Rabbits!!

[marie83]

Anyone on here keep rabbits?

We got a rehome about 2 weeks ago, he is roughly 1 year old and has always been kept as a house rabbit, is on a pelleted diet and the only fresh foods he recieved is the occasional carrot.

So far I've introduced him to broccoli and apple, both of which he loves, I'm trying to introduce him to 1 thing per week as an upset stomach can be lethal to a bunny. I would like to get him eating hay which is something he apparently has never eaten but in the past two weeks he hasn't touched it. I don't wish to restrict his food rations too much because of their short digestive tract and the nature of the food they eat so has anyone got any ideas on how to get him eating some? If i do need to restrict his pellets a bit how much by?

What can I do to keep him entertained a bit more? He came with a bell in a ball type toy he never plays with but thats all. I've hidden dry beetroot stick treats under bottle caps in his shavings which he appears to enjoy digging out. I've bought him two long tubes that join together but he isn't bothered about playing in those either. I've put card boxes and tubes in his cage for him to che on but again he isn't really bothered. All he seems to do is eat, sleep and try to trip me up The only time he is active really is when he is getting under my feet, he will literally shadow me like a puppy lol. I'm just a bit worried he is bored really.

[Polarn]

Well um, we got 12 here + the little ones most of them do eat hey some still doesn't we try introducing the hey together with fresh grass and so far the method has been successful with 2 out of the 4 non hey eating rescues we got this spring. My sister is the rabbit freak though can see if I remember asking her tomorrow morning while we clean out the stable for any more tips n tricks... The bunnies here gets to go out walking in a harness quite frequently and they all seem to enjoy that as some stimulation. They also got various tubes etc but mos of em just is t bothered tbh.

[marie83]

Thank you, I'll try the grass thing, I'll also try a harness at some point in time as we don't have one at the moment.

I wasn't sure about how playful they usually were as my last rabbit lived outside in a hutch and had a large run, he always seemed happy and contented though. This little one just seems bored all the time somehow.

[Polarn]

Lion (rabbins name) is quite old but in health as long as it doesn't get to cold outside, so during winters he gets to live inside with me, he is a rabbit who likes to keep his area neat. He always poop in the same spot in any cage he is in, so we introduced a small litter box for him inside the cage last summer. And this winter that just past I was able to have him run around as he wanted inside and he only pooped on my floor once, but then I had forgotten to leave the bathroom open for him. So if yours always poop in the same place, give him a litter box and you might be able to have him walk around inside like a dog, that might make him happy

[Polarn]

Oh btw a harness for a rabbit is something that you could make yourself as well I know my sister made hers before but they all required tying together on the back and now there is more rabbits and more kids taking them for walks, I'm pretty sure you could find a howto online thought it tip ya there in case you're like me and enjoys the process of making things. I'm pretty sure she used some synthetic material such as nylon or something for hers. Could prolly use braded shoelaces as well though.

[marie83]

Bunny has free run of the flat when we are in supervising anyway, when we are out he stays in the kitchen with his cage open so he can hop in and out as he pleases. He is fairly clean and will only wee in one area of his cage, most times he will go back in his cage to poop too but even if he doesn't he does seem to keep his mess in one area so it's easy enough to clean up. I would try to get him to go back to his cage every time but I never seem to catch him until after the deed lol.

Only time he gets shut in his cage is at night because we don't have room in the kitchen to keep the cage in there permenantly as it blocks the cupboards or fridge so we move it to the living room.

[Polarn]

Glad to hear he gets plenty of time out, a lot of people just have em out of cages for cuddle time, but trying to exercise them is as important as any other critter. Oh btw you could stain the hey with carrot juice or something as well, just remember to change quite frequently if you do couse moist hey turn bad pretty quick and it draws some small flies pretty quick if in the area.

[marie83]

Urgh yes, I can't stand people who think pets are there for their fun only.... Even our hamsters had regular out times when we had them.
Things are a long way from as good as I want it to be for my pets but I'll keep working on improving things bit by bit.

[liz]

Everyone thinks that my house is a rehoming station. Right now I have a very big bunny who is potty trained to his own cage. If I didn't have so many I would just put him in the bunch. He gets along with everything except Rachel's two black cats who see him as lunch. We close him in at night so they won't eat him.

So far Rachel has had two calls for him but only one sounded good. She is waiting for another call before doing interviews.

Anybody want a bunny?

[marie83]

Everyone thinks that my house is a rehoming station. Right now I have a very big bunny who is potty trained to his own cage. If I didn't have so many I would just put him in the bunch. He gets along with everything except Rachel's two black cats who see him as lunch. We close him in at night so they won't eat him.

So far Rachel has had two calls for him but only one sounded good. She is waiting for another call before doing interviews.

Anybody want a bunny?

We are too soft Liz, the majority of my pets have been rehomed with me by friends or people have dragged me to see what a state they were in and I told the owners they were going home with me. I don't go looking, it just seems to happen, at one point I had about 15 canaries, finches and diamond doves, 1 budgie, 3 cockatiels, 1 conure, 1 rosella, 1 rabbit, 3 chipmunks, 2 terrapins and 4 dogs. Some were elderly and/or sick and others I had to leave with my ex as my parents wouldn't let me bring that many animals back home Lets see what happens if I can ever afford to buy my own home