Our family got a Lop Ear Rabbit. She is 11 weeks old. She's not tiny by any means. I am allergic to her. I was planning to keep her in a cage inside, but now I can not do that. Is it OK to put her outside in a cage? Protected from the rain. The cage does have a roof. I'm just worried about the heat and cold. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I can't take her inside much longer. It is making me SO sick. But I am SO worried also. Thanks for any help.

A rabbit can live outside, but you need to be very careful. Make sure it has shade all day, a box to go in to escape cold winds, and food and water. If it is 11 weeks old now, it should be big enough to stand cold weather by the time winter sets in.

Thank you so much for answering. I was really worried. I want her to be safe and live a long time. We had a rabbit before we got this one and she died for some reason. She lived outside in a cage and she had everything you said above and she still dies, that's why I was worried. Thank you again.

I really hope somebody with more rabbit experience than me answers too. Like dogs, rabbits may need their shots too. Perhaps call a vet and find out what you need to do to protect this rabbit.

Rabbits like other animals need love and attention.  It is not sufficient to just provide shelter and basic needs to a rabbit outside in a cage.   The rabbit no longer is a pet but a prisoner.  If at all possible create a larger area for the rabbit to spend the day instead of a little cage.  Get a small bail of hay for the rabbit to stay warm in winter. Give as much human contact with it as possible and do so by letting the rabbit out of the cage.  You can buy a rabbit harness if your yard is not safely enclosed.  They need their exercise too!  I used to walk my rabbit just like a little dog and neighbors would love to visit with him.  If you get to that point make sure that you stay alert to any dogs that might be loose as they can attack your little furry friend.  I had a secure yard and let my rabbit run loose outside.  In order to accomplish that you will first need to keep the rabbit in it's cage until it becomes familiar with it's surroundings and after it learns where it lives it will return to it's cage voluntarily! Rabbits Love little cubbies!  I strongly suggest that you purchase a book on Rabbit care.  Buy rabbit feed and DO NOT feed your rabbit Iceberg lettuce because it can contain parasites that can kill your pet! They like carrots and other vegetables!  Check with your veterinarian please if there is any sign of illness with your pet!! Good Luck!

My Mom Won't Let Me Have A Rabbit At Our House!! So I Have To Keep It At My Mimis House!! And There It Has To Stay Outside!! Im Scared About The Heat And The Cold!! I Can Do Everything U Said!! But Will It Cause A Problem If The Rabbit Grew Up In A Air Conditioned Pet Store?? Will It Cause A Problem?? Please Help!!

Hello,
Please don't put your rabbit outside.If you have allergies can you put it in a basement?Will a friend or family member take the rabbit?You can also go to google.com and type in the search bar Example: ~rabbit rescue in macomb county michigan~they may be able to take the rabbit.Here are some reasons not to put the rabbit out~
Rabbits,being social animals,enjoy companionship.Wether its with another rabbit or humans.Rabbits thrive when they have interaction with other creatures.They are,by their very nature,gentle,intelligent social and loving animals with distinctive individual personalities.Given a chance to bond with you,an indoor rabbit can become an active and enjoyable part of your family.
On the other hand,
A hutch rabbit is going to be bored,lonely and due to the lack of social interaction,may appear to be less friendly when all it needs is an indoor home and time to get to know your family.Rabbits are very good at hiding an illness.As every rabbit person knows,its vital to act quickly when you suspect a rabbit is sick.Your going to be more familiar with a rabbit that shares your home,
Making it easier to identify the first signs of trouble.An out door rabbit,because he or she is getting less attraction,could mask an illness until its too late.Outdoor rabbits are greater risk of illness.Insects pose a problem.Fleas can cause flea anemia.Myxomatosis,a deadly virus,can be transmitted to rabbits by mosquitos.The disease is often fatal and no vaccination is available.Fly strike is one of the uglier dangers.A fly lays eggs in stool stuck on a rabbit.The eggs hatch a day alter into hugry maggots that eat the stool,
Then begin feasting on the rabbit.Fly strike takes only hours from infestation to possible death for a rabbit.And another thing outdoor rabbits are more likely to be exposed to poisonous plants,toxic pesticides and fertilzers and BACTERIA in dirt.All can be fatal to a rabbit.There water bowls can freeze in winter weather.Please don't put your rabbit outside.If you can find it a suitable home it would have a better life than being an outdoor rabbit.A lot of times rabbit rescues will help find the rabbit another home or they may take the rabbit in.
Hugs,Tami

I just posted on the reasons not to have a rabbit outside.Maybe you can copy my post and show your grandma and maybe once she's educated she will make the decession to let the rabbit in.If not you can go to google.com and in the search bar put Example:rabbit rescue in macomb county Michigan
It should give you some great animal rescues and maybe they can take the rabbit and find a home.I just wrote a large post on why rabbits should not be outside.there are plenty more reasons like racoons trying to get the rabbit causing it to have a heart attack because its scared.Please look for my other post.Rabbits OK outside.It gives you plenty of reasons a rabbit shouldn't be left outside.Good luck sweety,Tami

Hello,
Myxomatosis,a deadly virus,can be transmitted to rabbits by mosquitos.The disease is often fatal and no vaccination is available.

I agree with your other points but my rabbit has been vaccinated against myxomatosis and the vaccination is easily available in the uk.

Outside rabbits always seem unhappy to me if you're going to keep one outside at least keep her with a friend. I've got a huge lop and he loves his guenea pig friend. They both live in my front room but I have to keep them in a cage when I'm out because they like to chew wires :mad:

If your rabbit is ouside - please ensure that its hutch is raised off the ground - Pref on legs & that at night / in winter the hutch is covered over with a sheet or something this will help to keep the heat in & also help prevent it being scared - they can die from shock. And will help stop foxes etc.. & If you can just bring it in for loves regularly a rabbit will love to sit on your knee being stroked - it will take time & patience to get it used to being handled so much but the effort will be worth it. Good Luck :)

Hi,

My mom won't let me get a rabbit I don't understand I am very responsible! If any one has the same problem or kno's the anser e-mail me [email protected]

Love Me :p ;) :( :D :

I used to raise rabbits by the dozens. For various usage. Now they were just regular white rabbits, no special breed of anything.

They can live very well outside, but do need protection, you can't just put a wire cage outside.

First the cage has to be off the ground. To protect it from other animals,
It needs to have a lot of shade , can be from buildings, trees, and material over the cage.

The cage needs a roof and protection from the wind. I used a tarp around the side and back of the cage when it was really cold and/or windy.

There also has to be a hutch (house) in the cage to let the rabbit get out of the elements and for protection. It will need clean bedding, and has to be changed regular.

Outside the hutch leave the cage floor wire cage, the waste drops though to the ground and is easy to clean up.

And don't forget in the real cold weather the rabbit water systems freze rather quickly.

Your rabbit will be OK out side if it is in a good hutch and has good beding place for it to sleep.I wish that I could have my rabbits in side but my mum says no.So yer my rabbits live out side tey are well and happy they have never been sick. But you should have beby rabbits with a cover on at night as they can catch this rabbit thing wich kills them some of my rabbits have died from that but this is only when they are baby's... p.s. I'm only 12 ha:)

your rabbit will be ok out side if it is in a good hutch and has good beding place for it to sleep.I wish that i could have my rabbits in side but my mum says no.So yer my rabbits live out side tey are well and happy they have never been sick. But you should have beby rabbits with a cover on at night as thay can catch this rabbit thing wich kills them some of my rabbits have died from that but this is only when they are babys ........ p.s. im only 12 ha:)

Please check the dates of the threads before posting. This thread is from 2004.

You are encouraged to read old threads to look for answers to your questions, but posting on an old thread bumps it to the top of the list, so please refrain from posting on an old thread.

Thank you.

I agree with your other points but my rabbit has been vaccinated against myxomatosis and the vaccination is easily avaliable in the uk.

