Outside playtime?

[amberelizabeth]

I have noticed some ppl let their rabbits outside often, is this something I should be considering? Layla gets ample amout of time outside of her cage but she's never been outside, I'm just too nervous to take her out with the chance of her getting away or something along those lines. I think in the future I'll be able to let her out, but as of now she's just too skiddish and hyper.



thanks

 

[Flashy]

My rabbits run outside whenever it is dry.

Most likely, due to where you live, you would need to supervise her because of the risk of predators out there, but you could easily buy a run (an x-pen, or maybe make one out of NIC cubes, or fashion one yourself). You could then be confident that she wouldn't get out of it, and you would be supervising anyway.

You can obviously only let her go on the grass if it is not treated with any sort of anything (pesticides, weed killers or anything else), and also if there are no poisonous plants in that area that she might eat andcould damage her.

You would also probably have to choose a suitable day for her, i.e. not too hot, not wet, etc, otherwise she wouldn't enjoy it as much as she might.

I bet she would love it though.

 

[Bunnys_rule63]

I agree with everything Moominmoo said, but also you might want to get a run with a roof just in case. I don't know exactly what the risk from predators is like where you live but I'd imagine it would be much higher than in the UK soa roof would be a safety measure (it would also stop Layla climbing out). Outdoor play would also need to be supervised to make sure so doesn't try to escape or nothing tries to hurt her.

As long as the weather isn't too hot I'm sure she will love being outside in the fresh air - and if you do decide to go for it remember to take lots of pictures!

 

[we3pnuts]

Webring our bun outside on a harness leash. I'm from Minnesota, so similar weather to you. I avoid the really hot days (90's or higher). I have a small garden on the side of my house and she LOVES to lay and dig in the dirt.I will also put her in front of a patch of dandelions and she munches away at them.She gets a little frisky outside and wants to run, run, run. I would thinka run or x-pen would be the best but if you can't do that thenget a harness for her. You can pick them up at petco/petsmart or any local pet store. Go ahead and give it a try. I bet she would love it.

Edit: I wanted to mention if you do get a harness get the large size. I accidentally got the small and it barely fits.

 

[Flashy]

we3pnuts wrote:

I would thinka run or x-pen would be the best but if you can't do that thenget a harness for her. You can pick them up at petco/petsmart or any local pet store. Go ahead and give it a try. I bet she would love it.

Some bunnies work reallywell with a harness, some don't so much. If you decide to get a harness, make sure that you get your bunny used to it inside, and also that it is not too lose and that she won't slip out of it (and obviously it also needs to not be too tight either).

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[~BunBuns~]

I let bunbuns out almost every other day. I let him out in the backyard. I watch out for twigs and the shed and stuff but other then that he enjoys getting out. Runing around. The first time he went out was with his cage. I let him stay there for about 10 minutes and left the door open.. He came out on his own.

 

[amberelizabeth]

thanks for the replies guys! I do have an exercise pin that a friend gave me (she used to have rabbits) i haven't set it up, but it looks pretty big. I think in the Fall I'll try it, right now its 90+ out and its HOTT! I think she just enjoys laying w/ her frozen water bottles and fans haha.

I was looking into getting a harness so I coul dpractice getting it on her and getting her used to it. I think i still might, it'd be fun to take her out and about.

-mainly what makes me nervous is getting her in and out, she HATES being held and I have a terrible time doing it, therefore I avoid it at all costs, except for vetvisits of course

 

[buck rogers]

I've been thinking about bringing my buns outside for playtime lately as well. I am not sure if I will or not as I am a very overprotective mom! But if I did I would put them in their carrier inside the house then bring the carrier outside and not let them out of it until they were safley in the xpen....I would do the same thing to bring them inside. I'm not sure if I will bring them out and so far I'm leaning towards not...but we'll see. I have an xpen waiting.....just in case...lol

 

[Michaela]

Maddie, my indoor bun, goes outside for playtime a few days a week - she has a smallish run for her, or she goes in Pebble and Ebony's big run (both wooden covered in wire mesh). It always takes her 15 minutes or so to come out of the hidey box, but once she realises she's safe she loves it.

Pebble and Ebony, who live in a playhouse,would be very cross if they didn't get they're outside playtime, and they'd let me know too. :rollseyes

 

[Bunman]

It's good, depending on the locale, etc. We have redtailed hawks, cats, fleas...a covered run would be protected from all but fleas.

 

[TreasuredFriend]

Do you have abundant wildlife going through your property? Raccoons? If your skittish gal is kept in an exercise fence, supervise and keep it covered. Would she dig underneath it? I know of a 5# dutch bunny whobashesinto and pushesexercise pens!

New Berlin WI: Case-1. Bunny outside, neighbors dog ran over and knocked over her simple unit, bunny was killed. Brookfield WI Case-2. Neighbor leftcute bunoutside in pen, and it disappeared. Appearance of red-tailed hawks in vicinity arose suspicion. Waukesha WI Case-3.Young person/neighbor left Rex girl outside in pen to come back from being in house and saw r.t. hawk circling overhead. Hartland WI Report-4. We adopted from the shelter and in nice weather take her outside to roam in grass. She got fly strike about a year ago (vet successfully removed larvae), and now she's developed hind limb paresis? (hmm, Is this E.C. related??) South Milwaukee Case-5. While walking in park, stranger approached "how much you want for that chubby rabbit? Bet it'd taste really good!" to which the bun owner replied, "how much you want for your kid?" DePere WI Case 6: Beloved bun kept in fenced yard in wooden hutch. Later found decapitated in yard. Report #7: Distracted at fair-ish type events, rabbit on leash screamed which averted theowner's attention back to rabbit.Suspected leash entanglement/entrapment aroundlegsafter the rabbit spooked. Report 8. Neighbors' forgot to move the outdoor rabbitcondo in after dusk. Bunny was found "gotten to" by predator.

