Advice needed please. *UPDATE*

Hello everyone.
I havent posted on here for a while but could really do with some advice. I am considering putting Mimi and Lola outside.They have been house rabits now for about 5 years and I wanted to know if anyone else has had experience doing this.
I actually really dont want to do it but I am expecting my second child in Nov and we really need the space.
I was going to put them out just during the day for a week or so then move them out there all the time. My friend is giving me two hutches and a run, both good sizes and I will be able to add to them to make their space plenty big enough.
What do all think??

No advice then?

Hi hun,

I dont have any experience of this im afraid hun - but you need to do what is right for your family.

I think it will be a shock for them, but that doesnt mean they wont like it.

Have you thought of rather than hutches - perhaps getting a shed? This way its more like they are "indoors" can be together and it wont feel like they are being shut away. They can still use litter trays etc which will of course be quite difficult in a hutch set up.

I am thinking about a shed, its just finances at the moment but we have a shed in our garden already that I am wondering if I can partition. They are not bonded rabbits (if they were I would probably leave them indoors and goodness knows I have tried) so they would have to be seperate. I did wonder if they would bond in completely different surrounding!

Hi Tracy,
This is the best time of year to put them out, as they'll acclimatise for winter. I've put Stewie out on the balcony, and he's been absolutely fine with it. They have each other too, so I wouldn't worry and you can always get bigger/better accom. when you have the moolah! Second baby in November..how exciting

A change of scene may be just what they need to fall in love..........

I put willow and felix out 3 mnths ago when I got Rory as they, or should I say, willow kept jumping on his cage. They love it, there is so much to see, and they love switching between a sunny part of the run, and the bigger section that I have shaded. They come indoors for a play and a fuss and are quite happy when its time to put them back in the run and bring Rory indoors

I think it would be a good time as Jay says because they get used to it and they have time to develop a thick winter coat.

They are pretty hardy animals and I think they tend to enjoy being outside where they can dig and enjoy the nice weather - and the rain - peverse animals!

As long as their hutches are dry and they have shelter from the rain and sun (if we ever get any), they will be fine. I think you will be surprised by how they react.

Congratulations on baby number 2. Your first one is looking gorgeous in your avatar.

Hey Tracy i would imagine it would also be a perfect time to bond them too. This time of year is perfect to put them out. I think you will be suprised at how much theu enjoy it. Chance and Ratty moved themselves outside a few years ago. They never wanted to come back in and Chance positively hated it. Good luck and congrats on next baby!!!!!

Jay wrote:Hi Tracy,
This is the best time of year to put them out, as they'll acclimatise for winter. I've put Stewie out on the balcony, and he's been absolutely fine with it. They have each other too, so I wouldn't worry and you can always get bigger/better accom. when you have the moolah! Second baby in November..how exciting

I totally agree with this

Hi Tracy,

As others have said this would be the right time of year to get them to acclimatise!

I have two outside buns and they live in a shed, so I have had no experience of house buns or moving them but they will probably absolutely love to have their own space to run around in and be in charge of, there will be so much for them to do and see as well.

We converted a shed that we didn't use and sheds are great to keep out the breeze in the winter, surprisingly warm. You could give bonding a go! Then they will have even more space to run around in together.

Congrats on baby by the way

Thank you everyone. I have been feeling so guilty over this but it really has to be done. I dont have a huge back garden but I am happy for them to have as much of it as they want. I have been looking at everyone elses set ups and I feel confident I can make them something quite good.

I'm sure they won't want for anythig xx

Thanks Jay. I will make them as comfortable as possible and I am sure they will enjoy chasing Lily around the garden x

I just had a brainwave this morning, dont know why I didnt think of it before. I have decided to put my bunnies outside next to the back door. They can have a great size free range area but also in winter I can run a tunnel into the cat flap so they can come into the kitchen. Genius. So pleased that they will be warm in the winter and makes me feel better about putting them outside now!

Awww yay Im glad you have found a solution that suits you

Great idea! Glad you've come up with a solution that makes you happy.

Well after painting, cleaning and scrubbing on Sunday, yesterday I decided to introduce Lola and Mimi to their new digs. They were both a bit nervous at first, I thought that I would only leave them out a few hours but after their initial worries they LOVED IT! Ended up being out there all day and because it was such a mild night I left them out. Well I locked them in their hutches but left them out all night.
This morning I let them out first thing and have just put them away now. We have had binkying, sunbathing and a few squabbles. They have been nipping and humping each other throughtout the day but just as I went to lock them away for the night I found them both snuggled up together. After years of trying to bond them I think the deed is done.

I feel so much more relaxed them being out ther now. They seem to love it, I am slowly getting into a routine with them and even better, I have a dining area and my house doesnt smell!! whoop.

ive only just joined today,iam glad everything is all sorted and that your bunnies are happy,i only know too well about space and kiddies,i have 3 kiddies,so my bunnies had no option about been outside,iam glad to read that humping is natural and means that there bonding becouse my 2 female rabbits are constantly at it when they are the run

sarah

Hello and welcome to the forum. I am an old member but only recently started posting again, since having my daughter time has been an issue and like you said, now I am expecting my second one space is an isue too.
Yes, humping is normal. Both my buns are girls and have been humping but they are both trying to show each other who is boss. There has been no violence but quite a bit of flying fur, lol.

Glad you found a perfect solution - sounds fabbo!

Sarah - your buns will be humping because they will be trying to establish who is dominant. you may need to keep an eye on this in case they start to fight. x x

ahhhhhh thank you,i do keep an eye on them when i see them,its spike that seems to be doing it more,so maybe she wants to be the queen bee,is there anything i can do to tame it down?

Hey Sarah,

You are doing exactly the right thing just keeping an eye on things for now.

Its very very common for two girls (even sisters) to start to fall out and fight when they get into puberty.

With buns - once they start to fight they will not sort it out like dogs do (that is decide who is boss and live with it) what normally happens is one bun will become more and more frightened of the other and they can cause terrible injuries.

The way to try and prevent this is to have them spayed as soon as they are old enough. This will get rid of the hormones that are making them territorial. Its also really good for them. Unspayed buns are at 80% risk of cancer and can become grumpy and aggressive too.

Its a good idea to do this before they start to fight too - as it is incredibly difficult to bond two buns who have fallen out. They are difficult little monkeys!

They will be to young for this right now as they can usually be done about 6 months.

In the mean time I think you are doing the right thing just keeping an eye on them - check for signs of fighting (missing fur - or a frightened bun).

K x

thank you,there only 15weeks old,so ive got a while to go then yet before i can get them done

forgot to say,ive already asked the vet how much it is,never asked what age it was ok to get them done,will give me time to save up then