Bunnysitting...

[BS83]

My friend left for a week-long trip and gave me her bunny Al to take care of until she returns. She kind of failed to tell me a few things about her bunny...

First of all, I had no idea how much bunnies loved to climb. The bunny has pulled down many of my books and dresses trying to get to higher ground. I put out some boxes for him to shred and pay in, but he only jumps on top of them and tries to eat things I wish he wouldn't eat. Twice he has jumped into spaces that required me picking him up and setting him down, but the little guy kicks and wiggles and panics. I got a mean scratch on my hand from this.

I asked my friend how she gets her bunny to go back in his cage, and she said she leaves a treat trail for him to follow! Apparently in three years of owning her rabbit she has never picked him up...

The cage he is in is rather small and I feel like it would be cruel to leave him in without taking him out. He presses against the door every time I walk by. When I let him out he follows me around and will often sit near me and let me pet him... He grooms himself and doesn't freak out if I move, etc. Buuuuut I cannot get him to go back in his cage. The trail of treats isn't working, and I've been unable to work since he would eat my projects (I am an artist). He kicks and grunts if I lift him even an inch off the floor, though, and my friend forgot to clip his nails...

He's a sweet bunny, but he's a fair size (at least five kgs) and he's already caused some damage just by jumping onto shelves and knocking things over. When I try hearding him into his cage, he gets as far as the door and then will jump up and away or dash to the side and get behind me. He doesn't want to go back in.

1. Can I leave rabbits confined for most of the day? I am afraid he will get hurt if he is out too much. My room is dog proof and bird proof, but not bunny proof... When I cover or hide the cords he just digs them out!

2. In just a week can I get him to learn to be carried, or is that impossible? He's three, so I'm guessing it might be too late to teach him, especially since I'm not his owner. If this isn't going to happen, any suggestions for getting him back in? Even when he gets scared, he dashes under my desk rather thn returns to his age.

Just want to make sure I don't stress out this rabbit anymore than he may be jst from being in an unfamiliar environment, so any advice would be greatly appreciated. I've never met an indoor bunny who wouldn't allow people to pick him up, especially one that's been around people for so long. I had a chinchilla growing up, and one of the first things I did was get him used to being carried, so this took me by surprise.

 

[LakeCondo]

Some friend! Especially not clipping his nails.

Is there some kind of pen you could keep him in, someone's baby crib maybe? Otherwise I think keeping him in the cage most of the time is probably better than taking the risk of electrocution.

Maybe you could get him used to being carried in his litter box. That's easier than picking a rabbit up directly, though my girl is only 2 kg, so not that much to lift.

 

[BS83]

Yeah, I cringe whenever I hear his nails against the wall. For some reason he thinks he can scale my walls like a cat...

I forgot to mention that I don't have carpet, so when he hears a sudden noise and tries to dash, he slips and thumps against the flooring. I might try taking him out and practice using his cloth carrying case laying flat, since he is so big he kind of seeps out of his litter box. Not sure I could get him all inside, but he likes to sit on his case flattened, so that might work. Thanks for the advice!

I might try that for a few days and if I still can't get him comfortable with being lifted I will just take him out when I change his litter and water dish, etc. Today I managed to get him back in because a police siren scared him when he just happened to be by his cage, so in he hopped.

 

[LakeCondo]

You might also give him a large cardboard box to hide in & chew on. Remove all fastening tape from the box & fasten it up by folding one side of the bottom at a time, then the next side so half the 1st one is covered. Repeat & tuck half of the 4th side under the 1st side. Repeat on the top.
Then cut a hole into the box on one of the 4 solid sides of the box, large enough that the rabbit can get through. Do the same on the opposite side. They think they are safer if they have 2 escape paths. If it slides around too much, spread out an old towel or small rug under it.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

:yeahthat: We use the two piece apple boxes so you don't have to fold anything, it comes with it's own top. I herd mine into it when it's time to go up and then put the opening up to their hutch--works very well for me and our big girl is right around 8 kgs. It wouldn't hurt getting him used to being picked up and handled either. The key with the larger ones is to get a good hold on them so they can't wiggle and scratch and most will then settle in. Good luck.

 

[BS83]

Oh, maybe that's why he doesn't like the box setup I made him. I only cut one entry hole! Let's see if another hole helps! Thanks!

 

[BS83]

Nancy McClelland wrote:

:yeahthat: We use the two piece apple boxes so you don't have to fold anything, it comes with it's own top. I herd mine into it when it's time to go up and then put the opening up to their hutch--works very well for me and our big girl is right around 8 kgs. It wouldn't hurt getting him used to being picked up and handled either. The key with the larger ones is to get a good hold on them so they can't wiggle and scratch and most will then settle in. Good luck.

I am having a hard time getting a grip on his back feet. I hold his chest and try to scoop under his butt but he's kicking as soon as he feels fingers on his side. He kicks so hard I'm afraid he'll break his back, so if I can't lift him while he's on top of something else, I don't want to attempt holding him. Baby steps, baby steps, heh.

Also, I was JUST telling my friend about the old Bunnicula books, so it amuses me to no ends to see you named one of your bunnies that!