Safety is key for any rabbit, whether indoor or outdoor. Outdoor rabbit safety is highly important because of the exposure to the elements. Rain, wind, and extreme heat or cold can cause bunny to get sick or die if he is not properly protected while he is outside. He must also be protected from poisonous plants, and parasites and other wild animals like wild rabbits, raccoons etc.
OUTDOOR RABBIT CAGE/HUTCH SAFETY:
If bunny is a rabbit that will remain outdoors for the majority of his time then you need to make sure that he can access a safe, enclosed place to hide/play/rest in. Having a good, strong hutch is essential.
Make sure that his hutch is dry and cleaned daily, has no wire flooring, has a minimum of 3 levels, and a completely closed off hide away area. This will give him a safe place to hide should a raccoon or other animal come for a visit and begin to poke at bunny. Make sure that you can access his hiding spot in case you have to get him for whatever reason. Your hutch should also have good ventilation while keeping him safe from too much wind and rain. The cage should be placed in an area that gets at least 4-5 hours of sun a day. A good place to put the hutch may be on a shady patio, or back porch. It is not a good idea to put bunny on a non-enclosed front porch. A sun porch is OK though. A bunny pen is a fairly safe place to let bunny hop around in in your yard. Just because bunny is in a pen though doesn't mean she is 100% safe from wild animals. Watch her when she is playing outside her hutch. Put toys, a hiding spot and water/hay in the pen.
WEATHER SAFETY:
Having bunny outside in bad rain, freezing cold, high winds, or sweltering heat is not only dangerous for bunny, but quite silly on your part. If the temperature reaches over 80 degrees outside without a good breeze, and there is med-high humidity then bunny should be taken inside. If the temperature goes below 50 degrees, with med-high winds, and there is snow, then bunny should be taken inside. Bunny should also come inside during chilly, wet, or really rainy/stormy days. She should also be taken in if you leave the house or it's night time so have a temporary indoor hutch for bunny.
YARD SAFETY:
If you live in a highly wooded area with many deer, wild rabbits, raccoon's, etc. then take extra precaution to keep bunny in a safe bunny pen and hutch. Be aware to keep these critters away since their poop/saliva/pee that gets on the grass that bunny may nibble on can give her deadly illnesses that can be fatal in 24hrs if not treated ASAP. Keep garden greens, poisonous plants, etc away from bunny. Watch her closely and take care of bunny.
