If you decide to keep your rabbit outdoors, whether permanently or only for a certain period of time, you must take the necessary precautions to keep your pet rabbit healthy and happy. Domestic rabbits need a large, safe, clean, dry, not too hot or cold outdoor environment, an adequate supply of food and drink, and the ability to interact regularly with humans and other rabbits. Help your beloved bunny live a life long and fun enough that you will always see her jumping around with joy!!
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Method 1 of 2: Keeping Rabbits Properly
Step 1. Decide if it's a good idea to let the rabbit roam outdoors all the time
According to tradition, domestic rabbits are usually kept in cages outside the house. Maybe you see wild rabbits roaming freely all the time and assume that your pet can also live outside without any problems. However, there are many factors to consider.
- Some organizations recommend that you keep rabbits indoors at all times. Domestic rabbits no longer have the instincts and abilities of wild rabbits for survival and are not animals suited to living in isolation, experiencing extreme conditions, or surprises (from predators or other elements).
- Some people think that rabbits should be left outdoors during the day when the risk of predators is lower. Domestic rabbits can die of fright just at the sight of a predator. So a closed cage may not be enough to protect your rabbit from dogs, street cats, and so on.
- Others still say that keeping rabbits outdoors permanently is not a problem if done with proper preparation and care. As the person in charge of your pet, the choice is yours.
Step 2. Don't just feed the rabbit carrots
A diet of just one vegetable may not be a problem for your rabbit, but real rabbits need to eat lots of hay and have a varied diet.
- A rabbit's staple diet should be hay, which can be purchased at a pet store. The proportion of hay should be about 75% of his diet.
- Feed pellets should also be included in the rabbit's diet. Rabbits should get about 30 grams of hay-based feed per 0.5 kg of body weight once a day.
- Every day, give your rabbit green vegetables and a handful of rabbit pellets, which contain essential nutrients. Add a variety of other vegetables (including carrots) and some fruit for variety.
Step 3. Keep the cage clean
Rabbits usually choose one or two places in the area where they live for their business. Let the rabbit choose it himself, then place the litter box in that location. Keeping the cage clean in general is important to your rabbit's health and well-being.
- Do a general daily cleaning of the cage by removing dirty hay, and so on. Clean the cage thoroughly at least 1-2 times every two months by removing and changing bedding and so on.
- Dirty/wet bedding can attract flies, which can lay eggs and then hatch into maggots. Maggots can attack rabbits and cause a “fly strike”, an infection that can be fatal.
Step 4. Don't leave the bunny lonely
Wild rabbits are sociable creatures. Unfortunately, these qualities are not passed on to domestic rabbits. So, if you decide to have a rabbit, make sure to spend some time with him and consider giving him 1-2 mates.
- Check the rabbit's condition at least 1-2 times a day and make time to play with it. Hold the rabbit or let it roam freely, for example in the bathroom, or outdoors (in a special enclosed area).
- Many rabbits prefer to have friends. So consider finding another suitable rabbit, ideally of the same size and age. Make sure your rabbit is spayed or neutered, especially if you have both a male and female rabbit. You've probably heard the expression "give up like rabbits!"
Step 5. Give your rabbit practice and playtime every day
Rabbits are active animals and like to run and jump to and fro. These animals need a minimum of 3 hours to "roam free" (free range) per day as an exercise.
- However, “free roaming” doesn't mean you let your rabbit roam the yard unattended, unless you want it to be lunch for the neighbor's cat. Rabbits should be supervised or placed in a special room that is closed and allows them to move freely horizontally and vertically.
- Rabbits are also inquisitive, sociable, and intelligent and will benefit greatly from playing (and so will you!) games such as “rabbit bowling” (the bunny knocks out neatly arranged plastic pins), “throw and pick” (you pick up!), and “cardboard forts” (which will eventually crumble) are some of the ideas you can choose from.
