Re: Is A Rabbit Hutch Good For Your Rabbit?

[Anonymous]

Its a fact of life that many pet owners keep their rabbits in outdoor rabbit hutches, twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. Reasons for these outdoor living arrangements vary, from allergies to odors to convenience. Many owners who might prefer to keep their rabbits indoors as an integral part of the family feel an outdoor rabbit is better than no rabbit at all. Others disagree.

At the extreme, there are those who feel only an indoor rabbit qualifies as a family pet; an outdoor rabbit is nothing more than livestock. On the Internet Pet Discussion Forums youll find posters who refer to rabbit hutches as pet prisons. Why such harsh views of outdoor living in rabbit hutches?

The reasons are many and you may already be aware of them if youve searched for guidance on selecting a rabbit hutch. All the caveats you read the need for predator-proofing, weatherproofing, exercise needs, and social isolation are disadvantages serious enough to warrant the opinion of some that rabbits should not live outdoors under any circumstances. Lets examine some of these issues to see if they are fact or fiction.

Serious owners know they have to go beyond the safety features offered in commercially available rabbit hutches to fully protect their rabbits. They extend the posts of two story wooden hutches and set them in concrete to ensure they are 100% tip proof. Entranceways are securely locked and some owners even trench around the perimeter of the hutch and add wire or wood to keep predators from being able to dig under the fence. But try as they might, no pet owner has ever been able to protect their pets from this result of a visit from a predator: fear.

Again, check the forums and youll find posts from bewildered owners who found their precious pets in the early morning hours, dead with nothing visibly wrong with them. Predators can literally scare some rabbits to death, even if they cant penetrate the added security of the rabbit hutch.

Despite the best attempts to weatherproof a rabbit hutch, temperature extremes of both heat and cold pose serious problems with potentially devastating consequences. Some owners invest the time and effort to adequately insulate the hutch from moisture and wind initially, and then neglect the ongoing maintenance needed to keep the hutch safe. Others fail to check on their rabbits during periods of extreme hear or extreme cold. And no one has yet figured out how to insect proof a hutch and warm weather insects pose health problems to all rabbits.

Finally, there are the issues of size and social isolation. Owners get the advice of the bigger the hutch the better, and then go out and buy the biggest hutch they can afford, even though it might be too small. Rabbits crave contact and if you have no intention of bringing them indoors to interact with the family or spending significant time with them outdoors, consider another option. Provide your rabbit with a playmate -- another rabbit. Not all rabbits get along so youll have to allow your adult rabbit to interact with a potential partner before moving them in together. Living outdoors may not be the ideal environment for a rabbit, but with a companion rabbit theyll be much happier.





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There are many stuffed rabbit toys, you can give people like you love rabbits.

 

[Marinea]

***For text of OP, scroll down to post by MamaSheepdog. OP deleted (to foil link) and User banned.***

Oh boy.

My rabbits live outside. I have not had to go to any of the extremes listed above, and my rabbits are doing very well. If anyone finds this thread via a search, please keep searching- there are many threads here describing outdoor setups that work very well.

Also, indoor rabbits can be frightened. Indoors does not always equal better. Do what is best for your situation.

Finally, bonding of rabbits does not always work. Don't buy a second rabbit and just assume it will bond with another.

 

[Silver Willow]

Oh boy.

My rabbits live outside. I have not had to go to any of the extremes listed above, and my rabbits are doing very well. If anyone finds this thread via a search, please keep searching- there are many threads here describing outdoor setups that work very well.

Also, indoor rabbits can be frightened. Indoors does not always equal better. Do what is best for your situation.

Finally, bonding of rabbits does not always work. Don't buy a second rabbit and just assume it will bond with another.

:yeahthat:
All of our rabbit are kept outside, we have had rabbits (pets until now) a long time with no problems. We had a rabbit kept inside for a bit and found that she was not as lively or healthy as she had been. Put her back outside, and she was fine.
So personally, I like outside better

 

[Dood]

Oh boy is right :mrgreen:
The forum was getting a bit slow

At the extreme, there are those who feel only an indoor rabbit qualifies as a family pet;

I call these people ignorant and delusional. Do they keep their horse in the house too or are they "just livestock"? My warmblood is 5 foot at the shoulder and would be constantly bonking his head on the ceiling, I can only imagine the agony he'd feel if be got clipped by a ceiling fan not to mention slipping and sliding all over our hardwood floors - I guarantee he'd HATE living in my bedroom, besides he'd never make it up the stairs

But try as they might, no pet owner has ever been able to protect their pets from this result of a visit from a predator: fear.

As a breeder of outdoor rabbits for over 30 years I have NEVER had a rabbit die of fear, despite the fact I am in a rural area where fixes, raccoons, skunks, weasels and coyotes visit the rabbit cages regularly. In fact my Netherlands usually put fear into others as they were a feisty bunch and the does regularly attacked my Fox Terriers if the pups got too close.

