Pipp
Well-Known Member
Like Shiloh, I also have issues with that cage, but for another reason, too -- it was designed by a human with the idea of what a human would find appealing. The high open ceiling may be great in a downtown condo or loft, but not a warren. He probably doesn't feel very safe in there. Instinctively he's thinking a hawk will get him anytime. He needs a ceiling, and better yet, a shelf as well. A second level is far better exercise and a good outlet for his energy.
Aside from that, in my experience, the biggest problem is that he's hormonal. There's a reason why most of the abandoned bunnies are between four and eight months old. They start acting like Felix! (And Pipp at his age. And many/most other 'teenage' dwarfs on the board, I'm sure).
They poop and pee everywhere, they race all over the place, the girls get wild-eyed and build nests, the boys circle...
But they do grow out of it, honest! Especially when neutered/spayed.
OakRidgeRabbits wrote:
But I've found that especially with the more territorial girls that they can have too much territory. It totally exhausts them as they continuously try and 'patrol' it. A smaller area (if properly set up) can be more relaxing.
That said, all bunnies are still individuals. Pipp was much happier once I restricted her to just one room (my bedroom, not a cage).
Dill (a mini-rex) would physically have a panic attack if caged. He didn't even like closed doors. Before I got him, he had gone from being a house bunny to being stuck in a cage for a year or two, and he never got over that. He was traumatized. He loved as much space as he could get, he had free run of the kitchen and living room and never did have a favorite spot. He lived in every inch of the place.
You could see the difference in those two indoors and out.
Mister (a breeder bunny and another mini-rex) and Darry (who came from the same place as Dill) will barely leave their converted spare bathroom. Its a very small room, but its designed with maximum floor space, tunnels around the toilet, a 'den' (an old carrier), a big second floor (aka plywood covering the bathtub).
Sherry and Marvin have close to the same space with three floors, albeit less interesting without the tunnels, and they prefer their out time more so than Mister and Darry.
And Mickel is a big bunny with a much smaller pen -- two by four grids with a second floor and a ceiling -- and being a Flemish he does prefer the couch, but he does go back into it and doesn't mind when I close the door behind him.
All the bunnies when they are let out immediately head to the cardboard 'fort' in the living room -- a series of two or three small connected boxes and tunnels. They do love that 'warren' feel.
Hope this helps!
sas :bunnydance:
Aside from that, in my experience, the biggest problem is that he's hormonal. There's a reason why most of the abandoned bunnies are between four and eight months old. They start acting like Felix! (And Pipp at his age. And many/most other 'teenage' dwarfs on the board, I'm sure).
They poop and pee everywhere, they race all over the place, the girls get wild-eyed and build nests, the boys circle...
But they do grow out of it, honest! Especially when neutered/spayed.
OakRidgeRabbits wrote:
There is truth here in both posts, but bunnies like what they're used to. Going from free-run to a small cage is the biggest problem. Breeder bunnies consider their cages home and that's where they feel the safest. But you can't go backwards -- going from free-run to a cage feels more like jail.hartleybun wrote:As a breeder, I have to add that cage confinement is actually comfortable for rabbits. Small spaces (reasonably speaking) are natural to them, and I find that even when I let my rabbits out to run, they end up hopping back in their cage or under a sofa and relaxing.
bars do not have happy memories for this little bun
But I've found that especially with the more territorial girls that they can have too much territory. It totally exhausts them as they continuously try and 'patrol' it. A smaller area (if properly set up) can be more relaxing.
That said, all bunnies are still individuals. Pipp was much happier once I restricted her to just one room (my bedroom, not a cage).
Dill (a mini-rex) would physically have a panic attack if caged. He didn't even like closed doors. Before I got him, he had gone from being a house bunny to being stuck in a cage for a year or two, and he never got over that. He was traumatized. He loved as much space as he could get, he had free run of the kitchen and living room and never did have a favorite spot. He lived in every inch of the place.
You could see the difference in those two indoors and out.
Mister (a breeder bunny and another mini-rex) and Darry (who came from the same place as Dill) will barely leave their converted spare bathroom. Its a very small room, but its designed with maximum floor space, tunnels around the toilet, a 'den' (an old carrier), a big second floor (aka plywood covering the bathtub).
Sherry and Marvin have close to the same space with three floors, albeit less interesting without the tunnels, and they prefer their out time more so than Mister and Darry.
And Mickel is a big bunny with a much smaller pen -- two by four grids with a second floor and a ceiling -- and being a Flemish he does prefer the couch, but he does go back into it and doesn't mind when I close the door behind him.
All the bunnies when they are let out immediately head to the cardboard 'fort' in the living room -- a series of two or three small connected boxes and tunnels. They do love that 'warren' feel.
Hope this helps!
sas :bunnydance:
