Tasmanian Devil and Ruby!

[Hyatt101]

Yeah, I figured they'd never poop every single time in the litterbox, but I did hope it would be a little better!

We have a new problem: hay and poop are falling through the little crack at the back of the NIC, and where the divider is because the tiles obviously aren't touching with the divider. We need something to line the inside of the cage with so that poops and stray hay can't fall out the back. Any ideas?

Also, Taz and Ruby had a sort of 'fight' today I was cleaning the cages, and since the doors were open, Taz went into Ruby's side of the cage. After sniffing each other, they were fine, and eventually Taz hopped back into her own half of the cage. BUT, when Ruby went into Taz's side of the cage, Taz didn't like it and started chasing her, and they were going in a little circle chasing each other. I couldn't tell if they were nipping, it looked like it, but no scratches were inflicted and no fur torn out. Ruby seems kind of, upset now. She's sitting at the back of her cage, and just looks... depressed. Maybe i'm overreacting. But, I separated them immediately, and they are fine. Was Taz being territorial? I just thought it was weird that Taz was fine in Ruby's side of the cage, but when Ruby went to her side she got angry.

 

[JBun]

I've found putting some sort of step in works better then a ramp. I wish I could see your setup, then I would know better what to recommend. So either make the second level lower so it will be easier for them to jump up to, or put a box in there that they can jump up on first, or add a new lower level that will act as a step.

Yeah, babies poop everywhere! As long as they are getting the pee in the litter box, they're doing great If you have some of the linoleum left over, you could try to ziptie a border of it to keep the poop and hay in there. If they start chewing on it though, then you may need to try something else. Like using 1x2 boards instead.

Poor Ruby Just give her lots of snuggles. She was probably upset cause she's still a baby and didn't understand why Taz didn't want to snuggle and be friends. Taz might have been being territorial, or she could have been chasing Ruby to hump her. Best to just not let Ruby go in Taz's side of the cage. Taz is older so she could be starting to be territorial about her cage, but Ruby is still a baby so she wouldn't care much if Taz came into her side of the cage.

 

[Hyatt101]

Thanks Jenny! Yes, I felt so bad for little Ruby, but she's better now.

Aside from the hay in their litterbox, I bought those rolling things that you can fill with hay and hang on their cage. That way, it can kind of act as another toy, and I could even stick some veggies or treats in there. Taz loves it!

Ruby is much better about the litterbox than Taz; I've only seen 2 stray poops from her, and everything else in the litterbox.

As for the cage, I'll post pics once I have the camera cord.

 

[JBun]

Little Ruby sounds like she's a well behaved bun If you can hang Taz's hay wheel over her litter box(so she has to sit in the litter box to eat the hay out), it might help keep more of her poops in the litter box.

 

[holtzchick]

Have your parents help you make one of these!

I have one for each bun and I find it's so much better than anything I've ever tried..

http://www.rabbitsonline.net/f69/stormhaven-litter-system-step-step-instructions-48510/

 

[Hyatt101]

Little Ruby sounds like she's a well behaved bun If you can hang Taz's hay wheel over her litter box(so she has to sit in the litter box to eat the hay out), it might help keep more of her poops in the litter box.

That's a really good idea... I'll go move it now...

 

[Hyatt101]

That's really cool holtzchick!!

 

[Hyatt101]

I have a question: can you use flash on a camera on a rabbit? I didn't think you could... but i have the hardest time photography Taz because she's a dark brown bunny, and the room she's in is painted green, which gives the photos a little tint that I don't like. It's easy to photograph Ruby, because she's got white fur. If you have a dark colored bunny, how do you photograph it so that it looks nice?

 

[JBun]

I use a flash all the time. Poor buns used to get that startled deer in the headlights look , but now they are so used to it they hardly pay attention and won't hold still anymore for photos. I think the only time you might not want to use one is for a new rabbit that is really timid or scared, just so you aren't freaking it out or anything.

 

[Hyatt101]

Thanks Jenny! I'm glad i can use flash It'll make photographing Taz a lot easier!

