Another Newbie — Five Dwarf Family!

[Nikovich]

Hi. 59-year-old aging hippie newbie here, always had cats/dogs/snakes/etc., but never rabbits until a few years ago.  Bought two Polish dwarves (one bought by sister-in-law who lived with us), both of us fell in love, learned about rabbits and why to NEVER buy another…rescued two more, inherited another from sister-in-law, fell MADLY in love with tiny Netherland so yes, I bought her.  Ashamed, but…

All live in separate, two-story (two cages put together) hutches.  Live the life of Riley, as bunnies go.

First two (bought) were mated Punkin’ (F) and Mickey (M), Polish dwarves–Mickey (sister-in-law’s first) died after a year, both outside bunnies with big wooden hutches.  Loved one another and humped each other, front OR back,  Punkin’ still lives in what we call my "Outback"…self-built pavillion in back yard with fenced half yard.  I have slept out there for five or six years with dogs…she runs loose all day and comes in kitchen to beg for treats.

Then Sister-in-law bought  Hotot cross, Frodo, a gentleman, to replace Mickey (against my advice, wanted her to get a rescue).   Hotot cross, white w/black markings, lithe and  elegant, gentle and sweet.  Very cuddlable, only one that will kiss you on the LIPS!

Gozer (M, Hotot cross, white w/black markings, "sturdier" than Frodo, name from "Ghostbusters": "Gozer the Traveler" rescued from yuppie family who got him for son, kept him in hutch in bathroom (!!), they said he was "mean, bites, only way we could get him out of the cage was with a towel" (OUCH!).  Said she tried to let him run loose in bathroom, but he "chewed on all the molding, I had to replace it ALL" (expletive deleted!).  Was standing in his own feces when we saw him,, cage cleaned so little the bottom was rotting…metal wire cage bottom (!).  Named "Snowball" (how imaginitive!), renamed him Gozer because the minute given his freedom, ran EVERYWHERE, hence "Gozer the Traveler".  Within half an hour of getting him home, he came out to explore…is the sweetest, cuddliest bunny ever was.  Had teeth removed, had been on diet of allfalfa hay AND alfalfa pellets, nothing else (expletive deleted). Blind in one eye, the other is going, a TOTAL food freak.

Mouse, rescue bunny, mouse- (or deer-) colored F Mini-Rex, absolutely GORGEOUS, huge ears,  was most skittish but has improved drastically, wild little critter when she feels like it but sweet and my husband’s favorite ("Now THAT looks like a rabbit should!".

And lastly, my beloved Midi (F, coal black, "Midnight Therabunny" the Netherland, quite a personality for such a tiny rabbit (to put it mildly!).  She’s my baby; fiesty and growly sometimes, but always cuddlable and unquestionbly the cutest. Only other one to give kisses.  LOVE Netherlands, short ears and cute nose…she doesn’t look like a "rabbit", but in profile is a true "bunny".

Gozer, Frodo and Mouse live in my "bedroom" (no bed; I sleep outside); Midi’s hutch is in the livingroom, and Punkin’ lives in Outback.  Each get out and play outside/inside a couple of hours a day.  Frodo and Mouse/Punkin get along great do let out together; Gozer and Punkin’ get along great (despite his humping predlictions!), but Mouse wants to attack him, Midi and Punkin; Midi is afraid of everyone (too humanized from birth) tho’ gives as good as she gets when I forget she’s out and let Mouse out.  Frodo and Mouse almost paired, I let them out together, caught them "slippering" nose-to-nose the other night, and she let him lick her nose (wheee!).

Adore them more than words can say.  My husband’s and my most beloved, gorgeous, sweet husky-shephard dog died at 14 of cancer last night, will be looking to the bunnies to help me get past my grief.

The only thing none of them do (except Mouse, the youngest and even then only occasionally) is run and jump like bunnies should.  Frodo did when younger, but I’d like to get them to do it, both for exercise and for me to enjoy, but don’t know how.  Midi used to play one-on-one with me, but I’ve not had time since I now have to cqre for all five on my own.  Wish they would all socialize all w/each other–know I can’t do so with males, but wish the others could, or male-to-female socialization besides Frodo/Mouse, Frodo/Punkin and Gozer/Punkin.

They get diet of Tim Hay, Tim Hay Pellets, and daily greens…my "bedroom" is a total disaster all the time from spilt hay.  Searching for better hay racks, have found two, but need to build one kind as it’s too expensive.  Any suggestions there most welcome.  They get tiny bite each of banana and/or raisin and/or apple on weekends from husband when he makes his breakfast, and use GOOD rabbit treats (no alfalfa and only other good ingredients–actually rabbit FOOD, but don’t tell them) for rewards and when they return to hutches.  None house trained except Frodo, and that only partially, but we don’t mind "rabbit raisins" around the house–just wish we could stop pissing, as it’s acidic and marks everything permanently.  No bad chewers, thankfully, and aside from both Males being absolute geniuses in getting into any food around, they all (except Punkin) LOVE a sip now and again of my perpetual glasses of ice tea (I know, but they adore it, and it’s only a sip or two)…given above about Frodo and Gozer, many broken glasses and spilt ice tea when I’m not looking!

Males wanted to hump dogs when young (at that time had sister-in-law’s English Springer Spaniel and my precious now-gone Kiya), thank gawd they’ve ceased that! Inherited sister-in-law’s bunny and dog when she returned to England…Springer has bad habits and possessive aggression, but we care for her and love her…mostly!

Now have new family member, friend who moved here from Back East and will live with us until leg surgery next year (long story!).  Along with her came Kiowa (ironic she and my Kiya had such similar names), a Bloodhound/Lab cross.  Kiowa is getting used to rabbits, with much careful help from us, and I think has accepted them.  We NEVER leave rabbits out alone with any of the dogs. Kiowa loves small critters and took care of kittens in earlier life, but was obsessed with bunnies at first and we feared Bloodhound side of her.  She also is in habit of putting large foot on them to draw them close, and pushing them with her nose. 

She’s only been here a month; obsession has lessened, and we hope she’ll get along with them okay–and now accepts them running around as only one of the things of interest in the room.  We still are a bit fearful of her wanting to chase them or something else (!) when they run or move fast, but it’s coming along, and we’re VERY careful never leave them alone in room and sometimes have her on leash (which we may not need to do anymore) just to be sure.

That’s our family.  Adore every one, well, with occasional exception of Daisy (the Springer), who is TOTALLY familiar with bunnies and ignores them completely, so no problem there.  ANY suggestions on making Kiowa more bunny-safe (maybe it’s only our fears, so far she’s never made a move to hurt them) gratefully appreciated, our family has always gotten along great, want to be sure they are again.

All bunnies but Mouse very cuddlable, Punkin less so because of outside life and Mouse slowly coming around.  All "tooth grind" pleasure when held or stroked, which is quite an honor.  All explore and get into things, but none "play", with us or each other, which is sad.  Would like to improve that, too.  Again, suggestions welcome.

Sorry so long, I do tend to post long, but hey, five bunnies, five times the post length, eh?  That’s my story and I’m sticking to it! Brand new here, look forward to meeting other rabbit-aholics and learning from you all.  Look forward to "talking" to you, as well as putting up pix of our bunny family!  Niki

[babybunsmum]

welcome nikovich   i’m so sorry to hear you lost your precious husky-shephard dog.  i’m sure glad you have lots of furry friends around you for comfort & love.  you have quite a story!  do you really sleep outside?  under a covered porch i hope  lol… city girl here trying to picture it

my thoughts about kiowa are to maintain your current ‘careful observation’ strategy.  i have a 6yr old collie cross (basically looks like collie / shephard / maybe hound?) who’s about 70 lbs.  he’s incredibly excitable and playful but also VERY submissive.  at first i had to lay directly on top of him when i showed him the bunny.  now he only gets excited when baby bun runs out of a room or into something (like a box or fun tube) but because he does this i still don’t trust him 100%.  he’s so silly i could see him stomping her unintentionally without even noticing.

i dont’ have any suggestions about the playing.  maybe it’s just the buns personalities?  or possibly something about the way they all interact together?  maybe others will have insight.  good to get to know you

[Scarlet_Rose]

Welcome to Binky Bunny Niki! Wow, that is a mouthful but can that really be helped with five furred friends? Not one bit and I enjoyed reading about each one of them too. The one that stood out the most was Gozer, wow poor guy who is a very lucky fella now. Thank you for having the heart and the mind to take them all in and caring for them!

[LittlePuffyTail]

Welcome to Binky Bunny! This is the best bunny forum anywhere You gotta post some pics of your babies soon!!

[Sarita]

Welcome. Sounds like you have some very lucky rabbits!

[Nikovich]

Thank you wonderful people for the warm welcome! Got some good information, both here and those who e-mailed me. Look forward to lots of fun and learning here! Right now, tho’, we’re on our way up to visit my oldest friend (not in age–her birthday is four days off mine!–but we’ve known each other since jr. high). I gotta get out of here, got some grieving to do so right now I don’t want to be here. Be back tomorrow, and I’ll be around here a fair bit after that, I’ll bet! Will post pix (got plenty as you can imagine!) when I return. Thanx again for the lovely welcome, sounds like you guys are a pretty special bunch!

[MooBunnay]

Hello! Welcome to Binkybunny!

I’m so sorry to hear you are grieving fortunately I have always found bunnies to be a great comfort. Its odd that the bunnies don’t seem to be binkying so much – although, I believe that naturally, binkying is something that bunnies do to practice their “escape moves” from predators, and perhaps your bunnies feel plenty safe so they don’t feel the need to practice any escape moves

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