Hi everyone,
I'm looking for a bit of advice about whether or not to bring my two rabbits inside for the worst of the winter (I know we're not there yet, but I thought I'd ask in advance).
They currently live in a large "shed" in the garden with french doors and two big windows. They have permanent access to a 15ft x 9ft outside run which is attached to the shed. (They come and go through a cat flap to reduce any drafts, and they have a hutch inside the run which they can use if they like).
In the shed they have 8ft x 4ft space with another hutch and platforms, steps etc to play with.
In the summer I use a fan to keep them cool, and last winter I used a heater to make sure it was never too cold. (Mostly so that it was still comfortable for me to make lots of long visits)
This year I wondered about building them a pen for the lounge (about 8ft x 4ft) so that they could be indoors. I would let them out to play in the rest of the lounge when I was about, but keep them in their pen (with no roof, just high sides - one of which would be see-through) during the day.
My husband thinks that they would prefer to be outside - because they would always have access to the outside run (with lots of grass and room to binky) and they're used to their home out there (we've had our bunnies since the beginning of the year). He doesn't think they'd like being "shut indoors in a smaller space".
I only want to do what's best for them, so any ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks,
M.
PS Sorry for the long explanation - I wanted to explain as much as possible so that you know what each option would be for them.
I'm looking for a bit of advice about whether or not to bring my two rabbits inside for the worst of the winter (I know we're not there yet, but I thought I'd ask in advance).
They currently live in a large "shed" in the garden with french doors and two big windows. They have permanent access to a 15ft x 9ft outside run which is attached to the shed. (They come and go through a cat flap to reduce any drafts, and they have a hutch inside the run which they can use if they like).
In the shed they have 8ft x 4ft space with another hutch and platforms, steps etc to play with.
In the summer I use a fan to keep them cool, and last winter I used a heater to make sure it was never too cold. (Mostly so that it was still comfortable for me to make lots of long visits)
This year I wondered about building them a pen for the lounge (about 8ft x 4ft) so that they could be indoors. I would let them out to play in the rest of the lounge when I was about, but keep them in their pen (with no roof, just high sides - one of which would be see-through) during the day.
My husband thinks that they would prefer to be outside - because they would always have access to the outside run (with lots of grass and room to binky) and they're used to their home out there (we've had our bunnies since the beginning of the year). He doesn't think they'd like being "shut indoors in a smaller space".
I only want to do what's best for them, so any ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks,
M.
PS Sorry for the long explanation - I wanted to explain as much as possible so that you know what each option would be for them.