bedtime temper tantrums?

[12lawliet12Snickers, Truffle]

Every night I do a bedtime routine to get the buns ready for bed. They're now used to the routine & hop into their sleep areas sometime during the routine (I'm bonding them right now. They get along for the most part, but I'm not ready to trust them alone through the night just yet). Snickers sleeps in my bathroom and Truffle sleeps in the cage his previous owner gave me. Truffle is a good boy and just eats his nightly carrot top when I close the cage door. But Snickers throws a fit every night. I don't know if it's because he wants to be with Truffle or if he wants to be with me or whether he doesn't like going from a 9x25 foot master bedroom to a 6x6 bathroom, but every night without fail when I close the bathroom door he scratches at the door, throws things around, and tries to stick his head under the door(don't worry, it's a 1/2 inch gap, he can't even get his nose under) and scratches at the metal threshold. It keeps me up at night, and I have work in the morning(I'm a seamstress). Is there any way to show him that having his own room isn't so bad? I give him toys, a treat, hay, a litter box, fresh food and water, and something soft to lay on. Every morning at 7 or 8 I let them both out and they have free range of my bedroom until 10 PM or so. What can I do to make him happy?

 

[MarilynBUNNroe]

Are they alone together all day in your bedroom? If so, I would think you would be able to leave them out at night. Especially, if you are there. If they lay together side by side and groom each other, they are bonded. Rabbits are very social and prefer to live in groups. There's safety in numbers and a rabbits natural instinct is to be with other rabbits at night when there are predators out to get them. You and Truffle are Snickers bonded buddies. He want's to be with you and it is causing him anxiety to be banished to the bathroom alone at night. It's really very sweet if you think about it One word of caution with the bunnies being in your bedroom at night. I sleep with a flashlight so when I get up to go to the bathroom, I can see where I'm stepping. I'm with a rescue group and we have had more than one person step on their bunny at night. Very sad:-(

 

[gmas rabbit]

Derby sleeps in our room at night and we have a night light. That way I can see him when I get up or just to glance to see what kind of mischief he is up to. We have had a night light for years and years since we started allowing our bunnies to be in the bedroom so it doesn't bother us. If you don't want to allow them to be together at night, although if they are fine during the day so this shouldn't be a problem, you could try a baby gate on the bathroom door so that he can still see you and not feel so alone. Course if that was Derby who is almost 11 pounds he would simply jump over.

 

[12lawliet12Snickers, Truffle]

The reason I don't want to have them together at night is because Truffle still chases and mounts Snickers. My bedroom is my workspace, so I'm with them all day to supervise while I sew. The only time I leave is to eat lunch, and the kitchen is right next to the bedroom so I can hear them. But I'll look into a baby gate until they're completely bonded. Thanks for the informative replies!

 

[MarilynBUNNroe]

I have a bunny who lives in my bedroom as well. In theory, the baby gate sounds like a great plan. But, my bunny will chew on it and it drives me crazy!! He's not trying to get out. He just likes to chew on the plastic. It will keep you awake at night. It's one of the plastic gates.

I ordered a metal taller baby gate thinking I was going to out smart the bunny. NOT! The rails on the metal gates are too far apart. He simply slips right through. I should have adopted bunnies who aren't smarter than me. lol!

My vet has the metal gates on her examining rooms. She has attached Plexiglass to the bottom so that the bunnies can't go through. It seems to work well.

Hope you can get some good sound sleep soon

 

[MarilynBUNNroe]

I have a bunny who lives in my bedroom as well. In theory, the baby gate sounds like a great plan. But, my bunny will chew on it and it drives me crazy!! He's not trying to get out. He just likes to chew on the plastic. It will keep you awake at night. It's one of the plastic gates.

I ordered a metal taller baby gate thinking I was going to out smart the bunny. NOT! The rails on the metal gates are too far apart. He simply slips right through. I should have adopted bunnies who aren't smarter than me. lol!

My vet has the metal gates on her examining rooms. She has attached Plexiglass to the bottom so that the bunnies can't go through. It seems to work well.

Hope you can get some good sound sleep soon

 

[MarilynBUNNroe]

I have a bunny who lives in my bedroom as well. In theory, the baby gate sounds like a great plan. But, my bunny will chew on it and it drives me crazy!! He's not trying to get out. He just likes to chew on the plastic. It will keep you awake at night. It's one of the plastic gates.

I ordered a metal taller baby gate thinking I was going to out smart the bunny. NOT! The rails on the metal gates are too far apart. He simply slips right through. I should have adopted bunnies who aren't smarter than me. lol!

My vet has the metal gates on her examining rooms. She has attached Plexiglass to the bottom so that the bunnies can't go through. It also will stop any nose biting if the buns are still working out the bonding process. It seems to work well.

Hope you can get some good sound sleep soon

 

[MarilynBUNNroe]

Hmmmm. I don't know why my post posted three times. Sorry. I can't figure out how to delete them. Do you know how?

Thanks for your help.

 

[12lawliet12Snickers, Truffle]

Thanks! I'll try the plexiglass idea. Maybe just plexi in the doorway would work?

 

[MarilynBUNNroe]

That's a good idea. As long as you can fix it to where it stays in place.

My luck I would forget it's there and fall over it in the night. lol!!!