Outside rabbits always seem unhappy to me if you're going to keep one outside at least keep her with a friend. I've got a huge lop and he loves his guenea pig friend. They both live in my front room but I have to keep them in a cage when I'm out becuase they like to chew wires :mad:

I am SO SO SO angry with whoever decided it would be great to not have a myxomatosis vaccination in Australia.
My beautiful angora lop 'Spike' dies a couple of years ago from this just because there is no vaccine.

My rabbits are kept outside, they are happy, healthy (apart from being a little chubby) they are provided with toys, fresh food and plenty of attention. I have 2 miniature poodles who love them, they are always sitting next to the hutch waiting for them to come out and play in the yard with them, the male rabbit is in love with the female poodle but that's another story lol
As long as you have an insulated hutch to protect against heat and cold and give your bunny planty of love an attention it is fine. Also if you can have a hutch without a bottom on it they love it, it's easier for them to get to fresh grass and is more omfortable... I had a open bottom enclosure until Dora my female decided to start digging up the ground, it wasn't the digging that bothered me, just that I was scared she would dig her way out so I had to put a soft wire bottom on it.

I know this post is old but I saw the myxo thing and got on a tangent lol

o.k well I really want a bunny and my mom said I could get one in the spring the only way I can have one is if it is outside in a hutch my best fried has 3 bunnies and keeps them outside all year and we live in WI VERY COLD WINTERS HERE!! And they are just fine or you could bring your bunny into school and keep it in a science class room if it is o.k with your teacher but your bunny will still be fine if it is outside. Don't worry about him just make sure you give him plenty of attention.

o.k well i really want a bunny and my mom said i could get one in the spring the only way i can have one is if it is outside in a hutch my best fried has 3 bunnies and keeps them outside all year and we live in WI VERY COLD WINTERS HERE!!!!!! and they are just fine or you could bring your bunny into school and keep it in a science class room if it is o.k with your teacher but your bunny will still be fine if it is outside. don't worry about him just make sure you give him plenty of attention.

Please read all posts before responding and check the dates of the posts. This thread is
From 2004!

Please read all posts before responding and check the dates of the posts. This thread is
from 2004!

Yup, I can be forgiven because my reply above was posted a month after I joined :p
And my view on keeping rabbits outside has changed greatly! :eek:

Yes its OK to keep the rabbit outside, just make sure that when its cold to put plenty of hay in the bed area, so the rabbit can keep warm, ensure the cage is kept in the shade as the rabbit can over heat. Hpe this helps.

5 year old thread closed

I am 75 years old & been keeping rabbits since I was six. NEVER, NEVER, humanize a Rabbit. OK the Rabbit will recognize humans as friends by the feeding/handling/grooming. Keep it indoors in the warm in the winter & it may get ill. They are an outside animal & actually like the cold. Just see where he/she sits on either a warm or cold day. Normally in the shade or cooler parts of the garden/hutch. What they need is less attention, just being there is enough. Talk to it, offer it a treat now & again, the treat would be some of it's food NOT RABBIT CHOCKIES. Or such, all they do is make the food manufacturers & pet-shops even more money. Just be there, that's enough. If you keep two rabbits have the male neutered. Consider a guinea pig also. Most animals will live together if they are cared for & well fed. I have a Jack Russel "Cindy" who often goes into the Rabbit run. They have been together since babies, they are friends. Cindy keeps cats, other dogs & rats away. The Guinea pig is also in the same run. No problems. KEEP THEM ALL OUTSIDE.

I am 75 years old & been keeping rabbits since I was six. NEVER, NEVER, humanize a Rabbit. OK the Rabbit will recognize humans as friends by the feeding/handling/grooming. Keep it indoors in the warm in the winter & it may get ill. They are an outside animal & actually like the cold. Just see where he/she sits on either a warm or cold day. Normally in the shade or cooler parts of the garden/hutch. What they need is less attention, just being there is enough. Talk to it, offer it a treat now & again, the treat would be some of it's food NOT RABBIT CHOCKIES. or such, all they do is make the food manufacturers & pet-shops even more money. Just be there, thats enough. If you keep two rabbits have the male neutered. Consider a guinea pig also. Most animals will live together if they are cared for & well fed. I have a Jack Russel "Cindy" who often goes into the Rabbit run. They have been together since babies, they are friends. Cindy keeps cats, other dogs & rats away. The Guinea pig is also in the same run. No problems. KEEP THEM ALL OUTSIDE.

