Colony raising, anyone?

It's a beautiful spring day and the warmer weather started me thinking again about colony raising. There is an extensive section in How to Raise Rabbits that is dedicated to the pros and cons of colony raising. Rabbits do enjoy being outdoors and they love having the opportunity to move about, run, play, jump, and dig. The above photo shows one of my Dutch does, "Sofie"; she particularly enjoyed her adventures outdoors in her fenced-in exercise area. It's fascinating to watch the natural instincts and behaviors of domestic rabbits playing outdoors. The digging was especially entertaining to watch---the dirt was flying as she burrowed into the sod. At one point, a large crow flew overhead and Sofie immediately flattened herself against the ground, trying to make herself invisible to the bird.
So while I have not yet attempted any type of "full-blown" colony raising, I do see the benefits of occasional opportunities for rabbits to enjoy the outdoors and do the things that they would in a more natural setting. But I sleep much better at night knowing that they are safe in their hutches in the rabbitry. :-)