Can you keep "wild" rabbits that care for themselves?

simmed

Nimeth wrote: »

I won't give you advice on how it can be done because I think it shouldn't be done. But if you fancy constantly picking up rabbit carcasses, feel free.

And if they do get Myxomatosis, you'll need to call someone to come out and put them down so they don't spread the disease everywhere.

No offence, but you're clearly one of those people who have no trust in nature. Rabbits in the wild are clearly doing very well for themselves without humans interfering. Stop trying to force artificialness onto natural processes..

simmed

I figured pets isn't the best place for this, but if anyone wants to carry on discussing the idea then see my new thread here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/43474936#Comment_43474936

pug_in_a_bed

simmed wrote: »

No offence, but you're clearly one of those people who have no trust in nature. Rabbits in the wild are clearly doing very well for themselves without humans interfering. Stop trying to force artificialness onto natural processes..[/QUOTE]


Hold on, thats what you are proposing though!

Nimeth is right about myxy; if you did as you propose I see this as effetively a domestic set up for wild animals so you would become responsible for their care.

In asnwer to your question about the paddock, it has your usual fencing but the rabbits come and go as they please, along with all the other wildlife and my friends don't eat them

linda.b_4

Your last remark "stop trying to force artificialness onto natural processes", seems to me to be exactly what you are going to do. Trapping wild rabbits in your garden but then expecting them to behave truly wild isn't going to happen. They have no means of escape from predators, or humans and will not be free to forage for food, so once your "natural" supply of plants and grass runs out, you will be having to top it up with store bought greens. Rabbits in the wild do well because they are....WILD! Edited to add. beat me to it pug in a bed!

Nimeth

simmed wrote: »

No offence, but you're clearly one of those people who have no trust in nature. Rabbits in the wild are clearly doing very well for themselves without humans interfering. Stop trying to force artificialness onto natural processes..

I have plenty of trust in nature, but if you start keeping them in your garden and locking them up in hutches at night and feeding them (which you could quite possibly end up having to do), you will effectively be domesticating them and removing their ability to fend for themselves. After which you will be completely responsible for all their feed and care.

Pug's suggestion about paddock fencing is probably the best compromise. If the fence gaps are wide enough you may get true wild rabbits coming in and out of your garden as they please.

simmed

The method I propose is letting rabbits run free and forage, as they do in the wild. This is contrasted with rabbits being fed on store-bought "rabbit feed" and other plastic-bagged items. Believe it or not, there is a balance between domesticated and wild. Cows are obviously domesticated but that does not mean they are not free to walk around and graze. I'm simply proposing that, with rabbits.

Nimeth

You propose letting them run free and forage. Is your garden open or completely fenced in with no way for the rabbits to get out? If you propose forcing them to stay in, then you are removing their ability to fend for themselves. And then you will be responsible for them.

Why do you want to have wild rabbits in your garden anyway?

simmed

Nimeth wrote: »

You propose letting them run free and forage. Is your garden open or completely fenced in with no way for the rabbits to get out? If you propose forcing them to stay in, then you are removing their ability to fend for themselves. And then you will be responsible for them.

Why do you want to have wild rabbits in your garden anyway?

Even if you had the highest fence in the world, surely a rabbit could simply burrow its way out of any garden?

amy104

I'm confused.

Do you wish to confine an existing wild rabbit in your garden? If so this would be cruel.

Or are you planning on releasing a pet shop bunny (therefore domesticly bred) into your garden. This too would be cruel.

As someone already pointed out rabbits breed a lot as they have short life spans, disease and predators all play their part.

My rabbits have large enclosures and are fed on hay and wild plants I specifically grow and vegetables. They have very little 'commercial fed' and no shop bought treats.

They are allowed to exhibit their natural behaviour yet are safe and happy to accept human interaction which I feel is a nice compromise.

simmed

Just see here

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/43474936#Comment_43474936