Can Flemish Rabbits Live Outside?

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While Flemish giant rabbits may not look like your regular pet rabbits, these gentle giants thrive when surrounded by their preferred people. To provide this much-needed attention, in most cases, this often means keeping your pet bunnies indoors.

If you are new to owning Flemish Giant rabbits, you might be curious as to whether they can live outside. Read on to learn more about whether flemish giant rabbits can live outside and what you need to do to ensure they remain safe and comfortable.

About the Flemish Giant Rabbit

As their name suggests, Flemish Giant rabbits are among the biggest of all rabbit breeds. The average Flemish Giant weighs about 22 pounds with the longest flemish giant rabbit measuring about 30 inches long. These gentle giants are considered docile and laidback. They are intelligent, easy to toilet train, and will quickly blend into your family in no time.

These features make Flemish Giants the perfect pet animals for families. Other than being kept as family pets, these bunnies can also be bred for fur, meat, or as show animals. Flemish Giant rabbits are recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association, popularly known as ARBA by Flemish Giant Rabbit breeders.

Can You Keep Your Giant Flemish Rabbit Outdoors?

Giant rabbits require a lot of care and very specific living conditions to stay happy and healthy. Although popularly known as indoor rabbits, in the wild, these pet bunnies live in below the ground burrows. Being underground, these burrows experience slight temperature changes between winter and summer. Regular outdoor hutches can subject your bunny to extreme temperature changes. As such, you need to devise ways to keep them warm or cool depending on the season all year round.

Taking the proper precaution helps them stay happy and healthy even when they live outdoors. These precautions include making make sure your rabbit is in the right enclosure, has the right conditions, and has plenty of ways to regulate its body temperature if it is too cold or too hot.

For instance, in the summer, ensure there is enough airflow throughout the cage. This way, your bunny can take advantage of the cool breezes, reducing its chances of getting overheated. During the day, shade part of its cage to provide cover from the hot sun.

On the other hand, in the winter, create a nesting box for your bunny with a small entry. This way, when it gets too cold, it can snuggle inside the box, keeping it warm and away from the wind and cold. Line the cage with cardboard boxes, shredded newspaper, straw, or hay to keep it warm.

Factors to Consider When Keeping Your Bunny Outside

If you are considering keeping your furry friend outside, be aware of these dangers:

Predator Animals

Although gigantic, pet flemish giant rabbits do not know how to protect themselves against predators. Rabbits are naturally prey animals. They are always in danger of being ambushed by birds, cats, dogs, foxes, and raccoons.

Escape

Just like dogs, rabbits love to dig the ground. So if your bunny’s cage is set on top of grass or soil it can easily dig itself out and escape. To prevent this, surround the cage with mesh wire including under the level of the soil.

Poisonous Vegetation

If you are keeping a free roam bunny that can access all corners of your garden, it is definitely going to graze on everything it finds on its way. So it important that you ensure there is no poisonous vegetation in your patch for bunnies.

The Weather

You will need to make special arrangements to help the rabbits cope with the different weather conditions. You will also need to make some structural additions to their hutch to ensure it is well protected from extreme temperatures and rainfall.

Loneliness and Boredom

Outdoor rabbits often do not get as much interaction with humans as indoor rabbits. As a result, they may experience a lot of boredom and loneliness, which can lead to other destructive behavior.

How to Keep Your Giant Rabbit Happy Outdoors?

There are a few things you need to do to keep your giant friend happy and healthy outdoors. These include:

A Spacious Enclosure

The big size of Flemish Giant rabbits calls for an even bigger hutch than other rabbits. These rabbits, just like their smaller counterparts, are very active. As such, they need a lot of space to hop, run and explore. Make sure your giant bunny can comfortably stand on its hind legs in a full stretch in its cage. At the very least it should be able to run around and make three full hops.

Hutch: Ideally, the hutch should be at least 2.5 to 4 feet high from floor to ceiling. This height allows the bunny to stand on its hind legs with its ears fully erect. Length-wise, the hutch should allow for the bunny to stretch out completely without touching the sides on the hutch in any direction. You want a length of at least 3.5 to 4 feet with a width matching as close as possible.

Garden shed: If you have enough space, consider building a garden shed for your giant friend. These sheds provide a great alternative to traditional rabbit hutches because they come well insulated and the rabbits stay nice and dry inside. Also, they get a lot of room to hop and move around. This housing is also a lot easier for the owner to feed and clean inside. You can still attach exercise runs for the bunny. During rainy weather, cover the run with a tarpaulin.

Keep Their Cage Dry and Well-ventilated but Not Draughty

Wetness can make your rabbit sick and lead to pest infestations. Consider installing roof panels or using a tarpaulin. Tarpaulins help to protect the roof from rain and snow. it also provides shade in the summer.

Provide Company and Entertainment

Flemish giants are naturally very social, intelligent, and curious creatures. Unfortunately, rabbits kept outdoors usually get less human interaction than indoor rabbits. As such, it is a good idea to rear multiple outdoor rabbits to provide each other company.

