Outside sunshine

[Bo Bunny]

Hey guys,

 

How do you buns react after being outside in the sunshine?  They more peppy?

 

Also I have a friend who has a bun and it’s overweight.  She doesn’t have a spot to take it out and let it roam without a dog bothering it.  How big of a run would she need to give her bun?  It is female and as far as i know not spayed.  It would be a covered run from the top (since she lives in teh country) and fenced in of course from teh dogs outside.

 

Any ideas?

 

Any ‘chaser’ toys?  My cats chase a lazer, do bunnies?

[jerseygirl]

Well mine often come inside and sleep after being out in the sun. I personally want them to get sunlight though as the vitamin D is said to help with calcium absorption. For your friends overweight bunny, a diet change would help. Will she consider getting it spayed also? Exercise is good of course, but from observing my rabbits, even outside they just eat then find somewhere to go snooze out there. No too much exercise going on!

[Elrohwen]

My bun hates sunshine. Lol. I’ve tried to take him out, and he will not come out from his cardboard box when it’s bright and sunny. I think he hates the exposed feeling of bright blue sky.

He was outside during bunny dating yesterday, but it was cloudy and a bit drizzly and he was fine! Go figure.

Sunlight (not filtered through a window) does help with calcium absorption, but I’ve also heard that bunnies are able to absorb more calcium than humans through a different mechanism – so it might not be as important to them to get a lot of sunlight. In the summer, I do open the sliding door so the sun streams in through the screen door, but Otto mostly hides from the brightness 😛

[Karla]

Posted By Bo Bunny on 03/28/2010 06:21 PM

Hey guys,

 

How do you buns react after being outside in the sunshine?  They more peppy?

 

Also I have a friend who has a bun and it’s overweight.  She doesn’t have a spot to take it out and let it roam without a dog bothering it.  How big of a run would she need to give her bun?  It is female and as far as i know not spayed.  It would be a covered run from the top (since she lives in teh country) and fenced in of course from teh dogs outside.

 

Any ideas?

 

Any ‘chaser’ toys?  My cats chase a lazer, do bunnies?

As Jerseygirl said, sunlight is very important when it comes to producing vitamin D. And there is an important link between vitamin D and healthy teeth. So, letting your bunnies out is a great way of contributing to dental health. Mine love being outdoors, but they don’t like sunbathing as such. If they want to sleep outdoors, they head for a bush or something.

For your friend’s bunny to actually enjoy the run, I would say it shouldn’t be less than 5 square metres. It is important that bunnies get a chance to come out of their cage and have free run every single day…and not just for an hour or so.

As for toys; I haven’t met a bunny yet that likes to chase…bunnies are preys, cats are predators. That is why cats love chasing lazers. Bunnies love digging, chewing, hiding out, run fast, throw things et.c. Take a look down in the “Toys and habitats” section and you might find some good ideas.

If you considered using the lazer as a means of exercise, I would suggest putting pellets inside a treat ball (same as with cats and dogs). That way the bunny gets its daily exercise and has lots of fun.

 

[BinkyBunny]

 Jack and Vivian are now big fans of soaking in the sun via the window (open but has a secure screen).  They hang out in their Window Seat in the morning when the sun is the brightest.  It doesn’t make them peppy, but if anything— just relaxed and calm. 

I have brought my bunnies outside before in our old place where it was much more secure, and even here I have brought them out, but I had to cover the ground because we have two families of raccoons that live nearby and dig in the back yard, try to break into our back door to get to the cat food, (lots of sneaky little raccoon paws on our back door. .LOL)   But recently, a sick baby raccoon was on our back step, and I know raccoons can carry a deadly disease for rabbits, so I have decided to not bring my bunnies outside this summer.

But I do dream of the day when we can create and build a fun safer outdoor run –where it can be protected from raccoons and other animals even when not is use, and protects my bunnies from hawks.  The other day, I saw a bunch of ravens chasing a hawk out of our neighborhood, and every once in awhile I see one perched up in a tree in as dusk falls.  Which always surprises me because I don’t expect to see them where I live that often – not that “hawk friendly”. 

I have seen some really great outdoor runs though and have added a new section in the gallery for that so I hope to get inspiration from that.  

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

My bunny room faces south east so there is lovely sun in the summer but I put the ‘curtain sheet’ down when it’s hot. They react to the sun by stretching in it and sleeping

[Monkeybun]

Moose lounges by the sliding glass door when he’s in his pen, he adores naps in sunbeams Monkey not as much, she likes her bed too much. When they are housed together I’ll put her bed by the window and see if she likes it

[Andi]

My Bunnies love the sunshine, wether it’s playing outside on the grass in it, or sun bathing by the window. I have one who perfers not to be in the direct sunlight.

As for being overweight, I woudl deffinetly re check the diet and see what can be adjusted. Haveing room to run around and explore/play is important. Maybe she can close off a hallway in the house? away from the dogs, or put the dogs away for 30mins so the bunny can have some outside playtime on nice days.

My bunnies love phone books and toiet paper tubes as toys (and they are free!), plus baby or cat toys that have bells or make a little noise (wire balls with bells are hit at my place).

[LucyTwoBunz]

Gulliver would bask in the sun all day if possible.  When the sun comes through the dining room window, it hits the middle of the familly room & you can always find him there!  Same when outside.  Usually laying just outside a bush area.  Lainey on the other hand is too busy digging & romping when outside & has a very thick coat so she doesn’t seek out the sun so much.

As for toys, their favorites are paper towel rolls, whiffle balls, plastic slinky’s, a Barrel of Monkeys (Lainey’s fav), paper plates for tossing & tug-a-war and toilet paper rolls with both ends cut up in 1/4″ strips about an inch & then kinda flattened so it can roll…hard to explain.  Its actually a homemade cat toy but the bunz liked it better than Lucy.  Go figure .

[Monkeybun]

Monkey disapproves of being in a barrel.

[KatnipCrzy]

Monkeybun….LOL

I bought those colored stackable cups for little kids/they stack inside each other- and every once it a while I remember to get those out and i will put a treat where they have to remove the smaller cups to get to the treat.  Bunnies sure seem to like to “throw” things when they play- I think to many people it looks as though they do not like the toy- but I think they love to “throw” things and toss their head.  Shows they are the boss of their own world!  

[BinkyBunny]

Posted By KatnipCrzy on 04/02/2010 08:43 AM

 I think to many people it looks as though they do not like the toy- but I think they love to “throw” things and toss their head.  Shows they are the boss of their own world!  

HAHHA!  I think you are on to something there!  I think it’s a duo meaning….  ”I like to pretend that this is in my way and I do not like this…FUN!”   Sort of  a Queen… “Off  with your head”  move.   “I don’t like it, and I am telling you I don’t like it, and I love it when i do that!”

[Author]

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