So pretty!!! They are adorable couple. My bunny was same, very small and naughty. I do believe you will be just fine. Bunny proof your house but don’t rush, take small steps.
Free Roaming Experiences
- Thread starter Butterscotch
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They never seemed interested in that piece of furniture. I have had rabbits go after books that were on lower shelves.
Even when we moved to a different place, they chose to chew on their bed rather than that piece of furniture.
Diane R
Well-Known Member
You are right to worry about that. Metal playpens can be very dangerous. You could attach welded mesh with small holes on the bottom part of the pen.
CuteBunnyLove
New Member
Free-roaming is a truly rewarding experience when it comes to rabbits! When my rabbits had become litter trained I let them roam during the day. Ginger (the cheeky rabbit) would've always gotten into trouble. I have to little brothers who would always leave banana skins and things like that behind the sofa. I'd often find her running away with a banana skin or apple. My other rabbit (Bunny) would've found places to hide and would just sleep. Ever since Ginger died Bunny stayed in my room for the nights and its bunny proofed there.
Nice Things About Free-Roaming:
You really get to know your rabbit more. Your bond is stronger and your rabbit is more outgoing. You get to play and cuddle with them. It also gives you a chance to find out their fears for future trips to the vet etc. which is actually comes to hand sometimes. They are less aggressive and healthier as they won't gain weight sitting in a cage. In addition, they also have the space to binky and do zoomies.
Bad Things About Free-Roaming:
Rabbits tend to be very destructive. My room is fully bunny proofed but when she goes to other rooms she chews everything. Bunny only goes upstairs, ever since her sister died, for me that means I only had to bunny proof upstairs but it's still not easy. Hay gets everywhere from litterboxes and wires are everywhere in my parents bedroom. Whenever I do let out bunny I have to lift all the wires and put them on the bed otherwise there's trouble. She also digs on my bed leaving lots of hole.
Scary Things About Free-Roaming:
I caught Ginger eating a lot of bread that my brothers had left behind the sofa. Bunny also ran outside when the doors were left open. We're lucky I quickly noticed the door was open and saw her under a bush. Bunny also nearly electrocuted herself a lot of times as she enjoys chewing wires. Most of the time they are plugged in and working so she's very lucky
Overall I say it's worth it and an amazing experience!
Nice Things About Free-Roaming:
You really get to know your rabbit more. Your bond is stronger and your rabbit is more outgoing. You get to play and cuddle with them. It also gives you a chance to find out their fears for future trips to the vet etc. which is actually comes to hand sometimes. They are less aggressive and healthier as they won't gain weight sitting in a cage. In addition, they also have the space to binky and do zoomies.
Bad Things About Free-Roaming:
Rabbits tend to be very destructive. My room is fully bunny proofed but when she goes to other rooms she chews everything. Bunny only goes upstairs, ever since her sister died, for me that means I only had to bunny proof upstairs but it's still not easy. Hay gets everywhere from litterboxes and wires are everywhere in my parents bedroom. Whenever I do let out bunny I have to lift all the wires and put them on the bed otherwise there's trouble. She also digs on my bed leaving lots of hole.
Scary Things About Free-Roaming:
I caught Ginger eating a lot of bread that my brothers had left behind the sofa. Bunny also ran outside when the doors were left open. We're lucky I quickly noticed the door was open and saw her under a bush. Bunny also nearly electrocuted herself a lot of times as she enjoys chewing wires. Most of the time they are plugged in and working so she's very lucky
Overall I say it's worth it and an amazing experience!
Honestly, I'm on the fence about free roaming. My bun has been full free roam during the day and it's been a lot. I'm happy he has the freedom to move and follow our cat around, but now that he's starting to get the hang of jumping on the furniture, we've found poops on the couch, on our desk, and a few in our bed. He is litter box trained. But it's enough we're thinking about reverting back to him having his room and not the whole house. But I'm worried back tracking back to a room may kill his free roam spirit.
Butterscotch
Well-Known Member
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I'm still on the fence too. I think my dogs would eat any poops that my buns might leave behind but I'm worried about the buns chewing on things they shouldn't. Unfortunately I live in a small condo so I don't have a spare room for them and they are currently taking up my entire living room. I've got the room surrounded by adjoining play pens but now I can't use my living room at all for anything that requires activity. I can sit on my couch and watch a movie but I can't do a work out video, for example. When I got these rabbits, my plan was always to free roam so I have to figure something out. They will not live their lives in cages, ever. My next plan is to allow them to free roam in my hall way, which is maybe 20 feet long. Imagine the binkies they could do in there! And there would be no danger of them chewing on furniture or electrical cords. I just have to relocate my treadmill.
Mehidk
Well-Known Member
You will always find the occasional poops. Their poops will never 100% in their litter box. As long as the pee is in there, they are considered litter trained. The occasional stray poops they leave are possibly because they're marking what belongs to them; in this case, the couch, desk and bed. You can find something to block him from tempting to go up there if you're not a fan of picking up his "gifts" afterwards.
Sorry, I'm late to the discussion. Are they neutered/spayed?
Scheduled for this coming Tuesday!
Great. That will stop the territorial pooing and peeing, although it may take a few months. With Artie it took 3-4 months to completely stop. Definitely worth it!
Mehidk
Well-Known Member
The territorial pooping cannot be guaranteed to stop. It’ll just happen less frequently. My rabbit has been neutered and every now and then I’ll still find a poop here and there.
Ah but there is a big difference between the occasional poop here or there versus having to vacuum multiple times per day, having to check your chair for poop before you sit, and your house starting to smell like am onion poop pit! A poop here or there...that I can handle.
Jurisfiction
Well-Known Member
My dogs don’t eat rabbit poop. Their poop sometimes, cat poop, but not rabbit poop. I even have put it outside as a fertilizer. Maybe the fact that the rabbit is a vegetarian makes his poop not smell like something they should eat?
And Marlow does the occasional poop elsewhere but most of it is now in the box. The first few days here, he was putting it everywhere , including the box.
And Marlow does the occasional poop elsewhere but most of it is now in the box. The first few days here, he was putting it everywhere , including the box.
Butterscotch
Well-Known Member
My dogs love it. Yuck! I wish they didn't because they are tiny Chihuahuas and they can't have the extra calories.
Jurisfiction
Well-Known Member
Oh man! Don’t let them tell my dogs they have all these tasty treats around then!
Butterscotch
Well-Known Member
It'll be our secret!
