outdoors cage/hutch

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 11sd replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 12 months ago by MoveDiagonally.

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- 03/23/2013 at 8:24 AM
  Bam
  Moderator
  17029 posts
  I’m thinking of getting Bam an outdoors cage this summer, what do you think of this one?
  
  http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/hutches/hutches_runs/outback_hutches/225773
  
  He wouldn’t spend all summer in it, just days and some nights if we get a better summer this year (last summer was cold and rainy and unsuitable for rabbits).
- 03/23/2013 at 4:30 PM
  Svandis
  Participant
  442 posts
  Personally I would rather get a playpen so he could have the space to run around, doing zooms and binkies. I have a few sets of pens put together and my bun loves it I wouldn’t leave him out during the night (predators etc), or without supervision. To me, there wouldn’t be much of a point bringing my bun outside if he wouldn’t have the space to run around.
- 03/23/2013 at 6:02 PM
  Svandis
  Participant
  442 posts
  Just a tip if you are considering a pen: compost grids! They are super cheap and function as a pen. Since they are so cheap, you can get more grids for less, you save money and your bun can get more space to run around. They are not as sturdy as pens though, but you can make them safer with a lot of zip ties and secure them with tent plugs. You can get the grids and tent plugs at a hardware store, I’m sure.
  
  This is the kind of grids I’m talking about. In Norway, I’ve even seen the same grids being sold for 5x the price at pet stores, lol.
  
  http://images.greenfingers.com/images/superstore/LS8744D_l.jpg
  
  I hope this was helpful.
- 03/23/2013 at 9:15 PM
  Jesse97
  Participant
  79 posts
  Personally I don’t think it’s a good idea to keep you rabbit outside during the night. You can’t control the temperature and it could rain and you might not ever know. Like other people have said, I would recommend buying or making a playpen but to be only used while being supervised. If you leave your rabbit unspervized a predator could get at it.
- 03/24/2013 at 6:42 AM
  Ella K.
  Participant
  101 posts
  Yeah, especially during the summer, I strongly urge you NOT to have him outside. I would suggest a playpen during the fall and spring, NOT the summer.
- 03/24/2013 at 7:40 AM
  Svandis
  Participant
  442 posts
  Ella – why not summer? That really depends on where you live and the climate.
- 03/24/2013 at 1:59 PM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  I don’t think any outside without supervision is a good idea. The heat/humidy for starters as well as biting insects and predators. Some animals are very clever and can break into a rabbit hutch.
- 03/25/2013 at 2:13 AM
  Bam
  Moderator
  17029 posts
  Thanks!
  I live in Sweden, we don’t have hot summers exept once every 15 years or so. The reason I’m considering letting him spend the occasional night outdoors is that I sometimes spend the odd night in my allotment-garden about a mile from where I live. This is only on fine summer-nights. He has a run there, netted with welded net safe against ferrets and weasels, cats, birds of prey, foxes and rats which are realities even if I live in a town. It’s not in the best place though but too heavy and big to move to where I really would want it.
  
  I’m a bunny-hypochondriac and a bunny-worrier and everything has to be extra-double-safe for my bun or he can’t do it. He is vaccinated. I would never let him live outdoors. But because I spend a lot of time in my allotment-garden in spring and summer IF the weather is fine (last summer it wasn’t), I’d like him to be able to be with me, not home alone.
- 03/25/2013 at 2:14 AM
  Bam
  Moderator
  17029 posts
  Thanks!
  I live in Sweden, we don’t have hot summers exept once every 15 years or so. The reason I’m considering letting him spend the occasional night outdoors is that I sometimes spend the odd night in my allotment-garden about a mile from where I live. This is only on fine summer-nights. He has a run there, netted with welded net safe against ferrets and weasels, cats, birds of prey, foxes and rats which are a reality even if I live in a town. It’s not in the best place though but too heavy and big to move to where I really would want it.
  
  I’m a bunny-hypochondriac and a bunny-worrier and everything has to be extra-double-safe for my bun or he can’t do it. He is vaccinated. I would never let him live outdoors. But because I spend a lot of time in my allotment-garden in spring and summer IF the weather is fine (last summer it wasn’t), I’d like him to be able to be with me, not home alone.
- 03/25/2013 at 2:37 AM
  Bam
  Moderator
  17029 posts
  Sorry for posting this twice, hope an adminstratior can erase the second post?
- 03/25/2013 at 11:10 AM
  bunnylova123
  Participant
  255 posts
  Bunnies can live outside quite happily, I’ve seen lots of posts saying about how they can get too hot or too cold, but if you look after them carefully, and provide shade, sun cream to albino bunny ears, ice blocks, hay bales to sleep in ( they like to dig in them like a massive diggy box! ) insulation, slabs so predators can’t dig in, small mesh so rats and weaselly things can’t get in etc they can be very happy buns, just ask Vienna!. Some tiny hutches can be incredibly unsuitable though. For a temporary outside bunny if you give them some of the things I mentioned, depending on the weather they’d be very happy. The pagoda is lovely, I think you could probably get something like that cheaper as it looks like the price has been bumped up because of the decoration, but it’s very nice. I’m a bit worried about shelter, there doesn’t seem anywhere your bun could snuggle up in out of the wind.
- 03/31/2013 at 6:54 PM
  MoveDiagonally
  Participant
  2361 posts
  I agree with LPT. I do not think it’s a good idea to leave your bunny outside unattended. Pests, sudden weather changes, predators, these are all things you cannot control. I think investing in a play pen (or a couple play pens) or perhaps making a new rabbit run where you would like it would be better than leaving him overnight somewhere that you can’t protect him.
  
  I re-read your second post and I’m confused a bit I think. You spend the night out there as well? Where do you sleep? I’m confused about the arrangement.
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