I'd evaluate the safety and surroundings and type of enclosure. Pesticides, yard safety,such asroaming tom's that lemonaxis knows, parasitic "hitchikers" (fleas, mites, ticks, roundworm,tapeworms)are things to keep in mind for Layla's well-being.


Bassetluv's Raph'N'Weed lounging in her garden and other photos of people's bunnies in the yard make me smile.

Yah, what would happen ifLayla would dart loose and you're unable to call her back or retrieve her, ... go with your gut feeling AND keep her safe.

Some areas of the world or country are safer places for a rabbit to be outside.

 

[amberelizabeth]

thanks, yeah i live in town so there are a few dogs nearby, but usually no other wildlife. when the weather cools down i'm going to try and give her some outside time, HIGHLY supervised )



i have another question, slightly off topic, figured i'd post in here: What do you guys use for a carrier? As of now I just have the pet box she came in from the humane society, I've only had to take her to the vet twice, so it hasn't been that bad. But what size should I look for. she's a 6 1/2 lb bunny. Should she be able to stretch out when laying down?

 

[Bunnys_rule63]

You don't want her to have too much room as it is safer that she is in a smaller space that she can't move around in when travelling. Try to go for one that is big enough for her to turn around and lie down in(although not necessarily stretched out) but not so much room thatshe can hop about.

 

[TreasuredFriend]

A neighborhood rummage sale netted us a large carrier (excruciatingly disinfected once home) and I'll use the large cab to transport 5 to 10 lb. bunns to the vet office, or to a future home when they are dating a bachelor/bachelorette. I place a washable rug in the bottom and a small dishpan (hospital bedpan or dishpan siz-ish actually) in the back of the kennel cab with litter. Well, this works for a 5 to 7 lb. bun. Not for our 11+ lb. Flemmish/NZ Kareena! That way when I travel 30 miles or 45 minutes one-way for a date, the carrier has a backsection porta-potty. So I'd say get something that will allow yourfurry dearto sit or rest sufficiently and have a backarea pp parlor. You could also line the k/cab floor with a towel, light layer of newspaper and litter. [don't ask how many kennel cabs we routinely keep on hand!!! LOL. most are medium size or larger]

Cabs arestoredcloseby in case of emergency. Depends on how much space you have in your dwelling, too!

Karla and husbun Barry, in the avatar, were at the vet's yesterday. A bath rug provides a comfy riding surface. Especially for Karla's sore limbs. Once Barry got home he quickly hopped into the condo 1st floor and relieved himself in his burgundy litter pan. Those kids travel without the porta-parlor.

I keep bonded pairs in the same carrier when a vet visit is required. Would Layla someday like to have a friend? We have cardboard chewers in our house so the cardboardcarrier from a shelter would never last if someone wants to create an extra window. Consider a sturdy carrying handle, easy operational door.

Bunnyrules has great advice. Look for something that gives your friend enough spacealbeit your bunn won't fly against a wall if you suddenly swerve. Hope this helps,

 

[Haley]

Definitely go with your gut. Some bunnies love being outside, others are scared to bits. The new sights, smells and sounds are more than enough to scare a timid bunny.

Also, I really would not recommend using a harness. Many rabbits have either gotten loose or been severely injured on a harness. They can easily break a leg or worse on one of those.

 

[naturestee]

I have not taken my rabbits outside yet. I have considered bunny-proofing my wooden deck except it would make it quite the eye sore and it's in the front of the house, LOL! My buns are perfectly happy inside, plus they aren't really that easy to handle. I walk my cats outside on harnesses but I think they are easier to handle. They also run to me when they are scared, instead of darting blindly like the bunnies might.

If she is difficult to handle still I wouldn't recommend it. You need to know that you'll be able to handle her even if she is spooked. If you do take her outside, I think pen or covered run is best and you should be out with her the whole time. Treasured Friend shared lots of reasons for that. You just can't trust other people, and hawks can attack even in cities. Redtails often live in parks and golf courses. I don't know if a Cooper's hawk would try for a rabbit because they usually eat small birds, but one could still spook a rabbit pretty badly if it did fly close to investigate. Those hawks are very well adapted for suburban life and often prey on bird feeders near houses.

I'm not a fan of harnesses. Mocha nearly strangled herself when I was trying to harness train her in the house. Oberon can use one but I wouldn't use it outside- it was just for bonding purposes and for an indoors-only visit to the developmentally disabled people James works with.

 

[Korr_and_Sophie]

I built a small run for my buns. I used a kids wading pool and put wire around it. I then put soil and grew some grass. I used sticks to keep it up and there is a top. I only put them outside when the weather is nice. Korr loves it and gets excited to go out.

 

[amberelizabeth]

thanks guys! all of your comments and knowledge are very useful!

TreasuredFriend: at some point i'd like to get Layla a friend (probably not for a year or so) so thanks for the advice of getting a larger carrier.



you knwo you're right, i'm not comfortable w/ taking layla out, i'm not comfortable w/ how i can handle her yet, so she's just going to have to get along w/ her 2 story house she runs all around



thanks!!!

 

[Gordon]

Reading about the dangers of the great outdoors is enough to scare the heck out of me and my two guys really don't seem interested in venturing out in the backyard. I have a nice small yard, privacy fenced, and occasionally in nice weather, I've opened the back door and sat on the covered deck, in hopes that Peter and Bugs would be curious enough to hop out and check things out, but they seem quite content to just lay around on the living room rug, LOL.

 

[marshkellow]

i would love to let my bun go outside for a run around but alas, we have absolutely no grass on our property. aside from that, he's a total wimp and refuses to even go near the front door lol. only carpet will do for his posh paws