Buns in the great outdoors?

[Joyfull_music]

The warming weater and greening grass here in MI has really been making me want to take Momo outside. Naturally I would have her pen outside for her, and I would be there to supervise 100% of the time. We have a completely fenced in backyard. The only “gap” in the fence is where the gate frame is bent from my husband backing his truck into it.

 

Here is the thing though, my husband is 100% dead set against the idea of her going outside. He is afraid that his “daddy’s girl” (she was MY birthday present!) will escape or get attacked by a predator. What I am hoping for is some imput from experienced rabbit owners about buns going outside. The pros and cons, so that I can either convince him to try it, or convince myself to shut up on the issue.

[Helenor]

If you really want to put her outside, maybe put her in a pen with a cover? I wouldn’t really be willing to let my bunnies run around outside without one, even with a fence. A cover would be pretty important to keep predators away. I’ve heard horror stories of birds of prey swooping down and trying to attack a bunny even when the owner was there.

[Joyfull_music]

Maybe I should have mentioned. I made a cover for her pen. She can climb her way out and I don’t let her free roam the house yet until she is better trained.

[KatnipCrzy]

I have a fenced in backyard too- fenced with 4 ft chainlink with 2 gates. Wild rabbits squeezed between the gate posts until we clipped a section of fencing over the possible entry point and my husband had to unclip the “wild rabbit proofing” every time he mows the yard. (We have dogs and the dogs would chase the wild bunnies that could not remember how to get out of the fenced yard when panicked).

But anyway even with a fenced yard- I am a worrier. But as long as the grass is never treated or accessed by run off water or winds from a neighbors yard that is treated- I have found a dog crate to be a great exercise enclosure. I do not use the bottom tray so that they are able to access the grass. My dog crate has very large openings on the bottom without the tray in place- so I just have to make sure it is on a flat surface. But if could easily be used upside down to the rabbit has access to the grass thru the close spacing that would normally be the top of the kennel. And you could secure the tray with bungee cords to the top of the crate to prevent an escape or predators and provide shade.

I occasionally take the bunnies out like this when it is not too hot out- but even in a sercure crate, in a fenced in yard- I still sit outside with them an read a book. And I live in Michigan also!

[Joyfull_music]

Dog crate sounds like a good idea. My dog still uses his from time to time. However the people who were renting a house from my mom left two dog crates behind, which I claimed. They just need some cleaning. You raise a good point about treated grass. We do not treat ours at all. But my neighbor uses something. There is a driveway between his backyard and ours, so I don’t think whatever he uses has much chance of getting on my lawn.

[Monkeybun]

Wind can send any kind of treatment done over to your yard, so even if there is a driveway between it can still get stuff into it.

I’m one of the people that votes “No” for bunnies going outside. Just too many things that can happen out there.

[brittbritt]

I’ve let Gabby come outside a couple of times. My husband made me a pen for her out of cubes and closet shelving. She spent the whole time chewing them and standing up trying to figure out how to get out of it since the dogs were running around in the yard. I sat right beside the pen the whole time because of predators and just in case.

I don’t think I’m going to take her out anymore as she didn’t seem to like it as much as I thought she would. I’m used to my guinea pigs loving to be outside in a pen and eating grass.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I feel that there are just too many risks outside. The few times I did take them out on the back deck in their pen, they were too stressed out by all the sounds and smells to enjoy it. There was a nutty squirrel going berserk in the tree and Stormy was absolutely terrified. Plus I worry about fleas.

[Joyfull_music]

I talked it over to my hubby and he agreed to try it. Like I said I am getting two free dog kennels anyways once I get a chance to go pick them up. We will see how she does. If she does not like it, no bid deal.

[cactuspancake]

I have an 8 section 4′ X 4′ xpen that’s 48″ high, I bought a UV canvas cover FOR 4’X4′ pens on amazon, and tent stakes, and I feel safe having the secure cover and secure bottoms with the stakes. I like this way because they can eat the yummy grass. (Mine has never been treated) I found an all in one pen with a cover for rabbits for like $36 if you want to know about it I can find it for you

[BinkyBunny]

When I had more of a secured back yard (yardish….it was so small!  San Francisco— ya know, not much room for big back yards).I enjoyed supervising my bunnies out there.  I am much more cautious of bringing them into the backyard though now where we currently live because it’s not as secure.   Also, the raccoon population is high here and certain diseases can be picked up via the urine, so that is why I hesitate bringing them out where I currently live.  

I think one thing to watch for is fleas too.  I never had the problem in the San Francisco, but it is more of  problem where we live now.  

Let us know how their first outing goes.  Some bunnies love while others get freaked out.   You’ll have to take pictures! 

[cactuspancake]

Don’t forget about getting a rabbit vest and a leash! I’ve taken franz everywhere with his jacket! He hops around at the vet, and he went for a run outside it was great to see him really run! I just got another vest for Jasmine to take them both outside. Franz loves it and loves attention, Jasmine might not, but we’ll get her out and see how she likes it Just stay away from streets and cars not to scare the bun bun.

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