Both indoor and outdoor rabbits can have happy, healthy lives so it's up to you and your bunny pals to decide whether inside or outside is best for them (or maybe even a combination of both!).
If your home can get quite noisy or you have other pets about such as lively dogs, your rabbits may prefer the quiet of living outside as long as they are well-protected from predators, wind, rain and direct sun. They will also need daily access to a run where they can exercise, dig and play.
Indoor rabbits will probably live longer. They are safer from poor weather conditions, threatening animals, and are generally happier rabbits. When it is raining and cold, you may not go out to feed or check on your rabbit. He, too, is cold and lonely.
Rabbits need protection from predators at all times. When housed outside, they need a large hutch which is safe from predators (cats, dogs, foxes). This should be insect (mosquito) proof and protect rabbits from extreme weather. Position the hutch so it is also protected from weather (on a verandah or deck).
With winter looming, some owners of rabbits that are kept indoors at night have asked us for advice on when it's too cold to give their rabbits time outside during the day. Outside time is great for rabbits, even in the cold. Wild rabbits can be seen playing in the snow in the depths of winter.
But don't rabbits smell bad? No they don't! Rabbits themselves are very clean animals with odourless fur and they fastidiously groom themselves all day. Only their urine smells so as long as you keep their living area clean (spot clean every few days and a full clean-out once a week) you shouldn't have a problem.
They should be brought inside overnight. They can only stay outside at night too from mid-May when there is no longer any ground frost. If your rabbits have first been gradually accustomed to being kept outdoors, they can stay outdoors all year round from then. Even the ground frost won't bother them after that.
Rabbits can live both indoors and outdoors, but they will need some protection and extra bedding to keep them warm during the colder weather. That way, you'll help keep your rabbits warm, happy and safe from danger during the cold spells.
Anything longer than 24 hours is too long – and even that is pushing the solitude limits of rabbits. Rabbits are social creatures and require about as much, if not more, interaction and maintenance as dogs do and more than some cats need. Considering rabbits to be low-maintenance pets does them a grave disservice.
Of course! Many rabbit owners believe that rabbits are happiest living outside, close to nature. And many pet rabbits live happily outside, even in cold weather. You can also keep domesticated rabbits indoors.
Allowing your rabbit to roam freely certainly has some substantial benefits, but before taking the leap, it's important to consider all aspects of your home environment as well as the natural inclinations of your furry little friend to make sure the free roam lifestyle is pleasant and safe for everyone.
PET RABBIT CONS
They don't get on well with other animals, so if you have a dog you might find a serious feud ensues. "Rabbits have a need to chew to keep their teeth healthy," says Laura. They'll chew on almost anything - watch those electrical cords!
Nope! Another question that people often ask is whether rabbits sleep mostly during the day or at night. And the answer is neither. They are crepuscular, meaning that they are most active at dusk and dawn.
Rabbits can live outdoors or indoors, but a hutch is not enough. Their home should consist of: A shelter such as a hutch, shed, Wendy house, or room indoors.
However, there is a way to satisfy your bunny's longing to be outside and keep her safe: Take your rabbit walking on a leash. Any bunny, at any age, can be trained to walk on a leash, Dr. Maxwell says. The trick is to do it slowly, and to have plenty of patience and rewards.
Rabbits should have 4 to 5 hours outside of their cage or enclosure for exercise every day. Ideally, this will be in the morning and evening since that's when rabbits are most active. This time will help your rabbit stay happy and healthy, while also giving them the opportunity to socialize.
Rabbits will remember the people that they spend a lot of time with, and this includes their owners and caretakers. As prey animals, they have neurologically developed with a strong long-term memory for places and routines. You can use these associations to help strengthen your rabbit's memory of you.
At a minimum, you should spend at least an hour with your rabbit every day. However, 3-5 hours (or even more) are ideal. You do not have to be giving your rabbit undivided attention during this time, but instead, make yourself available to interact with them if they want to.
Expect your rabbit to be lonely.
If you only have one rabbit, you can give it some companionship, but it will still be lonely at night or when you are away at work. Sometimes a female rabbit will be fine on its own.
Although rabbits are well equipped to deal with rain, being cold is not something they will enjoy. Chilling from excessive wetness, cold weather or high winds can be bad for your pet's health and can induce stress. Not only is stress uncomfortable for your rabbit but it also has immunosuppressive qualities.
How cold is too cold? The ideal temperature for rabbits is from about 60-70°F (15-20°C), but rabbits can be comfortable in temperatures ranging from around 40-75°F. For rabbits that are used to the cold, they can still do okay in temperatures down to about 15°F as long as they are kept dry and out of the wind.
Indoor rabbits should ideally be housed in a room that does not have a heat source, because it eliminates the risk of the animals becoming overheated. Even without heat, a well insulated home can easily maintain temperatures of 45-50 degrees, which is perfectly comfortable for rabbits.
Rabbits are pretty active animals and they need space to hop around even when it's not exercise time. Without enough space, they are likely to feel irritated and bored, making them more likely to make noise at night to try to get out.
The best way to make your rabbit's life happier is to give them a comfortable home base. This means a safe place where they can relax and play. The enclosure needs to be appropriately sized for your rabbit and you need to make sure to give them mental enrichment activities to keep them occupied.
If the hutch is inside the enclosure the rabbits should never be shut inside it, they should be able to move between their sleeping quarters and exercise area whenever they choose. But you don't have to go for a hutch and run, there are other options available.