Hello all- I purchased my beautiful black bunny Beijing 5 weeks ago. The shelter did not have any bunnies, and the store I saved her from was pitiful (they did not even know her breed) so I figured I was helping him. They said he was anywhere from “8-12′ weeks old.
Beijiing was a bit of an impulse buy, but I was a lonely college student in a new apartment, and I was looking for something different than a cat or dog personality. He seemed perfect. The store I got him from even said they offered pet boarding for $4/night (I am an out of state student).
I have done lots of research on buns. I do not grab him or bother him much. I spend a few hours next to his cage daily reading and doing homework. I know that bunnies take a while to warm up, and they are never really quite cuddly, but Beijing seems to hate me. Whenever I come near his cage he jumps around frantically. If i put my hand in, he turns away from me and shivers. He does come out of the cage every so often if i leave the door open (which is every night), but he is very apprehensive and has yet to come and explore me.
It seems he always wants to be in his cage and he has no interest in socializing with me. I love him so much and I want to spend the time to build our relationship– but i am now realizing that may be impossible.
In three weeks I will be going out of town for 4 days, and two weeks later for another 3 weeks. I would have been fine with the original boarding meaures, however I checked out the store today and realized that there is no way i will leave my bunny in such conditions for such a long period of time. There are no bunny sitters, nor bunny kennels here, and having someone that is here take care of him is not an option as of this moment.
I will also be going back home over the summer, and changing apartments when i return for school, and I feel that although it is possible to transport and care for my bun, he will not have had enough time to adjust and get used to me before all the hecticness starts again.
I know it is possible to drive him to and fro homes, as well as having him shipped, however I had initially thought that he would be acclimated much sooner, therefore this would all be much easier. He has not adjusted at all and i think moving him around so much so soon will hinder our relationship from ever truly blossoming.
I just want Beijing to be his happiest. I realize I should have considered all this very carefully before bringing him home, but i feel as though since he has not warmed up at all, there is not much harm in relocating him to another home, or giving him to a shelter.
This is in no way a conclusive decision. I am posting here to get the experts’ advice. What do you think would be best for my bun/ can we make it work in any way?
Thank you