Moving indoor rabbits outdoors (shed)

[AliceRR]

I have two male neutered rabbits, aged 2, which live indoors. A French Lop and a Rex. Admittedly they don’t have enough room at the moment as they have been moved around while we have been doing the house up so we need to do something.

We had hoped to be in a new house by now when I hoped to let them live in the garage but I want to now move them outside in good time for them to become acclimated before it gets cold as we could be in this house for 6 months, a year, more (it’s a small house with now garage).

I don’t want to put them in a hutch due to safety and space concerns plus I feel a shed is more in line with being indoors.

Just wondered if anyone had any tips on this and how to set up?

They were bonded but have fought badly in the past so I now keep them separate to sleep etc but do let them run around outside together supervised.

I have been looking at sheds thinking of either splitting it into levels and then giving them a couple of levels each or splitting it down the middle (so they can see each other although they will smell eahorhwe anyway and know they are not alone?) and then giving them a ramp to move up through the levels. We’d like to put a window in the shed so people know it’s rabbits and not be tempted to break into it on promise of a bike! I read online that it’s good to line it with plywood and put on a wire door to open when it’s warmer.

I’ve seen a shed bit feel like it then needs a lot of work but I have someone who can do it.

TIA

French lop

Rex

Lots of ideas and companies who make things here:
www.thebigrabbithutch.co.uk/outdoor-housing.html

You're coming up to the end of the period of time when you could move indoor buns outdoors, leave it too late and they won't have the lovely thick fur they need to get through winter.

It sounds like you've got a good idea of what you want. What a shame they won't get on, it would be much easier. I'd definitely have a window, to get daylight in for them too.

My guineas have a playhouse (they do come indoors for winter though) used to be my DC but when they outgrew it , we gave it to the pigs.

Couple of ideas that you could try -

We have 2 windows that are removeable , the 'space' is filled with a metal grid (for strength) chicken wire and mesh to keep out large/small intruders / insects. There's a thick plastic sheeting (clear) that I can secure like a bind for waterproof ventilation

They have a 4 socket plug from the garage so have a light (essential for me) a fan for Summer and I put a fan heater to take the chill off.

They have two hutches on floor level with acess to floor space (we have two seperate areas , our sows live beside our boar) they don't like ramps or levels.

In winter I put cardboard behind the hutches and that silverbacked insulation roll (for radiators) where they can't chew it.
Rubber mats (car-mats/boot liner) on the floor , cardboard on top.
Layer of rodent safe wood pellets in the hutches, shredded card./paper on the floor.
Lots of hay
Straw banked under their bedding to insulate
Snuggle-pads.

With guineas they don't like cold-heat or heat-cold and need protected from damp.
Last winter they were in day/night because they're getting on a bit but usually they go out in the daytime after their Pighouse is brought up to optimal temperature and fresh bedding (kept indoors overnight) is put in the beds.
They have C&C and a big indoor cage for winter nights

I poached a load of ideas from rabbit house websites

Thank you