Do I need to release our bunnies gradually into our new apartment?

[Meg]

Hi all!  I’ve got a question about how best to introduce our bunnies to the bigger apartment we’re moving to in a week.  I read something about how it’s best to keep a new bunny penned up at first and then gradually increase their territory so that they keep to their litterboxes more, and don’t try to mark everywhere at once… Should I do something like that with our bunnies when we move?  This place has some expensive carpeting, apparently, so I want to try to protect the carpet… Also, it will be by far the most run space they’ll have had (they’ve just had studio apts up till now), and they might be a bit overwhelmed at first. 

 

Their litterbox habits so far are okay but not great… they do keep to their bunny condo (mostly), but they started peeing & pooping sooo much throughout the first floor of the condo (where they have two very large litterboxes already) that I just gave up and built them a new condo with a smaller footprint so that we can cover the entire first floor with litterboxes!    They’ve also started peeing right outside their condo, which I’d like to dissuade them from.  I’m also planning to put down plastic and then some indoor/outdoor rug I bought at Lowe’s over the carpeting in this future bunny-room, but want to make extra sure to discourage marking or digging on the rest of the carpet too. 

 

So, should I keep an X-pen attached to the entrance of their condo for a little while, then just let them roam the bunny room, then let them out into the rest of the apartment after a week or two?  Or is that not necessary?  (I’ve had them both for 3 years — they’re ages 3 and 4.)  Please let me know what you would advise!

Thanks,

Meg  

[bunnyfriend]

I think that you that information you read is pretty much spot-on

Since a lot the times rabbits get nervous when in a place it’s definitely a good idea to allow them to get accustomed to their new surroundings. If you give them too much “freedom” at one time then what litter box habits they do have could be thrown away. This time might be a great opportunity to really solidify their litter box habits which would probably make things a lot easier for you! Also, something that might help make the change as easy as possible and to reduce the amount of markings might be to try to get their “scent” in the new place as much as possible (like with their blankets, toys, boxes, ect.). I think you have a pretty good plan, good luck!

[BinkyBunny]

Posted By Meg on 07/22/2012 12:43 AM

So, should I keep an X-pen attached to the entrance of their condo for a little while, then just let them roam the bunny room, then let them out into the rest of the apartment after a week or two?

Yes, I would do this.  They may have a need to mark a new place up and it would be definitely be beneficial for them to figure out where their “established” territory is in regards to the rest of the house. 

Even with two of my own bunnies in the past (Jack and Rucy), I would have to do refresher courses a couple of times a year if they began to lose their habits -, it helped a lot when they began marking outside of their box, to confine them to their xpen and then gradually increase their space as I gave refresher litter training lessons. 

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