House Rabbit. Is it cruel?

[Morningside]

As the weather is about to drop to well below freezing is it cruel to bring her in overnight and then 'dump' her outside again in the morning?

She does have lots of bedding so does not appear that cold. I did bring them both in when they were really young but now she is on her own...

I think the wife is being a lala and personally I think its 12 bore shotgun and pie time, but the wife has other ideas

[mrmaggit]

have two house-rabbits, although they've actually taken over the conservatory, neither of them want to come in to the house at night, although they could do if they wanted.
We just make sure they've got lots of hay and food and that the water isn't iced over.

[Jasandjules]

Well if it stays damn cold during the day then why not keep it inside for winter?

[Who me ?]

Jasandjules said:

Well if it stays damn cold during the day then why not keep it inside for winter?

Don't know how easy it is to toilet train a rabbit -so be prepared for lots of "maltesers " in odd corners .

[Mubby]

I have two rabbits that live in thier shed from April - october and then indoors the other 6 months, as soon as it gets nippy in October they are in! I have two of the largest dog crates side by side whith a few levels put in, and hidey house etc and they stay in there and get out for runs about, I don't leave them free range unsupervised, Rabbits chew!

both mine use a litter tray and 98% of poo and 100% wee goes in it! both rabbits have been neutered/spayed so no nasty spraying!

I could not bare to see them out in the cold and dark, even though thier shed has lighting , but thats probably because im a bit soft!!

any excuse to post my beloved rabbit shed!

Edited by Mubby on Monday 5th December 20:51

[moribund]

I'd do some googling if I were you - constant changes from hot to cold could do more harm than good, certainly that was the opinion for Guinea Pigs.

From what I've heard rabbits can be house trained quite easily to use a cat litter tray.

[SmokinV8]

rabbits have a fantastic fur coat that provides excellent insulation, they cope VERY WELL living outside so long as the cage is kept dry,and plenty of bedding hay is provided(this is different to eating hay)
no animal will thrive in damp conditions but cold is not a problem so long as the set up is ok.
i sure we have all seen wild rabbits sitting out in the snow.
if you do bring rabbit inside then keep it in untill next spring and the weather has warmed up,
DO NOT bring it in then put out, it wont know what season it is in and may start moulting out its winter coat which it needs outside.
MRSSMOKINV8
breeding/exhibiting rabbits/cavies for 40 + years

[Du1point8]

SmokinV8 said:

rabbits have a fantastic fur coat that provides excellent insulation, they cope VERY WELL living outside so long as the cage is kept dry,and plenty of bedding hay is provided(this is different to eating hay)
no animal will thrive in damp conditions but cold is not a problem so long as the set up is ok.
i sure we have all seen wild rabbits sitting out in the snow.
if you do bring rabbit inside then keep it in untill next spring and the weather has warmed up,
DO NOT bring it in then put out, it wont know what season it is in and may start moulting out its winter coat which it needs outside.
MRSSMOKINV8
breeding/exhibiting rabbits/cavies for 40 + years

How are dwarf or lionhead rabbits?

like this (i think)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pIJX1EO1Ec&fea...

and this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXBQ5q48ZQI

[Morningside]

Thank you. Thats very helpful.
I do have clear plastic on the front of the cage so that the wind does not whistle round it too much and so she can see out. She also has a concrete run.

Loads of straw bedding. I must admit I did not know there were two types of hay.

Mubby - love the house! Any more photos?

Edited by Morningside on Monday 5th December 23:57

[SmokinV8]

any bred of rabbit will winter the outdoor life so long as they are allowed to acclimatise through out the summer,autumn.
the 2 rabbits in the video- 1 looks like a dwarf lop or mini lop(but without knowing the breeding or seeing them cannot be sure and the other video looks like a lionhead (which i hope at 4 weeks of age it was still with its mother).

[Du1point8]

but what about as a house rabbit?

Do they need to go outside or can they live inside?

I live in a flat in centre of london and until I move out dogs and cats are out of the question, so looking for alternatives... as long as its not cruel to them

[Road Pest]

Du1point8 said:

but what about as a house rabbit?

Do they need to go outside or can they live inside?

I live in a flat in centre of london and until I move out dogs and cats are out of the question, so looking for alternatives... as long as its not cruel to them

I had a house rabbit when I lived in a flat. A Flat rabbit if you like. It was a very happy bunny. I did grow a tray of grass for him to eat/play on and he had plenty of other toys too.

[Morningside]

Nice rabbit. I like those flop/lop eared ones.

[littlegreenfairy]

I have two house rabbits and they both seem to be very happy inside. They don't like getting mucky or wet and the underfloor heating hot spots are their favourite resting places.

They have lots of toys, toilet trained and lots of human contact.

If I ever sleep in the day, or go to bed alone at night they sleep in the doorway until my husband comes to bed or daylight breaks. They are very protective of their humans!

[SmokinV8]

Morningside said:

Thank you. Thats very helpful.
I do have clear plastic on the front of the cage so that the wind does not whistle round it too much and so she can see out. She also has a concrete run.

Loads of straw bedding. I must admit I did not know there were two types of hay.

Mubby - love the house! Any more photos?

Edited by Morningside on Monday 5th December 23:57

use hay not straw for bedding, straw is very sharp and has been known to cause eye damage,it also has very little food value, as for hay try and get hold of "burns green oat hay" any pet shop should get it in for you if they dont stock it, it is the best eating hay along side timothy hay, put a good handfull in the corner or in a hayrack for them to eat.
the finer rubbish stuff as i call it can be spread on the floor as bedding.
always smell the hay to make sure its sweet smelling, if it smells mouldy NO NOT FEED.

[Happy82]

[quote=Who me ?]
Don't know how easy it is to toilet train a rabbit -so be prepared for lots of "maltesers " in odd corners .

[/quote]


Very easy to train, although my rabbit started dragging his toilet over to me and stamping his foot as he wanted it cleaned immediately

[Mubby]

agree very easy to litter train! they kinda do it themselves!

[samuelellis]

i didnt even have to try and toilet train my two - they did it themselves - few mistaked before being spayed but after that no problems

However they WILL eat everything possible

but how can you get mad at those faces

[Mubby]

going back almost 10 years now, my first ever house rabbit (100% time indoors) he had free run of the flat, but i have to admit he did chew a few bits and bobs ahe shouldn't!!

Mubby - you now know where I got my alias name from

[C3BER]

Our little pigs live outside all the time in their own small barn. The rabbit lives inside and is more little dog than rabbit. We had two rabbits outside but they died of VHD so the new lion enjoys the high life.