Tips on going cage free

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This topic has 3sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 10 months ago by Talkal.

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- 01/24/2018 at 10:24 PM
  Talkal
  Participant
  16 posts
  Gizmo has been successfully free range for 3 months now. He’s found his fave spot under the kitchen table and basically lives there. I still l have his cage in the living room and he uses it to go to the bathroom and eat/drink. Otherwise, he’s never in there. I think it’s time to get rid of the cage. Any tips for the transition? What do people use as a home base/bathroom/feeding station? Could this stress bunny out if the cage is gone all of a sudden?
- 01/25/2018 at 4:34 AM
  GinandWhiskey
  Participant
  16 posts
  Do you have a litter tray? Mine sleep in the cage at night and while I’m at work sometimes or I’ll put them in their outside hutch if its not too cold but in the evenings and weekends they roam free. They use the litter tray in their cage and then I bring it out when it’s roam time and they know to use it outside their cage. You can buy a hay station for outside the cage:
  
  http://www.petsathome.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/en/pets/pets-at-home-small-animal-wooden-hay-feeder-and-lookout?CAWELAID=120267720000001039&cm_mmc=&ito=GAG43649120786&itc=GAC205375167555&itkw=nil&itaexid=&itawnw=search&itawmt=&itadvc=c&gclid=CjwKCAiAnabTBRA6EiwAemvBdxFtJ4p0-TdDshFN4gdrDLImizW2OgQMbDJ99_d0erWcSyq-BSi2xBoCIIkQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
  
  and use one and close his cage off so he has to go to the one outside (obviously open the cage if he doesn’t get it and needs the hay in the cage). Mine drink out of a bowl so it’s easy to just have the bowl out, usually keep it near the litter tray.
  
  I’d try and encourage him to maybe come out and explore (with toys or lead him out with treats and veggies) other areas that he might feel comfortable in so he doesn’t just rely on the kitchen table. Then maybe consider getting rid of the cage.
- 01/25/2018 at 8:21 AM
  Wick & Fable
  Moderator
  5813 posts
  Wick has stations in my apartment that he free roams and it’s worked well. He has his spots and established areas.
  
  Established sleep spot:
  http://www.instagram.com/p/Bdkm_vllDop/
  
  Station #1 with big water bowl:
  http://www.instagram.com/p/BbHi4R2lg2C/
  
  Station #2 with just litter box (no water):
  http://www.instagram.com/p/BcvT–iFAES/
  
  Anywhere a silver napkin is:
  http://www.instagram.com/p/BZ_JHBHl12v/
  
  It’s worked well! As long as there’s an established safety spot he can go to (kitchen table) that stays being safe, it should be smooth.
  
  The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 01/25/2018 at 6:08 PM
  Talkal
  Participant
  16 posts
  I keep his cage in the living room with his litter and food so that he’s forced to come out of the kitchen. He’s pretty good at interacting and playing if I’m home.
  
  I set him up cage free tonight. He seems a bit puzzled, but not mad. And he’s eating out of his bowl. If he poops and eats his hay, and doesn’t give me side-eye or a thump, I’ll know he’s ok with it. Tonight is the first test!
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