Any large breeds ok for indoor/outdoor living?

[jsg]

Hello. I've had rabbits as pets years ago, but now I have kids and am thinking of them again. I live in southern CA and we like to have the sliding glass door open all the time to go in and out of the yard. We live in the suburbs and have a fully fenced yard. Would it be possible for a large breed like a Flemish giant to fit into this scenario? On wikipedia it said that you could let them roam in your yard because they're too big for hawks and cats to attack. I don't know if this is true. In the evening they'd (I'm envisioning a pair) have to be completely inside, I know. Are there other breeds this could work for? I know that NZ whites are large, but they don't camouflage very well!
Thanks!

 

[werecatrising]

I wouldn't think they are completely safe from predators. I once had a feral mama cat I was looking after drag home a jack rabbit that was bigger than she was.

 

[tonyshuman]

Unfortunately, birds of prey aren't the only thing to worry about, as werecatrising mentioned. Because rabbits are so easy to frighten, just the sight of a predator can cause them to die. A few months ago, a member who lives in Cali had her bunnies in cages in a backyard, some stray dogs got into the backyard, and scared several of them to death.
http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=44474&forum_id=27&page=1

It's a situation in which everything was done to keep these bunnies safe outside, but it wasn't enough. It's really made me see why many say you cannot keep rabbits outside.

 

[okiron]

Flemmies are not too big for hawks, trust me.

 

[Luv-bunniz]

We keep hawks and they are not scared!
They attack anything - from leaves to humans in funny-coloured clothing darting across a field, size doesnt matter.

 

[jsg]

That's disappointing. Maybe I'll hold off on rabbits. I wouldn't be able to not let them go out.
Thanks for your responses.

 

[tonyshuman]

You can let them go outside, you just don't want to leave them outside unattended. Many rabbits don't like to be outside, like my guys, so you're not really depriving them of anything by keeping them in.