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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.
- This topic has 8sd replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 8 months ago by
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Hi everyone! I have been reading on the forums for a while for useful advice, and ordering supplies of course!
I grew up raising hutch bunnies for 4-H as a kid. When I got out of college, I saw one at a local shelter that I loved- a beautiful big brown french lop, and adopted him. He became a shy house bunny who loved flopping out behind the sofa. My husband named him Stu (stew) -ha, ha- and he eventually had to be put down after he dislocated his rear hock joint and while it was healing he somehow fractured a vertebra and partially paralyzed himself. It was a sad day, but I had a great vet who made it easier.
By accident I came across a small hobby rabbit breeder in my area not long after that, and she happened to have some dutches, lops and flemishes. I saw pics and fell in love with the flemish after asking about personalities. So, at about 3 months old, I adopted little Buckley, who fit in a large shoebox! My husband and I built him a 3-level NIC condo and he has mostly free run of our basement as well (he dislikes the wood floors on the first floor, and won’t leave the carpeted stairs). Some people (me included) think the bigger the bunny, the shorter their lifespan, but my vet told me that it is actually the reverse- big breeds like mine are expected to live around 8 years, which is great!
He’s the first really friendly bun I’ve had. He loves nose and cheek rubs, lying in front of the space heater, yogurt treats, his giant cardboard box tunnel, and really HATES being picked up. He sure kicks and scratches! He behaves very well for the vet, however.
I am looking forward to learning a lot from every one here, especially since I’m starting to clicker train him. He will come running for a treat if you make kissing noises, and will also stand up tall to get a treat.
My only issues with him is that he will still constantly pee in the very spot that my old bun’s cage was in, even after regular carpet shampooing and several pet odor sprays. Even when I thought I was being smart and putting a second litterbox over the spot. He will poo in the box and pee right outside it. And he likes to chew cardboard boxes like the ones my husband’s guitar pedals come in… ooops… 🙂
My only criticism, and it is small, of BinkyBunny is that I wish I could find more fun tunnels, huts, and other things that are sized big enough for my bun. He’s a big boy- not sure the current lbs, but definitely an armful!
Hugs to all the other buns out there~
Elicia and Buckley
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Welcome! I’m glad to see that you’ve discovered the joy of keeping house rabbits. Buckley is adorable..I’ve always wanted a big bunny
. Is there any way to block off his problem pee spot? Especially if you’ve already tried adding a second litter box to no success, it might be good to put something in the way of that spot (or just a box on top of it or something) to block it off…after a little while, my bunnies usually forget about it when I move the object again. As for the cardboard chewing, it seems to be a great bunny hobby…why not give him some spare boxes to hide in or chew on? Mine love making messes of old cardboard boxes, and makeshift cardboard huts have become a fixture of my home decor, haha. If you want tunnels, you could check out Home Depot, Lowe’s, or any other home improvement store to look for those big cardboard molds that they use for pouring cement; there should be at least a few that are Buckley-sized.
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He certainly is a big boy! When he stretches out on the floor I think he is at least 2 feet long. My husband wants me to catch him all stretched out and take a pic with a measuring stick next to him.
Yes, he is neutered- I did it as soon as the vet said he was old enough, which was at about 6 months. He’s really gotten good about not peeing elsewhere, occasionally he does mark with pellets here and there. I did stick his extra litterbox directly over the pee spot, because I thought maybe he was just being too lazy to hop in his cage to use his own, but he pees along the side of it then. We will have to try it with a bigger object blocking the area I guess.
The yogurt treats I have been giving him were specifically in the bunny aisle at the pet store, and marked for rabbits…. so even then, they aren’t good? I like to give him some of those dried veggie/berry/nut mixes too, and I got some of the bunny bouquet hay topper and he LOVES that. I try and switch up the treats so he won’t get bored.
Yes, he does love boxes, too. We have two big ones made into a tunnel -haven style- and he loves running through it. I hide treats and veggies in it. I will have to check the store for those big tunnels- thats’s a great idea! My husband’s work sometimes has really large spools of cardboard inside their fabric rolls, but he hasn’t seen any big enough come through lately. That would be the cheaper option, but I often also scour the thrift stores for wicker baskets with no finish on them and have pretty good success. Sometimes you find the holy grail of a wreath or basket made entirely of real twigs. He demolishes about one of those every week. Usually they only cost about $1-$2!
This pic is from last summer, and he has grown a bit since then, but he was stretched out getting pets from the hubs! (who is 6 foot 1 with long legs!)
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