Sammykins’ new habitat: Ta Da!

[RabbitPam]

I worked on it all day, and she was coaxed out from under the bed and into it by 3:30.

Not exactly love at first sight, but after a few tweaks, she has eaten happily and had a visit from her grandparents. They like it.

[Sarita]

That looks great Pam! Are you pleased with it?

[RabbitPam]

I am, but I am waiting for Herself to be pleased with it. She’s much more comfortable once I added the large seagrass mattes. But she hasn’t moved off of them, or away from her food dishes. Just hanging out in one spot. Peed a little on the matte next to her litter pan, but I think it was while she was still nervous, and might have just been marking it.

It occurred to me that both my bunnies have/had never set foot in the kitchen or bathroom. I wonder if the tiles are not to her liking?
I’m thinking of ordering more mattes from BB to be able to cover it more, unless she gets adjusted. I love the color, so hate to cover it.

[Sarita]

Give her a little while – she’s probably waiting till you not watching anyway since you know how Herself is :~)

[bunnymum16]

that setup looks really neat.

[KimWho?]

That looks awesome! Like a big bunny playground.

[jerseygirl]

Pam, that looks wonderful! I’m glad you were able to configure it to your liking. She’ll prob be a little cautious at first. I see what you mean with the tile pattern. Very familiar! Has Sammy developed some more beauty spots on her hiney? Is she offended I asked?

[Deleted User]

I can’t look at it for long… I’m so envious… I want it! I can’t see other beautiful habitats without turning green. But I see now that Beka wouldn’t be comfortable in this.

[jerseygirl]

Oh Petzy! Your habitat might not appeal to you but I think your 4 probably think it a great haven. It has all a rabbit could want.

[Lintini]

It looks awesome Pam. I know where to send mine for bunnysitting :p My buns love the cool tile, I’m sure she’ll enjoy it more when she gets used to it. All those comfy beds look so nice…you know that pink one I bought for Bee’s spay? It’s been destroyed. What a waste of money that was. I’m sticking to cardboard and grass mats for sure!

[RabbitPam]

Well, it’s morning and here’s the overnight update:
My little girl was basically sitting in the same place, looking a bit bewildered. It’s a look she gets when she’s peed outside the box and doesn’t know what to do. Kind of a “I messed, Mummy, please help.” She had pooped a pile in her cuddle cup, peed in it and peed on the seagrass matte. Didn’t use the litter pan. Wouldn’t come out right away, but had eaten up most of the hay I had given her overnight.

She finally came out and ran into her basket, where she has been for a while. I washed the cuddle cup and it’s drying. Washed the matte too, and just wiped up the tile floor. I moved the hay rack directly over her litter pan, so now she can’t reach it unless she’s in there. Put the soiled poos into it also.

I’m trying the soft bed under the tent again, in case she now knows the food is on one side, and could still sit in it. I’ll see if she tosses it again.

As for butt spots – I think she’s about the same. No offense taken, JG.

Thanks for the compliments, guys. Petzy, why wouldn’t “Beka” be comfortable? I’m confused. (which happens easily, I might add. LOL)

[mocha200]

I love it! is that going to be her permanent home? she will like it once she gets used to it!

[BinkyBunny]

Well, I think it looks wonderful but sounds like Sammy is feeling unsure still eh?
Does she have trouble walking on the more slick floor part. Jack has never and will never be okay with walking on hardwood floor and tile. He will just sit and stare and Vivian from across the living room for hours even though he wants to join Vivian in her little hide out in the foyer.

Do the mats slip around? Maybe she’s feeling a bit unstable on the floor? In a previous set up that was similar to yours I went to carpet stores, and they had a pile of extra carpet samples, (those squares used for display) and I put those through the pen. Jack was fine with that as even he touched the linoleum, he always had one foot on a rug and he was happy with that.

What was her flooring before?

