I think we have to block off her favorite hideaway :(

[emmabunny]

Hi! I hope you don’t mind answering another question from this paranoid new bunny mommy! Our bunny Emma is 3 and a half months old, and she is free range in our living room. We have had her for one month. She also has an exercise pen that is left open, but she will only go in it to eat, drink and use the litter box. When we are home, she loves to lie out on the rug in front of the tv. Her favorite hideaway (which she mostly uses when we are not at home or sleeping) is under the couch that is next to her exercise pen. When we first brought her home, we were told that she was a dwarf bunny and thought she would get no bigger than 3 pounds- so we thought it was fine for her to claim the space under the couch as her hideaway. Now we definitely know that she is not a dwarf sized bunny (might be mixed with a dwarf breed)  as she is growing pretty rapidly. 

The problem: 

Emma is already struggling to get in and out from her favorite space under the couch. So it’s pretty obvious that she is going to completely outgrow that space soon. I think we have to block it off so that she doesn’t get stuck or hurt herself. I’m concerned because this space under the couch is her “safe spot” that she is currently using for a majority of the day when we are at work or when we are sleeping. She does not use any of the other hideaways we’ve provided for her in the living room (mini haven in the exercise pen, willow hideaway, spot another couch that is higher off the ground). 

Is there a way to keep from stressing her out too much when we block off that favorite couch? Or will she stop trying to get under the couch when it gets too tight to get underneath it? I feel so bad when I think about taking away her safe spot.  

[Gina.Jenny]

Emma probably likes under the couch as it feels like a nice safe tunnel to a little bunny. Can you set up some alternative tunnels that are bigger, so that she has a new safe place before she grows too big to get under the couch? Cardboard boxes are good for this.

[Azerane]

I agree, if there’s a spot that she usually accesses the space under the couch from, put a cardboard box in front of it when you block the rest of the couch. She will be frustrated when you block off the couch, so you need to make sure that when you do it, it is done very securely so she learns quickly that she’s unable to get past it. If it’s weak in any way she will find the weakness and work at it until she can get through (bunnies are stubborn and determined in that way). It’s much easier to block their access from day 1 than to allow them access to something and then expect them to stop using it

I really do think that providing alternatives right next to the couch will be the best solution. Tunnels, boxes etc to give her other places to hide in the same area that she was hiding before.

[emmabunny]

Thank you for the tips!! We have a mini haven from the BB store that is next to the couch in her pen area (where food/litter box is). She is not particularly interested in it but I’m hoping it will grow on her. She has another favorite area on the other side of the couch under a desk, so we are going to make it more bunny friendly and set up some tunnels for her there.. fingers crossed that she will like it!

[sunshinesocks]

I would say do it rather than risk it. Oz doesn’t know big his bum is and forces himself into gaps that are so tight he yelps. When he snuck into the kitchen the other day we spent half an hour taking it apart to retrieve him from where he was stuck. Some buns aren’t clever enough to know their size when they’re growing..

[Love4Bunny]

It took a while for my rabbit to acclimate to his BB maze and cottage. I think it took him a month to build the courage to go to the top level of the actual cottage, so just give her time. I put exercise weights (plates) inside flat boxes that fit under stuff, and that’s how I ensure either of my rabbits don’t chew carpet underneath, where I can’t see them. Yeah, she will probably be cranky about losing the couch space, but if there’s another safe spot, she will gravitate towards that. You’re doing the right thing for her, and that’s most important, even more than her getting her own way.

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