Stables for small animals

When choosing hutches, cages, indoor and outdoor enclosures for rabbits and rodents, it is important to consider the needs of the species, the size of the animal and the number of animals kept in an enclosure. The enclosure should be made of high-quality materials, be easy to clean and have enough space for the animals to feel comfortable. For outdoor enclosures , it is also important to ensure that the facilities offer sufficient protection from the elements and that they are safe from predators or other dangers.

The most crucial point when buying an enclosure is that the animals have enough space to move freely and display their natural behaviors. We recommend that you use the animal husbandry calculator from the Swiss Animal Welfare Association to find out the minimum enclosure size for the respective animal species and number of animals. These are minimum sizes, i.e. whenever possible, more space should be provided so that the animals can really feel comfortable and live out their lives! After all, they normally spend their entire lives on this terrain (unlike dogs, cats and horses, for example).

Below we have compiled a few important key points for the most common types of small pets kept in pets:

Rabbits:

• Keep in groups or pairs, never keep them alone!
• The easiest way for beginners is to keep a female rabbit and a neutered male rabbit
• For groups of 3 or more animals, socialization can be challenging and also depends very much on the individual characters
• All males should be neutered to prevent unwanted offspring and fights.
• Rabbits need several square meters of space and preferably permanent access to a free-range enclosure where they can also dig. However, it is essential to provide protection so that they cannot dig their way out of the enclosure.
• Rabbits can live outside all year round without any problems once they are acclimatized and have enough space (they warm up through exercise, among other things)

Guinea pigs:

• Guinea pigs feel most comfortable in groups of 4 or more animals
• The most natural and unproblematic group constellation is 1 neutered male and several females (group housing with several neuters and females is possible, but requires a lot of experience. A group of females only is also theoretically possible, but may be a little more restless)
• Can be kept outside all year round in a well-insulated hutch and after appropriate acclimatization
• The little piggies are very active rodents that like to run around and often like to have a place to sleep to themselves, so the enclosure should be 2-3 square meters in size for 4 - 6 animals.

Rats:

• Keep a pack of at least 3 rats
• It is possible to keep separate or mixed sexes, but then the males must be neutered. Usually pure female or male groups are kept.
• Males are calmer and gnaw less than females, but mark much more strongly.
• Females tend to be more active, more demanding and like to gnaw on everything, but they do not mark as strongly as males.
• No outdoor housing, quiet location, protected from draughts, direct sunlight and heat from radiators
• Large cage or aviary with several levels and climbing opportunities
• Regular exercise and active occupation with the rats (e.g. clicker training or intelligence toys) should be offered

Mice:

• Group housing from at least 4 colored mice
• Pure neutered groups, pure female groups or mixed-sex groups with mandatory (!) neutered males and females possible. Groups consisting of unneutered bucks are very problematic and are unlikely to be successful in the long term.
• At least 0.6 square meters of floor space for 4-6 animals
• No outdoor housing, quiet location, protected from draughts, direct sunlight and heat from radiators
• Glass terrariums are less recommended due to air circulation (mice are susceptible to respiratory problems)
• Grid spacing for parallel grids max. 6 - 8 mm

Hamsters:

• NO pair or group housing. Hamsters are solitary animals and if they are kept in groups of 2 or more, sometimes very sudden and often fatal bites can occur! Keeping in pairs or groups is only possible with 100% purebred Campell dwarf hamsters (pedigree), provided you have a lot of experience and the appropriate equipment to separate them immediately if necessary. However, these are rarely available. In pet shops they are almost always so-called hybrids (a cross between a Dzungarian dwarf hamster and a Campell dwarf hamster).
• 1 dwarf hamster requires at least 0.5 square meters of floor space, a golden hamster at least 0.6 square meters
• No major differences in the sex of dwarf hamsters. Females are often more active in golden hamsters (particularly large enclosure and regular exercise recommended).
• No outdoor housing, quiet location, protected from draughts, direct sunlight and heat from radiators
• No mesh cages, preferably wooden enclosures, glass terrariums or OSB terrariums
• Regular exercise (also only indoors!) is readily accepted by some hamsters. However, if there are signs of stress (e.g. body pressed flat on the floor), this should be avoided.

Degus:

• Best kept in groups, but at least 2 animals
• Same-sex groups are the most harmonious
• No significant differences between keeping females or males
• No outdoor housing, quiet location, protected from draughts, direct sunlight and heat from radiators
• Degus need a lot of space as they naturally move around a lot. Ideally, they should have their own degu room, but large aviaries or terrariums are also suitable.
• Degus like to dig and climb, so the enclosure should have a certain height as well as a large surface area.

Chinchillas:

• Chinchillas can become very old (over 10 years), so the purchase should be carefully considered
• Keep at least in pairs, preferably also in groups (more than 4 animals are rather unsuitable for beginners, as the larger the group, the higher the risk of quarrels)
• Ideally the animals should live together from an early age, then the group/pair is the most stable
• Different gender constellations are possible, as long as the males are all neutered.
• Indoor housing (some outdoor housing is controversial), quiet location, protected from draughts, direct sunlight and heat from radiators
• Chinchillas do not like it too warm (ideal room temperature 18 - 20 degrees)
• Chinchillas are relatively large, jump very well and far and need a lot of space. Ideally, they should have a whole room to themselves or alternatively a very large aviary (approx. 2 x 2 m) with lots of climbing and jumping opportunities.
• Daily exercise in the apartment should be offered