People who's rabbits just up and die are too ignorant or cheap to find out the real cause. Every rabbit that has died of unknown causes gets a necropsy and the real reason determined to prevent a contagion from spreading to others, I don't brush it off and say they died if fright as any serious rabbit owner knows that is a crock!

then neglect the ongoing maintenance needed to keep the hutch safe. Others fail to check on their rabbits during periods of extreme hear or extreme cold.

I think we can agree that theses people shouldn't own rabbits, or even a pet rock, and I am certain they would neglect their indoor bunnies just as much as their outdoor ones, except the indoor rabbits would suffer in secret as spying neighbours cannot report the abuse to the authorities.

Rabbits crave contact

Your experience with rabbits is obviously severely limited - SOME rabbits crave contact but others would rather rip the tresspasser limb from limb. Most of the rabbits I rescue are anti-social and are being rehomed due to aggression towards people or their cage mate as baby bunnies do crave affection but once they are teenagers they want their space and inevitably the less favoured rabbit in a "bonded" pair gets booted out the door.

 

[arachyd]

This seems like a troll post. The op is making generalized statements and presenting them as facts to upset people who keep outdoor rabbits. Seriously, "But try as they might, no pet owner has ever been able to protect their pets from this result of a visit from a predator" is so far from the truth it's ridiculous. Rabbits are not so easily terrified or none of us would be able to own a dog or cat. I've never had a predator loss or a fear-induced loss. Any predator, human or otherwise, dumb enough to get into my rabbit area will be quickly convinced by my dogs that they've made a terrible mistake...my dogs which will literally crawl into my hutches and lick my rabbits all over. The rabbits lick back. As to bringing up the weather, rabbits are naturally outdoor animals. They are very well insulated and for most of the year in most places the weather is not extreme. When it becomes extreme owners have the ability to adapt their setups to keep the rabbits healthy. Now how about we start a post on the dangers of keeping rabbits indoors. Lets start with electrical cords, household chemicals and the paralyzing fear caused by the washing machine noise. Does the op assume people who keep rabbits indoors are as clueless as he or she assumes of people who keep rabbits outdoors that they would not make sure of a safe environment for them?

 

[michaels4gardens]

IMHO, --since no questions were asked, and only broad [and in my oppinion mostly false]statements were employed, I am - A S S UME -ing the origional post was just a preaching moment, [it was sunday]-- but-- if I am wrong Karven,
please correct me.

 

[Random Rabbit]

Long ago we had quite the array of outside hutches with runs. Those rabbits would be out in the runs even during sub-zero weather... Having a ball. The humans were not so happy and carefree.. :lol:

Even during the " Great Raccoon War "... the rabbits were not fazed... ( the ducks took a wallop... but DH took care of the racoons and all was better)

The current era of Everything must be a house pet.. is a troubling development... ja... trying to picture our ponies as house guests.... Nope.

Just noticed that this was posted in the Rabbit Recipe sub-forum..... might be trolling to be sure...

 

[Prisma]

Too many assumptions/half truths and no facts. Sounds like a troll post, distasteful. I've had happy SAFE outside rabbits that were pets before and it is nothing for the possums/racoons to be eating the dog's food every evening, they lived happy long lives. Yes there are dangers but with good housing, no problems. Weather is not an issue, rabbits do VERY WELL with cold and heat...again with proper housing and care. My pets of the past didn't get indoor time, no they didn't get hours upon hours a day time out or handled, no they didn't have a playmate...they were still easy to handle plus VERY happy and healthy. I have had rabbits that if they were handled or let loose they stressed more than being in their space. Not every rabbit wants to be handled or out like the op painted. Rabbits die for unknown reasons other than fear...age/internal issues/etc there are a TON of reasons as to why people's precious pets die and there are no marks so one cannot assume it is always fear/predator based either.

 

[Dood]

Considering this was posted in the rabbit recipes forum :shock: and the person has never posted before, I am certain its a troll :troll: and just in time for Easter

 

[MamaSheepdog]

This seems like a troll post.

Just noticed that this was posted in the Rabbit Recipe sub-forum..... might be trolling to be sure...

Sounds like a troll post, distasteful.

Considering this was posted in the rabbit recipes forum :shock: and the person has never posted before, I am certain its a troll :troll: and just in time for Easter

Y'all are right- it is a troll post. In the OP's signature there was a link to stuffed rabbit toys at a company called "Toyswill". Make of that (swill) what you will! :lol:

I have moved this to rabbit care where it *cough* belongs, but deleted the OP and have banned the user. Obviously, this troll did not write the post themselves, but copied it from some site on the internet, most likely a pet rabbit forum, so I have copied and posted the text below for further comment if any wish to continue addressing it.

Text of OP:


Its a fact of life that many pet owners keep their rabbits in outdoor rabbit hutches, twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. Reasons for these outdoor living arrangements vary, from allergies to odors to convenience. Many owners who might prefer to keep their rabbits indoors as an integral part of the family feel an outdoor rabbit is better than no rabbit at all. Others disagree.

At the extreme, there are those who feel only an indoor rabbit qualifies as a family pet; an outdoor rabbit is nothing more than livestock. On the Internet Pet Discussion Forums youll find posters who refer to rabbit hutches as pet prisons. Why such harsh views of outdoor living in rabbit hutches?

