Concerns about raising my rabbit outdoors.

[xsimplypink]

I have a 1.5 year old male rabbit that runs free around the house. However, I'm moving soon and I can't keep him inside the new house. :cry2 I'm going to build a large outdoor hutch for him but I'm afraid that he'll get lonely. Should I get him a friend? If so, is an adult rabbit or a bunny recommended? Does it matter? Will two male rabbits fight?

One last question! My rabbit has always been kept indoors so will the sudden change in the environment upset him? He should be okay, right? :nerves1

Thank you!

 

[Maureen Las]

I can only answer part of this because I have no experience with outside rabbits ;
first of all 2 males who are not neutered would be a very dangerous combination ; 2 males who are neutered would need a period of time in which you could attempt to bond them but bonding is not guaranteed.
The best combo would be a neutered male and spayed female and even then , they , just like people have their preferences and any 2 rabbits, any sex is not a guaranteed bond

if you plan to move them outdoors you need to do it slowly

you can not move a bun who is used to an a/c house into a hot humid environment nor move a bun who is used to a cold outdoor area into a warm home.
Why do you need to do this? and can you work around it ; a bun who has been inside will, indeed, be lost in an outdoor hutch but if you need to do this we will help you as best we can

 

[Flashy]

Can you put your location in your profile please because it will enable you to get more specific advice

i would suggest making a transition if you have to have him outside. How the transition works and what you need to do will depend on your location and temperatures.

Ideally yes, a friend for him to be outside with would be great. He would need to be neutered (if he isn't already) and then getting him a spayed female friend would be brilliant (you'll need to look into bonding and how to do that). He will need a large area to live in and it will need to be bunny proof, predator proof and weather proof.

We can help more once we know more about where you are

 

[hartleybun]

hello! my buns live in the utility room - shed attached to the house. their breeder raised them in a similar set up. they do come into the house but find it hot! their bunnery is secure at night and their garden is surrounded on 3 sides by 6ft walls with the house making up the 4th.

dont know how cold it gets during your winters but i line their bedroom with fleeces as well as large amounts of soft hay. i tend to find that they make up their own beds.

where i live is relatively predator free - i and many others have dogs which keeps foxes away, tho' the bunnery is totally secure at night. cats dont bother us either, tho' i have got one of those sonic devices that scare them away, thanks to the dogs. each day i check the garden and bunnery in case somebun is tunnelling.

if yours are going to be in a hutch with attached run i would check what's under paw. my garden is totally bun friendly - theirs is the dog-free half, and there are no poisonous plants.

good luck:biggrin2: