New Owner, Outdoor Rabbit Help

[Cinnabun14]

Hello, I'm going to be getting two rabbits soon, and I'd like some help...They'll have to stay outside, and I haven't found a lot of helpful advice on keeping them safe and happy outdoors. Mostly what I've found (not on this forum, thankfully!!!) is a lot of people telling others to bring them inside...which isn't helpful when that's all I can do! So, happy I've found this forum that's friendly to outside rabbits

Some things I need help with (There's a lot, so I'm putting it in a list)
1) Safe housing (they have a hutch and attached run that's 121 in x 24 in (307.34cm x 60.96cm). I'm worried about them digging underneath. Would chicken wire help? And, how do I actually install the chicken wire because all the instructions I've gotten are really confusing...)

2) Healthy diets (I've got timothy hay and Producer's Pride pellets (the same the breeder is using). How often should I offer greens (exact measurements please

3) Which bond best? (I don't know if they're neutered/spayed or not, and I've seen a lot of conflicting information...)

4) What to do if they're not fixed? (I highly suspect this is the case. I would like a boy/girl combo, but not if they're not fixed!!! How would I keep them safe after getting them fixed while keeping them outside? Inside is never an option because my mom is very allergic...)

5) How to bond with outside rabbits (I'd like to visit them every day, maybe put them in a larger puppy run with me, so we can spend time together. Is this okay? And for how long, if it's a good idea?)

Thanks in advance for all the help, and I'm sorry if I'm such a noob!! I've had parrots before, but never bunnies, so I'm excited and nervous at the same time! Please give me all the tips and tricks you can think of--I'm here to learn from the bunny wisemen. I'm so happy I've found this sub and can't wait to be a part of your community!!

 

[Shimmer]

This is a really good site for advice on all things rabbit:

Home

Creating better tomorrows for all pet rabbits The UK’s largest organisation for rabbit lovers!

rabbitwelfare.co.uk

Look under ' Care and Welfare' for a lot of answers to your questions.

A healthy diet is at least 80% hay or grass. Introduce anything they haven't had before very slowly, especially if they are babies - so ask about everything they have been given to eat, particularly any fresh stuff.

FEEDING PET RABBITS — Frances Harcourt-Brown

www.harcourt-brown.co.uk

Books for you | Rabbit Welfare Shop

Browse our collection of books for rabbit owners, offering valuable insights and guidance. Enhance your knowledge and deepen your connection with your furry companion.

shop.rabbitwelfare.co.uk

Safe housing: you need decent locks and bolts on all openings to help stop predators getting in (or accidentally opening), and weldmesh rather than chicken wire on the panels. Chicken wire isn't secure - it easily deforms, can be chewed through and it rots through quite quickly. It could possibly work if laid under the turf to stop digging through, but would still rot / rust through. You would have to include a 'skirt' around the outside to stop eg foxes or dogs digging in. Paving slabs also work.

Rabbits are always better off in pairs, so that is a good decision. Male / Female is probably the easiest and most stable bond, although all babies will form an initial bond (and are easily mis-sexed - so get that checked). 2 girls is probably the hardest (adult) bond, but it very much depends on the individual rabbits.

 

[Cinnabun14]

This is a really good site for advice on all things rabbit:

Home

Creating better tomorrows for all pet rabbits The UK’s largest organisation for rabbit lovers!

rabbitwelfare.co.uk

Look under ' Care and Welfare' for a lot of answers to your questions.

A healthy diet is at least 80% hay or grass. Introduce anything they haven't had before very slowly, especially if they are babies - so ask about everything they have been given to eat, particularly any fresh stuff.

FEEDING PET RABBITS — Frances Harcourt-Brown

www.harcourt-brown.co.uk

Books for you | Rabbit Welfare Shop

Browse our collection of books for rabbit owners, offering valuable insights and guidance. Enhance your knowledge and deepen your connection with your furry companion.

shop.rabbitwelfare.co.uk

Safe housing: you need decent locks and bolts on all openings to help stop predators getting in (or accidentally opening), and weldmesh rather than chicken wire on the panels. Chicken wire isn't secure - it easily deforms, can be chewed through and it rots through quite quickly. It could possibly work if laid under the turf to stop digging through, but would still rot / rust through. You would have to include a 'skirt' around the outside to stop eg foxes or dogs digging in. Paving slabs also work.

Rabbits are always better off in pairs, so that is a good decision. Male / Female is probably the easiest and most stable bond, although all babies will form an initial bond (and are easily mis-sexed - so get that checked). 2 girls is probably the hardest (adult) bond, but it very much depends on the individual rabbits.

Thank you Shimmer! I'll take a look at those links you supplied me with, and I'll pop over to Care and Welfare too. I probably should've checked that out before posting...sorry about that!
I do have a question about grass though. Is it safe for outside rabbits to eat grass? I remember reading that rabbit shouldn't eat too much grass or they'll bloat, but that might've just been for inside rabbits maybe?

 

[tonibun]

Thank you Shimmer! I'll take a look at those links you supplied me with, and I'll pop over to Care and Welfare too. I probably should've checked that out before posting...sorry about that!
I do have a question about grass though. Is it safe for outside rabbits to eat grass? I remember reading that rabbit shouldn't eat too much grass or they'll bloat, but that might've just been for inside rabbits maybe?

Hello. Grass is great for Rabbits, I think you might have got confused with Horses. Grass and/or Hay is a Rabbit's main diet as it helps to keep their teeth worn down and aids digestion. When you get your Rabbits don't change their food until they have been with you for some time as a change of food can upset them.

