Bunny on concrete patio (and fencing?)

[kbun]

Hi,

I live in a condo building and have an outdoor patio area. A few questions on this as an outdoor exercise area (supervised, when I’m home and sitting outside with them):

– What flooring? I’m not exactly sure what they used to treat the ground. I think it’s concrete and looks like they painted it. So to be safe should I be getting some of mat? I looked all over the forums, but I’m looking for a relatively economical option since my patio area is at least 100+ sf. Or is there no need? Thinking of the need for cushioning but mostly worried about any chemicals they had put in the floor. Also hoping it will be relatively convenient for me to lay down and pick up.

– What fence? I am thinking of using something like this to seal off one side of the patio (this goes into the neighbour’s patio):

http://www.chewy.com/dog/midwest-black-e-coat-exercise-pen/dp/45382

Not sure if there is something more secure given the two ends will be next to two walls (and not ‘tied’ to them).

Thank you!

[Mocha]

For the flooring, I would put a mat/cushions down to prevent sore hocks. Any type as long as your rabbit can’t eat it. You can use towels, fleeces, bathroom mats, seat cushions, etc.

An x-pen would be a good option (what you posted in the link), as long as your rabbit can’t squeeze through it.

[manic_muncher]

I agree. Also if you are a little handy, you might be able to come up with a way to secure the ends. For example once my 3 are bonded -crosses fingers-, I plan on extending the pen and will be using 4 eye bolts/screws in the wall. Then grab a few zip-ties and secure the pen to them so it can’t be moved away from the wall. I had also considered making 4 identical free standing “bookend-like” posts (like the letter L) and sandwich the xpen end between 2 (on each end), drill a couple holes and bolt them together, that fence wouldn’t be going anywhere!

[JackRabbit]

Manic – we did the bookend thing with our xpens, not to attach them together but to make them sturdier since they are 48″ tall and there are three of them atrached together. We actually put the L’s back to back, one inside the xpen and the mirror image outside the xpen and zip tied around both to the xpen. Definitely helped. I don’t think you’ll have to worry after they’re bonded . . . when Bonnie needs a little “me” time away from the guys, she’ll just hop right on out!

[kbun]

Thank you for the feedback! Will go ahead with the X-pen and towels for now, until I figure out how much my bunny will actually like this setup.

[BunnyHugger]

Kbun, Walmart sells interlocking foam mats with a poly coating that are becoming popular in daycares, yoga studios, etc. They’re quite thick. The other option is horse stall rubber matting. Extremely heavy duty. It’s expensive, but you can sometimes buy overstock at feed stores or on Craigslist. I’d put a sisal or cotton rug over either one,

[kbun]

Thank you! I’ll look out for them, though we ended up deciding to keep my bunny indoors always (for peace of mind), and use chloroplast as flooring below a blanket. It works!

[Author]

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