is this correct?

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 10sd replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 7 months ago by stahn.

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- 10/02/2016 at 1:26 AM
  stahn
  Participant
  26 posts
  Hi all!
  
  I am very new to this forum and also i have been a rabbit owner since 5 months ago
  
  I have seen many articles saying that i have to let my rabbit out 4-5 hrs a day to let him run around or have an entire room to the rabbit to run.
  
  But in my case, i am having a huge difficulty as my mum stays with me and she has a terrible fear of anything that runs on all fours (The reason i got my bunny is to let her calm down and ease on her depression. But when i got my bunny home, she was super terrified). In this case i cant bring my rabbit to my living room at least to let him run around as my mum will see it
  
  My rabbit is with me in this study room (see picture) and i had created an enclosure for him. I played with him everyday inside this enclosure
  
  My question is that
  
  1. Will my rabbit be sick and tired inside this enclosure?
  
  2. I will love to bring my rabbit out to run around but i have to put a leash (vest) on him though and he hates it to the max! I tried to put the leash on him and the moment i secure the harness, he will literally run around and bang himself against the fence
  
  Any bunny expert can help me with this? Thank you!
- 10/02/2016 at 9:44 AM
  Hobo Floof
  Participant
  14 posts
  From what I have read, the minimum rabbit cage size is 4ft by 2ft, with an 8ft by 4ft run that they are allowed to use for at least 3-4 hours. If I were you, I would try to get your mum acclimated to him slowly (bring her into his room for a few minutes per day and go from there). Also, I would not recommend that you use a leash, especially if your rabbit goes crazy once it is on. Rabbits have very fragile bodies, and a leash and harness should only be used if desperately needed. One more thing. I would also not recommend you use a plastic mesh flooring in the litter box (if that’s what it is). It will quickly become covered in urine, and I know that metal mesh flooring can cause foot problems such as bumblefoot, however, I am not sure if that also applies to plastic mesh.
- 10/02/2016 at 11:21 AM
  LBJ10
  Moderator
  17244 posts
  What a lovely pen you have for your bunny! He has lot’s of cool stuff in there, I’m jealous.
  
  Do you at least let him run around in that room for playtime? I would think that would be adequate until you can work on your mother’s fear. As for the leash and harness, some bunnies do tolerate them but they are not recommended. A bunny can easily hurt themselves if they bolt and they come to the end of the leash.
  
  Having a litter screen is fine. Many people prefer them. As long as he isn’t forced to stand on it 24/7 (like a wire bottom cage), then I doubt there will be a problem.
- 10/02/2016 at 12:05 PM
  cinnybun2015
  Participant
  570 posts
  Nice setup!! I think that’s fine as long as you let him run around. Like LBJO and Hobo Floof said, buns don’t typically like leashes. If you have extra X-pen fencing, maybe you could attach that so that he gets some extra space to run around when you’re home and your mum won’t be scared as he’ll be enclosed?
- 10/02/2016 at 2:30 PM
  stahn
  Participant
  26 posts
  Thanks for your advise but when i bought my rabbit home that week, my mum would cry and teared up whenever she sees the rabbit, thinking that i bought the rabbit so that i can chase her out or something. So it took 5 months to let her settle down but i still have to close the door to the room that the rabbit is in so that she dont see it.
  
  yeah! my bunny hates the leash. When i used the leash to touch him slightly, he will jump away.
  
  Oh yes its a plastic mesh but Bee Bee (thats his name haha) pees in his litter box in the corner and he doesnt pee in the cage (actually its a cage tray without the cage)
- 10/02/2016 at 2:32 PM
  stahn
  Participant
  26 posts
  Thanks for your advise but when i bought my rabbit home that week, my mum would cry and teared up whenever she sees the rabbit, thinking that i bought the rabbit so that i can chase her out or something. So it took 5 months to let her settle down but i still have to close the door to the room that the rabbit is in so that she dont see it.
  
  yeah! my bunny hates the leash. When i used the leash to touch him slightly, he will jump away.
  
