is our rabbit ok outdoors?

[memphis83]

We have an 8 month old rabbit and he has a two tier hutch.now the grass is damp we have brought it off of the grass and dp has built a floor for it so its a bit more insulated. There is also a flap to close the top from the bottom for when its cold.
This is our first rabbit, will he be ok outside or do we need to bring him in? We have a garage but we keep motorbikes in it and there is no window. Worried about Bronson being cold but he likes to stay downstairs in the run area most of the time. Is everything we are doing ok?

this should help

Thank you, loads of advice on there.

Nothing to add to that link, but as a outside Rabbit, have you thought about getting him a mate?

They are social animals and really do like company of their own. Someone to snuggle up to on cold nights, and play with during the day :)

I think they are better in mixed (obviously cut and spayed) pairs , so a male and female. The only time I ever think that a rabbit is ok on their own is if they are house rabbits, and even then they would still be happier will company. :)

Really? Would they be ok getting another one now they would be different ages? I will need a bigger hutch it does say for two rabbits but I would want them to have a bigger house.

If you are going to get another rabbit I would recommend contacting your local rescue centre. They will let you take your rabbit along to meet prospective partners. You can then get a rabbit that he likes. I did that with mine and he is much happier now he has a friend . He was 7 months when we got his friend and she is about 2. They share a hutch, and have access to a very large run all day and night. The rescue will probably want Bronson to be neutered before you introduce another rabbit. it costs around 60-80 pounds.

We have a local rabbit rescue. I will call them them they can recommend which vets to take him to first as well.
If he became a house rabbit I know you train them to use a litter tray bit do the go in an indoor hitch at night or do tey just have a bed they go to? He comes in the house to play everyday.

Our rabbits are outdoor so I'm not really sure. My rabbits never actually go in the hutch as such. It is in the shed and the hutch door is always open so they can come and go as they please. Rabbits are most active at dawn and dusk so I'm not sure how that works with a house rabbit.

my rabbits are happy as larry outside, just make sure to keep areas watertight

I have a house bunny and he goes in his cage at night. After a few weeks of chasing him round at bedtime, he now knows the routine and goes to bed himself when he hears me filling his food bowl (he's far better behaved than the DC). He is completely litter trained and was when we got him (he was 7 months old). It is easier to litter train adult rabbits - baby buns are far too silly.

I let him out first thing in the morning and he has free access to one room of the house and the conservatory. We have a tunnel set up for him and he has a small dog basket as well as some toys and every cardboard box/kitchen roll we have is given to him to play with. If we're in the living room he is allowed in there as well and a few times a week he goes up stairs with the DC for bedtime cuddles.

As a child I had outside rabbits and they stayed out all winter and were fine. They loved running round the garden in snow. They are okay outside, just make sure you have a cover for your hutch to insulate it and that it's in a sheltered position. Plenty of extra bedding should keep him warm, but I would also say to get him a friend. They do get used to a certain temperature, so if he's brought inside from the cold and then put out again it may affect him.