Keeping the pets outside or inside is a difficult question for the owners. Some pets like to stay outside and they love to stay in the open air. If they are kept inside all the time they may get morose as they will not like the stagnant indoor area.
So when you wish to adopt a pet you should know if the pet is comfortable in the open area or if it may like to stay indoors all the time. New rabbit owners often get confused as to whether keep their pets outside or inside and here we will be helping them with some suggestions.
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Do rabbits love the outdoors?
Yes, rabbits love to play in the sun and also love the moist touch of grass. They can be very happy playing in the comfortable and dry weather, but humid weather is not something they can bear with. So if you find the weather to be humid and hot, then it will be ideal to keep the rabbits safe inside the house.
Can you keep the rabbit outside in winter?
Even if you want to keep the rabbit outside in the months of winter, make sure that they are safely kept in a hutch. The outside weather can be harsh and you may need to arrange for some protection for your pet rabbit.
Cold temperature does not harm the rabbits as they have fur covering their skin. In fact, hot weather makes them suffer more than the cold days. Only make sure to keep a hutch so the rabbits can get inside it when they do not like the cold wind blowing or snowing.
How much cold weather can the rabbits bear outside?
If the weather is colder than -10 degrees Celsius then you can take the rabbit inside. Until the weather is that cold you can leave your pet rabbit out as it would be having a happy time outside. Rabbits have a thick coat on their skin and thus cold weather does not harm them too much. They behave and feel fine and actually enjoy the outer weather better than the indoor area.
But do not let the rabbit play under the sun for too long in the summer as the heat can be harmful to the creature.
Can you keep baby rabbits outside?
Baby rabbits do not have the protective fur layer on their coat as they do not grow them until 12 weeks of age. So it is better to keep them inside the house. In the wilderness, the baby bunnies are kept inside their hole and they do not roam much in the open air.
You can keep the baby bunnies in a cage and let the cage be placed in an open area. This way the bunnies will be able to enjoy outer weather and yet will not be harmed by the heat or cold or even rain.
Does the rabbit-like the life indoor or outdoor?
Rabbits like to stay indoors as well as outdoor. If you are bringing a new rabbit home then it would take some time to get adjusted to the indoor life. It will not be easy for the rabbits to get comfortable in a new home. In this phase, you may let it enjoy the life outdoor for some hours of the day unless the weather is hot.
But when they are quite settled in their new house then you can let them play outside for most parts of the day. This way it can be able to get the sun and also will be free. When you keep a pet-like rabbit inside the house for too long, it will not do any good to it. The pet can also get bored and destructive which will be harmful to its mental growth.
When left outside it will have many places to run and jump so it will also get the necessary dose of exercise and that will be a good thing for the pet to be busy with the games.
How will you keep the hutch ready for the rabbits to stay outdoor?
The hutch should have good bedding as that will keep the temperature moderate. Also, make sure that it has got hay and grass, so the rabbit can eat some of them when it is resting inside the hutch. Some owners also prefer to provide some toys so they can get entertained while staying inside the hutch. The hutch should have a wide door but it would not have many windows or holes for that matter, as then the cold weather may harm the bunny taking shelter inside.
Does the rabbit need company when left outside?
Rabbits are pack animals and they love to stay in groups. When they are kept alone they may feel lonely and depressed. If you plan to keep pets, then make sure to keep them in pairs. When rabbits are in pairs they play with each other and do not need anyone else to keep them company.
But if you have kept a single rabbit then you may need to go and check on it when left outside. You may need to play with it for some minutes so it does not feel left alone and can enjoy its playing time.
Do you need to put a water bowl in the hutch when the rabbit is outside?
Keeping the rabbit hydrated is your duty as a pet owner. Thus you should always keep a bowl of fresh water in the hutch where the rabbit can come back and drink. It will be exhausted after some time when it will be done playing in the sun. If you train it to have water after a certain interval it will come to the hutch where it can have its fill.
How would you prepare the hutch for the rabbits outside?
The hutch of the rabbit should be protected from the outer weather. It should be able to keep the bunny warm and safe. The rabbit can stay outdoor as long as it has the opportunity to come back to its hutch anytime it feels like it. Straw is a necessary part of the hutch as that will be able to control and hold the heat of the inside area.
How do the rabbits get benefitted from the outdoor?
Exercise is the prior art of the rabbit’s life and it can be well done when the rabbit is living most of the day hours outside. Rabbits are naturally playful creatures and when they are left inside for long hours they can become obese. Also, it is much against their natural habits. So let them run and play outside.
Make sure that the backyard is properly fenced so there is no way of escaping. If you do not have the time to keep an eye on your pet then it is best left freely but the way outs should be closed securely. Close and lock the gates if you do not want your pets to be unsafe and run away from your yard.
Daytime is best for the pets to stay outdoor. You should not allow the rabbit to stay outdoor at night time though as that is the hours of darkness. There are various insects and other creatures that can harm your pet rabbit.
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