Make sure they can’t reach books or any furniture you don’t want them to chew on. Also make sure there are no cords or important papers on any surfaces as bunnies can jump up when you are not watching and chew on them.

Have you thought about moving her indoors and bringing her outside only on nice days that aren’t to hot? Rabbits are much more safe and healthy when housed indoors and most rabbits have a 8-10 life span when housed indoors compared to the 2-4 years outside. (Although things do happen and they can die sooner if sick.)

The problem with living outdoors is predators, insects, weather, etc. It’s too dangerous outside for bunnies to live all the time

Think like a bunny. No matter what. Get on the floor and try to find anything-ANYTHING a bunny would like to *PLAY* with
Also, if you were a bunny, think like them. Would you want to live in doors, or outdoors? I understand you still have to think about it, and that’s fine. But certainly, move your bunnies quarters indoors

Do you have an empty extra room, a bedroom no one uses, or even a backporch/sunroom would be fine if you control the temp. and make sure there arent many bugs I have Pablo on a porch, and he does fine. I have a air conditioner (window) for this spring/summer ready for hot days.
I have a tiny heat mat that I cover with fleece and cover the cords in the winter (trust me, it gets a little warm, not enough to start flames and it’s made just for buns). But if you aren’t convinced to have him indoors yet, please read this article I dug up: http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/outdoors.html

If your play area has hardwood floors, maybe put some towels or rugs down so he can run about without sliding

Welcome to the forums and congrats on your new bunny!

Since you have a Flemish giant (I’m so jealous!) you need to realize that your bun will eventually need a LOT of space that an outdoor hutch/run likely will not be able to provide. Not to mention, like everyone else said, living indoors is much better for multiple reasons. Mocha2000, Pandorachik, and Frankieflash have given great suggestions – chewable items out of reach (not just cables) and maybe something for him to have a little bit of traction.

Buns are definitely much better indoors. They get to be part of the family.

Mine have free range in half of the sunroom at night and on the weekends they even play with the cats.

However, I would highly recommend placing soft furnishing like cushions out of harms way… (see below)

I’m glad you’re thinking about it It sounds like you have a nice outdoor run for her. The thing about outdoors is that even in runs or hutches rabbits can get really stressed and anti-social, even can die from fright from a predator (even if the predator can’t get to them). There’s also the weather and temperature thing (rabbits don’t do well in hot weather or really cold weather). My rabbits both have free run of the house, it takes a little work to bunny proof at first but once it’s done and the rabbit is litter trained it is so much fun! Even if you do chose to have her be a house bunny the run will still be great on nice days for some fresh air and sunshine. 

I just saw a flemmie at the humane society today, gah so adorable, now I really want one! You are lucky!

Roberta that picture is adorable!

I agree, if you can bring him inside full-time it would be a benefit to both you and your rabbit. Outside is more perilous than inside and being inside will make him part of the family.

You want to start out in a small space inside so that he can get used to using his litter box. It would be good to do a nice big exercise pen – preferably 8×8 as he will be large and need plenty of room to stretch out and stretch up.

Roberta! That is so cute! I LOVE the pic, had it not been for bunnyfriend I wouldn’t have seen anything but a ripped up pillow!

BootsMum – it is sometimes hard to want a bunny inside when you’re use to everyone only having them outside, but if you look through the pics on here of inside buns they’re so cool! I’m not trying to be pushy, but looking and talking it over with other people in the house, would be a great idea to see what they think and maybe look at different ways to move Boots indoors.

A secure outdoor run can be a nice idea for during the day, as long as it’s not too hot (above 80-85 degrees F). For bad weather (rain, snow, too hot, too cold) and nighttime, indoors is best.

Whatever you decide for his permanent habitat, he is visiting indoors part of the time, so I would recommend:
a little area, maybe a throw rug (I got a 4’x5′ cheap low pile from target that’s easy to roll up) with a litter pan on it. You want him to know he can go in a litter pan without having to go all the way back outside for it.
You can also set a dish or basket of hay in it or next to it, for munching. Then set a water crock for a quick drink.

It will be his home away from home inside, and if you do bring him in, the transition will be easy. (You might even pick a corner of a room where he’d most likely have an xpen put up around the area if it becomes permanent.)

Posted By Roberta on 03/18/2012 08:06 PM

Buns are definitely much better indoors. They get to be part of the family.

Mine have free range in half of the sunroom at night and on the weekends they even play with the cats.

However, I would highly recommend placing soft furnishing like cushions out of harms way… (see below)

I was wondering, are they on a porch type place? That’s where Pablo is and I didn’t know if I was the only one! lol

Mine doesn’t have installed heat/AC but I have a window AC 

What do you use? I need more heating/cooling options..

Oh, that’s great you are very much considering it! A large, cheap dog crate could do. I got a 36” pen for $40 off Ebay. I’m sure we could all give you great Ideas on housing temporarily.

Piglet, Pepper, Pipi and Miss Blossom have a portable swamp cooler. During the day they are in their two story bunny bungalow that is inside the sunroom, I put 2 ice packs down stairs and 3 upstairs. Heat is the biggest problem in Western Australia in fact we have had 8 heat waves in 3 months. The temps have been up round the 100-105 Farenheit for weeks. Its finally getting cool now but the sunroom is enclosed. The mosquitoes during the rains are the next big worry but I will be checking and repairing any screens and keeping the bug zapper on during the night.
They have run of the sunroom when I am home except for the areas I have closed off with Xpen frames. I found them to be the best way to isolate the bunnies from fatal mischief.
 

Flemmies need lots of space! I would recommend a 36-42 in xpen, although 2 would be better. They are such a large breed they need at least 8×8 sq feet of cage whats his diet like? Lady practically eats us out of house and home! She’s a full house bunny and litter trained