Keeping rabbits outside

[peasypea]

Consider looking at your local rescue centre - there are THOUSANDS of rabbits in rescue already, some will have been there their entire life because people just buy rabbits without realising they have a lot of needs. Also it willl actually work out cheaper because they will have been neutered and have their vaccinations already. They will have lots of advice on housing and how to keep the rabbits safe, they are very knowledgable people.

Diet is a huge factor in rabbit welfare - they must eat a lot of good quality hay to keep their teeth healthy or they end up with massive amount of problems. They only need a tablespoon of pellets a day, the rest should be hay and some green veg. They are prone to gut stasis, a problem which can kill them very quickly if not noticed so they need to be really well looked after every day - can your parents do this when you are at college or uni? There is a lot to think about.

[racinghamster]

I agree. You just need to look at the amount of rabbits in RSPCA and rabbit rescue to see the problem there is with rabbits being dumped. It`s a bit like the cat issue, the cure kitten syndrome and then the reality creeps in. Cat tray in the house (smell), cat gets older, cat needs vet care, throw cat out, no more problem....

Rabbits are usually purchased as kids pets and remohed as adult `house` rabbits. x

[Robodwarfs18]

I've looked at the SPCA website and all the rabbits that I can drive to to get are ones that need experienced owners and there are no rescues/shelters. I'm still looking. My parents would be willing to feed them and things while I'm gone because even though the way I described them (not wanting an indoor rabbit) makes it sound like they won't care for them when in reality my mum does like rabbits and the only reason she was moaning not to get an indoor rabbit was because she hates the smell of the hamster substrate (idk why) and she thought that a rabbit would stink the house out even more. So she'd be happy to feed them sometimes. Thanks for all the advice guys! Still getting every inch of research done so I'm prepared 100%

[SecretlyDying]

Hi, It sounds like you're taking this seriously and doing all the needed research which is good. I have 2 indoor rabbits and they're amazing pets however they do cost a lot - especially in hay, we use Wilko's timothy hay atm which is good and our rabbits like it but honestly buying in bulk from a local hay farmer would work out a lot cheaper. Also as rabbit's cannot vomit it is recommended to brush them to prevent hair balls - this is crucial in the summer months. I have heard it can be hard to bond with outdoor rabbits due to them being outside but if you spend time with them everyday this shouldn't be too much of an issue.

I would also recommend you research about fly strike and how to prevent it - it really scares me and i think all rabbit owners should be aware of it. I too would also recommend joining a rabbit forum, in case you need any advice/help with your rabbits, I'm a member of the rabbits united forum although i only look/read other people posts . Vet bills can be costly (we paid nearly £200 recently for dental work) but if you're prepared for that than it shouldn't be an issue. I just wanted to wish you good look and also link you to a website i used for all my rabbit research - it was really helpful, especially with its covering of hutch/cage size and food

Rabbit Hutch/cage Size Guide - Minimum Requirements - hutch/cage

Rabbit Food Comparision - Brand, Type, Nutritional Analysis - this page really helped me figure out which food to switch my rabbit onto as it has a chart at the bottom of the page - i would also recommend you look at the other pages of this website - They're all helpful

I hope this helps in some way I think you could make this work, if you're willing to make sure their hutch is secure and predators cannot get to them.

[Myles1]

I used to have four male house rabbits and they were a lot of work. As soon as I turned my back on them, they caused mischievous and trouble (not in a bad way!) which always had me on the floor in hysterics. You are technically bringing a pair of hyperactive toddlers into your life because that is what they are exactly like Enjoy!

[Robodwarfs18]

Thanks for the links SecretelyDying, I'll research the flystrike thing thanks. Myles1, ahaha they must be attention-seekers