Is it okay to let my bunny out in the backyard?

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 9sd replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 1 month ago by Dasher.

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- 03/12/2018 at 6:58 PM
  kristen58
  Participant
  26 posts
  Do you let your bunny out into the backyard? I always keep mine in the house, I’ve just worried about her either escaping or eating something she shouldn’t. But, I was thinking it would be nice for her to experience the yard…are grass and weeds okay for bunnies to eat? The grass is bermuda (that’s what was planted, but there’s probably other types that have mixed in) and the weeds are probably dandelion (which I know is okay to eat), but I’m not positive. It has little yellow flowers. I do not use any sort of pesticide or weed killer in my backyard because I also have dogs.
  
  So…does anyone else let them roam the yard?
- 03/12/2018 at 7:09 PM
  Dasher
  Participant
  156 posts
  I think it would be safe but just make sure she doesn’t dig her way out under the fence. I’ve let my bunnies in my backyard and they love it. It makes them so happy and they love fresh grass. Bermuda grass is safe, I’m not sure about the weeds though.
- 03/12/2018 at 9:34 PM
  Deleted User
  Participant
  22064 posts
  Hubs and I took our boys to a park once and they loved it. We had them in an xpen and one of us sat in there with them. They were so happy.
- 03/12/2018 at 9:39 PM
  tobyluv
  Participant
  3312 posts
  Little yellow flowers could be buttercups, and those are toxic. A rabbit can also pick up external and internal parasites outside. There are predators that can come out of nowhere. I know someone who was in their fenced in back yard, near their rabbit and a hawk swooped down and attacked it. Something could spook a rabbit and make it take off. I know that some people take their rabbits outdoors at times, but it can be dangerous.
- 03/13/2018 at 12:19 PM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  Depends on where you live. Certain parts of the world are experiencing trouble with rampant and deadly bunny viruses.
- 03/13/2018 at 1:11 PM
  kristen58
  Participant
  26 posts
  I live in Arizona.
- 03/13/2018 at 1:53 PM
  Bam
  Moderator
  17033 posts
  Can you get us a photo of the little yellow flowers?
  
  If there are raccoons or wild rabbits in your yard, your bun can pick up nasty parasites from them (their poop get in the grass, grass gets eaten by bun).
  
  If there are prey birds around you should fix up a run with a netting roof rather than let her out to just roam freely. Birds of prey are unimaginably quick.
  
  Some buns really appreciate outdoor time. Some don’t.
- 03/13/2018 at 2:11 PM
  kristen58
  Participant
  26 posts
  Yes, I can take a picture later today.
  
  Definitely no raccoons in the area, there are wild rabbits and chipmunks, but I only ever see the wild rabbits in the front yard, not the back.
  
  There are prey birds in the area, I would definitely not be letting her out unsupervised, I was thinking maybe more for ten minutes while I stand by her.
- 03/13/2018 at 3:30 PM
  Bam
  Moderator
  17033 posts
  That would be fine of course, supervised time
  Sorry for sounding like a party pooper, but unless we’re aware of the risks we can’t weigh benefits against the risks and make an educated decision. Because there absolutely are benefits with outdoors time. It can be very enriching for a bunny. It provides UVB rays which help with the synthesis of vitamin D. The bun can get good exercise in ways that aren’t possible indoors.
  
  Some buns hate it though, but you can’t know unless you try.
- 03/13/2018 at 5:32 PM
  Dasher
  Participant
  156 posts
  There are risks but if it’s possible then I would definitely recommend letting your bunny outside. I live in a well developed area so there are few predators nearby and I’m able let my bunny play for several hours and I just watch from the window. She also has plenty of places to hide if she gets scared. Your bunny could also get mites or parasites so just be aware of that. I’ve had Dasher for 3 years and she’s only gotten earmites once but that was easy to treat. I’ve also had a bunny for 4 years that never had any issues outside.
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