Jesse L":1ogduzs3 said:
How can a free roaming rabbit get more parasites that a rabbit in a cage? Im just wondering. I have never had a problem with external bugs or anything.
Firstly, in
rabbits, neither have I, thankfully. But...
A rabbit in a clean cage, with a wire floor, some distance from the ground, can't contact the soil or its own poop, nor can it reach other rabbits' poop, wild or tame. If there are raccoons, opossum, skunk, squirrels, cats, or rats that might cross your property, then there are those animals poops in the soil too, and with them any parasites those animals may have been carrying. As a rabbit digs and runs and later grooms themselves they can catch these parasites. Also mites, lice, and fleas may be present in the grass from wild or domestic trespassers.
Now if that rabbit is in a colony setting you may have some of the same concerns to watch for. But if they are roaming free, they may become infested without you noticing, so watch extra closely, especially in the spring and summer.
Also, without meaning to be rude, I am having trouble understanding how a rabbit can routinely escape a well-made, latched cage. If there are holes or gaps, wire them closed. If he's going out the J-feeder, get a lid. If he is unlatching the door, use a snap swivel hook, like what is on a dog leash. If he is bending a corner of the door, use TWO snap hooks, one on each corner. Or replace the cage. Am I crazy? Are some rabbits really that clever about escaping? I may just have world's dumbest bunnies... :shrug: