How high can rabbits jump and other things that worry me.

[jenissi]

Hi all.



I am a new bunny owner of a couple of months, and have an adorable calico patterned Rex named Trisha who is about 4 months old. I have read extensively on them and subscribed to newsletters et all,so I'm very familar with the usual stuff. Anyway, this is my situation. I wanted to let Trisha have run of the house, but she is just not responding to litterbox training. She uses her box, but everywhere else too. so I keep her in her large cage most of the time. Because of that, when I come home, I like to let her out into my large fenced yard for a few hours of exercise and freedom. My 4 foot cyclone fence is sealed all the way around and she can't get out, but last night when I came out to get her, there was a wild rabbit in the yard giving her the eye.She isnot spayed, because to put it perfectly plainly, I can't afford it. I've inquired at my vet and the pet store and the prices are just beyond me, but I figured she'd be safe in a sealed yard. How did he get in?? Can they jump that high or did he use some other sort of rabbity tricks to get in? also, do I have to worry about fleas and other evilsfrom the worldout of doors? If so, what kind of protection could I use? I don't want her to be confined all the time.



Thanks for your input.

...Chuck

 

[Bunnys_rule63]

Some rabbits can jump as hight as 4ft, but he could have also have gotten in by digging or through a gap in the fence. Personally I wouldn't let her go outside anymore because of the risk of her getting pregnant, but also she could catch myxi or VHD off the wild rabbits (if you live in the UK there is a vaccine for these but the rabbit can still catch them). I'd give litter training another go and let her excercie inside your house. Young, unspayed rabbits can be hard to litter train so I'd give her a bit or time and see if she becomes easier to litter train as she gets older. This thread also has information on litter training:

http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=12213&forum_id=17

 

[Runestonez]

BunnysRule was correct. The littertraining is going to be harder since she is not spayed. If you eventually do get it done it will greatly improve her habits! Def understand not being able to afford getting it done though! Some of the prices for spaying neutering are outrageous!:shock: Are you in the States? Have you checked with any of the Humane Societies??? Sometimes they will do it too!

My take on the situation would be this: If a wild bunn can get in...your bunn can probably get out!:shock: Our one bunn jumped and cleared a gate just over 3 and half feet high. I'm not sure how big your bunn is...ours was a 2 1/2 pound lop! If some part of the fence isn't buried under ground she might dig a shallow space and squeeze under it to get out. I'm not sure what you mean by cyclone fence...but they are flexible right? Could she push at it and manage to make a space to squeeze under??

Anytime a bunn is outdoors there is always the risk of it catching something or attracting predators! We can't let our bunns outside because this area is lousy with raccoons...we actually have a nest in our neighbours tree! I believe as well that domestic bunns can catch diseases from wild ones and I thought I read as well that the wild bunns will attack domestic bunns too! Someone correct me if I am wrong!!

Here are a couple links which dicussed having rabbits outside and some of the dangers/problems!! Hope some of this helps!

http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=12563&forum_id=1&highlight=Dangers+outside

http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=12758&forum_id=1&highlight=outdoors

 

[Haley]

As was said, if a wild rabbit can get in, yours can probably get out. The best situation would be for you to continue with the litter training and keep Trisha indoors. You can always set up a play pen area/run that is a secure area for her to frolick outside while you are supervising her.

A wild rabbit cannot impregnate a domestic one, but they could mount them, hurt them, or transfer disease/fleas/ticks etc. If you are going to let your bun outside, its best to keep her in a secluded area that is safe and supervised.

With regards to the spay, you can contact any local shelter or rabbit rescue and ask them if they know of a vet that does spays at a discount. As runestonez said, some even perform the operation themselves for a good price.

Welcome to the site and let us know if you have any more questions..we're glad to help!

-Haley

PS...feel free to introduce yourself (and Trisha) in the introductions thread, or create a blog in the Bunny Blog section

 

[maomaochiu]

Haley wrote:

A wild rabbit cannot impregnate a domestic one.

Hmmm, interesting! wonder why? just curious.after all, they are all bunnies

 

[JimD]

Haley wrote:

As was said, if a wild rabbit can get in, yours can probably get out.-Haley

When Brindle was a baby, we use to take her out in the backyard and let her run around in the expen. The pen is only 24" high, but it was fine when she was small. This sumer I was going to build an outdoor run for the buns, but didn't get around to it because of my back surgery.

