How much exercise does a 9 month old holland lop need? (UPDATE :D)

[kcomstoc]

 Ian, josh’s little brother, is off for summer break. He’s only off for 2 weeks (only one more week) because he has autism and goes to a special school. The problem is I can’t bring him downstairs in the morning because ian doesn’t know we even have a rabbit (we’ve had him for 6 months soon). We’ve kept it a secret because we just simply cannot trust ian with our rabbit even knowing we have him, he doesn’t treat animals well, not saying he abuses them but when he gets angry he yells and i know it would scare him if he was downstairs (he also throws things and if one of those things hit Caleb I would blame myself). So the point is we usually just take Caleb downstairs at night time and he binkies and does 500’s and is a very happy bunny. Lately we can’t take him downstairs because Josh’s aunt is watching ian and she is allergic to bunnies . 

He’s been in his cage and on our bed the last week except for nights where we know josh’s aunt isn’t coming the next day, then he goes downstairs. The point is I feel so bad because I know he’s board and I try to play with him as much as I can on our bed, we would play on the floor but there isn’t much room and it’s hardwood and he doesn’t like moving on hardwood (I think it’s too hard for him to get a grip). When ian goes back to school this won’t be a problem because I’ll just bring him downstairs after I wake up and then he’ll stay downstairs from 9am-3pm and then come back downstairs after ian goes to bed. The problem is right now he’s not getting much of anything except time on our bed . I feel so frustrated because I know he needs to run around and I can’t think of any way he can get any exercise. Any thoughts? Is it going to hurt him to stay in his cage/my bed for another week?  please help….

 

 

UPDATE: ok so now we are back on schedule with Caleb and his exercise, whenever I get up on week days (usually about 10am) I take Caleb downstairs and he hops about until 3ish….the problem is he isn’t doing his usually binkies or zoomies and I’m a little worried. Usually he’d binky and then zoomie and then binky at the end of the zoomie….now he seems more content to lay down and just relax. He’s been eating everything and drinking fine, he is pooping and peeing normally that I can see but he’s just not being as active. He’s only 10 months old still a young bunny and he isn’t doing his normal stuff. I thought at first it was because it was hot but we’ve had some cool days and one that was raining really hard (didn’t seem to affect him) and he’s still not doing anything. He does do a VERY short zoomie and then stops but it’s still not like he used to do….

Any advice?

[Roberta]

I think he’ll be fine for another week. Other members have had circumstances where it was necessary to reduce play and exercise areas for short or long periods without any detriment to their bun.. Right now it sounds safest to keep on as you are.
Caleb will forgive you once he gets his play space back and as you said, you would never forgive yourself if something happened to him whilst Ian is there.

[MoveDiagonally]

I agree with Roberta, it’s only temporary and it sounds like you’re giving him as much time out as you can.

I felt really guilty recently because I couldn’t give the babies (not babies anymore lol) as much time out because I was bonding the trio. My husband assured me that our rabbits live very nice lives and a little less time out for a few days was not going to hurt them.

I think Caleb will be alright

[kcomstoc]

Thanks guys, I’ve been feeling really guilty lately….poor little bunny. I think he is getting back at us though he’s been keeping us up periodically through the night digging in his box

[kcomstoc]

Update in the original comment

[Enh98]

I’m a first time bunny mom so by no means and expert, but we have a 1 year old holland lop who sounds like Caleb. We bring him out to play and he’d rather lay and lounge than run around like a wild man. Maybe he’s just calming down??

[kcomstoc]

Really? he’s so young though and in his teenage phase but maybe he is slowing down….he’s pretty much slept all day though so you would think he would want to run around. It’s not like he’s overweight or anything but I wish he would exercise more because he only has those periods in the day/evening and then a big space and then at night…

[BabyD]

Maybe the time of the day that he gets his playtime has something to do with it?

As you probably would have known, rabbits are particularly most active at early morning and early evening.

[kcomstoc]

yes, i know that but my point was he was active during those times before…and now he’s not. But last night he zoomied and binkied a little more than he has been so I’m not as worried. I can’t bring him downstairs any earlier…

[Author]

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