Verified Reviews for Eglu Go Rabbit Hutch
Brilliant concept but with product design issues.
This hutch system could be fantastic but there are some design flaws that make it awkward to live with and in some respects somewhat unsuitable. I suspect that seasoned rabbit keepers will know this but to us to us newbies, we overlooked some obvious issues.
The overall quality and aesthetic definitely beats everything else out there and the hutch is very well built and secure. I have no worries about its ability to keep foxes and cats out, which was a main priority for us. It's also easy to move around so we can keep our lawn in good condition by just moving the hutch and run a few feet every couple of days. The problems become apparent however upon day-to-day use.
The construction process is difficult. I strongly recommend anyone who buys this to use the YouTube video to guide them as this saved the day for us - the instructions are very long-winded, its extremely fiddly and complicated and the plastic connectors for the run do have a tendency to break. I think this product should therefore come part-constructed or there should be an option for an installation service.
We have quickly realised that our rabbits point-blank refuse to use the hutch area for anything other than a toilet and prefer to sit outside in the pouring rain and wind, day and night. This means we've had to add another shelter in the run for them to use to keep out of the weather which seems like madness. No amount of trickery with food placement and relocation of litter trays to other areas has altered this behaviour, meaning we're therefore left with what is essentially a £325 rabbit toilet attached to a rabbit run. I also have no idea why the hutch section has not been designed with a window as, on the occasions that we lock the rabbits in there to clean the run or force them out of bad weather, they're inside a small, pitch black box.
Cleaning the hutch area is hindered by the fact that the plastic tray on the bottom of the hutch is moulded with shapes that make it very difficult to scrape out or tip into a bin. I have no idea what these shapes and contours are for as they serve absolutely no beneficial purpose that I can see. Further, the sides of the bottom tray do not have lips that are raised enough to prevent sawdust and litter falling over the sides when you remove it. The lid also doesn't come off the hutch so the only way to get inside the hutch to wipe it out is via the rear door and on your hands and knees. We now limit the amount of sawdust/hay that we put in there to the extent that there is a minimal amount of litter that can spill when we remove the tray in the mornings. This seems a shame though given that it's supposed to be a cosy hutch area for the rabbits to sleep in at night.
In summary, I think the hutch area needs to be a different shape, possibly with a wider footprint so that you can separate litter area from food and sleeping more easily, potentially attracting them in there. It should also have a window and a removable lid. I also think that the tray on the bottom the hutch needs to be flat and have more pronounced edges to stop litter falling out when you remove it.
Another issue we have is down to the door placement on the run. When constructing the run you are given the option to have the door at the end furthest away from the hutch or on the side. We opted to have the door at the end, mainly so the kids can access the run more easily and feed the rabbits. The problem with this of course is that there is now an unreachable area within the run at the other end and near to the hutch door. This makes cleaning this area extremely difficult as there is physically no way of reaching it without dismantling the entire system. In short, another door would be an extremely useful addition.
All in all, this is a well built, good looking product that we have no doubt will protect our rabbits from predators and looks good in the garden. However there are a number of refinements that I believe are required to make this product what it should be given the money that it costs. The concept is brilliant but there are some product design issues that really should be considered.
Review for: Eglu Go Rabbit Hutch with 13ft Run Package - Leaf Green
The reviewer has 2-4 Miniature Lops pets
Omlet response:
Hi Tom,
Thank you for this very detailed feedback. I have passed your review on to our Product Design Team to allow them to investigate on all the points that you described.
Here are a few bits of advice that we would like to give you, that hopefully will help and improve the use of your product.
In regards to the use of the hutch by the rabbits: we would advise you to try to alter the placement of the litter tray. If the tray is placed within the hutch it could be putting the rabbits off using it for anything other than a toilet. Perhaps you could try to position it in a corner of the run instead.
With regards to having a window in the hutch, rabbits are burrowing animals which means that they normally feel safe and secure in dark secluded areas.
The tray is divided into sections to allow for the bedding and food to be kept separate and from moving around as pictured on our website, on the product page.
For cleaning, removing the tray should bring most of the bedding out without spillage but for a material like straw, it can tend to get caught due to its long strands. This should be easy enough to remove from inside the coop but if you are not completely satisfied with your current type of bedding, we would recommend trying some different bedding types. There are a few to choose from on the website : Click here.
The tray material is smooth and can be easily cleaned with wipes or even a hose and dried down after.
We offer the possibility to add an extra door to the run here.
We hope that some of these ideas could be useful for you, don't hesitate to contact us for any further question.
Yours,
Omlet Customer Services team