EDITED TO ADD: 

can’t remember what  her set up was like before…but if this is much more space, some bunnies just freak out with that at first.  Jack did.  Where as Rucy would explore within the same day.  Jack took forever to brave it and when we moved and he got even more space…well he was a recluse for awhile.  Here are some of the photos of his scaredy cat bunny self.

   

“I don’t like change, I don’t like change, I don’t…”             “Come on out Jack! Look at all this space!”

 

  

Rucy continued to try and coax him out to play in all the new space, but she’d give up to go play, leaving him behind with this sad  face.

 

He did eventually explore with a litte more help from me (but it took him a month!) and then he was happier than ever.

So, some bunnies are not fond of change even if it’s a good change.

 

[Monkeybun]

Awww poor Jack! Look at that little face! *snuggles*

[Deleted User]

Posted By RabbitPam on 07/19/2010 06:43 AM

  Petzy, why wouldn’t “Beka” be comfortable? I’m confused. (which happens easily, I might add. LOL)

 

yes, too much referencing and late at night I posted but I was referring to this that Beka27 posted in your other habitat thread

“It’s my birthday. I’m expecting a new set-up and pics uploaded before my birthday is over. Get going on that Pam!“

Thanks Jersey, but I would like to have some of the good-looking habitats from on here, a different one for each day of the week….

[RabbitPam]

Aw, Jack! He does look like Sammy. She has gotten into her litter pan all day today. She did come out this morning, since she’s used to that, but she is sticking to this 2’x3′ area with the whole rest of the space being ignored.

She is used to sleeping on a plastic cage bottom. Pretty similar in slipperiness actually.

One thought: she never had the maze haven in her house before. It’s the corner where she stretches out, and I thought she would want to hide in it. I could remove it if you think she would prefer the open space.

Love, love love the pix of jack and rucy. She was such a brave, spunky girl.

[BinkyBunny]

I think she just needs more time. Maybe hide treats around so she has “fun” exploring her new place.

[RabbitPam]

Good idea. I will put some in the maze and under the tent.

She seems to be having concerns about jumping out over the 3″ pen piece at the opening. She’s used to landing on a ramp. I think her feet are slipping more due to needing a nail trim, but I won’t put her through that while she’s adjusting, though I’m sure it will help her footing ultimately.

Funny: last night she wanted some of her food in her dishes, so she chewed on the pen bars from the OUTSIDE, rather than going in the open door.

No accidents last night.

I have a spare carpet sample I can try. Also considered velcro dots to hold some pieces down. But what is confusing to me is that she never had anything on the plastic at all in her cage, and she just popped in and out of her cuddle cup.

She never sets foot in the kitchen or bathroom and those are lino tiles, so might be too similar right now. I considered covering more up today with seagrass, but now I think I’ll leave her for work with the same arrangements and the treats, and see if she gets used to it more while I’m out.

[Beka27]

THAT LOOKS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love it! Thank you!

I would try carpet for her, or a very low-pile indoor/outdoor rug. You could put a rug right over the linoleum. Even rag rugs might work.

And if she’s still not comfortable, maybe remove everything but the bare essentials and her favorite hidey house. Put the hidey house in the center. Let her get used to the SPACE… and then you can add additional things in if you want. I know with a large pen, it’s very tempting to try and FILL the space, but the nice thing about having a larger habitat, is they can just learn to enjoy having room to hop or chase around.

[RabbitPam]

She’s in it now voluntarily eating her supper, after being out for a while, then doing some binkies around the room and finally hopping in for din din.

Beka, I was thinking of taking the maze haven out, and leaving it plain like the other cage was, just to see if she likes that or stretches out there. The treats I left inside are still there.

[Beka27]

The maze can be her outside hidey spot… and the nice thing is you can change things up as you see fit.

[Sarita]

That picture of Jack is so sad and so funny at the same time.

Like Beka said I love that these are so versatile. You can rearrange at will or Samantha can rearrange at will.

[Beka27]

Posted By Sarita on 07/21/2010 06:34 AM
  ….. or Samantha can rearrange at will.

