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Forum HABITATS AND TOYS Outdoor Safety

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    • Crush
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      6 posts Send Private Message

        My fiance and I will be moving within the next few months, which means that we’re looking for a house with a fenced backyard. We’re currently in a town house and we’re having issues of noise complaints of banging(Callie constantly thumps and I’m beginning to think it’s habit), and loud music which is bull, because my fiance and I aren’t partiers – it seems this neighbor believes these places are more soundproof than they actually are, but, well, sound travels EASILY through uninsulated cinder-block, so… Yeah.

        Anyway… looking for a new place, yadda yadda..

        I have a 12ft long by 8ft wide dog run with a 6ft high fence. It’s chain link and I usually secure a thick tarp over the roof of it to provide shade, etc for my dogs anyway – but I have no use for it and don’t intend to use it for the dogs unless a landlord were to request me to use it specifically. Anyway… My question is, can I safely use this as a means of containment for my rabbits in a securely fenced backyard? And should I be putting something around the bottom foot or two of chain link to prevent them injuring themselves by trying to squeeze their heads through it or something? I will probably see if my fiance can get a huge sheet of plywood to use as a roof instead of using the tarp again, as plywood will withstand weather better anyway… Opinions on this, however, would be great.

        Also, we looked at a potential house for rent that has a private fenced yard, the problem however, is that the backyard is filled with large gravel instead of being grass/earth/etc.. Makes clean up easy for dogs.. But what could I do to keep the buns safe while allowing them outside if this is the house we end up renting? I can’t imagine that the gravel would be easy on their feet…

        Thanks so much for any input!

        Crush and Callie’s Mom


      • Kokaneeandkahlua
        Participant
        12067 posts Send Private Message

          Hi and welcome!

          I really don’t think that would be safe at all-sorry. It’s really unsafe for rabbits to be outside even for short periods of time (mites, disease, predators, people can do terrible things to unattended animals, birds, escaping etc) let alone kept outside. A dog run would for sure be totally unsafe because other animals could get in and rabbits could easily dig out.

          The elements are also not ok and a dog run with a tarp on it isn’t sufficient no matter where you live. It could be much too hot in the summer and much too cold in the winter.

          Can I ask why you don’t plan to keep your rabbit indoors?


        • Crush
          Participant
          6 posts Send Private Message

            I’m sorry, I’m afraid you misunderstood. My rabbits are indoor rabbits and always will be. Outside time would ONLY be while supervised(I don’t even leave my dogs out unsupervised, so I certainly wouldn’t do it with my rabbits either). I’m also well aware of potential dangers, which is why I’m asking for advice as to securing a way for them to be outside – WHILE supervised – so that they can have some outside time.

            Thank you for the concern, though!


          • RabbitPam
            Moderator
            11002 posts Send Private Message

              Hi, I think you’re going to see a bit of resistance to your project here since it is a House Rabbit forum, so be fundamentally advocate indoors at all times.
              That said, many do take their bunnies for some outdoor time.
              My next concern is due to a rental, where maintenance of your yard needs to be careful, because most landlords use pesticides to care for the lawns and growth and that is also dangerous for bunnies to graze on. The gravel is obvious as you stated, so you would probably want to consider flooring a bit in addition to the cover. One member, Mocha, has build a great outdoor play area for her bunnies, and she did a video of how it was constructed, so perhaps you could PM her for a link to her video showing her careful construction. It was covered, and all edges were safely secured. I agree that there is a risk of little heads and paws being hurt by the links. Maybe securing the run on the outside of the boards will block access.
              As far as the cover goes, it definitely is safer with one, but a secure tarp that is too high to chew on, or a screen anchored to the sides (and unable to be chewed) may be OK. You’re not going to be leaving them out in bad weather anyway, so it doesn’t have to be solid.
              Generally, it sounds like your risks outweigh your benefits of using this dog run at the moment. I think researching the cool indoor condos and runs people have made (in the photos section) will give you some great alternatives.


            • Crush
              Participant
              6 posts Send Private Message

                RabbitPom – Thank you! Landlords, here, actually don’t take care of maintenance of yards at all unless you live in townhomes with no yard, in which case, the condo Board takes care of maintenance. We are looking at different homes for rent in hopes of finding something with a grassy yard, for a cheaper rental fee and are actually going to look at another place instead, so hopefully we find something without gravel. I have taken Crush outside previously, on his harness and leash and he absolutely loves it. Of course, I have to be RIGHT there, I mean, my dog is a houdini, so who’s saying my rabbit couldn’t escape his harness, or a loose dog wouldn’t spot him and run up, etc? So I’m REALLY vigilant about keeping an eye on my pets.

                Currently, I have my rabbits in a spare bedroom, with free-roam time alternating(until they’re bonded, if ever) between the two of them, as I own two dogs and don’t want to risk anything by letting the four of them interact on ANY level. Too much risk, as my one dog is a Beagle. My puppy, however, ignores the rabbits as she was raised around Crush who was a free-roamer in his previous home with a Lab.

                I’m definitely not looking to make this something where they stay outside for hours at a time. Just a few minutes here and there to enjoy being outside – and of course, ONLY if I can make something secure enough for their safety, and ONLY while supervised of course.

                I’m strictly about keeping my rabbits as indoor buns too, but I can’t deny that Crush REALLY enjoys being outside when he gets the chance, even if it’s only for a few minutes here and there, so I’d just love to make a big, secure set up for them to be able to have some of that time in. If I end up anywhere with someone else maintaining the yard though or a yard with no private fence, it’ll be a no go anyway, as the risks would sky rocket at that point. I’ve had ice melt burn my dogs paws to second degree burns before, so I can’t imagine what the pesticides and herbicides could do to a bunny. It’s a HUGE part of why I don’t bring in natural wood from outside for them.

                I’ll definitely PM Mocha.(would that be mocha200 or Mocha11?)

                Again, it all comes down to where we’re living, and the circumstances of the rental, as I definitely don’t want any higher risks than there already are and if I do find them to be too great, my buns will just happily stay indoor bunnies. They’re quite content with free-roam time in the spare room anyhow.  

                Honestly though, it’s beginning to sound like it’s more and more risky and there’s not many pros, are there? 

                Thanks so much!


              • Kokaneeandkahlua
                Participant
                12067 posts Send Private Message

                  Ohhhhh sorry Crush-it sounded like you were looking for permanent outdoor solutions! I would think the dog run is certainly safe for supervised outside time I think the gravel wouldn’t be great for them, but again if they are only going out for short periods of time, its probably fine They might even like to dig the gravel!

                  I agree there aren’t many pro’s to having them outside but if you have rabbits who enjoy the outdoors it is fine if you supervise and do it carefully Mine just LOVE looking outside and Rupert has enjoyed the few excursions outside he has had. I am thinking of building a rabbit run at our new home with a sunken floor so it’s impossible to dig out (or anyone to dig in!) but it’s been a busy year and I’ll have to revisit in the spring. But certainly in his case he loves the outdoors. I would think he wouldn’t as he was a stray but it seems he does!


                • RabbitPam
                  Moderator
                  11002 posts Send Private Message

                    You sound very careful and aware of all the possible risks, so I am sure you’ll work out something the buns really enjoy.
                    You know, what you describe sounds exactly like a screened-in porch. Fresh air, safe, sunshine in part of the day, predators outside and inside the house locked out….maybe it’s something to look into when you do more rental searching.

                    It’s Mocha200. She’s young, but she is very knowledgeable about her bunnies. Tell her I suggested she show you her video of building the pen.

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                Forum HABITATS AND TOYS Outdoor Safety