Bunnies as pets? Living outside all year?

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

I have been thinking about getting one or two bunnies as pets, not meat or fur. They would live outside 24/7, 365 days a year (being indoor is not an option for me). One breed I've been thinking about is the Silver Fox; because I have heard that they are friendly and do well outside. Should I get males or females? Which breeds do you guys have/would recommend for friendliness and hardiness to the outdoors? I want to make sure I get a breed that would be comfortable living outside all year. I live in North Idaho, so I get all 4 seasons here; winter is cold and snowy, spring is rainy, summer is hot. Additional to the breed is the living space. I know that they will need a large area, as bunnies are active animals, with lots of shade, a "coop" for sleeping, but what else? I have plenty of space with lots of grass for them to graze about in, I just have to make an enclosure for them. Can bunnies jump over walls? I have very rocky soil here, so will that discourage them from digging under to get out? I have 4ft fencing that I could easily make a very, very large enclosure for them, but I wouldn't want them escaping over or under it. Also, what do they eat? Do they need anything beyond hay and fresh water?

And this next one might be a no brainer, but bunnies can't live with chickens, can they? I have a run that my 9 hens live in, which is 301.438 square feet, plus another extension that they are allowed into daily, which is about the same size as the run. Having them live together would be nice, since I already have a tall walled run and I can make a bunny hutch under my raised coop.

 

[secuono]

Two does, bought as babies or young, before maturity, can live together. Bucks need to be castrated or will do that for you or worse to each other. Get them as babies only and neuter as soon as possible.
Mature bucks might spray, mature does may get occasionally grumpy as they become more willing to breed. They don't have an official cycle, but do have times they are more hormonal and willing to breed, that's when they can get annoyed, snappy, grumbly. Doesn't matter how friendly and well socialized they were growing up, hormones tend to change them. Think of a teenager who is not handling their hormones well.
Unless you dig the fence down 2ft or to the rocks, they will dig out.
Chicken run needs to be pretty clean and dry, or the poop and wetness will make them sick. As long as you don't breed them in there, they should be fine, as chickens will eat baby rabbits. Do not allow the rabbits to eat chicken feed. Especially medicated feed!
Rabbits need a complete rabbit pellet. Not the candy in a petstore, but real, plain feed. Then add hay and greens. Do not believe the house rabbit society. Fruits and veggies are unnatural and not healthy. Plants from outside are what they eat; grasses, legumes, vines, leaves, twigs, shrubs, weeds. "Beyond the pellet" and some other books supposedly help figure out how to feed rabbits outside of pellets. I use the internet to ID safe plants and feed that plus pellets, so haven't read the books to comment.

Silver Fox fur is a bit longer and fluffier than most breeds. They tend to mat around the hind end when shedding. So just brush the area during those times and they'll be fine. Depending on the lines, they're usually a good big pet breed. But there are nasty ones in there and most breeders will deny they exist.
Avoid the wooly breeds, lionhead, angora and such. They are high maintenance and for ground living, a nightmare. Heat can also be a big problem for them.
I'd avoid any dwarf breeds with undersized ears, just because they use ears to help cool them down.
There's a few breeds known to be spicy and very flighty, but I believe that they're more uncommon breeds and unlikely for you to just happen to find one. So wouldn't worry about that.
Rex, not mini rex, are a good big breed. Their fur makes them low maintenance. If on wire, watch out for sore hock. Should be fine if on the ground.