 

Pam will walk in the room in the morning and she will have dragged the entire sofa into the pen, along with a tv and microwave oven…

[Sarita]

LOL…it wouldn’t surprise me if Sammy did do that :~)

[RabbitPam]

LOL
She only has to swivel the TV around to watch it. She can get the remote pretty easily, but she would NEVER bring in the microwave. We don’t cook.
She’d grab the phone and order take out.

I could use a new couch or loveseat. Maybe I should bring her shopping with me.

I took out the maze haven and stacked it in its old spot outside the cage. She did major binkies in the apartment last night and this morning. Hasn’t stepped on tiles to get the other treat, but she clearly is relaxing on the seagrass mattes, so overall, she’s in a good mood this week.

[MimzMum]

It’s a lovely setup! Sorry I hadn’t gotten to this until today Pam…I’ve had to wrestle the PC away from my daughter, she’s been hunting the internet for days for story inspiration.
Pip has to have her beddy on her plastic floor. When I take it out to clean it, she gets really nervous and skitters across the slick floor, thumping. I’m putting my bets on the idea that Sammy is just not used to the tiles.
Very busy in there. Lots of stuff to keep her occupied. How is Herself doing with it now?
(apologies to BB if this constitutes old thread revival)

[Beka27]

I’m glad you bumped this up Mimz!

How is Her Highness adjusting to the new pen? And do YOU like it Pam? Are you finding it any easier than the cage?

[RabbitPam]

I’m so pleased you guys asked. I didn’t want to bump it myself, but I could use a bit more tweaking help.

Now that I’ve found out my “new” camera has a movie function, I am taking much better quality movies than before. Only problem now is that I can’t get it to upload correctly. I am trying to put up a video from late June and one from today showing the habitat, with Herself in it. I made a few changes, but it needs more. This is my second reply so will post now and upload next.

[RabbitPam]

Having trouble uploading to Photobucket, so will only post today’s video if I can. She is no longer lying down in the litter pan. Is right next to it on seagrass matte. Watching me do this. Scoffing quietly under her breath,,,

I’m talking in this strange slow way, but it’s because I am concentrating on the camera as much as what I’m saying.

Ok, Photobucket is being unbelievably slow, but I resaved the video to be fewer MBs, so maybe it won’t take as long now.Wow. The quality went from gorgeous (at 130 MB, taking a week to upload) to this crappy low bandwidth version. Sorry guys. It did load fast.

[Beka27]

I loved the video! So cute! Your play by play was great!

I would get some cheap rag rugs or fleece fabric. I bet she just doesn’t like the lino. It’s good that it’s down for protection, but you can put something for traction over the top.

[jerseygirl]

I have that problem uploading to photobucket too. I didn’t use to. Something’s changed. So if you figure out what’s going on, let me know!

I enjoy you vids for the written and verbal commentry and that there’s a bunny in it! Don’t worry about the quality of the pic.

Do you have any other pattern flooring in the apartment that Sammy reacts to? I’m wondering if the pattern or the lighter colour has thrown her. Try rugs or cardboard on the floor to do a test. Another thing might be to peg a sheet over the whole pen, make it feel more enclosed.
Another trick to try is scattering her food over the floor so she has to venture there to eat.

[RabbitPam]

Well, I already tried the food in a couple of places and it went uneaten.

I am way behind in trimming her nails, so she skidded coming out this morning.

I just put more seagrass mattes in there. Rotated the tent and took out the extra cuddle cup. I’m hoping that she’ll spread out on the mattes. Problem with a rug is that it defeats the easy cleaning purpose, unless I want to wash a whole rug anytime she has a spill or accident. Will see what happens tonight.

[MissKris&Koji]

I was going to suggest trying to move the tent out a bit. I know I have read that buns tend to prefer multiple entrance, so maybe if it’s not up against the wall it will be more appealing.

If you want easy cleaning but a rug, small rag rugs may be a good option. Usually machine wash cold, hang dry – not so bad! Also easy to pick up the small pieces and shake off loose bits of hay and whatnot outside. I went and picked up a few all cotton cheap rugs at our discount home stuff store. I’ve been really pleased with how easy they’ve been to care for. I have a few down on my hardwood, mostly near the bed so he has a “launch pad” and landing spot that’s relatively slip free. I don’t have seagrass mats, they look so nice but I feel like they look more annoying to clean that cheap cotton area rugs.

That tile does look nice, though. I can see why you wouldn’t want to cover it!

Another thought… what about those plastic mats for office chairs and desks to go on. They have some traction and texture on top, nubs on the bottom to hold them in place, and would wipe right up.

[RabbitPam]

Thanks for the small rag rug suggestion. I am going to search a bit online, because I stopped by a couple of local discount stores and they were too big.
Sarita once said she gets some she likes at Walmarts, I just haven’t stopped in there yet.

I considered the computer chair pads before I decided on the tiles, but I think it’s still slippery even with the traction. Will continue my rug search. (I had seen one I liked at BJ’s, too, so might go back there.)

After her escape to my bedroom this morning, I think she wants wall to wall carpeting. And a slave peeling her banana for her. Sigh. My diva.

[Beka27]

There were really nice rag rugs at BJ’s the last time I wen for maybe 20 dollars? And I believe they were a bit bigger… maybe 3×4 feet or something. I was looking at one for my kitchen.

[RabbitPam]

I went out last night at 8PM, unusual for me, and straight to BJ’s to get that one I’d liked that was $20. Until I discovered it was almost 5′ in one direction. Then I went to Walmart – no luck.

But today I stopped at Steinmart on the way home and found a set of two rugs, cotton, no artificial backing, short pile for bathrooms so soft. $10!!!!! for the two together! I have them out now, and will eventually lay them in her cage. I’m just concerned that I’m making changes too often trying to get it right. Cross your ears that these work for her.

[Beka27]

Lol… I bet those are the same rag rugs I saw at BJ’s!!! They were pretty big! (Again, I’ve been pining for one by our kitchen sink…)

I hope you can get this all figured out to Her liking. That’s obviously the only thing that matters.

Was Spockie hard to please? I’ve always imagined him as a super easy-going guy, which if I’m right, must make Sammy even more of a “culture-shock” to you…

[RabbitPam]

 

SUCCESS!!!!

At least initially. She ran and walked all over them. Big white one in front, smaller one in back corner. She moved her Tent tunnel so she could go through it. Then she bunched up the front rug and chewed on the edges and dug and pushed. Still didn’t appear to sleep on it.

But HUGE BINKIES all over the room all evening. Clearly very pleased and finally setting foot in the rest of the cage. I am going to buy another set today. At that price, I’ll either cover more area or have a backup when it’s time for a wash.

Beka, I only remember the good stuff with Spockie. My family reminds me that I had cause to complain on occasion, but overall, yes, he was easier and yes, she is culture shock. I really miss being able to handle my bunny. I thought I was so good at that. Not me, Spockie.

 

 

[Beka27]

Well, you know what they say, the first one is either a breeze and your second is a nightmare, or the first gives you a run for the money and you don’t even know if you can handle a second. Or maybe just I say that… lol.

[MissKris&Koji]

Niiiice. I love those cheap goods store – I got a comparable deal on my cotton rugs, but yours look SOO much softer! I’m so glad she’s happy. And with cotton at least less concern about her playing on it.

[Sarita]

Hmmm…Samantha did not budge one inch on the video. I don’t think she trusts you with the camera LOL.

[Deleted User]

Posted By RabbitPam on 08/04/2010 04:12 PM

Sarita once said she gets some she likes at Walmarts, I just haven’t stopped in there yet.

 

Aha. The people of walmart again.

 

— Pam, I loved the video!!! great commentary… somehow I was waiting for a stealth attack by sammy, it seemed like the calm before the storm.

[Author]

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