Bedtime for Bunny

[Steve Parker]

Buddy runs around the house from noon until he wants to go to bed, usually about 8:30. We tire him out by running and playing a lot from 4:00 until 6:00. At 6:00, he settles down and wants to be petted and by 6:30, he hops away from us; usually flops some where and wants to just rest. He’s had this routine for over a year.

 

We go downstairs to watch the news on TV in our living room about 6:30. After he rested for a little while, he’d join us in the living room for more petting then go back to the bonus room to run and have some “alone” time.

 

He used to go to bed on his own. We could almost set a watch by his bedtime. He’d come downstairs for the last time of the day between 8:15 and 8:30; rub his cheek against the doorway leading into the sun room and hop in his pen.

 

But for the last week, he just wants to stay in our bonus room. We’ve had to go up to the bonus room, pick him up and carry him to his pen. He hates to be picked up and is scared when we carry him down the stairs. But we don’t feel we have a choice in the matter. He can’t stay out all night with no supervision. (Wow, I sound like my mother used to with me.)

 

When we went up to get him last night about 9:00 PM, he thumped and ran away from me. He NEVER does that.

 

Is it just that the days are getting longer? Or do rabbits change their behavior as they get older. He’s about 2 and a half now.

 

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[Beka27]

Maybe he’s decided he likes to stay up later or it could be the days (altho if he’s had a consistent schedule for a year he’s been thru all the seasons)? My buns are also pretty predictable but on the rare occasion they choose to stay up late. Our house is bunny-proofed so it’s not a big deal, but if he requires supervision then I guess you will just have to put him to bed yourself. You could limit his time upstairs so he is on the main floor at bedtime. That would make it safer than carrying him downstairs. Do you use any code words for bedtime?

[Steve Parker]

There is more daylight now than in the winter. He has had such a consistent schedule, that this new behavior is throwing us off a bit. We also have a schedule and like to put him to bed before we go out to dinner about 9:15. We can’t leave him out at night, because he sets off our motion detector alarm.

I don’t use code words. How do I train him for those?

[RabbitPam]

He might be getting more sleep in the morning and is more awake later, or is actually sleeping when he flops, so he’s got new energy when he wakes up. Any way to keep him awake when he is tempted to flop and rest?

I am having success with code words for Sammy. I say “Bunny Bed Time” and “Bunny Bed Time Treat.” Then I rattle a little jar with treats in it, she comes over to me, checks to make sure I don’t have it in my hand, then climbs into her house where I have put the treat in her food dish. I also clink the treat against the food dish so she knows it’s there. She made it clear she does not like to be picked up and put into her house – she’ll go in herself without my help. In the morning, I just call it “Bunny Breakfast Time.” You can shorted that to Bed, or Treat, or Breakfast.

Someone here suggested I say “Pick Up” as I reach down to try to pick her up. It is a warning and she knows what’s coming next. It seems to be helping. I only do it when I am sitting comfortably where she gets set on my shoulder or lap. She jumps off after a few pets, but she’s OK with it. It’s clear to her that I am not going to carry her anywhere else, and that if she backs away repeatedly I won’t force her. I think adding “Pick Up” has made a difference.

[Steve Parker]

I’ll try the code words and the treats. That should help.

When he settles in at 6:00-6:30, he starts napping. That could be part of the problem. I’ll try to keep him awake. He will doze off while I rub him, though.

 

Thanks for the info!

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[jerseygirl]

Firstly – want to say how great it is (was) he had such a strong routine – that’ he’s put himself to bed – that’s great!.
I guess it could be the daylight…have you let him go a bit longer to see if he’ll come out himself? Other possibilities is he’s found something of interest in the bonus room, or is feeling more settled there, or something has unsettled him in his pen area. Also, he could be a bit under the weather and hiding out in the bonus room. I know my rabbit can get a bit ansty when going thru a molt.

You could try herding him back down, walk behind and clap hands – though he’ll likely not like this. Then there’s always the option of luring him with treats! This is good as he’ll associated bedtime with getting a treat.

edit:  What’s his colouring?  He’s very handsome!

[Steve Parker]

He’s gray like a tabby cat. He’s getting even more gray on his head, face and ears. I really didn’t expect him to go this gray at such a young age.

He is shedding a lot now. Also, we have seen evidence of a raccoon on our deck. His pen is in the sunroom which leads to our deck. Could he smell the raccoon through our back door? That would explain why he wants to sleep else where.

[jerseygirl]

Could be a possibility. Especially after a sudden change in a habit he’s been keeping for over a year. I guess you could try de-scent the deck and see whether that makes a difference. It may have been the noise the raccoon made also that has frightened him.

Interesting what you said about the shedding too, I really think they behave differently during this time. They can almost be more moody. With the gray hair, it could just be the changes thru the shed also. I know mine gets a whitish tiped hair on her fawn coloured hair right before it sheds.

[Hedi]

Make bedtime treat time! It works for all my buns!

I just use the word “bed” and say it over and over while shaking the treat canister. They go crazy for treats so they have learned once they go to bed they get a treat.

[RabbitPam]

I definitely think the raccoon is a factor. Maybe sprinkle some vinegar around the deck? (I’m not sure what smells raccoons find offensive. They like garbage, so who can say?)

Gray seems to be a color on bunnies, rather than an indicator of aging. Spockie started out with all gray markings, and actually got progressively darker with each year’s shed. He was sporting some black in his gray by the time he was 8. (Then again, I keep getting darker hair as I get older too. Maybe it’s something in the FL water.)

[Steve Parker]

I’ll try to do something about the raccoon smell. He knocked over a bird feeder and we caught him on a security camera. For Buddy, it could be the combination of the noise of the falling feeder and the smell. Buddy behaved a little better last night. But we had to carry him to bed again. He didn’t thump last night which I consider a lot better.

We give him a treat when he goes to bed; a little dried apple (organic w/ no additives).

Maybe in a few days, he will stop being so moody. He’s shedding terribly right now. I’m surprised that he’s loosing so much hair in the winter.

[Steve Parker]

I thought you might like to see the pictures of our midnight visitor.

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[Kokaneeandkahlua]

The raccoon could be a factor. He could also just be pushing the limits to see if he can just stay up a little bit later

[Steve Parker]

Thanks for all the helpful info. We had rain over the weekend and since then, Buddy has been better about going to bed. I guess some of the raccoon smell washed away with the rain. He’s still a little “moody”, but much better.

Also, we have our wild rabbits back in our yard. I saw the first one yesterday morning.

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