Free running to caged, due to a move

[JoJo]

We live in S FL where it is comfy most of the year. When we first got our rabbit we had a pen that she ran around in inside the house. As she grew she became very bored & so we’d take her to our caged pool/lanai. It had lots of dirt, plants, flowers to play in & she would burrow under the bigger plants. It also had a semi enclosed room with a tile floor & ceiling fan that she could chill in. She never wanted come back inside after that. She stayed very friendly & affectionate with us but loved her screened yard to run & play in. So, we let her stay out there & only brought her in in extreme heat or cold – she hated us bringing her in. Each evening she would jump up on a cushioned lounge chair & watch the sunset, no kidding. She definitely had her routines. She’s not been spayed. We suddenly had to move. New lanai is still screened & is partially covered, but is ALL concrete & no ceiling fans or room to slip into. So, we felt she needed to become an indoor rabbit for her sake. We custom built a HUGE hutch & put it in our LV room with us. She hates it. She thumped constantly in the beginning. Then she started seeming very depressed & sad. Today she’s making these barking noises at me, seems very agitated, anxious & actually scared. BTW, running free in house is not an option, we have a cat among other reasons. So now I’m confused on what is the “right” thing to do. I can build her a dirt box that she can romp in outside but I feel letting her stay outside (what she WANTS to do) is unethical. (My husband offered to build her an air conditioned box/area..) But, keeping her in her hutch seems mean. I’m at a loss & I’m concerned that this anxiety will take a toll on her health. Please help. I’m trying to do the best by my bunny that I can in our family’s situation. Thanks for any help!!

[Bam]

I don’t know if it’d be unethical to let her be outside. Could birds of prey get to her or other wild animals? That would be a disqualifier.
I like the Five Freedoms when considering ethical keeping of pets, they are as listed:

Freedom from hunger or thirst by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour
Freedom from discomfort by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area
Freedom from pain, injury or disease by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment
Freedom to express (most) normal behaviour by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal’s own kind
Freedom from fear and distress by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering

If you could provide her with a house on the lanai (indoors a cardboard box with two exits is fine but for the outside, sth wooden would probably do better), a few tunnels, a dig-box and an elevated vantage point, I would consider letting her her out on the lanai. We are a house bunny forum so we normally advocate keeping buns indoors, but it is important to consider the animal’s own wishes. “Unhappiness” takes a toll on the immune defense f ex.

[JoJo]

That is very good information, thank you!

She is adjusting to her hutch better now. My front porch is enclosed in screen and has a dirt area for growing plants. I let her go play out in it 2x a day, weather permitting. She digs and burrows and pushes the dirt around. So, now, when I ask her if she wants to go to her dirt she comes to me in the hutch and when I ask her if she wants to go back inside, she comes to me on the porch. She is embracing her new routines and seems a lot more peaceful and happy.

Thank you!! 

[Bam]

Oh, how great, it seems she’s adjusting well then! She’s very lucky to have such digging-opportunities!

[Author]

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