Flooring question (new bunny!)

[Colin]

Hi Everyone,

We just brought Digby, our first bunny, home from the shelter today   He seems to have settled in pretty quickly, and I don’t think I’m ever going to get any work done at home again.

I was wondering what type of flooring is best for bunnies to run around on. There’s some old carpet in the room we let him run in now, but it seems like his claws get a little stuck in it every now and then. The carpet isn’t tacked down, and there’s linoleum under the carpet – would that be any better?

Also, the rest of our apartment has hardwood floors, which Digby doesn’t seem too secure on (his feet slip a little, and he avoids it when he can). Would you recommend a normal rug, or a large straw mat? We’d like to let him into the living room so he can hang out with us in there.

Thanks in advance!

[jerseygirl]

Congratulations on the new bunny!

Carpet should be fine and if it’s old, i’m guessing it won’t be a huge issue if Digby takes to chewing it! Also, as it’s soft, you shouldn’t have any probs with his hocks getting sore. Only issue might be if he pees on it but if he’s litter trained then you should have no probs.
Is the carpet a long pile? Is that why his claws get sttuck? He may need a little nail trim also. One of the many joys of rabbit care!

If he’s a bit skittish on wood floors that can actually be useful to keep him contained to one area i.e. the living room. Some people put old towels down so their bunnies can get around on wood floors. Mine is free range and manages on carpet, vinyl and wood floors. They get expert at everything given time. As for straw mats, go ahead but I’m guessing it’ll become a big chew toy for him!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

^^Ditto that

When I got my first bun, I thought she was getting her claws stuck too, but it was actually her thumping…Could that be what your bunny is doing? Its a quick thump and only periodically done?

Anyways, carpet is great for them to be on, gives them lots of traction. Once he gets used to it, it won’t be too hard for him to move on it. Matts/carpets are a great idea…Straw matts may become dinner!

Welcome to Binkybunny and *HUGS* for adopting instead of shopping!!

[Colin]

Thanks for the replies

I don’t think they’re thumps, as it usually happens when he’s hopping around. The carpet is short, but kind of rough. He didn’t seem to have a problem with it this morning though, so hopefully he’s getting used to it.

His nails look like they were trimmed right before we got him (almost at the quick).

I think we’ll try to find some cheap rugs at Ikea or Target for the living room.

[Beka27]

many people have hardwood floors and laying down area rugs seems to do the trick. once he gets used to the area, you might even try removing one or two and see if he’s comfortable on the solid flooring. one of my bunnies was completely anti-kitchen tile for months, then all of a sudden she was running around in the kitchen, so it is possible.

[Colin]

Here’s a picture of the carpet (but more importantly, Digby )

 

191559593171.jpg

[Beka27]

he is such a good-lookin’ boy. and i like the name. very unique.

[earthisours]

My bunnies went from living in a house completely of carpet to one completely hardwood (with the exception of a small rug in the living room.) At first they were unsure, and went about their way slowly, but now, they race and binky (sometimes crashing into the walls >.>) on the hardwood without a problem.

[Alicia Conklin]

When he gets the nail stuck what happens?  Is he maybe doing an almost binky?  Sometimes Tucker looks jerky when she does her binkies

[Colin]

Yeah, it pretty much looks like a binky, only we can hear sort of a “snap” which we think is the carpet hitting the floor after his nail gets loose. It’s barely happened at all today though.

[KatnipCrzy]

I would watch and see how he handles the carpet (any chewing or not)- but you can also offer a variety of surfaces.  My buns cage/exercise pen is in a room with carpet- so we covered with plastic from Joann Fabrics that is sold on a huge roll- I think people use it to cover tables, and etc.  But then we cover the plastic with cotton rugs, fleece blankets- but we do have a piece of plastic carpet runner directly under her raised cage in the pen- and we leave that bare plastic with 2 granite tiles (from Home Improvement store) and she seems to prefer to lay on plastic or tiles even though our house is air conditioned.  And she has a Cottontail Cottage (or more specifically a Bunnys Magic Dream House) cardboard house in her pen- so it does not seem to be the “den” feeling of laying under her raised cage.

[jerseygirl]

Snap! Your Digby looks like my Jersey!

[Scarlet_Rose]

Digby is so cute! Say, when was the last time his nails were trimmed? That could be why he is snagging a nail. However even in the best situtaions it happens too. Flooring, old carpet is good – keep an eye on the hocks for sore as they can hapen if the flooring is too abrasive like berber carpet. You may want to consider a tarp, then placing a cheap square of carpet or a rug over that. Another alternative would be some linoleum and rags rugs on top. That makes a pretty easy clean up and you don’t have to tear out carpet or worry about it soaking through to the flooring underneath whether it be some solid oak or sub flooring.

[osprey]

I recently got one of these at Ikea for $14.99 to use as a binky mat.  The rug is 4×6 (more or less) and is made of cotton.  I got the black, white and red striped one.  it is called “JYLLINGE”.

 

I also use these Ikea rugs as pen liners.  They are called “SIGNE” and cost $2.99, in a wide variety of colors.

[Colin]

Cool, thanks Osprey. We were planning an Ikea trip sometime soon anyway; I’ll keep an eye out for those.

[MooBunnay]

Hi Beecg! Welcome to binkybunny!

All of my bunnies have very short carpet in their pens and don’t seem to have any trouble with it, except once Juli got her foot stuck and it was pretty scary! I think though that if your bunny caught a nail you would know for sure because they tend to get really stuck or injure the nail. As far as flooring, I really like going to Big Lots and going into the carpet square/rug area. They have a great selection of carpet squares and rugs that you can put around the pen and around your house.

[Author]

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