Any Free-Range Bunnies Out There?

[AbbyGirl]

As some of you know, I am adopting a Flemish Giant.  As he is so large I don’t know how it would be possible to have him in a cage. I don’t think I’d have room for something like that.  I know right now he is litter boxed trained and has free run of the bunny room at his foster home.  I was thinking we’d start him off in our laundry room that is 5’x6′ with a baby gate and the him have run time.  Then as he masters his habits in his new enviroment add a room at a time.  Does anyone else do this?  Any suggestions? 

A long time ago I had a small rabbit and he was litter box trained.  I just left his cage door open and he came and went as he wanted.  I’m just not sure how this will work.  Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

Amy

[Sarita]

One of my rabbits is free range. He has access to the whole house except for the one room with my other rabbits. It wasn’t planned that he be free range but he kept getting sick so I decided to let him run free. He really started out downstairs but has since ended up upstairs in my bedroom the hallway and a little open space room. He is free to come downstairs but does not since I got a new area rug a few years ago – hated the smell I guess.

I think your idea is perfect. Start small and work out. I think your Flemmie will be a good choice for free range – they can’t get under stuff and hide like some small rabbits and being large, they are easier to catch than the small ones.

[AbbyGirl]

Thank you. I wasn’t to fond of the idea of it being the laundry room but the bathroom is too closed off from the rest of the house. I probably won’t want to do laundry while he’s in there. I wouldn’t want to scare him. I area he will have will be around 2’x6′ or 3’x5′ after the washer and dryer go in. Do you have any suggestions about what I should put in the small room he starts out in? I know bunnies like a darker space to hide in. I couldn’t imagine building a bunny house for him! Do you think it would be ok to use the carrier we purchase for him with some padding in the bottom? Any suggestions on how big his litter box needs to be or what I should put his hay in?
Sorry for all the questions! I’m just trying to be prepared as possible. Thanks again. I really appreciate all the wonderful help!

[Sarita]

I would get the biggest litter box you can find – I think you can find a large size at Petsmart. I am one of those people who just puts hay in the litter box but I know the other forum members will have lots of ideas.

It’s a good idea to not to the laundry when he’s in there – I think it will get hot when the dryer is on.

I would recommend a wicker tent (large) to let him hang out in. Let me see if I can find a link for what I’m talking about. It works great for all my large rabbits and they love to lounge inside.

[Sarita]

The Binky Bunny has this one, but there is larger one and she may be able to order it – you would have to ask her though:

store.binkybunny.com/willow-tent—unpeeled-p40.aspx

[AbbyGirl]

Thank you. You have given me some very good information. I might even be able to make a large tent like that out of a cardboard box.

[Sarita]

Yes, you definitely could. My rabbits love this and it allows the air to circulate around them. The nice thing about the willow ones if you ever decide to invest in one is that they can chew on the willow but they could do that with cardboard as well. Mine, even the chewed ones have been a good investment and have lasted a long time. Also with the tent they can go in and out both sides which they like.

[Sarita]

Here’s a link to the cat box – you want the jumbo size.

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp

 

[AbbyGirl]

Thank you again! I was just looking at that. Since I would have trouble doing the laundry with him in there do you think I should consider using another location?

[Moonlight_Wolf]

Maybe you could buy a pen and put it in a corner or behind a couch or something so he has his ‘own’ space and you could put his food, water, and litter box there. You could establish that that is his space first and then open it up and let him roam.

[AbbyGirl]

I did think about that but unfortunately until we finish the basement the 5 of us are barely going to fit. =) That why I thought he could have the laundry room. I don’t have a corner large enough without blocking doors to fit a pen that large. The dining room is open to the kitchen and living room and the one wall it has contains a huge sliding glass door. The living room isn’t that large and needs to hold our tv, couch/huge pit, desk and 2 bookshelves. I thought about my bedroom but that is upstairs and he wouldn’t be close to the family. If I blocked off the kitchen entrance he’d be starting with a 6’x10′ area. Maybe I just won’t do the laundry for a few days!

[Sarita]

Not doing laundry is okay by me LOL. Maybe when you are doing laundry you can have him out with you.

[AbbyGirl]

Good idea. The laundry room is right off the dining area. Maybe if I have to do the laundry while he still getting use to the house I can block off the the living room and kitchen and give him another litter box in that area. There is a lot to think about isn’t there?

[Sarita]

I wish more people were as thoughtful about this as you before they got their rabbit :~)

[jerseygirl]

His current foster will be able to give you some more specifics also. Even if you try replicate some of what he currently has (i.e things in his area), it may make his transistion to the new home smoother. For litter box, go for BIG. lol You can use things like rubbermaid tub, under bed storage boxes etc.
My rabbits are free rangers but have an are set up that adjoins the laundry. The are accustomed to the sounds and I think my lop even likes the sound of the washing machine going. Good point about the dryer though as the bunnies don’t like the heat too much. But i think generally laundry room would work well for his space.

[AbbyGirl]

Thank you. I never even thought about using a storage box. Great idea. I’m thinking the laundry room is best. That way it’s his spot unless I’m using the dryer. =) My girls will know to leave him alone if he’s in his spot that way too since they aren’t allowed in the laundry room. Thanks for all the wonderful info!

[Beka27]

I would not recommend the laundry room. A couple reasons, if something spills and you don’t notice, that could pose a great risk to him. In our laundry room, the strong detergent smell lingers, even hours after the laundry is done. It’s very important that rabbits have a space to call their own and can always retreat to this space if they feel threatened or if they want to rest in private. You are saying that he will be removed from his space the entire time you’re doing laundry.

Is there anywhere else you can set-up an xpen temporarily until you know he is trustworthy for free-range?

[AbbyGirl]

We use only Free and Clear detergents and softener. Also, the washer and dryer take up almost the whole width of the laundry room. I would not take him out of his room but would leave it open so if he wants to come out while the dryer is on he can. There is also a window in our laundry room that I can make sure is opened some when the dryer is running. It is only a 2 bedroom home that is 1,300 sqft. It is only a partial second floor which is our bedroom and bath. The bath on the main floor is closed off from the rest of the house and we would never interact with him in there. Any area that I might be able to set a pen up in would not be nearly large enough for him.

I’m actually thinking about sneaking him into our apartment until we move. I just found out that he has been moved to a new foster home where they are keeping him in a garage. It is way too hot for that right now. She also said she gave him a whole apple in one sitting and 8 cups of alfalfa pellets in 3 days. I have a spot in my kitchen that would be perfect. It is a 2’x4’x3′ area under a counter that is completely open. I would just need to get some wire storage cubes for it. Of course he would never be confined to that space.

Thanks for helping me think all this though. You really have been very helpful

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