The Bunny Basics

Rdhrd70 · Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 33

Hi all

Rookie has moved up to a big boy cage. YEAH! I wanted to put him in an open pen, but my husband said I was not going to give him the house. Even though I would have Very Happy

He has the run of the house when he is loose so. We bought him a rotwiler size cage it is good size and he just streches himself out in there.
Two things I have found now that he is in this cage.
1. He poops all over the cage. How do I get him to poop in his litter box only?
2. He is very protective of his cage. I had never seen him chin till we got this cage now he chins ever bar in the cage its funny. BUT when we open the cage to fill his water or feed him hay or pelets he will grunt at us. He has always done some gruting he thinks hes tuff, but now he is grunting and charging my son who is 17 and 6'4 is scared to open the cage. I know kinda funny to see this kid afraid of this little bunny boy. Laughing

How can I get him to stop this behavior.
I just got the urban rabbit book fromt he library so I will be going to read it and see what i can find out. I ordered some of the dryed banannas and starwberrys from your store and of anything I have ever given Rookie banannas are his altime favorite. Another questions quick sorry. Is it ok to give him dandalions that are not treated? My neighbor says when he was a child they fed them to their rabbit all the time. Is this ok?

Rookie and Meri

TheBunnyBasics · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 7:13 pm Post subject:

Poops are a way of marking territory. So is chinning. He is letting everyone know this is his. Since this is new the behavior may subside. You also might want to try a few litter boxes in his new cage and see which one he uses the most. Also putting hay in the litter box helps with litter training since bunnies like to poop and eat at the same time. When moving my bunnies to a new room I always have litterboxes in each corner and put another if they appear to be going in a certain spot. Then gradually you can reduce them.

Some bunnies can be very cage protective. It may be because it is new and bunnies aren't to big on change. We have also seen that moving a bunny that is cage protective to a puppy type pen really seems to help get rid of that behavior. For some reason it just doesn't seem as invasive to them. The behavior may pass as he gets more used to his new area.

It can be funny in a way to see how tough little bunnies can be. I have a 100 lb dog that can relate to your son. He used to run from my first bunny who was 3 lbs. It was a sight to see a 100 lb dog being chased out of a room by a 3 lb rabbit!

The leaves are fine to give him as long as they are not treated.

Hope this helps some! Very Happy

Rdhrd70 · Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 33

Thank you so much. I gave him a few leaves and some apple this morning you would have thought he went to heaven. I dont give him much food type things because his tummy is sensative but a little here and there and he gets all excited.
You have all said how I would start seeing new things with him and ohh i tell you the more time i have him the more i fall in love with him. I just cant wait for the day where he will slow down a little and want to cuddle more and just curl up next to me. right now he is on the go and checking everything out. I am reading the urban rabbit book and that is also very good info. Is there somewhere i can go to see what things are ok to feed him and what is not so good? just so i can prit it out and have it for when i give him a treat here and there. His favorite of all is banannas nothing beats a bananna to him. Very Happy

TheBunnyBasics · Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 8:30 am Post subject:

We have a list in our care section of good bunny veggie and fruits:

http://www.thebunnybasics.com/BB_Care.html

Bananas are ok is very small amounts since they are high in sugar. Bunnies do LOVE them!

He still is very young. The older he gets the less hyper he will be. The more he gets to know you and you him and the older he gets the more snuggly he will become. When I first adopted my bunny Jack he would only let me pet him on the top of his nose and for a few minutes at a time. If I tried to pet him anywhere else he would run. Now he LOVES to snuggle and will lie next to me for hours. At 7PM every night he waits for me in his snuggle spot (a blanket on the floor). I must have my hand resting on his back or petting him. If I stop petting him or resting my hand on him he stands up and stares at me and pokes with his nose like he is saying, Hey I am not finished snuggling yet!

Thank you for caring so much about Rookie and doing what is best for him. You will be rewarded with a very special little furry member of the family! It just takes time and patience with some bunnies. Very Happy

Rdhrd70 · Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 33

Even with him not being real cuddly yet he makes me laugh so hard and fills my days with him with happiness. When he does his jumps and kicks it makes us all laugh so hard. I do laugh at him when he thinks he is so tuff and the boss as well. I have done lots of reading and they say to pet him and give him posative reinforment instead of scollding him. so that is what ive been doing and the look he gives me is so funny. Its like umm i just grunted at you and your petting me.. r you nuts lady? lol very funny.

Thank you so much for the hope of the cuddles. If I am sitting in my chair he will come over and bump my foot and even try to peek up on the chair. I think in time he will join me to cuddle there. I just love him so very much.

Thank you all for all the questions you answer it is so very helpful

Rookie and Meri Smile

Bun&Dogmom · Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 72

Hi Rookie and Meri,

I have the same kind of situation with Zeus. He is terrified of being picked up and held. My other two buns are fine with it and even like to be cuddled. In the four months I've had Zeus we have made great progress. I'm just very patient with him and I let him come to me for attention. However, when I am giving him a treat or two or three Smile

, I pet him or kiss him while I'm giving him the treat so he associates the petting with positives like treats. It really seems to work. It's a slow process but I have hope that within a year or so, Zeus will be much more comfortable and a lot less fearful of people and he'll trust us even more.

Just keep reinforcing everything positively and give him lots of love and patience. No scolding or anything that would frighten him - just happy thoughts and happy interactions because it will pay off in the end...we promise!! Smile

Belle, Zeus, Taz and mom