How to Control Ammonia Levels in Indoor Rabbitry

Install a suitable floor. Concrete flooring in rabbit areas can increase ammonia levels because urine pools on the surface. Removable pans filled with an absorbent material, like newspaper or dirt, slow the urine's release of ammonia vapors and make cleaning easier because you can discard the soiled material and replace it with a fresh layer.

Maintain adequate ventilation. You can use air flow to clear out the vapors. Windows that are strategically placed to facilitate air flow across the rabbit area can help to reduce ammonia concentration. If you still have an ammonia problem, supplement this passive approach with active ventilation, like a fan or air conditioning system. When deciding where to place ventilation systems, keep in mind that, while pure ammonia is a light compound, the ammonia-tainted vapors that are released from rabbit urine are heavier than air and tend to sink toward the bottom of the room.

Keep humidity in check. An environment that is too dry can be irritating to the rabbits, but excess humidity draws ammonia into the air more quickly. In humid environments, rabbits also have trouble clearing ammonia from their respiratory tracts, so it can linger and cause damage. You can use dehumidifiers to manage the moisture level in the air. If it proves to be too difficult to manage, be more vigilant about ammonia levels when the weather is humid: clean the cages more frequently and increase ventilation.

Avoid heating the rabbit area excessively. Heat speeds the breakdown of urine, contributing to ammonia vapors. If the environment is too cold for the rabbits without heating, then increase the other preventive measures when you are using the heating system.

Clean rabbit waste frequently. Removing waste products before they have time to degrade and release ammonia stops the problem before it starts. The maximum amount of time between cleanings depends on factors like the rabbits' diet, the temperature and the humidity level. Monitor the rabbits' environment closely and clean their cages before ammonia buildup becomes a problem.