holding warmth, not just keeping rain out.
| Type | Best for | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Showerproof | Mild, sheltered gardens; light rain | Thin fabric; adds little warmth |
| Heavy-duty waterproof | Wet, windy, exposed gardens | Vents or eyelets, zips that seal, windows over the mesh |
| Thermal (lined) | Cold nights and frost | Still needs a ventilation gap; lining must stay dry |
| Liner under a cover | Upgrading a cover you already have | Fits under the outer cover, not inside the hutch |
| Homemade | Odd-sized hutches, tight budgets | Must stay dry and be fixed so it can't blow off |
How to measure for a hutch cover
Covers are made for named hutch models, so "5ft" from one brand won't always fit "5ft" from another. Measure before you buy.
| Hutch size | Typical width | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 ft | About 122 cm (48 in) | Often too small for two rabbits on its own |
| 5 ft | About 152 cm (60 in) | Most common; single or 2 tier |
| 6 ft | About 183 cm (72 in) | Best of the three for a pair, still needs a run |
- Measure the width. Measure end to end, including any roof overhang, in centimetres and inches.
- Measure the depth. Measure front to back at the widest point, usually the roof.
- Measure the height. Measure from the ground, or from the bottom of the legs, to the top of the roof. Two-tier hutches need a "2 storey" or "double" cover.
- Note the roof shape. Flat, sloped and apex (pointed) roofs need different covers.
- Compare with the listing. Check the cover's measurements, not just its name, and read reviews for which hutch versions it fits.
A cover slightly too big can be tied in. A cover too small will strain at the seams and won't close. Scratch & Newton and some smaller makers offer made-to-measure covers for unusual hutches, according to The Rabbit House.
How to fit a hutch cover without blocking the air
Ventilation matters as much as warmth. The RSPCA asks for housing that is draught-free but well ventilated, with vents or mesh placed high up and opposite each other so air can flow through. The Rabbit House puts it simply: don't cover the whole hutch.
- Fit it on a dry day. Put the cover on when the hutch and bedding are dry, so you don't trap damp inside.
- Close the back and sides. Most wind comes from one side. Seal that side and the back first.
- Leave a gap at the front. Roll up or unzip part of the front panel, even at night, so stale air can escape.
- Check for damp in the morning. Feel the bedding and look at the inside of the cover. Wet patches mean you need more air.
- Open up in the day. The RSPCA says leave the front open during the day so rabbits get light, air and a view.
Damp is the hidden problem with covers. Rabbits breathe out moisture and their urine is wet, so a sealed hutch gets clammy, and damp bedding chills a rabbit faster than cold, dry air. If you see drips or wet bedding, open the gap wider rather than adding more layers.
Rabbit hutch covers in summer
Take most of the cover off. Rabbits overheat easily, and a dark cover in the sun turns a hutch into an oven. The RSPCA says provide plenty of shade once it heads towards 20°C (68°F), and suggests a blanket draped over the sunny parts as shade. Use a pale, breathable fabric over the sunny side of the run, never over the whole hutch.
Homemade rabbit hutch covers
You can make one. The Rabbit House suggests old carpet, blankets, duvet covers or foil-backed bubble wrap as insulation, taped into panels, and warns that they won't work if they are soggy. A tarpaulin over the top keeps them dry. Fix everything firmly so wind can't lift it, keep it all on the outside of the mesh, and leave the same ventilation gap as a bought cover.
Keep fabric out of reach. The RSPCA warns rabbits chew blankets, which can cause a gut blockage, so nothing soft should poke through the mesh where teeth can reach it.
Best rabbit hutch covers
We don't make pieces for rabbits yet, so these are from other shops we'd look at. Covers in the US are rarer because many US hutches are sold with a built-in roof, so a covered run is often the better buy there.