In addition, put huts or tunnels for your bunnies to run through. Also, provide various toys and get creative with how you serve their food. For instance, hanging their feeders can provide a lot of fun and excitement for them. Just do not let them be lonely. Also, remember to dedicate time to spend with your rabbits.

Protect Your Giant Rabbit From Predators

With your flemish giant rabbit living outdoors, you may not always know what is sniffing around its cage. Did you know that a rabbit can die of fright, especially when threatened by prey animals?

You need to make sure your bunny feels safe and protected from predator animals at all times. You can do this by installing mesh on all sides of the cage including the bottom to keep other animals from digging and grabbing your pet rabbits.

Also, keep the cage-raised off the ground to keep predators away. Even if your yard is fenced, do not let your rabbits roam free at night because prey animals can easily dig under your fence or climb over it to get to your bunnies.

Meet Its Needs

If you opt to keep your flemish giants outdoors, take care of their essentials. They will need plenty of food and water evenly throughout the night as they are most energetic in the wee hours and evenings. Also, take time to litter train your rabbits.

Litter box training flemish Giants is relatively easy. Rabbits also like it when they have solid lookout spots within their hutch to be able to survey their surroundings and feel safe. Create such points for your furry friend using sturdy boxes or the top of baskets.

Exercise

Note that daily exercise is vital for healthy rabbits. Even in bad weather, your bunnies still need to work their muscle and should not be kept locked up in their cage 24/7. You need to provide them with a protected exercise area. A hutch that is attached to a protected exercise run means that your rabbits can exercise as much as they please.

Your gentle giants should have free access to their run at all times even in the winter and never be locked in their cages. They need exercise every day and being able to move around also helps to keep them warm.

Keep the Hutch Clean and Dry

Finally, you should maintain a clean and dry rabbit hutch for your bunny, especially in the winter. Urine freezes in cold temperatures and a wet sleeping area can make your bunny seriously ill. So make sure to clean their hutch on a daily basis.

Check for any leaks in their cage hutch and have them repaired immediately to keep the rabbit’s environment dry. Also, ensure you maintain the bunny’s regular grooming routine, regardless of the weather.

Can Baby Rabbits Live Outside?

While rabbits live outdoors in the wild, this does not automatically mean that your baby rabbit can live outside too. Baby rabbits should not be left outdoors unsupervised. Likewise, they definitely should not be kept outside full-time.

When Can Baby Rabbits Go Outside?

The best time to bring your baby rabbits outside is in dusk and dawn. During these hours, the temperatures tend to be milder than the rest of the day. It is neither too hot nor too cold. Also, rabbits are crepuscular animals. This means that they are more active during twilight hours. So if you bring your bunnies out at dusk or dawn, they are more likely to enjoy it.

How Do Flemish Giants Manage the Cold Weather?

Flemish giants have thick fur and pads on their feet. These features make them handle the cold very well. Still, exposure to strong winds and damp environments can make them very uncomfortable as well as put them at risk of diseases. As such, their hutch should stay warm and dry to avert these issues. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to ensure this.

How to Tell if Your Rabbit is Too Cold?

A bunny that is too cold is likely to have cold ears. He or she might fluff up and lay on top of their legs as opposed to sprawling.

Effects of Cold Weather on Flemish Giant Rabbits

Cold or Flu in Rabbits

When exposed to cold air, your bunny can catch a bacterial infection. This infection causes symptoms that are similar to those of the common cold in humans.

Symptoms of Cold/flu in Flemish Giants

Your bunny may have

Runny nose and eyes,
Sneezing
Coughing.
Your furry friend may also have murky front paws when they have a cold from wiping their runny nose and eyes.

A bacterial infection in rabbits is serious and highly contagious. It can cause breathing difficulties and reduce their appetite leading to weight loss. If you notice any cold or flu-like symptoms, or if your rabbit is sneezing, visit your local veterinarian immediately.

Hypothermia in Outdoor Bunnies

Hypothermia is a condition that occurs the temperature of your bunny’s body drop to very low levels. This is common when you expose your bunny to freezing temperatures or as a result of letting them sleep in wet hay or litter.

Symptoms of Hypothermia in Bunnies

Symptoms of hypothermia in rabbits include:

Shivering – shivering occurs in the initial stages of hypothermia. However, shivering will stop once temperatures reach dangerously low levels.
Low energy
Pale lips and gums
Loss of proper body coordination

Hypothermia is a medical emergency and should be treated as such. If you notice any of these symptoms, bring your bunny into a warm area and contact your local vet immediately.

Frostbite in Outdoor Rabbits

Frostbite occurs when the temperatures dip low. It causes the bunny’s extremities like the nose, ears and toes to freeze. Although not life-threatening, frostbite leads to hypothermia which, if not controlled, can be fatal.

Symptoms of Frostbite

Frostbite causes the skin to become very pale due to insufficient blood flow. Ice may even develop around these areas. To prevent this from happening, gradually put a warm towel to the affected areas. Make sure the bunny is dry and consult your vet to check that no secondary treatment is needed.

Arthritis

Just like in humans, arthritis worsens as the weather gets colder in rabbits. So if your bunny has this condition, understand that it may experience more pain and discomfort in frigid weather.

