How do I get rabbits to nest?

[Puffincrossing]

We had 2 house buns but for various reasons we decided they would have to temporarily become outdoor bunnies. They have a very large hutch and run and we waited until the weather was getting warmer to start moving them outside and they finally went full time outside in June. Our doe clearly loves the outdoor life, I think the buck is happy enough but would come back indoors given the chance.

Anyway, dh has now said he thinks they should stay outside permanently. I still have a while to argue their case but my concern is when it gets colder. I've tried putting hay in the bedroom area and they just push it through into the living quarters and use as flooring. The bedroom is now we'll established as a toilet. They have still got their litter tray that they used to use when they lived inside but they no longer use it as a toilet, preferring to fill it with hay and sleep on it.

I'm worried that they can't surround themselves with hay to stay warm when the temperature drops. Am I being crazy? Will they move into the bedroom? Dh says they will have a winter coat and be fine but I can't bear to think of them being chilly!

I use straw in the bedroom area, more insulating, less tasty.
The litter trays are in a different place entirely. How big is the inside area? Do you have room for a sleeping area away from the litter tray? Can you set up another warm area?
Have you tried moving the poo/wee soaked litter out to where you want them to go?

Right now they will be too warm to have any kind of snuggly nest. That fur coat is very effective!

What style hutch do they have? Unfortunately they're poorly designed, the design hasn't changed for about 150 years, and what we deem as a "bedroom" is never going to be what they deem as a bedroom. These areas are usually too small to full stretch out properly anyway.

My guys were definitely better litter trained indoors, now they're outdoors (they were too loud and destructive indoors) in a large set up (6x4 shed and 10x5 aviary) in the vague vicinity of the litter tray is good enough. I've just come to terms with the fact I'll be washing their blankets every morning forever.

Thank you. I'll get some straw and see how we get on. I'll move the litter tray and create a second warm spot to she if that helps when the weather turns.

I wouldn't bother using straw until the temperature drops below freezing. That's the only time I use it and even then I'll put a load of hay over the top - straw is sharper than hay.

They probably won't 'nest' or want to use straw at the moment as it's too hot!

Our outdoor buns are quite instinctive. They sleep in the run/litter tray/open hutch area when it's warm. But once it gets cold they will seek shelter and find the warmest part of the hutch.

Ours used to sleep out in the run in the winter. I assume their winter coats kept them warm.

I never see mine sleeping in their bedroom part of their hutch but there are sometimes bum prints so it must happen occasionally!

I feel your worry. Dp built an annex for our bunny with a hay rack hoping he would use it as a litter tray. He's slept it in consistently ever since even in winter. Sometimes he gets in the hay box. He has a whole nest loft he ignores he doesn't go I. It for months at a time

Ours never sleep in the bedroom bit. I use really thick straw in the whole run area, and bank it up the walls too. (Really thick - so they can cover themselves in it if they want. We also put an old, clean horse turnout rug over the whole cage in winter and use heat pads when the temperature goes below zero. My hutch is inside a greenhouse as well though (which is completely in the shade so doesn’t cook them!)