Recently spayed, hates her xpen

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 5sd replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 10 months ago by Emica3.

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- 03/20/2012 at 7:39 AM
  Emica3
  Participant
  3 posts
  Pumpkin, our Dutch tort doe, got spayed last week and since has been kept in 2 different enviornments – her 2×3 cage the first few days to keep her quiet, then moved to her xpen with the cage open, about 5×5 plus access to the 2×3 cage. I understand the first few weeks post spayed are a little different for bunnies in attitude, but her aggression is a lot more then we are use to. She is constantly thumping and trying to pull down her xpen walls. When she was a baby, she was very sweet and curious, liked to come explore us and the space around her. During her puberty before the surgery, she was in hardcore courtship mode – neither my boyfriend or myself could go more then a few steps without her running circles around our legs, licking us to death, and crawling all over us. Now, she is still curious, but much more jumpy and almost angry to be in the pen she grew up in.
  
  Is this just a stage we need to be patient and wait out, or should we try to upgrade her to a house bunny? Because she has been destructive with cords and aggressive by trying to pull her xpen walls down, we’re hesitant to let her out and about, but we miss our sweet girl. Thanks for any thoughts!
- 03/20/2012 at 11:19 AM
  Sam and Lady's Human
  Participant
  2001 posts
  Lady hated being penned in too. I think I kept her in an xpen for about 6 days then let her out, she still just relaxed but she didn’t like being caged in
- 05/09/2012 at 5:19 AM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  Definitely rabbit proof the house before letting her roam. Once you have done that, then let her out. She will probably be happier.
- 05/09/2012 at 7:15 AM
  Elrohwen
  Participant
  7318 posts
  I’m with the others – definitely let her out after you’ve bunny proofed an area for her. My girl goes nuts if she doesn’t get out every day and her cage is 4’x8′.
- 05/10/2012 at 4:36 AM
  Beka27
  Participant
  16016 posts
  If she can’t be free roam (and not all rabbits can be, at least not when they are still “teenagers”, under 12 to 18 months), then the xpen is a very valuable asset. Bunny proofing a safe space will allow her to get the appropriate exercise each day, but the pen should be her safe space, protecting both her and the house. You might try enhancing it with a great hidey house (buns love the BB maze haven which comes in both regular and mini sizes), or even installing a shelf to add an additional level. Letting her out at the same time each day will help to develop an expected routine. I would not let her out WHEN she rattles the pen. All that will accomplish is her learning that rattling the pen causes her to be let out.
- 05/15/2012 at 5:49 AM
  Emica3
  Participant
  3 posts
  Thanks a million everyone! She is doing much better. We upgraded her to a safe area, and when we took her in to get her nails clipped at the local shelter, she fell in love (the woman said it was a crazy fast bond) Both seem to be making her happier. She still has her teenage angst days, but she’s not even a year old yet.
  
  Thanks again!
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