My introduction plus question

[ribenaboom]

Hello everyone!

 

I have tried to persevere with Google and reading a whole bunch of stuff that is often conflicting, with some success and confidence instilled… but I now give up and with head held high in defeat, I’m seeking some personalised reassurance we’re doing the right things for our new bunnies.

 

We bought our first bunny, now named Sherlock, last Sunday. We bought a modest sized hutch (hutch in the truest sense – wooden hutch) with the intention being that because Sherlock is going to be a house rabbit, he only needs a modest sized house as he will essentially have free range in the apartment. When we got the little guy home, we expected him to be nervous etc. so we got his house ready quickly and put him in there. He was nervous, reserved but nothing out of the ordinary.

 

After a quick Googling of bunnyness, it became very apparent, very quickly, that we really shouldn’t have got just one bunny and they should be kept in at least pairs of two. The very next day we went back to the rabbit chaps and got another rabbit, now named Mrs Hudson, knowing that they’d lived together before so hopefully bonding wouldn’t be an issue. We were right! They love each other and groom each other all the time. Absolutely lovely to watch. Additionally, Mrs Hudson was very outgoing where Sherlock wasn’t, so she came out to play and wander pretty much straight away and therefore Sherlock followed. Over the past few nights they’ve been out on a duvet on the floor for them and have been buzzing around it in tunnels and binkying away. Ace.

 

Naturally, we realised that the modestly sized hutch was no longer viable and we’d need a bigger house for them. We decided to abandon the idea of a wooden hutch and go for an indoor “cage” (I use the word loosely!) The “cage” is two tiered and looks excellent. I have not been fooled into thinking that because it is two tiers, it is “big enough” due to floorspace. I did, however, think it’d be great to keep them occupied and give them a bit of variation in scenery to help keep them from getting bored.

 

We only got the new house for them yesterday. With it being an indoor “cage”, we no longer have a door to open that is straight to the floor, instead it has a plastic base and a sliding door (I think the “cage” is Ferplast 100). 

 

Sherlock, so far, has resolutely refused to come out. He has stuck his head outside the door opening, even stood up against it with his two front feet, but he will not make the leap. Mrs Hudson did, however, make the leap and had a bit of a wander outside last night. This morning, she hasn’t come out even with an apple treat, but I think she probably will do again when she’s ready. 

 

Sherlock had a wander up the ramp last night to the second tier. He did so on two occasions. He has yet to find his way down. Mrs Hudson has yet to go up the ramp. So, in short, last night, Sherlock refused to come out of the “cage” so I had to pick him up so he could have a run around. I don’t like picking him up yet because, even though he’s licked me on a couple of occasions (aww!) and I think we’re forming a trust, he really doesn’t like being picked up. Neither does Mrs Hudson. They both love, however, being cuddled once they’re picked up and settled in our arms. Sherlock hasn’t worked out how to come down the ramp and Mrs Hudson hasn’t even tried the ramp. I am known for my very verbose emails… 🙂

 

My girlfriend, who is far more level-headed than I, has said we just need to give them time and they will work it out. I am just a bit upset that they were doing so well and were so happy running around outside but we seem to have disrupted that with the new house for them. Will Sherlock eventually realise he just has to do a little jump to get out? Will Mrs Hudson ever use the ramp? Will Sherlock ever find his way back down the ramp? That unintentionally sounded like the end of a 1960s Batman episode…

 

I have put a shoebox directly outside the house at the opening. Would a ramp inside help or something similar?

 

Thanks very much. Sorry for the essay!

 

Stuart

 

 

 

[Elrohwen]

I would just give them some time! Some rabbits are much braver than others and figure these things out quickly while others are more cautious and take their time. At first my boy wouldn’t jump out of the plastic cage bottom, so eventually I picked him up and put him outside the cage. He wanted to get back in there and quickly figured out how to jump in, and then a lightbulb went off and he realized he could jump out on his own too. Haha. It just takes bunnies like this a little time. Just make sure that Sherlock is getting enough to eat up there on the second level until he learns to come down.

Is there any way you can make the ramp easier to use? I’m not sure what it looks like, but maybe it’s too slippery or something and it’s making them not want to use it – you could add something that gives them more traction. Rabbits can easily jump 24″ or so – maybe take the ramp out and just let them jump to the next level if it’s possible.

It’s a little late now, since you already happily have a pair, but rabbits do just fine as singles – we have quite a few happy single bunnies on this site. It is so rewarding to watch the relationship between a pair though 🙂

[jerseygirl]

Welcome and congratulations on your new bunnies!

What sort of flooring is the cage on? Some rabbits can be put off by the type of flooring they’re jumping onto. If it’s slippery you might like to try putting a carpet mat there.

[bunnyfriend]

Welcome to BB

Maybe after you put something down in the cage you could try leading your bunny out with a treat just to let him know it is okay.

[Beka27]

Are they babies, siblings, what is their story and how old are they?

Sometimes small babies take awhile to get used to jumping and climbing, so that could be the issue. If there’s a ramp to the second floor, he might not be comfortable with that. Bunnies don’t have good “forward vision”, so walking/hopping down a ramp can be scary at first. Some buns do better just hopping up and down to the next level, so the ramp might be able to be removed altogether.

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