mkmjd
New Member
I moved into my first apartment in October 2011 and had been dreaming about getting a pet for quite a while before I even signed the lease. Rabbits were actually one of the first that I considered but didn't fully investigate as time quickly got away from me. However, the moment I walked into my local pet shop, I fell in love.
I got my Milo (dutch) first in early December 2011 and literally spent every moment home with him. He was small enough that he could fit into my front pouch on my sweater and when I watched TV he would sleep snuggled inside. Within a couple of weeks, he responded to his name, would greet me when I came over and would run around me until I played chase with him, which sometimes would go for well over an hour. I had gotten some child gates and partitioned off my breakfast nook for him to run around in. A week after I got him I added the litter pan after I cleaned his cage, and he instantly took to it and would/will only pee there. However, I have always been a huge believer in companionship and had decided when I got him I would one day find another member for our family so he had that constant companion.
When I walked into the other location of the shop on New Years a few weeks later, my eyes immediately found my Kody (holland lop). I knew that fluffy little brown and white bunny was going home with me. However, as the handler goes to give my new little one to me, he reveals Kody is a female. Whoops. There was no way that I could let her go so I found a way to make it work (NOTE: I am planning on having all of mine fixed once they reach 6 months). I cleared out the extra bedroom in my apartment and turned it into my "rabbit room". I found non-toxic rubber floor tiles (used in school classrooms) and completely covered the room to protect the carpet and make clean up much easier. I found a new balance in caring for two baby bunnies who had to be separated because a) milo is much larger than Kody and b) i don't want them interacting until at least he is fixed. I alternated each of them out of their cages, put up a gate at the door and would play with them or let them run around alone for a little bit and get as much exercise as possible.
In my desire to provide the best possible life for my new babies and keep them in the most ideal physical AND mental health I was doing tons of online investigation into forming healthy and strong bonds between me and them, and between each other. I quickly noticed that a lot of sites i found suggested having 3 rabbits is the best way to go, because when one goes in a pair the other is at high risk of going quickly after from the loss of their companion. I would like to take a moment to add that I have always been a total and absolute animal lover and have often been called a "flower child" because of my "unique" views and interactions with animals, so one can imagine what happened after I read about this disheartening information.
So a week after Kody joined us, back at the location where I found Milo, I found my last baby, Maya (holland lop), who was nearly an exact duplicate of Kody, except a little bit overweight. She and Kody instantly bonded and have been inseparable since. Within a couple of weeks, Maya lost the majority of the excess weight and all of my "clan" are very healthy. It has been more difficult to bond with my girls because they do have their bond as well, but as time has passes we become much and much closer.
Milo is my man. From the moment I step over the gate when he is out, he is running around my feet until I sit down then jumps all over me, plays plays and plays, and constantly licks me when I hold and pet him. But he is clearly more matured because each time I tried to introduce him to the girls, he got a little humpy.. so the closest he gets to them (until he is neutered) is to sniff outside their cages and get used to their scents.
I love being a bunny daddy. Each of mine has a totally different personality and getting to nurture them and watch them grow is such an amazing gift. I have built a cardboard mansion, bought a small carpeted two level cat stand, which they love to lay on top of, some tunnels and they have a room to run around in. It's hard to believe it's only been 3 months, and that I went from having 1 to 3, but I have absolutely no regrets. Everyone at my work and in my classes knows not only about my bunnies but what they look like through the dozens of pictures on my phone. I have been thinking of joining a forum and look forward to sharing and learning of other bunny families out there
I got my Milo (dutch) first in early December 2011 and literally spent every moment home with him. He was small enough that he could fit into my front pouch on my sweater and when I watched TV he would sleep snuggled inside. Within a couple of weeks, he responded to his name, would greet me when I came over and would run around me until I played chase with him, which sometimes would go for well over an hour. I had gotten some child gates and partitioned off my breakfast nook for him to run around in. A week after I got him I added the litter pan after I cleaned his cage, and he instantly took to it and would/will only pee there. However, I have always been a huge believer in companionship and had decided when I got him I would one day find another member for our family so he had that constant companion.
When I walked into the other location of the shop on New Years a few weeks later, my eyes immediately found my Kody (holland lop). I knew that fluffy little brown and white bunny was going home with me. However, as the handler goes to give my new little one to me, he reveals Kody is a female. Whoops. There was no way that I could let her go so I found a way to make it work (NOTE: I am planning on having all of mine fixed once they reach 6 months). I cleared out the extra bedroom in my apartment and turned it into my "rabbit room". I found non-toxic rubber floor tiles (used in school classrooms) and completely covered the room to protect the carpet and make clean up much easier. I found a new balance in caring for two baby bunnies who had to be separated because a) milo is much larger than Kody and b) i don't want them interacting until at least he is fixed. I alternated each of them out of their cages, put up a gate at the door and would play with them or let them run around alone for a little bit and get as much exercise as possible.
In my desire to provide the best possible life for my new babies and keep them in the most ideal physical AND mental health I was doing tons of online investigation into forming healthy and strong bonds between me and them, and between each other. I quickly noticed that a lot of sites i found suggested having 3 rabbits is the best way to go, because when one goes in a pair the other is at high risk of going quickly after from the loss of their companion. I would like to take a moment to add that I have always been a total and absolute animal lover and have often been called a "flower child" because of my "unique" views and interactions with animals, so one can imagine what happened after I read about this disheartening information.
So a week after Kody joined us, back at the location where I found Milo, I found my last baby, Maya (holland lop), who was nearly an exact duplicate of Kody, except a little bit overweight. She and Kody instantly bonded and have been inseparable since. Within a couple of weeks, Maya lost the majority of the excess weight and all of my "clan" are very healthy. It has been more difficult to bond with my girls because they do have their bond as well, but as time has passes we become much and much closer.
Milo is my man. From the moment I step over the gate when he is out, he is running around my feet until I sit down then jumps all over me, plays plays and plays, and constantly licks me when I hold and pet him. But he is clearly more matured because each time I tried to introduce him to the girls, he got a little humpy.. so the closest he gets to them (until he is neutered) is to sniff outside their cages and get used to their scents.
I love being a bunny daddy. Each of mine has a totally different personality and getting to nurture them and watch them grow is such an amazing gift. I have built a cardboard mansion, bought a small carpeted two level cat stand, which they love to lay on top of, some tunnels and they have a room to run around in. It's hard to believe it's only been 3 months, and that I went from having 1 to 3, but I have absolutely no regrets. Everyone at my work and in my classes knows not only about my bunnies but what they look like through the dozens of pictures on my phone. I have been thinking of joining a forum and look forward to sharing and learning of other bunny families out there
