Is this enough exercise?

[ashley_c]

So I’ve had Biddy about a month now and in this time frame my life has taken a pretty drastic routine switch. Due to financial difficulties (the student loan services apparently having a hate out for me) I have to work around 20 hours a week to pay bills as well as being a full time student. Needless to say, rabbit bonding time has taken a bit of a hit recently. 

I’m usually able to get up early enough to let her out for an hour or two in the morning but after that my day is pretty much packed until 9:30 at night when I get home from work, except for the afternoons I have off. The most exercise she gets in a day is 5 hours, and the least is probably 2.5-3. I’ve noticed she likes to chill out during the day anyway so my absence probably doesn’t bother her too much, and my roommate does me the service of checking on her now and then to make sure she has hay and water. But I can’t help feeling guilty about this. I thought I’d have more time for her once school started, but since I’ve had to work more my free time not dedicated to homework or sleep is rabbit time, and unfortunatley I don’t think it’s enough. 

Honest opinons, please. Would the humane thing to do be to relocate Biddy to somewhere she gets more attention? I love her very much but if this doesn’t seem like enough time for her I think it’s selfish of me to keep her. 

[Deleted User]

May I ask, what do you have her housed in? Is she all on one level or does she have a multi-leveled condo/home/cage? Any chance you could set up a pen that she could have access to? And most important, is she showing signs of being stressed or distressed at your change in schedule?

If you sincerely love her and want her in your life (if you aren’t finding caring for and worrying about her too much) then it doesn’t sound to me as though she’s having a really bad life. She’s young and you haven’t been together long, hopefully your schedule will relax in time and you will have more time together. As long as she is handling it well, … to me at least that would be what decided me.

[MoveDiagonally]

Remember, it’s unlikely that this is going to be your schedule for the next 10 years. Your current situation in the scheme of her entire life is temporary.  I don’t think you’ll find a better home for her and someone else might give her less time, a smaller cage, improper nutrition, etc… Unless you can’t feed, house, or pay for medical care I think she’s better off with you. 

I would attach an X-Pen to her cage when you’re not home and hang out with her in the morning, when you study, whenever you’re spending time at home. It may not be ideal but it’s not forever and as long as she doesn’t seem stressed out by it all I think it’s fine.  

 

[LittlePuffyTail]

You are a good bun-parent. Biddy has it pretty good compared to many, many rabbits. You are providing him a good, loving home and need to stop feeling guilty.

You could always make his living area bigger, if possible. What is your current rabbit housing situation?

[Beka27]

I absolutely agree with the others. This is a temporary situation, unless you’re a career student… :o) It sounds like you’re doing your best!

[Stickerbunny]

As long as her cage is large enough, she should be OK until you get more free time. You could set up an x-pen situation if space is an issue that you can put together before you leave in the mornings and take apart once you get home, that way she has room to run around. A quick x-pen setup and a waterproof cut-to-size coroplast floor or something, something that will only take a few minutes to toss together. That is if space is an issue, if it isn’t and she has room, well, she’s fine. Rehoming would not guarantee she gets a good life and she may end up stuck in a cage 24/7 even if the person promises to take better care of her than that, it’s a very unknown thing. And many rabbits don’t get anywhere near as much time as yours does.

[kamdynandsunshinesmom]

My rabbit gets about 3 hours of exercise everyday and if I know there is a day during the week where I am going to be gone all day (like tomorrow I work a 12 hour day) I let out for more exercise the day before. My buns cage is fairly large so it is fine. Your bunny will be fine. My rabbit doesn’t like to come out either during the day she basically sleeps during the day.

[ashley_c]

Thanks for the advice everyone! Sorry it took so long to reply. Life has kept me pretty busy recently.
I am no longer even slightly considering relocating Biddy due to the fact that we have fallen madly in love and I can’t imagine anyone loving her more than I do.
Also, I’ve realized she’s pretty lucky for a bunny in that she gets 3-4 hours exercise a day minimum, and on weekends it’s nothing for her to be outside her cage for 6-7 hours.
Her cage itself isn’t very big. I’m looking into getting a larger one, and some kind of pen to put around it so she can wander a little further outside it during the day while I’m at school or work. I’m thinking this might be an ideal Christmas present to ask my family for, actually.
Thanks again guys! You’re the best!

[Kayota]

I'm busy a lot and Mako housetrained really easily so I just started letting her loose in my kitchen 24/7 and she loves it. Maybe you could do an Xpen setup similarly. Dawn and dusk are probably the best times to do so as bunnies are crepuscular. I work late so Mako just sits around most of the time when I'm actually home on work nights lol

[Tessie]

Love the idea of asking for a bigger space for bun for Christmas!
I’m a student too and I wish I had a bigger space for Albus, but it’s all temporary

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