Cages (again) and rabbits being outside living

[My Baby Mu]

What is the minimum size of cage a Californian rabbit should have? What tempatures and stuff do I need to look out for if I keep them outside?

[Furkidsmommy]

Don't keep them outside. Rabbits should be housed indoors.

[bunnyluv17]

Originally Posted by My Baby Mu

What is the minimum size of cage a Californian rabbit should have? What tempatures and stuff do I need to look out for if I keep them outside?

Rabbits really suffer when kept outside. They do not bark or whine when hungry, sick, or injured, and it takes a sharp eye to catch illness and injury early. If housed outside you will not be able to see him as much and illness can go unnoticed. Rabbits are VERY social animals and crave attention from humans and other rabbits, you will not be able to provide the attention he needs if kept outside. Even if he isn't receiving direct attention all day long, rabbits benefit from indirect attention by just having people around. Weather extremes are another problem, rabbits are prone to heat stroke and heat exhaustion, but also suffer in the cold. Water bottles freeze quickly and your rabbit can die of thirst.

I doubt you would want to go out when it is storming, snowing, or freezing to take care of your rabbit. Rabbits kept outside usually do not get the exercise they need. Rabbits need 3-4 hours MINIMUM of exercise time daily. It is so much easier to provide safe exercise time indoors.

Predators are another major concern. Foxes and dogs can pry open a hutch and kill a rabbit in no time. Rabbits can die of a heart attack from just sensing a predator. Raccoons can easily stick there arms through bars and can learn to open a hutch.

Outdoor rabbits usually become extremely shy and skittish. Why even consider keeping your rabbit outside? How will you enjoy his cute antics, amazing personality, affection, and unconditional love?

The bottom line: Outdoor rabbits live on average only 1-2 years, while indoor rabbits can easily make it to 10 years and beyond.

If you are having problems litter training or with smell, then neutering/spaying by a rabbit-savvy vet should take care of the problem. visit www.rabbit.org for lots of great info on rabbits.

Californians are big rabbits and need big cages, no pet store cage or hutch is big enough. Large breed rabbits are prone to sore hocks and should NEVER under any circumstances be kept on a wire floor.

[bunnyluv17]

I forgot to mention that rabbits do enjoy supervised playtime outside, but because of the risk of predators and escaping they should be closely supervised. If you wanted to let your rabbit have unsupervised playtime outside, then you could make a predator-proof and rabbit-proof run. But only when it is nice out.

[My Baby Mu]

Ok, thank you. It is the smell. People in my family thinks they stink and didn't want them inside. Do you know how big a cage would be in grid sizes for a Californian?

[bunnyluv17]

Originally Posted by My Baby Mu

Ok, thank you. It is the smell. People in my family thinks they stink and didn't want them inside. Do you know how big a cage would be in grid sizes for a Californian?

Unfixed and "teenager" rabbits can stink, but rabbits also stink when their cage and litterbox are not kept clean. Neutering/spaying will definitely help. I would make it at least 4 cubes long X 2 cubes wide X 2 cubes high, but most rabbits love extra levels so you may want to consider multiple levels. I have a neutered house rabbit who is litterbox trained and he never stinks. An absorbant odor-controlling litter will also help with any smell, but it mostly depends on keeping the area clean.

[My Baby Mu]

I was thinking of a 3x3 with a 1x2 on top with the walls doubled up. I may put more levels if I have to buy another pack of cubes.
Every - and ' is a cube. The x's are where he can go the o's are where he can't go:
Bottom level:
---
'xxx'
'xxx'
'xxx'
---


Second level:

- - -
' oox'
' oox'
ooo-
' ooo'
- - -
Most of this is the doubled up sides of the bottom level.


Top:
-
o'
o'
-
This part would be the doubled sides of the second level.

Get it?

[My Baby Mu]

Oh ya, I was going to ask what is the ideal temperature for a rabbit?

[bunnyluv17]

Originally Posted by My Baby Mu

Oh ya, I was going to ask what is the ideal temperature for a rabbit?

A 3 X 3 would be great and would actually provide a bigger area. I don't really understand the diagram thing. Rabbits do best 50-70's degrees, I wouldn't let him outside if it's over 80 degrees. Rabbits tolerate cold better than heat.

[bunnyluv17]

I understand the diagram now, it looks good. When you get it built, be sure to post a picture

[My Baby Mu]

Ok, thanks so much!

[Pumpkin_King]

I don't agree with rabits not being kept outside, I'm in England and my two are coming up to their 4th birthday at the end of this month, they have 32 sq feet, thats a 2ftx4ft hutch attached to a 4ftx6ft run and I'm upgrading this summer to something more along the lines of 48-64sq feet(either 6x8ft or 8x8ft), they love it outside and love being able to run around garden nibbling on grass and dandelions(I don't use any pesticides or anything in the garden). Everyone I know who owns rabbits houses them outside. They get plenty of bedding but normally just keep other warm by snuggling up to each other.
I've never had the problems with the smell, well whenever I stick my head in the hutch to get their fod bowl Ican't smell anything, I change their litter box daily and completly scrub out their hutch once a week, I had my male neutered at about 5months so he as done before reaching his teenage phase.

[weaseldropping]

I live in the wilds of Yorkshire and my pigs and rabbits all live outside unless they are hospitalised for something. They even live in a wire run with a little house in from April to October, not a "proper" hutch. Each and every one has been perfectly healthy, despite the odd overnight frost and daytime temperatures of up to 28 centigrade. I move them back into the hutch if a few days solid rain is forecast, but that is mainly so they have a bit more room to move around in.
These guys are tougher than people think!

[Daisy Duke]

Please don't keep your piggie on wire bottoms.

[weaseldropping]

Wouldn't dream of it!
We use marine-quality plywood with a layer of woodshavings on top, or the lawn!

[bromers]

my rabbit is housed outside and he is fine i always check on him becaseu i spend alot of time outside so there is no reason for illness you just have to get a big hutch or make it yourself they need to be able to have 4 jumps worth of space min and be able to stand on there feet without touvhing the top of the cage.

[Furkidsmommy]

Outside pets can never recieve the same level of interaction as an animal living in the home with a family. My rabbits have a large enclosure in my dining room and get free run of the room when supervised. We talk to them all the time as there is nearly always someone in the room becuase our main computer is in there.