Can a rabbit fit through chainlink?

[txchickie]

My DH is giving me his old dog run, a covered 10x10, 6ft tall chain link dog kennel, set in concrete. It's got a middle divider with a gate making each side 5x10.

Could I use this as kind of a "day run" for my rabbits? Both are neutered males that live in side by side cages on my sunporch, no fighting or issues but they tend to squabble when they're together so they have to be kept seperated. However, I don't think they would get too rowdy with such a large area for both of them outdoors.

But rather than test it out and risk one of my babies getting hurt, can a full-grown, medium to large rabbit fit through chainlink? One is a californian and he's at least 8lbs, the other is mutt bunny and he's every bit as big.

I just think they would like to use the space to run around and exercise while I'm at home, just for some fresh air and to be outdoors. They would still live in their hutches in the house.

 

[miss_thenorth]

I would say yes, if they really wanted to get out. and if there is grass out there, they will want to get out. Good part is, you don't have to reinforce very high up, bad part is, you have to use something stronger than chicken wire as they will chew through it.

 

[Bedste]

Yes I know this from experience. I put my full grown rabbit in a dog run so she could get some sunshine and she squeezed out and headed for the shed....and got stuck under the flooring and I had to lay down in shrubs and rescue Babbit and ended up with poison IVY all over my body.... YES they can get out of chain link.

 

[Southernbelle]

Anything they can get their heads through they can get the rest of their bodies through. I don't think they'd get through the chainlink as much as dig or squeeze under the panels. You really need to bury wire to keep them in - they'll dig whole tunnels if you leave them in there long enough

 

[txchickie]

Thank you all for your responses

I've got some hardware cloth and I think I'll use that around the edges. The poles are in a concrete pad, so no digging issues, I'll just throw a flake of hay in there for each of them to play in.

 

[patandchickens]

It sounds like you've already made up your mind in the right direction

but just to reinforce it, I want to say that I had to remove the skeleton of a wild rabbit from some chainlink we took down when we moved to this property. The poor thing got halfway through, but then its stifles (the true 'knee' joint of the hindleg, dunno if it has a different name in rabbits) got jammed and it was trapped with the chainlink around its waist. I hope it died swiftly of a heart attack or something, at that point, it still bothers me to think about it

Anyhow, yes, for sure put something smaller-meshed.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat