Free Range Bunny?

[Jessie]

So I let Lulu run free in my bedroom (as opposed to the hallway) yesterday and she adored it. She loved zooming around on the rugs, hiding under the dressers, ect. When I put her back into her cage she was so unhappy. She sat there on her hindlegs starring through the bars.

So it got me thinking…does she really need to be locked in the cage? Shes good with her litterpan (has never once peed outside it, and usually really good with her poops too). So far she doesnt seem to be that distructive.

I was hoping to get some thoughts from people who dont lock their bunnies in cages ever. Do you feel comfortable leaving them alone at home? What about at night when you are asleep? Its a little scary just diving into this whole free range thing. I think the first time I leave her home would be nerve wracking.

Also, do you think its okay for her to go under my bed? It made my a litttle nervous, but i’m not all that sure why. So basically how do your bunnies do roaming free in the house when you arnt there?

Also, did you guys keep your cages for the bunnies or move towards a more dog like set up? I was hoping I could leave her carrier open with a bed in it if she wants to sleep, have food and water bowls out and a littter box. The cage is pretty ugly and bulky. 

[Karla]

Hi Jessie,

Mine are free-roamers. We started out by having the first bunny in a cage at night and when we were at work, but after a few days we felt sorry for the little fella…and that was the beginning of a free-roaming era in our house. It has caused no problems at all. Sure, we have lost quite a few mobile cords and some shoes the first couple of weeks, until we learned not to have these things lying around. And honestly, these things were often chewed even when we were there, so it had nothing to do with being free roaming.

I have a cage for the bunnies with their food, their toilet and water. I tried doing without it, but then they started peeing around the bedroom (where the cage was), so I quickly learned that they need their own area. It’s their comfort zone. Of course, I wish they could live without the cage, but I have accepted it and just covered it with a black cloth.

I have not been worried at all with them being free roamers. And I have never had any reason not to trust them. When I come home from work, they are sleeping in front of the door waiting for me. I wouldn’t be able to get that kind of welcome home greeting if I had them caged while away

Those days when I have been working at home, I have noticed that they go into the living room to sleep under the table, and do some occasional fooling around before falling asleep again. So they are actually not getting into trouble during daytime.

[Deleted User]

My rabbits do not have free-roaming privileges but I bunny-proofed my patio and one room plus hall way where they can spend the daytime. When I’m out or during the night they are in a condo. I have 1 rabbit who isn’t bonded to my other 3 and he is living in the room right now. I use a crate for my things that I don’t want him to wreck and to attach his water bottle to and hay rack. It depends on your situation, Jessie, if you live alone, or if other members in your household can be trained not to leave expensive equipment sitting around, if you have other pets, how many rabbits in total etc.
If I lived by myself with just 1 rabbit you bet he would be free 24/7.

[Monkeybun]

Monkey was free roam for awhile during the days, and put in her pen for nights until she started marking the hubby’s side of the couch. Once she’s all healed up from the spay she’ll be back to free roaming, hopefully 24/7, if she can stop marking the couch

[SophieBun]

My bun Sophie started out free roaming during the day and in the cage at night when I first got her. But, she is such an escape artist that I just gave up and let her free roam around the apartment. She’s allowed into my room when I’m supervising her although she always uses her litter box, and behaves really well

[feeona]

my bunny is a free range and we have no problems , our house is toddler proofed AND bunny proofed which is much the same to be honest!
we have no problems with him . he has a kennel in the corner of the living room with his litter in it . he can spend time in there if he wants time to himself but he spends allllll day streched out on the carpet.
there is no other way for him to be!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I *had* my bunners free range in my apartment. They have thier own bedroom now, and our house is ripped apart from reno’s so they can’t anymore.

I personally loved it. I found they sort of had a migration. Like they’d go into their bedroom at night, then our bedroom in the am, then play in the living room and sleep there. Late at night bedroom or living room. They moved regularly to different lounge spots They always went ‘home’ at night though

The only concerns are you need to step up your bunny proofing, cords everywhere especially. If your bunny doesn’t chew clothing or carpet you’ll do really well (mine are all too laid back to destroy anything but willow).
Also, more vaccuming-since’ll be more fur shed.

Also if you ahve other pets-especially dogs or cats-they have to be 200% good with your bun

[Elrohwen]

I think the best way to start is to leave your bun out for a bit while you run errands. This is especially good because buns tend to sleep all day anyway, so the chances are that she will be very good. I think the hardest thing is being free range at night because that’s when buns can be very alert and ready to get into trouble. So maybe start with just days and lock her up at night. Eventually you’ll trust her more and maybe move to letting her out at night too.

Since I’m home all the time, Otto is free range during the day. However, his wood floor fears have resurfaced so he won’t leave his cage area (there’s a pad covering the floors) unless I bring him into the living room where the carpet is. So I don’t even worry about locking him up because I know he’s not going anywhere! We do still lock him up at night just in case, but I doubt he’d go anywhere then either. If he would actually go into the living room himself, I wouldn’t trust him overnight. Our bunn proofing is mostly one level of NIC grids, so if he really wanted to jump over them he could. I feel much safer with him in his cage at night.

[felmotes]

I live on the 2nd floor of a house. I let my two run around when I’m home, but I put them into their cage at night or when I’m not going to be home. They get into way too much trouble when I’m not here. One of them is especilly naughty and I come home finding her chewing things she shouldn’t be or stuck behind the dresser. In an attempt to get under the bed, she wiggled herself behind the dresser, but she got stuck! She was traumatized when I found her.. I have no idea how long she was like that. I didn’t think she could squeeze behind there. Or that she would.

We also have a lot of other people living in the house, and a dog.. so free-range isn’t a viable option. If I lived totally by myself with no dog, I might think about trying to religious bunny-proof everything.. but until then: No on the 24/7 free range

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