Keeping bunny outside cage

[Avantika]

Hello everyone,

I recently brought home a 3 month old New Zealand White. 

She seems a bit fragile for me to leave her out all day. So, I keep her inside her cage and leave her out for like 4 hours a day, especially when its her lunch and dinner time.

Its been only 4 days since she is here and since yesterday, she has been biting the cage sometimes and raising her body whenever I am coming near her. (It could be either due to her expectation that I’m coming to feed her something, or, that she is signalling me to let her out). The thing is, bunnies are not like dogs, they wont run towards you to cuddle them and play with them. I read in one of the topics over here that bunnies are a bit similar to cats and they wont appreciate you trying to cuddle and play with them. That said, I will have to give my bunny the space to roam around by herself and not annoy her by running around her all the time.

I would prefer her inside the cage for the longer period of the day since she is little and I am scared she will get hurt by the furniture (there is more than what is required at my home).. 

Please give me your opinions on that.

[Sarita]

She does sound like she wants to come out or just wants some attention – she is basically training you by rattling her cage :~)

I think that if for now you prefer her inside for her safety that is quite alright since she does get 4 hours of out time. Once she’s older and more trustworthy then you can let her out more.

[Avantika]

Yes, thats what I intend to do. I want to bunnyproof all the rooms of my home first and increase her time out once she is 5 or 6 months..She will grow more in size and wont get stuck between some of the furniture that she might at present. Also, her limbs seem a bit fragile at the moment so I dont want her to run on the ceramic tiles that I have at my home.

[Sarita]

Is your flooring all tile? I find that rabbits usually avoid tiled areas – they prefer carpets to hop around on. I guess because unlike dogs and cats, they don’t have any pads on their paws – they are all fur.

[michelleann31]

And every rabbits personality is different, my rabbit Pepper is very affectionate, comes to us when we call her, gives us lots of cuddles and kisses, and when she is in the right mood will play games with us, like she zooms around the room, runs up to us and likes us to follow her and try and get her and when we get close she binky jumps and runs away. When she wants a treat she runs around us in circles and stands on her hind legs waiting for her treat, she hops up on the couch and settles in on our laps when we watch tv and will cuddle with the husband and I on our bed! She is a very intelligent, interactive pet, and her soon to be husbun is beginning to be like that too, we just brought him home 3 months ago but even still is very intreractive and seeks us out for attention, and they spend at least 6 hours out a day, and once they become bonded they will have the run of the house all day long. Rabbits need space and lots of attention and should be as free range as possible. Good luck with your new bun, don’t necessarily go by what you read, give her a chance to surprise you, and my babies bite the cage when they want to come out, I believe your rabbit is telling you they need out of the cage.

[michelleann31]

And my buns avoid the bathroom and kitchen, it’s true they do not like the surface because they can not gain traction because it is too slippery. We got Pepper@ 9 weeks old and was pretty much free range by 3 months old. Bunny proofing the rooms is a great idea, and once you do and she can be out more, you will see her personality blossom and you will see just what a great pet rabbits can make!

[Avantika]

@Sarita : Yes, the flooring is all tile. And I have noticed that ; I have seen that her fore limbs slip a lot when she’s out and running, so naturally they wouldnt prefer a flooring like that but something that supports them like wood or carpet.

@MichelleAnne31 : Well, mine bites sometimes when I am touching her. Its been less than a week since I brought her so I am waiting for the time when she becomes affectionate like your bunnies.. I will get her spayed when she reaches 5-6 months of age, that will make her more subtle and she wont bite me when I am trying to cuddle her or cleaning her cage. I am not sure if she likes me .___. but I am also afraid she feels alone and bored, as before coming to my home she used to stay with 5 more bunnies and her earlier keepers would let her out more (I think).. I think I should increase her time out step by step.

[michelleann31]

Yep and after she is spayed she will be a lot less messy, more laid back and such. And you are right, they can get lonely and are not solitary animals by nature and after she is settled in and spayed and you guys have a good bond you may want to think about adopting a neutered male bunny to bond her with. They tend to be happier and live longer if they have a mate, and there are lots of great folks on here to help with that too and give you lots of great information.

[Avantika]

I will bring home another bunny sometime later once I become more experienced as a rabbit parent. For now, I want to keep Moshu happy..

[michelleann31]

I’m sure you will hun, she will get to know you and trust you and you will be best friends, and we are all here for you if you have any questions or concerns!

[Avantika]

Bringing home an animal friend, especially for the first time, is an anxious experience because they do a lot of things that we’re not able to understand. I have my eyes on her almost all day and I constantly worry whether I am doing well at keeping her well because if she’s in some sort of physical or mental distress, she wont be able to tell me and will suffer in a latent manner.
Thanks a lot for your kind words. I am glad for the help I am getting from here. Thanks a lot

[Beka27]

Sounds like a good plan! Take things slowly and as she gets older and more trustworthy, you can increase her time out. New Zealands are large breed buns obviously, so she would probably prefer to be free range. Another option is you can do daytime free range but pen her at night. You might feel more secure that way.

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