Pets at Home Heavy Duty 2 Storey Hutch Cover, 5ft
A waterproof, wipe-clean cover made for the Pets at Home 2 storey 5ft hutch, with plastic eyelets for airflow, viewing windows and waterproof zips. It measures 152 × 61 × 91.6 cm (60 × 24 × 36 in). Reviewers say it is short for older hutch versions, so check your model.
Pets at Home Showerproof 2 Storey Hutch Cover, 5ft
A lighter, cheaper option for milder, sheltered gardens. Showerproof rather than heavy duty, so it suits keeping drizzle and wind off more than hard frost. Also sold in 6 ft and single-storey sizes.
Scratch & Newton Hutch Hugger
A waterproof cover over the roof, back and sides with a clear front that rolls up. Sold in many standard sizes, with a made-to-measure service for unusual hutches. Leave the front partly rolled for air.
Scratch & Newton Hutch Snuggle liner
An insulating liner with an insulated roof and sides and a fly screen at the front, made to go under the Hutch Hugger. Useful for upgrading a cover you already have in an exposed garden.
Actiaspet tailored apex hutch cover
A budget waterproof cover with see-through windows and zips, tailored to a named apex hutch, about 118 × 52 × 45 cm (46.5 × 20.5 × 18 in). Only buy it if your hutch matches those measurements.
Omlet Heavy Duty Rabbit Run Cover
A thick PVC cover with a UV-resistant coating for the roof and sides of Omlet's walk-in rabbit run, giving shade in summer and shelter from snow, wind and rain. Covering the run gives rabbits a dry place to exercise, not just to shelter. Check the run version it fits.
Is a cover enough, or should rabbits come inside?
A good cover is enough for most healthy adult rabbits in a well-built, raised hutch with a sheltered run. The RSPCA suggests moving the home into a shed or outbuilding if temperatures head towards freezing, and warns against short indoor stays for outdoor rabbits, because the swing in temperature is hard on them. Our guides to indoor or outdoor rabbits and rabbit sheds cover the bigger options, and rabbit bedding explains what to pack the hutch with. Everything else is in our complete rabbit care guide.
Rabbit hutch cover questions
Do rabbits need a hutch cover in winter?
Outdoor rabbits usually do. The RSPCA says the ideal range is 10 to 20°C (50 to 68°F) and advises covering most of the shelter at night in cold weather, leaving a small area open for air. A well-fitted cover cuts wind chill and keeps bedding dry, which matters more than the cover's warmth on its own.
Should I cover my rabbit hutch at night?
In cold, wet or windy weather, yes, mostly. The RSPCA says cover most of the shelter at night but leave a small area uncovered for ventilation, then open the front again during the day. On mild nights there is no need: rabbits cope better with cool, dry air than with a stuffy, damp hutch.
Can I put a blanket over my rabbit hutch?
Over the outside of the hutch, yes, as long as it stays dry and leaves a gap for air. The RSPCA suggests blankets or cardboard to insulate walls. Never put blankets inside where the rabbit can reach them, because the RSPCA warns rabbits chew them and can get a gut blockage. A wet blanket makes the hutch colder.
Can a rabbit hutch cover cause condensation?
It can if it is airtight. Rabbits breathe out moisture and their urine is wet, so a sealed cover traps damp air, and damp bedding chills a rabbit faster than cold, dry air. Keep vents or a gap open, check the inside of the cover and the bedding every morning, and change wet bedding daily, as the RSPCA advises.
Do I need a hutch cover in summer?
Not a full one. Covers trap heat, and rabbits overheat easily. The RSPCA says provide plenty of shade once it heads towards 20°C (68°F), using natural shade or a blanket draped over the sunny side. Roll the cover right back on warm days, or swap to a pale shade cloth over the run.
What size hutch cover do I need for a 5ft hutch?
One made for that exact hutch, because '5ft' varies between brands in height, depth and roof shape. Measure your hutch's width, depth and height, including the legs and any roof overhang, and compare with the cover's listed measurements. For example, Pets at Home's 5ft 2 storey cover measures 152 × 61 × 91.6 cm (60 × 24 × 36 in).
