Pet rabbits kept outdoors in hutches suffer from predator stress, temperature extremes, and social isolation.
Pet rabbits kept in small outdoor hutches suffer from chronic stress caused by predator visits, even when physical contact does not occur. The sight or smell of foxes, cats, and dogs causes extreme fear responses. Isolation from other rabbits causes loneliness. Inadequate space prevents natural hopping, binkying, and digging. Many hutch rabbits develop stereotypic behaviors indicating poor welfare.