Encouraging Exploration of New Condo

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 17sd replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 9 months ago by Baxter n Boos Mom.

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- 05/25/2013 at 12:25 PM
  Baxter n Boos Mom
  Participant
  394 posts
  After spending many hours building the bunny condo – the boys were a little nervous exploring it. The boys would step in, look around the 1st level, and exit (1st 2 pics). In order to encourage them to explore, we placed their veggie bowl in the condo. As you can see from pic 3, they didn’t quite get it, as they pulled out their veggies through the slots to eat 🙂 Not willing to give up, we decided to provide incentive to the boys for exploring levels 2 and 3, by leaving treats for them at night on the top 2 levels. We’re pretty sure it was Boo (tan n white) bun that was venturing to the higher levels to discover the treats, as we’ve seen him on level 3, and his favorite nap spot in the house is level 2.
  
  To prove to us that he’s also an explorer, Baxter’s been jumping on the piano, and the computer desk! The piano by the way no longer works, because someone chewed through the cord! Poor hubby is so busy fixing cords around our house.
- 05/25/2013 at 12:38 PM
  Baxter n Boos Mom
  Participant
  394 posts
  As soon as I finished posting – I checked on our buns, and found Boo on the 3rd level. He loves his new condo.
- 05/25/2013 at 1:10 PM
  kamdynandsunshinesmom
  Participant
  910 posts
  That is so sweet!
- 05/25/2013 at 1:51 PM
  Deleted User
  Participant
  22064 posts
  I have to add that I love your condo set up! I was just about to post to give your buns time to figure it out but it seems that they already have. =]
- 05/25/2013 at 1:58 PM
  Baxter n Boos Mom
  Participant
  394 posts
  Thank you. We had a small area to work with – but if we ever make another condo in the future – I’d like it to be very similar, just one NIC cube wider and one taller. That would give the buns lots of room – but since they’re never locked up in the condo – it’s not an issue.
- 05/25/2013 at 3:42 PM
  kcomstoc
  Participant
  625 posts
  Wow looks awesome and it looks like they are going to have a great time when they are in there.
- 05/25/2013 at 6:54 PM
  mia
  Participant
  617 posts
  Has Baxter made it to the top yet?
  I had to force my buns (placed them on each level) to the different levels of the condo. After doing that a couple times, it finally clicked.
- 05/25/2013 at 9:00 PM
  Baxter n Boos Mom
  Participant
  394 posts
  Day 3, we placed Baxter on the 2nd level – and he easily figured out how to get down. I’ve yet to see him go up to level 2 or 3 on his own, buy he’s been proving himself by climbing on everything else in the house! Things he usually ignores (man cave couch, old cage, piano, computer desk).
  
  I’m going to try his favorite treat on the 3rd floor tonight, one Boo doesn’t care for, to see if that will help encourage him 🙂
  
  Baxter’s the dominant bun – but I think Boos more brave.
- 05/26/2013 at 12:02 AM
  mia
  Participant
  617 posts
  He could also just be stealthy. I almost never see my buns on anything other than the ground floor but the treats on the other floors magically disappear =).
  
  Another thing I tried, but it didn’t produce any results for me, was to put food, water, and litter on the higher floor with no other options on the ground floor. I figured it they got hungry they would make their way up. Since this was in combination with when I first brought them home, they were too scared and decided they would rather starve so I had to eventually bring it back down.
- 05/28/2013 at 4:52 PM
  Baxter n Boos Mom
  Participant
  394 posts
  We have success! Baxter finally decided to climb to the 3rd level! He was nervous going from level 3 to 2….but I think he’ll get the hang of it.
- 05/30/2013 at 8:45 PM
  KaraJanet89
  Participant
  12 posts
  That is a fantastic condo!
- 06/01/2013 at 12:51 PM
  Baxter n Boos Mom
  Participant
  394 posts
  Thank you! There are definitely benefits to being married to a Carpenter. I’ve teased him that he just needs to add crowne moulding – and it will be perfect 😉
- 06/22/2013 at 8:20 AM
  mocha200
  Participant
  4486 posts
  Nice condo! Glad they both figured it out!
- 06/22/2013 at 3:19 PM
  Julezypie
  Participant
  122 posts
  I love this and have actually asked my husband if he can build something similar. I think it’s amazing!
- 06/22/2013 at 7:55 PM
  mocha200
  Participant
  4486 posts
  @Julezy: Just make sure that if you rabbits aren’t free range that you make it at least a 2ftx4ft one as anything else is to small.
- 06/22/2013 at 8:49 PM
  Julezypie
  Participant
  122 posts
  Posted By mocha200 on 06/22/2013 07:55 PM
  @Julezy: Just make sure that if you rabbits aren’t free range that you make it at least a 2ftx4ft one as anything else is to small.
  
  She is. The only time she’s in her cage is at night or when we aren’t home, but I love the condo idea
- 06/22/2013 at 9:01 PM
  mocha200
  Participant
  4486 posts
  Jullezy: Free range means never locked in. I would make it bigger if they have to be in it even just at night. I know isn’t this cute! I love how it looks like a tower!
- 06/25/2013 at 5:42 PM
  Baxter n Boos Mom
  Participant
  394 posts
  Mocha: I agree – if they boys were locked in this condo at night – I would have had my husband add another nic grid to both the width and height of the condo. As it is, the condo is 2′ 3″ x 3′ 9″. And with these measurements – it was very hard to get the condo through the door. We (by we, I mean my husband) had to remove the door frame for us to get the condo in the door.
  
  We just wanted to clear up some floor space in the man cave – and have all their food/litter in a small area. That was the plan – but they refused to use the litter box in the condo for some reason – so I’ve moved it back out into the room.
  
  If there’s ever a next condo – I’d like a design where the levels can come apart – and secured together….so it makes moving through doorways much simpler.
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