A dilemma U/D happy

Oh, what to do...

I recently created a NIC set up in my front room for my bunnies, and they really seem to love it. But I can't help thinking they would prefer to be outoor bunnies. They love the fresh grass (and the dandelions from our crappy grass - calling it a "lawn" would be delusions of grandeur ) and they binky sooooo much (they may binky in the house more if it wasn't for the laminate flooring, they just slide everywhere). I love having them indoors, and I know there wouldn't be so much interaction with them if they were outside (it's effortless - if we're in the front room they are playing round our feet, no matter what we're doing, and with the best will in the world it wouldn't be the same).

If I knew for sure they would be happier outdoors I'd do whatever I could to make it happen. But therein lies the next problem: we live in a rough area and I don't trust the locals enough feel comfortable with having them outdoors. Last summer we took care of the neighbours' chickens while they were on holiday, and one afternoon we came home to find some local kids had broken into the chicken coop (a converted shed, admittedly not a well converted shed) had let one of the chickens out and were making it go down the kids' slide. We went off it and I fixed the shed and the kids didn't come back. But it did make me worry and I couldn't stop worrying til the neighbours came back.

We've also had our shed broken into several times and I've had my car vandalised as well... I'm going round in circles really. I want what's best for my bunnies and them to be happy, but obviously their safety has to come first. Having them out in the garden too often at present is also not really an option given the way our house and garden are set up.

Do you think things are best the way they are at present? They seem happy indoors, and Ted gave me kisses the other day. It's just that I can't help noticing how much they seem to love their garden time.

i would leave them indoor due to the area not been safe,i just wouldnt risk it,i would just put them outside when you can

^ I agree.

Safety first. You would probably just worry yourself sick anyway if you put them out. This way, they are safely in the house but they can still get their play time in the garden

I think you would think the same thing of my rabbits on most days. They have the option of being in or out as long as I am home via the wonderful cat-flap contraption. Most of the time they seem to want to be out, however they are quite happy to bring themselves back in for an afternoon nap or food. And some days I inexplicably can't get the ******* to go out. My point being, just because they seem to enjoy the outside does not mean they don't enjoy indoors just as much.

Could you have a large, secure run in the garden and hole in the wall of the house with a tunnel to the run? Then they could come and go a bit more, not need constant supervision in the garden but you could prevent them accessing the tunnel if you were out of the house or at night....

agree with Cheryl as well,when iam home which is 99% of the time,i open the buns cage for them to go out when they want but at the most,the go out 2-3 times a day,they spend most of there time in the hutch

It's hard to describe the layout of our house and garden. Sparky - I'd love to do what you suggest, but we're in a maisonette and I don't think the building owners would like me knocking holes in their walls

They are staying as house bunnies until such time as we can afford to move. It's best isn't it?

Have you considered trying for a home swap if you're on Housing Association?

they sound really happy indoors with occasional outs so would not alter that plus much safer too

Father Jack wrote:Have you considered trying for a home swap if you're on Housing Association?

We're not on Housing Association - I'm sure it'd be cheaper if we were! We're in a maisonette, and we own the ground and first floor. The actual building is owned and maintained by some company that royally rips us off in service charge! We also get the garden.

I just wish my guys got more time out, and that our bloody garden didn't face north!

Sue_pawz wrote:

Father Jack wrote:Have you considered trying for a home swap if you're on Housing Association?

We're in a maisonette, and we own the ground and first floor. The actual building is owned and maintained by some company that royally rips us off in service charge! We also get the garden.

You do know that you and any other tenants have the absolute right to buy the freehold at a reasonable price (which can be set by an independent adjudicator, not the current freeholder) and to take over any management yourselves?

My Hu-grandad has just been through this at his place, which is about 48 maisonettes. The service charge has gone down from around £2500 a year to under £1000, plus they already have a contingency fund in place. My Hu-nan owns a quarter of a converted house, and the tenants own the freehold so they just get work done as and when needed and split the cost 4 ways.

Owning the freehold and being free from rip-off service charges has put the value of Hu-grandad's place up by 25-30% overnight

If they have always been house bunnies, they may wonder why you are putting them away from you. We hu-parents are their best toys you know! They are used to constant human interaction when they want it.

Don't risk someone bunnynapping your precious ones!
~holly~

I would deffo put safety first - its not worth the risk something happening to them hun.

They dont know any different so they wont think they are missing anything, they have a wonderful life already x

Thanks. I know you're right, it's just seeing them so happy out in the garden made me wonder if I was doing the best by them, which is obviously the most important thing.

I too would put safety first. Maybe just leave them outside to their own devices while you are home, but I think I would keep them living inside after what you've described.

Our garden backs on to huge fields which eventually join up to a town which isn't always lovely
The buns shed and run is at the bottom of the garden, so for safety I always padlock them up at night just incase anyone comes across the fields. I was told I'm over cautious but I couldn't forgive myself if anything happened!

We're out in the garden again today, and I've been pottering in and out of the house, partly checking on them and partly because I've had things to do.

Anyway, I've noticed that when I've been in the house a few minutes, when I come out they have always been huddled in their house. Now I've been out a little while with them they have been out of their house the whole time, nomming the grass and binkying everywhere.

This makes me think they are happy as house bunnies with regular access to the garden.