First time owning a pet rabbit? I tend to see two extremes when our rabbits go to new homes. Either the new owners are nervous and have so many questions because they want to do everything right, or they think it’s going to be like having a hamster, and are soon overwhelmed by the responsibilities they weren’t prepared for. Thankfully, the majority of new rabbit owners I encounter are like the first I mentioned, but hopefully this information will help both!

Rabbit Needs: Environment - Outside or Inside?

One of the big questions I get is, ‘Can you keep a rabbit outside, and can they handle the cold?’ The short answer is yes. Rabbits have a built in fur coat. If you keep your rabbits outside, you may notice as the weather starts to change and get colder, they begin eating more. They have the ability to build up fat and fur in order to survive the winter. It is very important though, that their hutch is not wet or damp. As long as they are protected from the elements, and have plenty of fresh hay, pellets, and (unfrozen) fresh water to drink, they will be just fine. 
    The biggest issue people don’t consider when deciding to keep their rabbits outside, is the heat. Heat and sun is extremely dangerous for your rabbit. That fur coat may thin out when the weather gets warm, but it’s still there. Think about how long you might last in a fur coat, in a wooden box, in the sun, with little to no air movement, in 80-100 degree weather. This is part of the reason why rabbits are not as active during the day, especially when kept outside. Don’t get me wrong, it is still possible to keep them outside,  but just be sure your accommodating all of their needs. 

Outside Safety and Needs 

Predators are a huge concern when keeping your pet outside. It is extremely important to make sure their hutch is completely predator proof. Even enclosures that are specifically made to be outside, nine times out of ten, need to have additional measures taken to secure it enough to be predator proof.  1/4”-1/2” hardware cloth is good to cover any bars, holes, or cracks larger than 1/2”. 

Having an area outside for them to be able to run around that is attached to their hutch is also important when they are outside. That fencing should also be secured with hardware cloth,  and placed around the perimeter 12”-18” below the ground. Another option would be to place it a few inches below the dirt under the entire run area. Rabbits like to dig and burrow, so this will keep them from doing that, as well as keep any predators out.  

Where your rabbit enclosure is placed outside is also very important. Do not put it where it will be in direct sunlight, especially mid day. Ideally they should have plenty of shade and airflow to keep them cool and safe. Here are some things we have done to help keep them cool in the summer:

-Lightly spritz the outside of their ears and back of their neck with a fine mist water bottle. Their ears are a big part of what helps keep them cool, the fur is much thinner there. 
-Use cooling pads or slabs. There are places that make them specifically for this purpose. It’s a place for them to lay and stretch out and stay cool. 
-Use fans! Remember to be safe, and don’t ever place a fan anywhere within reach of the rabbit, or where it can get wet. Some rabbits love chewing chords! Make sure there aren’t any out where they can get to them. 
-Always make sure they have plenty of clean fresh cold water. You can use ice in their water bowl (or bottle) to keep the water cold longer. 

Other things to consider when they are outside are pests. This includes fleas, mites, other bugs, and rodents like mice, moles, and voles. Their food and hay must be kept secure and dry, away from any of those potential pests. They can carry disease or other viruses and pass them on to your precious pet, sometimes with disastrous consequences. 
 

Don’t forget to consider that rabbits are social creatures. They really thrive and are happiest when they have another rabbit, human, or other pet, to bond with and keep them company. It may be more difficult to spend that quality time with your rabbit when it is outside. In this case I would seriously consider having 2, so they can keep each other company. 

There may be things I am missing, or forgetting to mention, but this should give you a good idea on the preparations needed to keep your rabbits outside. I don’t mean to sound one sided about this. We actually do keep some of our rabbits outside. The goal is not to persuade you to do one thing over another, rather to make you aware of the care necessary when choosing what environment will work best for your family and your new pet. 

Inside:

I have to admit, if I had the ability to keep all of our rabbits inside, I probably would. It is much easier to get to know their individual personalities and spend more quality time with them. They really do have great personalities, and can all be very different. Building that trust with them is very rewarding, and is easier when they are right inside your home with you. Some even have the ability to ‘free roam’ their rabbit. That comes with challenges as well, but is possible. 

Free Roaming

If you think free roaming is right for you and your new pet, just remember these important things:

-Rabbits love chewing…on everything! Some even more than others. Rabbit proofing your space is vital for the safety of your rabbit, and your sanity. Chords can become an enticing, yet dangerous, toy to them, and it can take no time for them to ruin a baseboard or table leg. Providing them with plenty of toys can help deter this, but there is no guarantee. 

-Litter training can take longer and be more challenging. Just keep in mind it is a process. When we begin litter training, it is from within a cage. Free roam litter training can be very different. It takes much more time and patience. 

Inside Cage/Hutch

For our family, this is the ideal setup. We love being able to spend more time with our rabbits and watch their personalities develop. Especially when it comes to the babies. They grow so fast, and every stage can be fascinating. 

-A proper hutch for your rabbit is one where they have plenty of space to move around. Most pet stores sell cages for rabbits, but they are really too small for any rabbit, even small ones. A hutch is ideal, especially if it can be 2 levels. They love being able to hop up onto a platform and stretch out, somewhere their food and everything else is not. We have some of our favorites on the 'products we recommend' page. Hutches with wheels are great for the house. The wheels make it really easy to move around and clean. When picking one out, pay attention to whether there are any spots you wouldn't have easy access to for cleaning. 

-Rabbits love to be able to run around and stretch their legs. It's also important for their digestion to be able to do this. We litter train our rabbits so its easier for us to let them run around from time to time. We recommend only letting them run around when you can keep your eyes on them. As we stated earlier, they love to chew! They can get into something dangerous like chords, or plants that might make them sick, very quickly and easily. 

-Since rabbits are social animals, they really enjoy being with the family. Especially when they are raised that way from the beginning. Being inside allows them to spend more time with you, and get used to the commotion of the family, which helps them to be less skiddish. 

We hope you found this helpful in trying to decide what environment is right for you and your new pet!