 

[Cinnabun14]

Hello. Grass is great for Rabbits, I think you might have got confused with Horses. Grass and/or Hay is a Rabbit's main diet as it helps to keep their teeth worn down and aids digestion. When you get your Rabbits don't change their food until they have been with you for some time as a change of food can upset them.

Gotcha, just wanted to be careful. I know their GI is sensitive, but I wanted to make sure I didn't have to be on patrol every time they got out! Thanks

 

[William]

You'll want to be careful with the spring grass as it's very nutrient rich and can cause bloat/stasis. Grass (or anything) can also cause stomach problems if they aren't used to it. I always introduced new foods in teeny amounts, and one at a time.

 

[Cinnabun14]

They'll be outside with a run, so is there anything I can do to make sure they don't get bloat? Should I go the horse/cow route and feed them a lot of hay before I let them out to the "pasture" so they don't eat as much grass?

 

[tonibun]

As William said, just go carefully with any food or grass and there shouldn't be a problem. Ask wherever you get them from if they are used to eating veg,if they aren't you will need to wait until they are about 12 weeks old before introducing it. If the run is on grass the Rabbits might dig out, or predators dig in. Most of us put runs or enclosures on slabs. Introduce a litter tray early on so they can be litter trained. Put something like Aubiose at the bottom and cover with newspaper ,for example, then put Hay on top. Rabbits like to chew while they pooh so this will encourage them to use the litter tray and not mess up the rest of their housing. Don't be afraid of asking questions.

 

[Cinnabun14]

As William said, just go carefully with any food or grass and there shouldn't be a problem. Ask wherever you get them from if they are used to eating veg,if they aren't you will need to wait until they are about 12 weeks old before introducing it. If the run is on grass the Rabbits might dig out, or predators dig in. Most of us put runs or enclosures on slabs. Introduce a litter tray early on so they can be litter trained. Put something like Aubiose at the bottom and cover with newspaper ,for example, then put Hay on top. Rabbits like to chew while they pooh so this will encourage them to use the litter tray and not mess up the rest of their housing. Don't be afraid of asking questions.

Thank you tonibun! I'll be sure to ask. I didn't know a litter box was necessary for outdoor rabbits (little sibling insisted but I didn't listen! Lesson learned lol)

 

[William]

Oh yeah, litter trays make cleaning up much easier!

For outdoor housing, my big concern would be predators so I just want to reiterate what others have said about predator proofing. In the UK, predators are mainly foxes, but some of the things you said make me think you're from the US?

In that case, there's probably quite a few species around your area e.g. foxes, raccoons, coyotes, bobcats, birds of prey (large hawks, falcons, owls, etc). Cats and dogs are also an issue.

For Raccoons, you need hardware cloth around the outside of the accommodation. If there are gaps or the wire spacing is big enough, raccoons will reach their hands in and basically kill and eat a rabbit through the bars...really gruesome stuff. Chicken wire is very easy for predators to get through so make sure to use the right kind of hardware cloth that's strong enough it can't be pried apart.

Hardware cloth also needs to be buried under the run to prevent predators digging in.

 

[Cinnabun14]

Oh yeah, litter trays make cleaning up much easier!

For outdoor housing, my big concern would be predators so I just want to reiterate what others have said about predator proofing. In the UK, predators are mainly foxes, but some of the things you said make me think you're from the US?

In that case, there's probably quite a few species around your area e.g. foxes, raccoons, coyotes, bobcats, birds of prey (large hawks, falcons, owls, etc). Cats and dogs are also an issue.

For Raccoons, you need hardware cloth around the outside of the accommodation. If there are gaps or the wire spacing is big enough, raccoons will reach their hands in and basically kill and eat a rabbit through the bars...really gruesome stuff. Chicken wire is very easy for predators to get through so make sure to use the right kind of hardware cloth that's strong enough it can't be pried apart.

Hardware cloth also needs to be buried under the run to prevent predators digging in.

Oh yeah, US here! We are in a rural suburb, so there can be sightings of coyotes and raccoons (though mostly possum). I am a little worried about dogs since all of our neighbors have them, but I'll take your advice and get hardware cloth. (Also, we'll be getting a fence soon). Thank you!

 

[William]

Oh yeah, US here! We are in a rural suburb, so there can be sightings of coyotes and raccoons (though mostly possum). I am a little worried about dogs since all of our neighbors have them, but I'll take your advice and get hardware cloth. (Also, we'll be getting a fence soon). Thank you!

Ah, I thought so! I'm in a suburb in Florida and we get all the mentioned predators (possums every night too). I even just saw a bobcat outside my duck's aviary a couple months ago (via my ring cam) And they're much more shy than raccoons are.

The fence sounds like a good idea as rabbits can die of fright, so dogs can still be a danger even if theoretically they shouldn't be able to get into the rabbits' run.

A fence can also keep out wild predators. Ofc, raccoons/foxes/bobcats can easily climb it if they want to, but it's still a bit of a hindrance, so it can help deter them.

 

[Cinnabun14]

Ah, I thought so! I'm in a suburb in Florida and we get all the mentioned predators (possums every night too). I even just saw a bobcat outside my duck's aviary a couple months ago (via my ring cam) And they're much more shy than raccoons are.

The fence sounds like a good idea as rabbits can die of fright, so dogs can still be a danger even if theoretically they shouldn't be able to get into the rabbits' run.

A fence can also keep out wild predators. Ofc, raccoons/foxes/bobcats can easily climb it if they want to, but it's still a bit of a hindrance, so it can help deter them.

Wow, a bobcat! We've never had one of those, just 'coons and possums (and the occasional groundhog lol). Hope your ducks were okay!