How To Clean Out A Hutch

Cleaning out your pet’s hutch is one of the most important jobs of guinea pig and rabbit keeping. A clean hutch helps your rabbit to stay healthier and potentially expand their life span. It also gives a nicer environment for your pet to live in and can improve their welfare.

The process of cleaning out a hutch – whether it is a rabbit’s hutch or if guinea pigs live in it – is relatively the same, although the bedding material may vary (more about this later).

Here’s a video I made showing how to do it (I know it says a guinea pig’s hutch, but the same applies for a rabbit’s hutch). Alternatively, you can read the step-by-step guide below.

So here’s a step-by-step guide for an easy way to clean out your pet’s hutch.

1) Firstly you will need to move the animals to a safe place, preferably somewhere you can see them. Then move all toys, food and water bowls out and also put in a safe place.

2) If your pet’s bedding is on top of newspaper, you just need to role the newspaper up with the bedding hopefully staying inside and remove it. Then sweep away any debris that is still left there. Alternatively, if you don’t line the hutch with newspaper, you’ll need to sweep the mess and straw/hay out with a brush, which is likely to take longer.

3) Once the hutch is empty, you’ll need to spray it with a pet-friendly disinfectant. These can be purchased for a couple of pounds at most pet shops. Wait for the disinfectant to dry before you continue to the next step.

4) Now, once the disinfectant is dry, line the hutch with about an inch of newspaper or magazines. Be sure that if whatever you use has staples in it, these are removed.

5) Sprinkle a layer of sawdust into both compartments on top of the newspaper or magazines. Please note that some guinea pigs and rabbits are allergic to saw dust.

6) In the main compartment you want to put a nice, generous handful of hay and return all food bowls, water bowls, toys e.t.c.

7) In the sleeping compartment you need to put quite a lot of bedding. This can be hay or straw – rabbits are fine with both, but you should only use hay for guinea pigs or other animals as they have quite sensitive skin and straw can be sharp.

8) And return your pet to his or her freshly cleaned out hutch!

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