  Oh yes its a plastic mesh but Bee Bee (thats his name haha) pees in his litter box in the corner and he doesnt pee in the cage (actually its a cage tray without the cage)
  
  Posted By Hobo Floof on 10/02/2016 9:44 AM
  
  From what I have read, the minimum rabbit cage size is 4ft by 2ft, with an 8ft by 4ft run that they are allowed to use for at least 3-4 hours. If I were you, I would try to get your mum acclimated to him slowly (bring her into his room for a few minutes per day and go from there). Also, I would not recommend that you use a leash, especially if your rabbit goes crazy once it is on. Rabbits have very fragile bodies, and a leash and harness should only be used if desperately needed. One more thing. I would also not recommend you use a plastic mesh flooring in the litter box (if that’s what it is). It will quickly become covered in urine, and I know that metal mesh flooring can cause foot problems such as bumblefoot, however, I am not sure if that also applies to plastic mesh.
- 10/02/2016 at 2:35 PM
  stahn
  Participant
  26 posts
  Actually the room is full of wires at the bottom as its a study/computer room with alot of books. But i think i can arrange it properly to convert it into a study room with rabbit run-around-for-a-few-hours a day room haha
  
  I really hate it when i lock Bee Bee inside that room thats why i buy that leash to bring him to the public park or something but he hates that leash!
  
  Yes you are right., i think i will just keep that harness
  
  He prefer to lie on the litter screen during the day when its warm at home.
- 10/02/2016 at 2:42 PM
  stahn
  Participant
  26 posts
  Thank you so much!
  
  I am getting extra x-pen fencing but the room’s kinda maxed out. And even when he is enclosed, my mum will be scared also as she is absolutely terrified of animals due to her depression. So the only place that Bee Bee can run around is the room though
  
  So this is how the room looks like right now
  
  Felt bad when i bring my rabbit home but since i brought him home, i think its my responsibility to take care of him though
- 10/02/2016 at 3:02 PM
  Bam
  Moderator
  17035 posts
  There a millions of bunnies in this world that would envy such an enclosure. It’s not ideal that she can’t have the run of the house -but life’s circumstances very seldom are ideal. We all have to adjust to reality and make the very best we can of it. I’m sorry your mother is unwell, I hope she’s getting proper treatment and meds. It’s a very tough condition.
  
  Harness- training must be done very, very slowly, and even for bunnies that have learned to accept the harness, there are many dangers when you take a bun to a park. There can be dogs. There can be lots of other things that spooks the bun and it can get hurt trying to run away from danger. So don’t feel bad about your bun hating the harness!
  
  Rabbits live company, so I think your bun most of all appreciates your company or just your presence in the room. You don’t have to interact all the time -just hanging out together goes a long way.
- 10/02/2016 at 7:11 PM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  There a millions of bunnies in this world that would envy such an enclosure. It’s not ideal that she can’t have the run of the house -but life’s circumstances very seldom are ideal. We all have to adjust to reality and make the very best we can of it.
  
  My thoughts exactly.
- 10/02/2016 at 11:40 PM
  stahn
  Participant
  26 posts
  Thank you so much for your comment and your kind wishes. Yeah i think i will try to make sure that Bee Bee is happy
  
  Posted By bam on 10/02/2016 3:02 PM
  
  There a millions of bunnies in this world that would envy such an enclosure. It’s not ideal that she can’t have the run of the house -but life’s circumstances very seldom are ideal. We all have to adjust to reality and make the very best we can of it. I’m sorry your mother is unwell, I hope she’s getting proper treatment and meds. It’s a very tough condition.
  
  Harness- training must be done very, very slowly, and even for bunnies that have learned to accept the harness, there are many dangers when you take a bun to a park. There can be dogs. There can be lots of other things that spooks the bun and it can get hurt trying to run away from danger. So don’t feel bad about your bun hating the harness!
  
  Rabbits live company, so I think your bun most of all appreciates your company or just your presence in the room. You don’t have to interact all the time -just hanging out together goes a long way.
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