To keep rabbit in or out?

[Butter194]

Hello, looking for advice.

I adopted a Rabbit from a family member who could no longer look after her. She’s a lovely rabbit and free roams my garden, my neighbours gardens and a piece of unused land next to my home. (Please be assured that all areas are securely gated/fenced off so she cannot escape) she comes into the house most evenings to sleep, eat etc.
the trouble is now it’s getting cold I don’t want her out all hours in this weather.
Last night she was out in the pouring rain and come back this morning soaking.. I feel really irresponsible but every time I lock her in her hutch she head butts and bites the door for hours on end which is quite distressing.

Ive come on here for advice because do I either bring her indoors and keep a hutch inside to put her in at nighttime (she can’t free roam my home as she pees & poos all over the carpets, sofa - I have tried litter training )
OR
keep her hutch outside and get a really big run so she can go in/out as she pleases. But will she get too cold?
Im completely new to owning a bunny rabbit and want the best for her but she can no longer carry on the way she is or she will freeze to death I reckon :(
What do other fellow bunny owners do in the winter??

Beautiful bunny. Rabbits need to be kept warm in the winter. We keep ours at at least 16 degrees in their house. They live in an insulated shed with heating and a flap so they have access to their run 24/7. They are allowed out of the run in the garden during the day when we are at home and go for a longer walk in the park once a day. We have a lot of foxes where we live so we have to be very careful.

Maybe not indoors but def dry. Mine got pneumonia after the daft buggar hid down the side of the conservatory one very wet night.. He did love bouncing around in the snow and his coat thickened up to keep him warm.

She’s lovely. It’s good she can’t escape - how do you keep foxes etc out? I had rabbits a long time ago. They lived for many years. They were let out every day either into a run fenced off or free range (but I had to be out with them if free range due to fear of foxes, big cats (domestic big cats not the other sort!)

in the very cold months I had them in a hutch in a shed, they always seemed warm and cozy with loads of straw. In warmer months in a hutch or run outside. If the weather was really bad e.g. torrential rain I would let them have a little stretch of their paws in the shed.

I'm team house bunny but they are a riot and do cause havoc so it's not for everyone. She needs a shed and a run outside and a buddy for companionship to keep her warm, dry, safe and happy. Get yourself to rabbitwelfare.co.uk/ and check out their resources and advice.

Oh she's adorable! A large covered run with lots of stimulus. She needs a pal ideally too, they are social creatures and the roaming might be part of a search for a tribe.

Thank you all. I’m going to sort a run out after reading everyone’s advice & definitely getting her a better hutch with a cover for the cold. She is one stubborn bunny and she did have a friend but he died some time ago. She does have two cat brothers and a dog who she cuddles up to 🙈 I know she will hate the run but got to do it for her own safety and health.
As I adopted her recently I think she’s around 5 & 1/2 years old. Her old owners had her in a massive shed with a big run attached so she had plenty of space. I think I need to do the same 🐇

what a beautiful girl 🥰 Has she been neutered? As well as protecting her from cancer, it can help with litter training - less hormonal meaning less likely to pee everywhere.

Have a look at the rabbit welfare website to give you some info on becoming a slave to your bunny.

I would also look at adopting a friend for her - they’re very sociable creatures, and also being prey animals, being in a pair helps them relax a bit better as reduce ms them being on “high alert for danger” as there’s two pairs of eyes on lookout.

https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/new-to-rabbits/

My house rabbit once went out of the cat flap in the middle of the night one winter and found her playing in the snow.

Not ideal, but she was fine.

Letting her out in the day is fine. If she’s cold she’ll hop back in.

Rabbits shouldn't be kept on their own but if you can't get another to create a bonded pair she will need to live with human company.

Yes she’s been neutered. I’m not in the best position right now to get another one so I’ll keep her with me as much as possible & make sure she has plenty of attention etc

Ive always had rabbits and always kept them
outside. Providing you have the right housing and keep them warm they can cope well outside. Make sure they have plenty of space and the areas is warm and dry. I let mine free roam in the garden during the day and back home in their enclosure at night. They’re very happy and healthy bunnies and survived many cold winters!

I had rabbits who had a hutch (with attached run), the top floor I lined with wood shavings. They lived outside year round. They had a winter cover that kept out rain/drafts.

I had them for 8 years then moved to London and they lived at least another two with new family.