Gibby’s Homestead

[KudzuJungle]

About Gibby…

I would like to introduce Gibby, mostly because I’m concerned about him.  At least, I think he’s a male.    Though his name is Gibby, he’s also called Gibster, Gibs and a few other names.

 I don’t have any idea how old he is, nor do I know if he’s full grown.  He’s at least 3 or 4 months old.  Very small. 

He used to be in a cage and then he ran free in a portion of my friend’s house, but then they moved and Gibby didn’t like the new house.  He stayed only in his cage.   My friends gave Gibby to me and my husband.  

Gibby has been with us for less than a month, but he no longer wants to be in his cage.  He uses it for a potty place, and hates it when I put him in there at night.    He has bonded with me and will not leave my feet except to use his cage potty.  Then he goes right back to my feet and he doesn’t like it when I get up.

I do a lot of computer work, so he gets plenty of time to be at my feet.   I’m just concerned.   He won’t do anything except sit at my feet.   If someone else sits on my couch, which is near me, he will bite.  He bites me and he bites company.  He doesn’t want anyone to be near us.  

If I move his blanket, he stomps his feet loud.  If things are not the way he wants them, he stomps.  When I put his blanket back at my feet, he stops stomping.  Shouldn’t he be jumping around and playing?   Our house is divided into a commercial space and an apartment, so he has the full run of the apartment, but the only space he wants is right by me, to the cage, and back to me, and under the couch I sit at.  That’s it!

He also acts like he’s deaf.  

He does not like rabbit pellets.  The only thing I can get him to eat right now is Timothy hay, blueberries, broccoli, and nibbles of apple and carrot.  He hardly eats anything.  I have even tried to introduce various greens to him.  He is scared to death of the outside.  He literally shook when I took him out in his cage and kept clawing at the door to get me to take him.  I took him inside and all he wants to do is….

sit at my feet.  My mom calls him Slipper.

About me…

I’m Colleen.  My husband and I are beginner homesteaders in the city.  We manage to kill our gardens but we are getting better.   I am used to having dogs and have found BinkyBunny as a result of learning how to care for Gibby.  

 

[MoveDiagonally]

Welcome to BB!

I think finding a rabbit savvy vet in your area and getting him a check up would be a good idea.This will help you determine gender it would determine his current overall health. Dental issues can sometimes cause selective eating and usually pellets are the first thing they stop munching on. Can you ask your friend what his eating habits were like before? This might help you determine what’s abnormal.

In the short-term not eating pellets won’t hurt him too much but long-term, unless supplemented daily with a large variety (10+ types) and quantity of bunny safe leafy greens, it can cause nutrition and weight issues. You also want to be wary of too much fruit as it’s very high in sugar and non-leafy veggies. Some great diet resources can be found here:
http://rabbit.org/faq-diet/
http://rabbit.org/suggested-vegetables-and-fruits-for-a-rabbit-diet/

I can’t shed too much light on his love for you feet but it does sound like he’s very bonded with you.

What makes you think he’s deaf? 

[KudzuJungle]

Thank you for your response and for the resources.

Gibby does not respond to sounds. Nor my voice. He responds to movements. Such as, me getting up. No matter how loud I make a noise, calling him, snapping my fingers, etc., he just looks straight forward. It’s as if the only sense he has is someone moving or walking on the floor near him. Or if he sees me, or if I put my hand in front of his face, then he responds.

Other than that, it’s like he doesn’t hear anything.

[litheandgraphic]

Hello and welcome!

I definitely agree with Move; finding a rabbit-savvy vet is definitely in order. A good rabbit vet can help you determine – and deal with – deafness, sexing, and of course any future or current health issues. It does sound like he could very well be deaf.

A note on diet – you will want to watch the intake of broccoli, because it is notorious for causing gas in sensitive rabbits. Just keep it to a minimum. Similarly, things like apples, carrots, and blueberries as they are high in sugar, and carrots are high in carbs, which are not good for bunnies in large quantities. Large quantities for rabbits is a pretty small amount to us, by the way.

As for his behavior, it sounds to me – because of his age – that he may be entering his hormonal stages. You may want to consider getting him neutered. And, if he turns out to be female, then you will definitely want to get her spayed.

Good luck and welcome again!

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