 

[whitelop]

How are your bun buns doing? I can't wait to get some updated pictures of them!

 

[Hyatt101]

Hi Morgan! For whatever reason, I don't get subscribed emails to this thread. ugh.

Anyway, the buns are doing great! Ruby is, I think, fully litter trained, Taz is getting there. Unfortunately, I really lost the camera cord and it's driving me crazy! I have soo many pics!

Today, something interesting happened. I had just cleaned the cage, and they have another level, but they need ramps to get up there because they're so tiny. We haven't put ramps in yet, but we are soon. Anyway, I walk into the room, and Ruby had jumped up onto the second level...? I didn't think she could, and more importantly, I was worried she couldn't or wouldn't get down; being too scared of the height. So, I put her back down, and watched her, but she didn't jump up again. now I'm wondering if she's been jumping up there the whole time, and I just never saw her, or if that was her first time. I'm curious if she'll do it again, but I have no way of telling since we're at school all day 5 days a week. I think I know for sure that Taz can't jump up, but I have to wonder about little Ruby. I'd like to see her jump, just to make sure she can get up easily, and she's not in danger of getting hurt.
What do you think? I don't want to put a ramp in if she doesn't need it, but how can I tell if she really can jump up there, or if it was like a one time, random thing she did?

 

[whitelop]

How high is the second level? Is it like a grid high?
A lot of smaller buns jump I think. I'm sure its a little surprising. I don't have a small bun and my bun doesn't really jump. But I've seen her jump on top of her cage. lol. She jumped down just fine, I think you should watch her and see if she needs the ramp or not. Maybe you could put a box in there that is half the height of the grid and has a harder top so she won't fall through, and maybe she could use that as a step or something. Thats what I would do, just to test her out.
But maybe as she gets older, she'll be able to jump better.
Maybe someone else with a smaller bun would be able to help you with the levels and ramps and stuff.

 

[Hyatt101]

It is about a grid high. She's such a goof, I thought she couldn't jump to save her life, and there she is chillin' out on the second level
I'll try the box thing, too! Thanks for the idea I just got nervous because then I thought, what if she can't jump down? I guess that's kind of ridiculous though, if she was hungry or something I think she'd jump down, but I don't want her to get hurt, because if she should fall, it's a tile floor. Maybe I'm being too paranoid and scared...

 

[Hyatt101]

Since I can't get the pics up yet, here's my rabbit photobucket album link, you can see pics of all my rabbits and past rabbits there
http://s1160.beta.photobucket.com/user/Hyatt101/media/Rabbits/IMG_4579.jpg.html

 

[JBun]

You could also lower the second level so they wouldn't have to jump as high to get up there.

 

[whitelop]

:yeahthat: I thought about that after I had already gotten off the computer. lol.
Does she have a blanket or anything on the floor of her cage? Something to soften the landing of her jumping down, would probably be good.

I just looked at your photobucket album of pictures of your rabbits. They're all really adorable.
But there are two rabbits that are in one picture, they're outside, its looks like a REW and a orange bun. Do you know what kind of buns they are? To me they kind of look like New Zealand's, but I'm not sure. I really really like them though! hahaha.

 

[Hyatt101]

Oh those buns (the REW and the one that looks like new Zealand) were our old buns who passed away years ago We weren't sure of their breeds, but they do look like New Zealands!

I don't have blankets in their cage YET, just because I want to wait until they're litter trained fully, but I do have grass mats in their cage. I think what I want to try first is the box, or step idea, but lowering the level might be good too. Thanks for the replies!

 

[whitelop]

I figured the buns were older, they were very pretty.

I forgot you had grass mats in their cage! I agree with trying a box first, that way you don't have to like un-do the work that you did on the cage to adjust it. hahaha. And bunnies LOVE boxes! So Ruby would probably love a box, since she seems like a playful little bun.

 

[Hyatt101]

Yes, definitely I had given her a little cardboard box to play with (it wasn't one I could use for a step) and she loved it! If I get a strong box for the step, if I cut it to make a cave, but also a step, will it become too weak?