The reasons are many and you may already be aware of them if youve searched for guidance on selecting a rabbit hutch. All the caveats you read the need for predator-proofing, weatherproofing, exercise needs, and social isolation are disadvantages serious enough to warrant the opinion of some that rabbits should not live outdoors under any circumstances. Lets examine some of these issues to see if they are fact or fiction.

Serious owners know they have to go beyond the safety features offered in commercially available rabbit hutches to fully protect their rabbits. They extend the posts of two story wooden hutches and set them in concrete to ensure they are 100% tip proof. Entranceways are securely locked and some owners even trench around the perimeter of the hutch and add wire or wood to keep predators from being able to dig under the fence. But try as they might, no pet owner has ever been able to protect their pets from this result of a visit from a predator: fear.

Again, check the forums and youll find posts from bewildered owners who found their precious pets in the early morning hours, dead with nothing visibly wrong with them. Predators can literally scare some rabbits to death, even if they cant penetrate the added security of the rabbit hutch.

Despite the best attempts to weatherproof a rabbit hutch, temperature extremes of both heat and cold pose serious problems with potentially devastating consequences. Some owners invest the time and effort to adequately insulate the hutch from moisture and wind initially, and then neglect the ongoing maintenance needed to keep the hutch safe. Others fail to check on their rabbits during periods of extreme hear or extreme cold. And no one has yet figured out how to insect proof a hutch and warm weather insects pose health problems to all rabbits.

Finally, there are the issues of size and social isolation. Owners get the advice of the bigger the hutch the better, and then go out and buy the biggest hutch they can afford, even though it might be too small. Rabbits crave contact and if you have no intention of bringing them indoors to interact with the family or spending significant time with them outdoors, consider another option. Provide your rabbit with a playmate -- another rabbit. Not all rabbits get along so youll have to allow your adult rabbit to interact with a potential partner before moving them in together. Living outdoors may not be the ideal environment for a rabbit, but with a companion rabbit theyll be much happier.

 

[Miss M]

"Allow me to barge in with my very first post, without even saying 'hi', and lecture you with a bunch of bogus and partially bogus information that I dug up from somewhere, so I sound like I belong here. Oh -- and have a completely unrelated spam link. Free of charge, since I'm so smart and nice and generous with my opinions I have so cleverly disguised as knowledge."

:smile-ban:

 

[Dood]

so I sound like I belong here.

:rotfl:
If you'd taken 5 minutes to read the most recent posts you'd know that this forum is not for declarations of knowledge but for civil discussion of different ways to keep rabbits.

Lets examine some of these issues to see if they are fact or fiction.

I think it's been made pretty clear that your supposed facts are more like fiction :mrgreen:

opinions I have so cleverly disguised as knowledge.

More like mis-knowldege or proof that you have a very narrow view of how rabbits should be kept and intolerance of those who won't accept your opinions as facts

What exactly prompted you to make such a post if not disdain for those who keep rabbits outdoors and who are jeopardizing their rabbits lives by exposing them to cold, heat, predators, insects ? DANG! I better not take my kids camping or child services might take them away for risking their lives in the great outdoors !!!

 

[HoppinHalfPints]

Gosh darn, I always miss the best stuff!!!!

 

[DogCatMom]

This screed (one of the nicer words I can think of to call it) was previously "published" (cough, cough) on the Net at http://ezinearticles.com/?Is-a-Rabbit-H ... id=3898795. In the original, the "author" is careful to include a couple of links where readers might go to give him some money-making business--involving rabbit-related ventures, of course! :angry: Like so (more or less :twisted: ):

[Name] is a Pet Lover, pet product expert and builder of rabbit hutches. To learn more about Rabbit Hutches [his first link was here] and Rabbit Runs [his second link was here] visit him online.

So the OP, whether or not s/he was the original writer ofthe ezinearticle, was willing to link to a rabbit-hutch and rabbit-run builder. Some interesting self-justification going on somewhere, for sure! :lol: Maybe "my hutches are the only safe rabbit hutches"? ya think???

 

[Miss M]

so I sound like I belong here.

:rotfl:

I aim to please!

DANG! I better not take my kids camping or child services might take them away for risking their lives in the great outdoors !!!

FOR REAL! :roll: Good grief, rabbits lived how long before modern hutches? And somehow, the human race has made it this far, in spite of the kids-in-bubble-wrap phenomenon being very, very recent!

Gosh darn, I always miss the best stuff!!!!

Hey, better late to the party than not at all, right? We're still having fun... here, have a cheese cube!

This screed (one of the nicer words I can think of to call it) was previously "published" (cough, cough) on the Net at http://ezinearticles.com/?Is-a-Rabbit-H ... id=3898795.

So you found it, did you? MSD had done just a really quick look, because we figured it had to be ripped from somewhere, but didn't come up with anything.

So the OP, whether or not s/he was the original writer ofthe ezinearticle, was willing to link to a rabbit-hutch and rabbit-run builder. Some interesting self-justification going on somewhere, for sure! :lol: Maybe "my hutches are the only safe rabbit hutches"? ya think???

:lol: