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Forum THE LOUNGE Thoughts on free rangers…

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    • jerseygirl
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        Just starting a general discussion on free ranging rabbits.  My 2 are generally free ranging. I shut them in “their room” that adjoins the laundry for overnight. This is where their general set up is but they have access to the rest of the house during the day.   I even leave them free roaming when no one is home…

        So I’m wondering what people think about that? Particularly that last part.  I feel comfortable doing this, I think i have rabbit proofed enough and I find them fairly predictable.  However, there may be things I haven’t considered.  Until recently I hadn’t considered that having them free range might be a problem if say, I had to come home and get them out of the house in a hurry.  I’m not wanting to change their routine and I really enjoy having them free range.  But I do think it’d be wise to hear of things have I may not have considered.   I know free ranging doesn’t work for every household but I would like to hear any experiences or concerns anyone might have.

        Thanks!


      • Elrohwen
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          I think free range is awesome if you have the bunnies who can handle it. I’m learning that Hannah clearly cannot be trusted – no amount of bunny proofing short of putting up pieces of plywood and nailing them into the floor will keep her contained. She’s fine much of the day, and I’m starting to trust her during the sleepiest portions while I’m gone, but there are a few hours a day that I don’t trust her unless we’re in the next room. It might get better as we’ve had her longer, but I think she’s always going to find her fun in getting past barriers and exploring.

          Otto could absolutely be free range. He never does anything wrong 😛

          Though I’ll admit, even if Hannah was able to be free range, I wouldn’t be comfortable leaving them out for 9-10 hours while I was at work, for example. I’m just hoping to get her to the point where I can run errands for a couple hours.


        • Lara
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            Calypso and Echo were free range all of the time until just recently. I would leave them out 24/7 because I could trust them. However,an unfortunate incident happened last week and I now put them in their room at night and when I am not home. What unfortunate incident you ask? Well, I arrived home last weekend to my downstairs neighbours BLASTING really, really, really loud music at their party. I went upstairs to my apartment, and walked in on two terrified, stressed out bunnies who dealt with that stress and terror by destroying my couch. Super. They had ripped big holes in most of the cushions and ripped the corners of the fabric off the sides.

            I felt so bad for the poor things, they were so scared. And now that those holes are there in the couch, they’re kind of fixated on them. It’s almost like they have a new project. (We all know about bunnies and their projects.) lol. So, in order to prevent further damage, Echo and Calypso stay in their room when I’m not around.


          • jerseygirl
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              Oh dear! It’s kinda smart of them though….like they were making their own sound proof burrow. You bring up an interesting point though. We can control the environment, particularly outside the home. There are things that will freak them out from time to time.

              Since posting this thread I’ve become nervous about murphy’s law eventuating. I’ve said how they are free rangers, predictable, no probs, blah blah blah…

              Then they go on some sort of rampage. Organise a party and put it up on Facebook or something!


            • Barbie
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                Hahaha, Jersey, knowing how tricky bunnies can be, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they had a big ole party while you were gone! 

                Mine are part time free rangers. When I’m home, they’re out – or the door to their cage is open and they can come out if they feel like it. I tried letting Leroy be free range when I got him last summer, but I found that I was too paranoid about him to be effective at work/school. I don’t think they’d do any real damage while I’m out, but they’re not supposed to be on the furniture, and sometimes I have to chase them off the couches, so if I’m not there, they could get up on the furniture and ruin all the work I’ve been doing to train them to stay them off. I can go out and run a couple quick errands and leave them out, but for the most part, they go back in their cage if I’m gone. Their cage is plenty big and they are comfortable in it, so I don’t feel bad about doing that.

                Jersey touched on it, but one of my main reasons for putting them in their cage when I’m gone is this – aside from worrying about them getting into something they shouldn’t, if I’m not home and say a fire starts and firemen have to break down the door and come in, they’ll check each room. If the bunnies are in their cage, most likely the firemen will see the bunnies (cage is in my bedroom, so the firemen will definitely check the bedroom to make sure I’m not asleep in there) and get them out. For that reason, I keep their two carriers on top of their cage, to make it easy for anyone to grab the bunnies, shove them in the carrier and whisk them out without struggling to hold them both. If they were free range and a fire started (or any other disaster) the bunnies would likely find a tight spot to hide and they wouldn’t be seen. Their grunting or thumping probably wouldn’t be heard over the commotion, and even if it was, most people wouldn’t recognize the noises as an animal – dogs, cats, and birds are able to be much more vocal and everyone knows what those animals sounds like.

                Oh and also, I worry about them squirting out the door after me as I walk out, and then me not noticing.  It happened once when I was bringing in groceries last summer (when I tried free ranging).  Leroy got out and then I shut him out! I didn’t realize for a few minutes, either!  He was just explorring the apartment hallway (THANK GOODNESS my apartment didn’t open directly to the outside!) and no one had bothered him – I don’t think anyone had even seen him since it was just a few minutes.


              • babybunsmum
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                  pinky is semi-free range.  she has free range of her own bedroom 24-7 and she would likely be totally fine with the whole house.  i block off the door with a baby gate but its to keep the dog out of her litter and hay.  i also think its best to keep the dog and her separate when i’m not there.  its a shame… bogart is really really good with her and she just looooovvvvveeees him but i still worry that she may get hurt accidentally.

                  tho there WAS an incident once with her tip-toeing out of her bedroom and stealing a banana…

                  yup… she yoinked the banana and feasted.  skin and all.  oh, and also a nibble of the kleenex box of course.

                  banana theif jail

                   


                • Sage Cat
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                    BabyBunsMum – I remember those photos, Ha, ha, ha, ha. Classic!!!!

                    Kay & Winston have been free range 24 / 7 for about a year and a half now.
                    They stick to the living room, office and kitchen. Because of the floor in the other rooms – they just don’t go in them. It makes a difference that I work at home. And J is working at home for 2 more months.

                    The only thing that I occasionally worry about is having to get them out fast.
                    Many years ago, I lived in a very high fire danger area. I had an emergency box packed at all times and emergency supplies in my car – just in case.
                    J and I can get the buns into their carrier in a minuet or 2. Because fire is a pretty minor concern, I would rather NOT sacrifice their free-range life for the possibility.


                  • Beka27
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                      Mine get penned at night and if we’re not going to be home for an extended length of time. They have a large pen, so it’s not a big deal.

                      I have two main reasons… 1) the whole “emergency argument”. I like to know where they are at night… just in case. 2) We have a 6-year-old. And even tho he’s very good at picking up after himself (better than most 6-year-olds since as long as he can remember… we’ve had bunnies) there is always the chance there will be a lego, or library book, or half-eaten peanut butter sandwich left SOMEWHERE…

                      And a 3rd minor reason… Meadow is a mini rex. Lol… so who knows what she will decide to do at any moment during the day or night when we’re not around.


                    • Sonn
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                        Pacey and Marshmallow are more or less free range now that they don’t try to murder one another. The only time they are in their room is when people are over since for some reason they are more afraid of my little 3 lb Pacey than my dogs who hate strangers LOL. Or if I am not home because of their hay fiascos when no one is around and I don’t want the dogs to have the opportunity to chase them if they got the itch.

                        I don’t think I would have the guts to let them out when I am not home there are way too many places they can hide if a big emergency broke out. I have even went as far as to have an emergency station for my animals carriers, fresh filled water bottles, food rations, hay rations, leashes, harnesses, etc. I am a wee bit paranoid when it comes to leaving the animals home alone.


                      • Elrohwen
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                          I never really considered the emergency situation, really. We don’t really live in a high risk area though – no hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, or forest fires here. But it’s definitely a major consideration if you live somewhere that natural disasters are a risk. I continue to use my petstore cage, so if there was ever a need for a fireman to get them out, it would be easy enough to shoo them into the cage and carry them out in that (since they wouldn’t be free range because I just don’t trust them!).

                          Thinking about our recent issues with Hannah, my biggest fear is wires. We have tried to pen off the tv area and computer wire area as best as we can, but every other day Hannah finds a new way to get past our bunny proofing. For a determined bunny, I don’t know that there’s much we can do (and covering every wire with a tube isn’t really practical). I might trust her for half an hour if I know she’s passed out when I leave, but during any remoately active times (which is 80% of the day) I don’t trust her a bit. We were cleaning upstairs today and thought the bunnies were sleeping. We came down to find her behind the tv somehow! She’s a smart one.


                        • MimzMum
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                            lolz…Love those pix of Pinky! ^_^ What a rascal!
                            Yup. Too many things in my house for bunnies to get into that would be nasty if they were free range…although now that the newest and biggest obstacle, the daughter’s pup, is going to help (read: motivate) us to clear out the house to make room for her…any thoughts I had on making an enlarged area for my buns to play in is now on hold until I can square away a large room in the house to be JUST their room.
                            I also worry about the quick grab. Although it’s my cats I’d have a hard time with now in evacuating them. I don’t have the space necessary to keep the carriers by the bunny pens, but that is a good idea. Fiver’s pen is in two pieces, so anyone trying to get him out in his pen would be letting him loose if they lifted it. And hopefully no one would be silly enough to just toss all three into one of them to move them. >.<
                            No fire service here, so not likely…but if we ever move I have to rearrange stuff a bit.

                            All that being said, I would love it if my three were bonded and had one big area to play in…less work for me on cleanup (three separate pens is a nightmare – although not as bad as that lady I visited this week with the peanut) and more social for them. But yes, a hazard when it comes to a sudden exit.
                            *sigh* Someday I’ll have the perfect solution. Today is not that day…lol.


                          • Barbie
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                              I don’t live in a high risk area either, in terms of natural disaster. But I do live in an apartment building, meaning I can’t control what my neighbors do, and for all I know, one of them might turn the stove on to make something, fall asleep, and start a fire while I’m gone. Also, it’s an older building, and there was an incident last fall with the boiler room over heating or something. Smoke all through the hall ways and the fire department had to come out. Though I guess it wasn’t as big a deal as the smoke indicated since we weren’t even asked to leave, lol.


                            • Sarita
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                                My Pepe is free range – he only will stay upstairs though. My first rabbit Bunbun was free range. I think that if you OWN your home and no one may come in freely other than police and fire, it’s a great thing. Pepe may go downstairs but he won’t. Pepe is older and he does not chew (anymore) and I don’t 100% trust him, but I trust him enough that we are okay. Of course, he has no access to my final 4 who have their own room (but not free roam) but if they weren’t in my life he would and we’d be fine. He still has poopy butt issues at times with his dental problems but hey, I’m fine with that and work with it.


                              • jerseygirl
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                                  Barbie, you reminded me of another thing that dawned on me only recently. What if there was a break-in and doors were left open? This could happen even if I did shut them up and the back door was jemmied. I like to think in the event of a break in or door being left ajar,  that the buns might venture out the front but as it’s unfamiliar to them, they’d scoot back to safe territory (the house) if frightened. I may be looking at it with rose coloured glasses.    Sorry.  I like to play with the smilies.


                                • Barbie
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                                    Yep, I’ve thought of that too. I’ve even had nightmares where someone broke in while I was gone, took a bunch of stuff that I could care less about and then took Leroy! (This was back when I only had him).


                                  • jerseygirl
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                                      …and then Leroy turns into a black belt bun and takes care of the burglar? More like he gives them major stink-eye and they faint dead away.

                                      I don’t know statistically what the chances of a break in are. I do know that when I’m here, and the rabbit are about AND I have visitors – there’s more risk of them going out the door! I feel like I’m constantly following people making sure doors are shut.


                                    • Minty
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                                        A question for all you free rangers – How do you keep your buns from going underneath all your furniture? Do you block off the bottoms or do you just let them do what they want?


                                      • HatterBunny
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                                          Hatter is a free ranger! He can go anywhere except for my husband and I’s bedroom. We have *knock on wood* never had a problem with him except for the ONE time he peed on the couch (and that was with my husband and I home). He normally sleeps during the day and is more active when I come home from work.

                                          I think Hatter is very happy he is a free ranger. After all I got him from an animal shelter where he spent almost two years in a cage. When we first got him he was VERY grumpy in the cage. We let him have a little more space at a time and lucky for us he was already litter box trained. One day we my husband and I decided to just let him have the house to himself for a day and see how it went. Of course, Hatter also let us know that he owned the house when he jumped OVER his XPen we had him in. He has been an awesome bun ever since!

                                          As far as the under the furniture question….Our couches go straight down to the ground. Also, we have a table that the TV is mounted on and that is his favorite spot. I guess we just lucked out that way.


                                        • HatterBunny
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                                            Oh…I should note that as of this date, Hatter will not leave the living room area (even though he could). The rest of our apartment has tiled floor instead of carpet so I think that has a lot to do with it


                                          • Beka27
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                                              Bunny-proofing is required, but to WHAT DEGREE, depends on your home, your bunnies, your stuff, how much you love your stuff, etc…

                                              In my house, we have reclining couches, so we have elaborate grids set-up to prevent buns from getting underneath the couches. The entertainment center is positioned in a way (kitty-corner to the wall) so there is no way for a bun to get behind it. Wires are either tucked away or have wire covers on them. It takes A LOT of time to adequately bunny-proof, and more often than not, you don’t know if something is proofed “well enough” until your bunny gets past it and chews something they are not allowed to.

                                              Many (most?) of our buns did not start off as free-range, and even when out for exercise time, there is a period when they still need constant supervision. My opinion is that no bunny is truly ready for 24/7 free-range until they are spay/neutered, and are at least one year old. There is a certain amount of “mellowing” that happens as a bun gets older that is necessary for harmonious free-ranging.

                                              Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule, but in most cases, you have to build up to this slowly. Honestly, it starts off as ALWAYS supervising, and then you can take your eyes off the bun and read a book or watch a movie. Then you can run to the restroom for a couple minutes with the bun unsupervised. Then you can get dinner going for 10 minutes. Then you can take a shower for 20 minutes… then you can run up to the drugstore for 30 minutes… and eventually the bun can be trusted alone.


                                            • mrmac
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                                                My trio is free range during the day. They are out from the minute I get up to the minute I go to bed. They get locked up at night in their 5×8 pen. During the day they have the entire living room and our patio. If me and hubby go out somewhere we will leave them out, but if it is going to be a while we will lock them up. I don’t think I would trust what they could get into at night…


                                              • HatterBunny
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                                                  Beka — you make a good point as far as age and spay/neuter! Hatter is guessed to be about 3 years old and was neutered because we got him from an animal shelter. Again, I lucked out with a really awesome bun.


                                                • Beka27
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                                                    And again, this is just my experience and hearing so many stories of other people’s buns. When someone says, “My 8 week old bunny is SO GOOD… I want him to be free-range!” I just cringe. ;o)


                                                  • Elrohwen
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                                                      Hahaha, Beka, totally agree! I think it’s pretty rabbit specific whether or not they can be trusted. Hannah is seriously smarter than me – I don’t care how long we have her, I will never trust her home alone for more than 30-60min. Otto, on the other hand, can be absolutely trusted with a minimum of bunny proofing. You just don’t know when your bun is only 8 weeks and hasn’t hit their destructive stride yet.


                                                    • Deleted User
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                                                        I marvel at the free-range rabbits. It wouldn’t go down so well in my house. I imagine Neigey would drown in the toilet by accident, Lint would suffocate in the trash can. Deirdra and Mops would venture to the great outdoors by way of eating their exit through the wall and my dogs would play tug-o-war with strands of hay all over the house. It just wouldn’t work here, no matter the extend of bunny-proofing.


                                                      • Minty
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                                                          I’m not so sure free range would work in my house either. There are multiple rowdy dogs, and indoor/outdoor cats that are hunters. (Yes, they have killed wild baby buns and brought them to my doorstep ) It would stress me out way too much to not know where my bunny is at all times and it is not so much that I can’t trust Sully, but I couldn’t trust the other animals in the household unsupervised.


                                                        • Sage Cat
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                                                            I did forget to say that I live in a house, don’t have kids, and don’t have any other pets. That makes a difference.

                                                            Our 2nd bedroom is our tv room. The buns don’t like to go in there. So, I don’t worry about them getting in to the electronics.
                                                            There is no couch in the living room. So, I don’t worry about them getting under it.
                                                            Our bedroom is a “Pet Free” zone. So, that is not an issue.

                                                            I have noticed Kay is starting to nibble at one of the legs of my desk. It is a very solid 4×4 piece of wood. I’m interested to see how long it takes her to go through the leg!!!!


                                                          • Sarita
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                                                              I’m the same as Sage Cat – adult only household with other rabbits who are not free roam and a bird. Pepe pretty much roams free in my upstairs bedroom, hallway and small room off the hallway. He is free to go up and down the stairs but will not go downstairs any longer since I got a new area rug last year – I think he did not like the smell of they dye from the carpet.


                                                            • Andi
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                                                                I envy free rage rabbit homes, if i had one of two bunnies they could be absolutly. But 8 free run rabbits is just not going to work. They get there own free run area for playtimes, but not the whole house.
                                                                A few of my bunnies can’t really even come upstairs (Living room) to play as one refuses to use a litter box and enjoys spraying, nevermind eating the leather couch and if he can get around a bunny barrier say goodby to any wires
                                                                Even the bunny proofed ‘bunny area’ has to be changed once Suzy-Q finds something new, or figures out how to jump from one item to another to get into somewhere she shouldn’t be, i keep two clips on the doors, b/c ones nto enough for her LOL

                                                                *One Day* my dream is to have 2 bunnies (and ONLY 2!), a mini rex and a holland lop, free run, litter trained, hand picked by me…. But most likely it’ll b a mutt bunny someone dumped and i’ll love him/her just the same LOL

                                                                Carpets – Now if your free run bunny is a carpet puller? What do you do?


                                                              • Sarita
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                                                                  Well I have to say that having Pepe free roam is also a pain as well. He jumps up on the bed and I have to grab him or he’ll bite us. He’ll lay next to me if I grab him and pull him beside me. But after awhile he wants to just dig on the bed so I have to banish him but he comes back up. Honestly, it interrupts my sleep and it makes me grumpy. He thinks digging on the bed is fun.

                                                                  My first rabbit Bunbun hated the bed – he would jump right down if I put him on the bed and he was free roam too. I wish Pepe hated the bed.


                                                                • Minty
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                                                                    Andi, that is my dream too!! lol Already have the Holland, now just for the Mini Rex


                                                                  • Deleted User
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                                                                      Andi, I too dream of one day having only a pair of rabbits… LOL. It is ironic that the members with multiples feel a yearning for less and vice versa!
                                                                      I do love my quartet, don’t get me wrong… but in my dream of only two bonded rabbits I see 2 REW rexes… I already have their names picked out!


                                                                    • Sarita
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                                                                        Ah Petzy – my Emmy was a REW rex and she was so beautiful – I miss her sassy little self.


                                                                      • Andi
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                                                                          oohh, i’ve never seen a REW Rex! I want a broken harliquin mini rex LOL thats teh dream bunny 4 me … and the holland can be any colour, that I’m not so picky about. I had two Holland ladies a while ago, and I miss them dearly.

                                                                          I think of all the attention i could give just two bunnies, how I could go on vacation and find a sitter no problem with just two, instead of spending all my money on just feed and litter I could spend it on toys and silly things LOL I love my guy’s wouldn’t give them up for anything, if I didn’t work full time i think i could enjoy them more then just feed/cleaning them lol

                                                                          When i let my group out, I usally take time to nap in the pen in the sunshine with them. I am sure my neighbors think i am absolutly nuts. Just siting and watching them is so peacful and enjoyable.


                                                                        • MimzMum
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                                                                            My biggest fear (and now for Jenna too) is that hubby (who has a bad back and stumbles a lot) would squish whoever was toddling around on the floor. He is a serious hazard to the health of all my animals.
                                                                            The break-in thing terrifies me too…as does fire. In one nightmare, my bunnies are roaming God only knows where and lost…in the other, well…their protection becomes their doom. I just can’t win either way.
                                                                            But you can’t take them everywhere with you. We saw LizzieKnittyBun and her bunnies barely avoid death in their rollover…I worry that could happen anytime I’m transporting my pets.
                                                                            Also my two indoor cats (who don’t do well outside at all) are always on my mind when we leave home, as lots of people around here have no problem coming up your driveway and trying your door if they think you’re out. Not to mention they’ll just take something from your yard they need if they think you’re not using it.
                                                                            *sigh* It’s a difficult choice no matter which way you go. Free-range seems so much more natural, but then it’s almost like bringing outdoor rabbit hazards indoors in some instances.


                                                                          • Barbie
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                                                                              Posted By SullysMum on 04/26/2010 10:30 AM
                                                                              A question for all you free rangers – How do you keep your buns from going underneath all your furniture? Do you block off the bottoms or do you just let them do what they want?

                                                                              Here’s a solution… pick out the furniture that best fits your lifestyle w the wascally wabbits!  Hehe, I really did pick out my couch and love seat based on whether or not the bunnies could crawl underneath!  I use NIC grids for everything else.

                                                                               

                                                                               

                                                                              Posted By jerseygirl on 04/26/2010 03:58 AM

                                                                              …and then Leroy turns into a black belt bun and takes care of the burglar? More like he gives them major stink-eye and they faint dead away.

                                                                              I don’t know statistically what the chances of a break in are. I do know that when I’m here, and the rabbit are about AND I have visitors – there’s more risk of them going out the door! I feel like I’m constantly following people making sure doors are shut.

                                                                              Yes, those stink eyes are dangerous


                                                                            • Barbie
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                                                                                Posted By Sarita on 04/26/2010 02:47 PM
                                                                                Well I have to say that having Pepe free roam is also a pain as well. He jumps up on the bed and I have to grab him or he’ll bite us. He’ll lay next to me if I grab him and pull him beside me. But after awhile he wants to just dig on the bed so I have to banish him but he comes back up. Honestly, it interrupts my sleep and it makes me grumpy. He thinks digging on the bed is fun.

                                                                                Leroy will jump up onto the bed too and dig at the covers and hop all over the pillows and wake me up!  I don’t mind him being on my bed so much, but I’d rather him not be on my pillows where I put my face… bunnies are clean, but still… he DOES sit on his poop and pee in the litter box…


                                                                              • Elrohwen
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                                                                                  Barbie – we’re lucky that we have couches that are very low to the ground. Hannah can fit her shoulders under but has a very very hard time fitting her big bum under there 😛 Unfortunately the tv stand isn’t quite as low to the ground. haha. And both buns love going under the recliner. We never sit in it unless we have company (and then the bunnies are usually put away or closely monitored) so I don’t mind if they go under there.


                                                                                • jerseygirl
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                                                                                    I only have one piece of furniture that’s a problem. Jersey likes to get under a armchair once it’s in recline posistion. She does this less now. Mainly she just slept in there but I took the base off recently and saw she pulled a tiny bit at the foam of the seat. Not enough to cause concern. Mine hang out under the bed too but no damage there. They like corners of the room behind armchairs, or their cardboard box.

                                                                                    I’ve mentioned this before…I actually find they get into more trouble when I am home. I’ve never come home to find my bed or sofa peed on. But there was a phase of sofa peeing that happened in the evenings while we were in the room or just stepped of it.

                                                                                    You can’t become complacent when you have them free range. I have to remember to shut certain doors, not leave buckets of water on the floor, not leave cords trailing across a path etc. I alway make sure I sight them both last thing before I leave. My sister and I share the place, so if I leave before her, I’ll often shut them in their area so I don’t worry.

                                                                                    The lil ones are so darn curious! Anytimne I use the vaccuum or power tools, Rumball will come see.   The other day I was cleaning their litter boxes. I poured lots of vinegar with only a little water to give it a soak. I had it sitting on the floor as the buns were outside munching and running about. I walk out, get rid of some rubbish, walk back inside…and see wet paw prints along the floor. Rumball had come in, checked out the litter box and hopped in! I followed the wet print to my bedroom where he was cleaning himself under the bed. He wasn’t too happy with me giving him a feet and tail wash!
                                                                                    Jersey’s curiousity had her get accidently shut in the fridge one time you might recall.
                                                                                    So free ranging does have it’s risks for sure. For multi pet households, I’m not sure the rabbits would even like to be free range. They’d feel more secure in their own defined zone wouldn’t they?
                                                                                     


                                                                                  • HatterBunny
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                                                                                      Sage Cat — We live in an all adult home too with no other pets. Luckily he is not a carpet puller/chewer…..


