Rabbit Behavior Change After Coming Inside

Question
I live in Holland and adopted a 6 month old big white rabbit from my local shelter over the summer. He is incredibly sweet, grew up at the shelter after being dumped with his litter. He spent his 6 months outside, even as a little guy, he was outside through the winter in a hutch. We have a big hutch on our balcony for him and he loved it all summer. We left the door open, he would come into our living room and play with us all evening, race around the house, but we'd put him up outside at night. There are no cats that bother him or ways for him to jump off. It's a 2nd floor balcony all bricked in. I've read SO many articles that say rabbits are happier inside, but he just loved sniffing the air outside, laying in the sun as well as hanging out with us. But now that it's wet and cold, we decided to bring the hutch in. He's now inside all day long and seems, quite frankly, cranky and bored. He runs to the balcony every chance he gets, sits in front of the door, and his behavior is different. No longer flopping over with excitement all evening, chewing paper and ripping paper much more, not drinking as much water or eating as much food. How do we help him adjust? Is it too late to move him back outside for nights, if the hutch is fully sheltered from wind and rain?

Answer
Hi,

well, if that is what he really enjoys, you can try it and see how well it works out.  As long as the hutch is as well built and protected as you say, it probably is okay.  Just make sure he's got water that won't freeze, and that any wet hay is pulled out in the morning to prevent mold growth.  Clean the hutch with vinegar every once in awhile.

Lee