I want to get my kids a pair of pet rabbits, however, my husband is very allergic to them. Can they live outside in some sort of hutch? We live in the MidWest and the summers get HOT, the winters get COLD. If so, what type of cage/hutch, bedding, etc...Is there a type of rabbit that may fare better? Thanks!
2007-01-03 12:50:07 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
put it this way do wild rabbit not live outdoors.... when i had my first rabbit i left him outside year round (not by choice, mothers choice) but ya he was fine and he was just in a regular cage... you might want to get him a insulated water bottle though cause the watter does freeze!!
2007-01-03 16:11:38 · answer #1 · answered by bilinda_82 3 · 3⤊ 3⤋
Raising Pet Rabbits
2017-01-01 07:22:10 · answer #2 · answered by gwenneth 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Live Outdoors
2016-11-10 01:31:05 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I raise rabbits for show,pet and food market. They can indeed live outdoors and its far healthier for them.
Rabbits require protection from the wind but cold will not affect them if they have food and a shelter,I live in ND where it is commonly -30F below zero and my rabbits are content because they have their hutches and are out of the wind.
The danger to rabbits is not cold but heat, rabbits MUST be in a shaded area in summers or the temps above 80F can stress and kill the young and make the adults suffer.
Do keep your rabbits in a larger enclosure outdoors NOT WOOD the size should be no smaller then 3feet long 20 inches high and at least 2 feet deep, a wooden cage is dangrous as it harbors bacteria from the urine and can cause death when the rabbit eats the treated wood of the cage.
Oat straw bedding is excellent as it will not cause intestine blockage and is fine for the young to eat as well, a Untreated wood box with open corners can be used as a nest box but stay away from metal ones as they chill the rabbits with the cold sides.
I would not advise getting a rex breed, they dont tolerate cold as well, a new zealand or a flemish breed are excellent for beginners and live around 10 years, I would suggest a female as there is less chance of spraying outside the cage and problems with neighbours complaining about smells.
2007-01-03 13:13:48 · answer #4 · answered by otter_woman 3 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Yes, of course they can!
You can buy outdoors hutches from many rabbit suppliers such as kwcages.com or Bass equipment company. If you visit the American Rabbit Breeders Association website at http://www.arba.net you will find links to many suppliers.
I'm from the midwest (Indiana) and raise rabbits, so I know what you mean about the extreme weather. My rabbits are in a barn, which is a little different, but it is unheated and not cooled.
Make sure the hutch is never in direct sunlight, but make sure it gets enough indirect sunlight. All animals need light. Under a nice shady tree would be great.
During the summer, provide the rabbits with frozen water bottles to cool them. You can even buy small fans for the individual cages at bunnyrabbit.com
During the winter, you may want to get nestboxes and place them in the cages for extra warmth. Just make sure you clean them out regularly. Having a tarp resting on top of the hutch is perfect for bad storms and bad weather. It can be raised in the front when you feed and put back down during cold weather. Many breeders do this.
Beware, even with precautions...small breeds are not meant for the extreme cold. They can freeze. Try a medium - large breed such as a New Zealand. The ARBA recognizes 47 breeds, so it will be easy to find something to suit you.
Good luck!!!
2007-01-03 13:38:13 · answer #5 · answered by Tater Salad 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Yes, a rabbit can live outside. The "rabbit rescue" people will argue with this, but as evidenced by the large number of cottontails in the Midwest, it is actually a rabbit's natural habitat ;)
BUT, you must be prepared to house them in a secure area where neighborhood animals can't get to them, and they must be protected from drafts in the winter, and be provided with shade and ventilation in the summer.
People keep all breeds in the Midwest, and they get along fine. However, it's hard on kids to lose pets so I would pick a breed that's known for being hardy, but still kid-sized. A Dutch, Mini Rex or Mini Lop would be a good choice.
2007-01-04 10:00:06 · answer #6 · answered by BB 5 · 3⤊ 2⤋
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Truth is, I've been a carpenter for almost 36 years, and I haven't found anything like this for less than 10's of thousands of dollars.
2016-05-01 02:43:45 · answer #7 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can assure you as a rabbit and guinea pig rescuer that neither of these animals is especially well suited to live outside, especially in a cage or hutch environment with huge temperature flux like you're suggesting.
We routinely pull animals (yes, even from 'great' ARBA breeders) from outside hutches that are riddled with parasites, suffering nutritional deficiencies, have heat stroke, or are suffering effects of the cold. Pets are pets. Don't treat them like objects to be put out into the weather.
2007-01-03 14:12:02 · answer #8 · answered by Lotus Effect 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋
very long hair is nice but requires maintenance and u have to grow that out for a long time
2017-02-28 00:26:06 · answer #9 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1
2017-01-25 15:48:04 · answer #10 · answered by Margaret 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OK first off, yes they can live outdoors, but they can be scared to death (literally) and they are very sensitive to heat and cold!!! In the summer (here in KS) we put 2liter bottles of water in the freezer and then put them in the cage. They should also always have complete shelter from the elements and other animals.
2nd -- coming from an allergic person, we have a guinea pig b/c I am allergic to rabbits so much so that even my daughter petting a rabbit makes my face swell shut! I hope this helps
2007-01-03 12:56:45 · answer #11 · answered by seven2ndstofire 2 · 2⤊ 4⤋