Bunnies at the park

[SDShorty]

Hi Everyone, I just got my baby girl, 8 months old, yesterday. I know that bunnies can do well on harnesses, but sadly I live in an apartment complex and my back porch is just cement, no grass. I would love for her to get to go out and play in some grass on her harness. Is it safe to take buns to the park? Obviously I would have to keep close eye on the surroundings making sure no dogs come near her, but what about the grass itself, do you all think it would be safe for her to romp in?

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

Romp on, yes, that would be okay, but, since it may be treated with chemicals, you wouldn't want her eating it. You could call the park association and see if they have them treated. They may not, which would make it safer in case she does eat some.

Congrats on your new addition!

 

[~Bracon~]

Erm thats a hard one.. personaly... I wouldn't. It only takes one second for something to go wrong and your bun could be attacked by a dog or escape from his harness. I would try and find a small bit of grass somewere , away from dogs,trafficand people

 

[jcottonl02]

Hmm- sounds like a good idea, if you can be sure the grass is not treated and the harness is completely secure- you may get some odd looks though lol!

It's very important for your bunny to eat grass- the silicon in grass when mixed with the saliva of the rabbit forms basically a sand paper paste, wearing down their teeth- it is not hard things that wear them down- its the grass. That's why all grass eating animals- rabbits, horses, cows, etc.- have ever growing teeth.

I've seen these little things at pets at home- you can grow grass in a tub for your bunnies- that might be an idea.

Also- the dog thing Bracon mentioned- dogs are often off leads in parks. Some dogs just 'turn' when they see smaller animals- like greyhounds sometimes. Even if the dog just wants to play with the bunny- that could end very badly too. A dog playing with a rabbit could be just the same as a dog attacking a rabbit- well not just the same but u get my drift lol!

We've got little alleys with grass etc. near us and from fields that never have people of dogs in- maybe you could find somewhere like that?

I know this sounds like a ridiculous idea- but maybe you could get a big tray- like a cat litter tray or something, and fill it with soil from a garden centre etc. and plants grass seeds- so it would be her own little patch of grass you could keep on ur balcony cement thing.

Good luck

 

[Snuggys Mom]

I rarely take my rabbits outside, even though I have a fenced back yard. I worry too much about parasites. I don't want to treat them with chemicals to keep pests off them.

I occasionally take them out in the Fall, after the first frost,but even then, I still worry.

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

You could always find somewhere secluded and set up a small pen as well.

 

[SOOOSKA]

Did you ever consider growing some grass in a container for her to play on and eat. Just a thought.

Susan:bunnydance:

 

[Aliena]

jcottonl02 wrote:

It's very important for your bunny to eat grass- the silicon in grass when mixed with the saliva of the rabbit forms basically a sand paper paste, wearing down their teeth- it is not hard things that wear them down- its the grass. That's why all grass eating animals- rabbits, horses, cows, etc.- have ever growing teeth.

Just so you know - there is no silicon in grass, it is cellulose Cellulose is also very hard to digest which is good for a bunnies digestive system (as is hay).

If you can be sure the grass is untreated and your bunny is not at risk of traffic accidents, dogs or anything else dangerous then I think it would be a great idea. Your bunny would probably love it, just be sure to take things slow because it might be a bit scary at first.

 

[jcottonl02]

what?

That was just me repeating what I heard off a vet.

Eek!!!!! That's scarifying. What?????? That is definately what the vet told me! (not my vet- a different vet but still!)

Are you positive? Cos she is really good with rabbits- and told me that the silicon in grass forms a sandpaper paste which wears the rabbits teeth down.

Is it the cellulose then?

 

[pamnock]

Rigid plant cell walls are primarily comprised of cellulose, however silicon is also important in plant metabolism and some plants have a very high silicon content in their cell walls. Plants absorb silicon from the soil. (Humans also have trace amounts of silicon in their cells).

Ilearned about silicon in plants last year when my little boy was collecting plants for a botany project. He had collected scouring rush, which has a very high silicon content making the plant so rigid and coarse that it used to be used for scouring pans.

My high school kids studied microscopic diatoms (algae) which are high in silicon and look like glass under the microscope.

Many grasses also have high levels of silicon.

So - No, your vet was NOTin error

Pam

 

[jcottonl02]

So there is silicon in grass?

Hang on- if there is, then why would the vet have been wrong about what it does for the rabbits?

 

[pamnock]

jcottonl02 wrote:

So there is silicon in grass?

Hang on- if there is, then why would the vet have been wrong about what it does for the rabbits?

Opps! Ifixed my post - it was supposed to read NOT in error

And yes, all plants absorb silicon from the soil. Some plants are composed of very high levels of silicon.

Pam

 

[jcottonl02]

Oh hehe okey dokey- it makes more sense now

Lol that's good- I was quite worried for a moment, thinking she might have been wrong- I mean- i know it's not life and death information but still lol!

 

[Aliena]

Oops, sorry then. My apologies,I thought you just must have got silicon mixed up with cellulose. We have been learning about plants in my degree at Uni and have talked lots about cellulose but silicon was never mentioned so I didn't realise it was in plants. Just pretend I never said a word...

 

[jcottonl02]

Lol no worries you just scared me for a second
I never knew there was it in plants either till the vet told me