- Rabbits love to play with unprocessed paper, cardboard, hard plastic, or wooden toys. Avoid processed wood and certain species such as cherry, redwood, and peach as these can be toxic.
Method 2 of 2: Protecting Rabbits Outdoors
Step 1. Prepare a good cage
The opinion that rabbits can be kept in small isolated cages has passed. Rabbits need a cage that is dry, clean, well ventilated, secure, in a good location, and spacious enough to grow well.
- Modern outdoor “cages” with multiple floors and/or rooms are perfect for pet rabbits. You can also make your own cage. Look online for cage plans, but be sure to build a cage that's safe and weather-resistant.
- For example, you could build a training cage that allows your rabbit to exercise every day with a wooden frame, rabbit fence, and a plywood roof and floor. The minimum cage size is 2.5 m (length) x 1 m (width) x 1 m (height) to provide enough space for running and jumping.
Step 2. Protect the rabbit from predators and himself
As already explained, domestic rabbits can die of fright just by looking at a predator. So it's very important to make sure the rabbit can't get out and other animals can't get in.
- If you've ever seen wild rabbits attack a flower garden or vegetable garden, you'll know that these animals eat just about anything. So if you're going to let rabbits roam freely in a fenced yard, don't plant poisonous plants there. Also, in places where rabbits are likely to come, be sure to secure the power cord and keep it out of reach of the rabbit's teeth.
- There are many plants that are toxic to rabbits. The list is very long. So you have to read it carefully. Here are some examples: aloe vera, begonias, daffodil bulbs, lilies, and geraniums.
Step 3. Make sure the rabbit's habitat is always dry
If you keep rabbits outdoors, the humidity can create dirty conditions and eventually lead to disease, such as the “fly strike” mentioned earlier.
- Make a cage with a roof that is resistant to rain. You can choose plywood, corrugated aluminum, or even plastic sheet or tarpaulin. Repair or replace the roof to keep out rain if necessary.
- When it's raining heavily, consider moving your rabbit (by creating a mobile cage or a second cage) to a drier area, such as a patio, garage, basement, or main house. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and thunder can frighten rabbits to death. So, move your pet indoors if possible.
Step 4. Watch for scorching heat during the dry season
If you see a wild rabbit around the house during the dry season, it may be relaxing in the shade or in a hole dug in the garden. Rabbits like to laze in cool places all year round.
- Place the rabbit cage in the shade and/or use a roof or something that blocks out the sun. Make sure the cage is well ventilated so the rabbit doesn't overheat.
- You can also freeze water bottles and place them among the haystacks on the floor. This way, your rabbit will have a cool area to relax in.
- Make sure your rabbit always has an adequate supply of fresh water during the dry season.
Step 5. Provide warmth in cold weather
With a cage that has a good insulation system and is protected, rabbits can survive cold weather. It's best to move your rabbit indoors when it's cold (at least at night).
- Before the cold weather hits, fix the rabbit's cage, especially for leaks or damp areas. Humidity is not good for rabbits, and the combination of humidity and cold will affect the rabbit's health.
- Thick bedding as insulation. You can also line the walls and floors with newspaper sheets. Consider covering the fenced area with plastic sheeting, and covering the cage with a tarp or blanket at night. You'll need to reduce drafts and retain heat, but don't forget the cage must also have a good ventilation system.
- You can purchase a special heater for the rabbit's cage, but make sure the power cord is out of reach for the rabbit. You can also purchase a bunny heating pad, or you can put a bottle of warm (not too hot) water in the bunny's bedding several times a day.
- Check the condition of your pet rabbit more often than usual during cold weather. Make sure the water isn't cold and give him extra food to give him the energy he needs to withstand the cold.
Warning
- If the weather is very bad or the rabbit's cage is wet, you should let the rabbit sleep in the house or other safe place.
- Scaring the rabbit can make it jump high and possibly injure it or even cause a heart attack.
- If you keep your rabbit indoors, be sure to protect it from potential hazards such as power lines.
