Any tips on bringing a outdoor rabbit inside?!

[chickenmama109]

Hi!! So I was going to bring my rabbit inside a while ago but I decided not too, well know I have decided too agai. Because she will be in a room with a baby gate so my dogs cant get to her! in going to get her a cage to stay indoors with a d she will go outside in her playpen a d run around the room when i watch her. I am just not comfortable with how far away she is outside especially with it getting colder! I was wondering will she be ok with the noises? I have three dogs and kids in the house. How do I get her use to being indoors? And also if you could give me some tips on potty trying that would be great! Thanks

 

[Wishing4Wings]

We had a house rabbit for 12 years. Chicory loved to run around in a safe room where dogs and cats were not allowed. (since rabbits are prey animals, they will instinctively be wary of predators, like dogs and cats.) Chicory would inspect everything and jump up on my son's bed. We gave him towels or blankets on the floor and he would "dig" in them like it was dirt. He liked to hide in boxes that we cut tunnels through. We kept all electrical cords out of reach. Rabbits will chew them and risk getting shocked. Beware, rabbits will also chew books and other papers (like homework!) and wood (including molding and furniture).
He had a favorite toy that he would toss around. Like this, with a bell instead of a mouse. eeeek!

I would take things slowly getting your bun used to being inside. Keep her locked safely in her cage for a week or two until she gets used to routines and noises in your house. If she is flighty (scares easily) you might cover part of her cage to she can hide. Rabbits naturally tend to have tidy potty habits... comes from living in burrows. You will most likely notice she chooses a particular spot in her cage to urinate. Put a small litter box there. We used pelleted grass cat littler in the box, which helped keep the smell down. I've seen people use hay in the litter box, but I think they'd rather eat their hay than pee on it! Since Chicory was a small rabbit, we used a small, low plastic tray for his littler box. While he would pee in the box consistently, he pooped wherever he happened to be. Easy to clean up, though.
Hope this helped and enjoy your bunny!

 

[chickenmama109]

We had a house rabbit for 12 years. Chicory loved to run around in a safe room where dogs and cats were not allowed. (since rabbits are prey animals, they will instinctively be wary of predators, like dogs and cats.) Chicory would inspect everything and jump up on my son's bed. We gave him towels or blankets on the floor and he would "dig" in them like it was dirt. He liked to hide in boxes that we cut tunnels through. We kept all electrical cords out of reach. Rabbits will chew them and risk getting shocked. Beware, rabbits will also chew books and other papers (like homework!) and wood (including molding and furniture).
He had a favorite toy that he would toss around. Like this, with a bell instead of a mouse. eeeek!

I would take things slowly getting your bun used to being inside. Keep her locked safely in her cage for a week or two until she gets used to routines and noises in your house. If she is flighty (scares easily) you might cover part of her cage to she can hide. Rabbits naturally tend to have tidy potty habits... comes from living in burrows. You will most likely notice she chooses a particular spot in her cage to urinate. Put a small litter box there. We used pelleted grass cat littler in the box, which helped keep the smell down. I've seen people use hay in the litter box, but I think they'd rather eat their hay than pee on it! Since Chicory was a small rabbit, we used a small, low plastic tray for his littler box. While he would pee in the box consistently, he pooped wherever he happened to be. Easy to clean up, though.
Hope this helped and enjoy your bunny!

Thank you so much!! How big of a cage did your have? I'm worried that the one I'm getting eith be too small! It is 42 inches long by 22 inches wide and 19 inches tall. I have a seven pound herlaquin rabbit. She will not be in there all the time she will get to get out under supervision. Is this big enough? Again thank you for all the info I really appreciate it!!

 

[chickenmama109]

This is her! Her name is bella!

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Bella is very pretty!
Chicory's cage was about that big. We had it on the floor so he could jump out for play time. And so he could jump back in to use the littler box, which he did without fail! Such a good boy!

His cage was like this

If she gets out daily for exercise, it should be okay.

We also had an ex pen we could set up outside on nice days. Some people set up the ex pens inside, but if your dogs and cats have access to the room where you keep her, Bella might not be safe.

This is kind of like the ex pen I used. (not my picture)

There are lots of options for giving them a bit more space.

 

[chickenmama109]

Bella is very pretty!
Chicory's cage was about that big. We had it on the floor so he could jump out for play time. And so he could jump back in to use the littler box, which he did without fail! Such a good boy!

His cage was like this
View attachment 1948295
If she gets out daily for exercise, it should be okay.

We also had an ex pen we could set up outside on nice days. Some people set up the ex pens inside, but if your dogs and cats have access to the room where you keep her, Bella might not be safe.

This is kind of like the ex pen I used. (not my picture)

There are lots of options for giving them a bit more space.

Thank you so much for your help!! Really appreciate it! Happy Halloween

 

[4 Georgia Hens]

Hi!! So I was going to bring my rabbit inside a while ago but I decided not too, well know I have decided too agai. Because she will be in a room with a baby gate so my dogs cant get to her! in going to get her a cage to stay indoors with a d she will go outside in her playpen a d run around the room when i watch her. I am just not comfortable with how far away she is outside especially with it getting colder! I was wondering will she be ok with the noises? I have three dogs and kids in the house. How do I get her use to being indoors? And also if you could give me some tips on potty trying that would be great! Thanks

Hello I don’t know if this is still an active thread, but please don’t keep her in a cage! I would recommend a large x-pen, considering that rabbits need a significant amount of space to stand, binky, and zoom around.

 

[chickenmama109]

Hello I don’t know if this is still an active thread, but please don’t keep her in a cage! I would recommend a large x-pen, considering that rabbits need a significant amount of space to stand, binky, and zoom around.

Thanks! She stayed inside for a couple of days while it was in the 30s she did great in her large dog pen with a litter box and it was a lot of room for her and she also got to get out and roam the room unfortunately I don't really have space for a dog play pen but she did great in the dog cage thnk you for the info

 

[4 Georgia Hens]

Thanks! She stayed inside for a couple of days while it was in the 30s she did great in her large dog pen with a litter box and it was a lot of room for her and she also got to get out and roam the room unfortunately I don't really have space for a dog play pen but she did great in the dog cage thnk you for the info

You are very welcome! If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to ask! God bless you and your little bunny!

 

[chickenmama109]

You are very welcome! If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to ask! God bless you and your little bunny!

thank you very much!!