To help ease the pain and stiffness, especially in the spine, ankles, hips, knees, and shoulders;

Provide extra blankets around their cage to keep them warm.
Add a low-wattage heater to the rabbit shed but make sure they cannot access or chew the cable.
Provide a snuggle-safe water bottle to use overnight.
Ensure your bunny has enough dry hay to snuggle into to support its joints.
Keep your rabbit on the move with regular exercise to maintain a healthy weight. this is especially vital as it helps reduce pressure on the joints.

How to Keep Outdoor Rabbits Warm in the Winter?

Winter weather can be a challenge for most rabbits. So winter care for any rabbit breed is critical, especially for those that live outdoors. It is vital that you provide extra care, warmth, and protection to keep them happy and healthy throughout this frigid period. Below are some tips on how to make your pet rabbit comfortable this winter

Set up a drought-proof winter hutch: Ideally, the hutch should be protected from rain, wind, and snow to prevent the interiors from getting damp. Also, face your rabbit’s hutch away from prevailing wind and rain
Insulate the hutch: If you cannot bring your giant rabbit indoors, place its cage in a sheltered area. This can be by some trees or even your house. Ensure the area you put the hutch is fenced away from excessive winds. Ensure the outside walls and floor of the sleeping area are insulated.
Protect the roof: Install a sloped roof to drain water away. Tarpaulins are useful to protect the roof from rain, wind, and snow.
Keep off the ground: Raise the rabbit house off the floor enough to keep it dry. Use wooden pallets or bricks to secure the cage off the ground. This will help protect the floor from running water and frost and your bunny from predators.
Litter: Provide loads of extra bedding whether this is straw or hay on the cage floor. This insulates well against the cold and gives the rabbits nice warm nesting material. Avoid giving blankets as they may chew on them.
Provide company: Having 2 or more bunnies is highly recommended for social interaction. Additionally, snuggling up with a friend helps to keep them warm.
Regularly check the cage for leaks or dampness and act immediately if you see any. Consider applying a rabbit-friendly wood coat every few years to keep the hutch in great condition for longer.
Line the floor of the bunny’s cage with some layers of newspaper, hay, or straw for your bunny to burry into.
Invest in microwavable heat pads

Should You Bring Your Rabbit Indoors During Cold Temperatures?

When the temperatures drop, keeping your bunny warm should be your biggest concern. However, doing it outdoors can prove challenging. In such a case, you should consider bringing your bunny hutch inside a shed or outhouse to shelter them from the elements.

Note: Never put your rabbits in a garage where you park your car as the fumes are toxic to rabbits’ delicate lungs.

How to Keep Your Outdoor Bunny Cool in the Summer?

The rabbit’s sweat glands are located in the ears. This is the only way they regulate their body temperatures in the summer. To help them cope better with the hot summer temperatures, you need to provide different ways for them to stay cool, especially during a heat stroke. This may include:

Keeping them away from the sun: Place the rabbit cage in the shade. If possible, provide a ceramic tile or any other cool material inside the hutch for them to lie on.

Spraying cool water to its ears: If your bunny is too hot, spray some cool water on its ears. Alternatively, place a wet towel or cloth against them.

Providing plenty of cool fresh water: Provide clean water and feed them more vegetables. Fresh veggies are water-dense and will help stop dehydration.

Providing ice cubes: Put ice cubes in their water or in a separate dish. You can also provide them with bottles of frozen water in their hutch. Make sure the bottles are wrapped in a clean towel.

How to Tell if Your Rabbit is Too Hot?

Rabbits are prone to heatstroke because of their thick fur. In warmer temperatures, your rabbit may suffer right in front of your eyes without your knowledge. A rabbit that is too hot will have

Very hot ears
Redness on the inner side of the ears
Excessive panting
Slow and lethargic.

Symptoms of heatstroke

Panting
Weakness
Salivating
Reddened ears

If you notice your bunny exhibiting any of the symptoms outlined above, give it first aid immediately.

Move it to a cool area
dampen its fur
place it near a fan

The Bottom Line

Although most pet organizations and expert rabbit breeders are advocating to keep pet rabbits indoors, keeping them outdoors isn’t impossible. While there are risks involved, if you are careful, you can easily avoid them all.

FAQs

What Temperature is Too Cold for Flemish Giants?

Anything below 10 degrees can make your bunny yearn for the warmth and comfort of extra bedding. While younger rabbits can handle colder conditions than that, if your bunny is older, it may suffer painful arthritis. To soothe the pain, keep it warm and dry.

If temperatures go below zero, consider moving your rabbits indoors or to a shed. Ensure their home is well protected from wind, water damp and they have plenty of ways to keep warm.

Can Flemish Giant Rabbits Live Outside All Year Round?

Yes. As a matter of fact, Flemish giant rabbits that live outside grow a thicker coat in the winter and molt in the summer to make their coat thinner and airier. That said, it is important to understand that these pets do not handle extreme temperatures well. So, you will need to make sure their home is cold-proof by providing different ways for them to keep warm.

How Hot is Too Hot for a Rabbit?

The best temperature for rabbits is between 10 to 21 degrees celsius. Anything hotter or colder and your bunny will struggle.