                                                                                    • Monkeybun
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                                                                                        I think my Moose would do well as a free roaming bunny. He doesn’t chew on the furniture at all, and only uses the litter boxes. he’s a good little man. Monkey… she loooves getting into things. Has to squeeze into every little nook or cranny she finds. And she has taken to marking with Moose around. >.<

                                                                                        Maybe once they are bonded she will calm down with the marking and be a good girl again.


                                                                                      • wendyzski
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                                                                                          Pepper has been free-range pretty much since about a month after I got her.  

                                                                                          I live alone and Pepper is my only pet.  I picked out my furniture with my furry little roomate in mind.  I figure that I’m the one with the big brain and the opposible thumbs – if she chews it because it’s on the floor, it’s kind of my fault for leaving it there! 

                                                                                          I have covered, fastened down or blocked off all my wires.  She pulled out the VHS tapes from the TV stand and tunnelled in to chew up some wires at one point, but then I added NIC grids to the back.  I have NIC grid cubes hanging over the bottom shelf of the bookcases, and other of my books are kept in a china cabinet.  I also know how to splice wires back together and where to get the least expensive extension cords to use for repair parts. 

                                                                                          I sawed a bi-fold closet door in half and installed it as a sort of “dutch door” to keep her out of the sewing/computer room.  Her litter box, hay rack and food/water bowls are under a large wire shelving unit in the kitchen.  She has excellent litter habits, and I only have to vacuum up poops that get kicked out by accident.  Her daytime lair is under the IKEA folding couch in the living room (open bottom and metal legs) and at night  – after hopping up for a good round of headpets and a bounce around the bed – she sleeps under my bed.  

                                                                                          I had houseguests a few weeks ago who were sleeping on the unfolded couch in the living room.  I was lying in bed, trying to decide if they were awake or not when I heard one of them say “Honey – you’ve got a bunny on your butt!”.  Apparently she decided that he made an adequate perch from which to survey her domain.

                                                                                          Sometimes when the weather is nice I’llleave the back door open and she’ll hop out on the deck for a visit.  She’s never even tried to go down the stairs – probably because all the yummy plants are up here!

                                                                                          Yes, there are adjustments to have a free-range houserabbit, and some are better suited to it than others – but it’s great if you can.

                                                                                           


                                                                                        • LoveChaCha
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                                                                                            I’ve recently let ChaCha free roam in the living room (I bunny proofed with grid things). She hasn’t pooped or peed anyplace (only one poo on the couch, that is all!), and she doesn’t chew on furniture.

                                                                                            My dad was hesitant to let me at first, but realized the only thing she would go for is the wires, which I’ve blocked off.

                                                                                            She just jumps onto the furniture, sniffs, binkies, is very curious about what these big things are! She enjoys running around and is more happier with so much space available to her!

                                                                                            I am very surprised she isn’t chewing on the bookshelf or the TV stand. GOOD BUNNY

                                                                                            She free roams for about 3 hours after I get home from work, and I minimize the playarea when I go to bed..


                                                                                          • LizzyBunn
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                                                                                              Both my bunnies are basically free range. I live in a studio and sometimes they just go too crazy at night by pushing things off my end table or hopping on me and the bed too much. So every so often they go in the bathroom, which is actually pretty big, while I sleep.
                                                                                              I don’t get too worried about emergencies since my place is so small and when they are hiding it’s mostly the same two spots. They’ve never been interested in chewing furniture. Just burrowing/digging the carpet and any cloth type thing. They seem happy to have the run of the place and since I’ve only got 385sq feet, I let them play where they want.


                                                                                            • Snaper
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                                                                                                Snaper is free range all the time, unless I’m not home. Then he goes into his condo which has an x-pen hooked up to it. So he has plenty of room. I would love to have him free range 24/7, but there’s just no way. His way to hyper for that. I have my whole house bunny-proofed, but he still somehow finds stuff to get into.
                                                                                                It used to be really bad before I had him neutured. He was a year old then. Now it’s two years latter & he does really well….. unless I’m not at home. Then the little stink gets into stuff. When I’m at home his good, it’s like me being there stops him haha. So when I leave he goes into the condo.

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