If you have an outside balcony you can provide your rabbits an awesome outside space!



Location
Be sure the balcony is wind and weather protected and avoid constant direct sunlight.

Safety
• Secure from all sides – no gaps
• Predators are good climbers

Balcony enclosures have to be secured well from all sides, which means above, the front, and the sides. There must be no gaps or open spaces. Using aviary wire as previously mentioned for outdoor housing is best here. Cats, rats and weasels are predators of rabbits and are very good climbers. They also live in big cities. Weasels can walk up a completely smooth vertical wall. Unprotected and unsecured balconies are easy pickings for eagles and hawks as well.

Balcony enclosures must be secured like outside enclosures. You must consider the location, the securing, the decoration and the floor space requirement

The Flooring
• If made of wood or wire grating – lay a different floor that covers the gaps
• Straw matts, PVC, linoleum and cotton rugs are suitable
• Artificial turf/grass is unsuitable

Normally you must not secure a balcony, as they come already with a solid foundation of concrete and/or tiles. However if the floor of the balcony is made from wooden planks or wire grating, you must lay a different floor on top, so that the space between is covered and the sensitive feet of rabbits can be protected. Types of protective flooring that may be used are straw matts, PVC, linoleum or washable cotton rugs. Unsuitable materials are artificial turfs because they are very rough and wound the rabbit’s feet and hocks. When the artificial turf is eaten, it can lead to dangerous health problems as well.

Additional Run
• Ensure room and furniture is rabbit safe
• Be aware that temperature differences are dangerous

In Summer, you can also provide your rabbits an additional run in the apartment or house. Ensure that your furniture, cords and plants are all safely secured. See Inside Keeping for more information. In Autumn, due to the differing temperatures, you cannot have them inside, otherwise they cannot adapt and will not be able to build enough winter coat as well as their immune system will not be able to prepare for the cold. The constant change in Winter time, from cold balcony enclosure to warm apartment temperature, can very quickly lead to a cold, or to a chronic Upper Respiratory Infection (“Snuffles”). Otherwise, the same advise is given to balcony keeping as outdoor keeping.

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