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