What benefit is there to keeping them outside vs inside?

You have just stated that they do fine outside, not WHY it is better.

Rabbits are social animals they don't deserve to be locked up alone outside.

I am 75 years old & been keeping rabbits since I was six. NEVER, NEVER, humanize a Rabbit. OK the Rabbit will recognize humans as friends by the feeding/handling/grooming. Keep it indoors in the warm in the winter & it may get ill. They are an outside animal & actually like the cold. Just see where he/she sits on either a warm or cold day. Normally in the shade or cooler parts of the garden/hutch. What they need is less attention, just being there is enough. Talk to it, offer it a treat now & again, the treat would be some of it's food NOT RABBIT CHOCKIES. or such, all they do is make the food manufacturers & pet-shops even more money. Just be there, thats enough. If you keep two rabbits have the male neutered. Consider a guinea pig also. Most animals will live together if they are cared for & well fed. I have a Jack Russel "Cindy" who often goes into the Rabbit run. They have been together since babies, they are friends. Cindy keeps cats, other dogs & rats away. The Guinea pig is also in the same run. No problems. KEEP THEM ALL OUTSIDE.

I disagree.

You state that you're 75 years old and have been keeping rabbits since you were six, well, I hate to say it, but back then rabbits weren't kept as pets, they were kept as food. Those that were kept as pets were treated like any other pet back then, as an accessory, not as part of the family.

Nowadays people have pets for companionship. Also, we've learned a lot more about rabbits then they knew back then. For instance, rabbits are social animals. They actually don't do well alone. If you have a pair then neutering the male will prevent pregnancy but the female that's left unspayed will have a much shorter life span then if she was spayed. Unspayed females have an average life expectancy of 3 -5 years, spayed up to 12 years. That's a huge difference!

Outdoor rabbits (just like their wild kin) have a shorter lifespan as well, because of the weather and predators. It's a fact.

If you cannot keep your rabbit indoors then why get one? An indoor rabbit is a pet. An outdoor rabbit is just livestock, in my opinion.

Quite correct. Rabbit stew... lovely. About neutering. If women are "done" do they also live longer. God help us men. But there is always the stew pot.

Lions Tigers etc are also lovable animals but look here woman. Even you wouldn't want one in your home. Animals belong OUTSIDE. They can still be cared for & loved. They can be kept warm in the cold & cool in the heat. My OUTSIDE Rabbits are healthy & live long lives except those for the pot. As do my chickens/ducks.

Rabbit pie for dinner & chicken tomorrow, probably a duck on Sunday.

Jackrussel

PS: I don't fancy the Jack Russel though, sticks in the teeth.

quite correct. Rabbit stew.............lovely. About neutering. If women are "done" do they also live longer. God help us men. but there is always the stew pot.

Lions Tigers etc are also lovable animals but look here woman. Even you wouldn't want one in your home. Animals belong OUTSIDE. they can still be cared for & loved. They can be kept warm in the cold & cool in the heat. My OUTSIDE Rabbits are healthy & live long lives except those for the pot. As do my chickens/ducks.

Rabbit pie for dinner & chicken tomorrow, probably a duck on Sunday.

Jackrussel

PS: I don't fancy the Jack Russel though, sticks in the teeth.

Look here woman? Really? You're going there?

Lions and tigers are not domesticated animals, rabbits are.

As for women living longer if they're spayed, I wouldn't know, we're not talking about people, we're talking about rabbits. You do realize that there's a difference, right?

I have four rabbits, they're all indoor rabbits, and yes, I do want them in my home, because I know it's what's best for them and I also get to spend more time with them this way. Also, all of them are fixed.

Obviously you don't consider your rabbits to be pets, just animals that you'll either keep or eat. That's the difference between us.

The person that asked this question has a pet rabbit, not a rabbit that may be destined for the pot.

Can you keep rabbits outdoors? Yes, it can be done, but there are dangers in doing so.

If you want a rabbit that's a pet, then indoors is best.