We also have cottontails that have been burrowing under our nieghbor's shed for years. Every year we watch 3 or 4 litter grow up. It's so much fun to watch them when a bunch of them get out there!

The other day there were 3 adults and 2 little ones. They were running around and chasing each other. The 2 little ones were a riot. I swear, those little onescan jump straight up in the air at least 2 feet. I can imagine how high they could go if they got a running start.

Not only that, but they can run full out and slip under the smallest opening in the fence with ease. Even the adults seem to do this. It's almost like they just run through the chain link fence like it wasn't there.

 

[Haley]

okay..i know I read it somewhere..something to do with genetic differences between the two..

let me see if I can find the link...

 

[Runestonez]

I think it had to do with domestic rabbits being from European stock...and genetically incompatable with North American wild rabbits...or something to that effect.

 

[JimD]

Haley wrote:

okay..i know I read it somewhere..something to do with genetic differences between the two..

let me see if I can find the link...

Yeah, I was trying to find info on that too.
All I could find was some info about hares having different genes than rabbits...and different quantity too.

I was looking more for the comparision of wild vs domestic rabbits.

 

[Haley]

I couldnt find the original website, but heres one I did find:

[font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]Hares (Lepus) have 24 pairs of chromosomes while the domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus) has 22 and the cottontail (Sylvilagus) has 21 pair. While mating is possible between the different species, the resulting embryos will die after a few cell divisions because of the differences in the number of chromosome pairs. from http://www.rabbitweb.net/myths.asp [/font]

In any case, not a good scenario as they can still transmit disease etc.

-Haley

 

[JimD]

......that's the blurb I found....same site, too

 

[Haley]

Lol. I was searching online about this (sorry for hijacking this thread) and I found something naturestee posted on another forum...what luck!:


http://www.rabbitsinthehouse.org/new...summer2000.pdf

 

[naturestee]

Haley wrote:

A wild rabbit cannot impregnate a domestic one,

Actually it depends on where you are. If you live in the UK/Europe, Australia, or another place where European rabbits live or have been released, then yes they can breed. They're the same species. If you live in North America then they can't, unless the "wild" rabbit is actually an agouti colored feral domestic rabbit. It's unlikely you'd mistake a feral domestic rabbit for a cottontail though.

If you live in Europe or Australia, wild rabbits can not only spread parasites but also the deadly diseases myxomatosis and VHD. VHD is almost always fatal. Some rabbits can be nursed through myxi but a very high percentage of infected rabbits die. The UK has vaccines available and it's important to vaccinate all rabbits, even those that are kept strictly indoors.

The west coast of the US also has myxi outbreaks in the wild rabbit populations, and this can spread to domestic animals. No vaccine is available, so your best bet is to keep the rabbit inside and away from the biting insects (fleas, mosquitos, etc) that spread the disease.

Some of the once-a-month flea treatments are safe for rabbits. But don't just assume that a product is safe! Do research first because some are deadly. And make sure you get the cat versions because dog versions are usually not made to be safe to ingest. Some products such as Revolution are only available from vets but might be worth the money. For example, Revolution not only treats fleas but also mites.
http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=12922&forum_id=10

 

[Haley]

naturestee wrote:

Haley wrote:

A wild rabbit cannot impregnate a domestic one,

Actually it depends on where you are. If you live in the UK/Europe, Australia, or another place where European rabbits live or have been released, then yes they can breed. They're the same species. If you live in North America then they can't, unless the "wild" rabbit is actually an agouti colored feral domestic rabbit. It's unlikely you'd mistake a feral domestic rabbit for a cottontail though.

Thanks for clarifiying! I knew that cottontails couldnt breed with domestic, butI wasnt sure about European wild rabbits. Thanks!

 

[jenissi]

I can't thank you all enough for all the interesting insight! It's been real helpful. I did call a couple of humane societies and got some direction, and I think I can cut the spay price at least in half using their source. I may be able to swing that ina month or two. Meanwhile, I'll superviser her outside and give her the run of the basement more. (it's a bugger catching her down there though, too many things to hide under!) All in all, I think we'll do well. Thanks again!

...Chuck