Let’s “Rediscover” our Love of Bunnies!

[Beka27]

It’s a CHALLENGE, but a FUN, beneficial one!

Even tho we all love our bunnies, and we take good care of them day in, day out… sometimes we are just going thru the motions and we get into a rut.  You wake up and feed, go to work/school, get home and have playtime, feed the hungry little creatures again… and this same scenario repeats itself over and over and over again.

Let’s brainstorm some ways we can make the day to day care of our buns more fun, exciting, easy, rewarding, safe…

Just a few that I’ve thought about today:

Introduce new veggies to their diet (do this the correct way to avoid tummy troubles.)  Switch to a better quality pellet or hay.  Can pellets be reduced to help get that “chunky monkey” in shape?

Rearrange their condo/xpen/enclosure.  Make it bigger or taller, more levels or less, easier to clean.  Is there a better location in your home?  Replace worn out carpets, rugs, zipties. 

Re-evaluate bunny-proofing.  Does it need to be replaced?  Can it be made better, stronger, safer, or less obtrusive for you while still serving its purpose?  Good, solid bunny-proofing is a bunny slave’s best friend.

New toys, bought or homemade.  As we all know, the simplest things make the best bunny toys.  Throw away old boxes and toys that have seen better days or are no longer holding their interest.

Try a new routine with cleaning and feeding.  Sometimes a small change might not be noticeable to the bunnies, but it can make a world of difference to you.

Take more pics or videos of our buns.  Pay more attention and look for that great photo opportunity.  (And share these pics/videos on Binkybunny, of course!)

Give clicker training a try.

Educate yourself.  Reread HRS and HRN articles.  Make a list of articles you like so you can refer back to them when necessary.

More playtime, or more INVOLVED playtime.  Many of us might not interact with our buns that much daily, since they primarily like to do their own thing.  Spending just 10 or 15 minutes a day with no interruptions may be enough to make us fall in love with them all over again.  On a personal level, when I start to get the “nother bunny bug”, I make a conscious effort to spend more quality time interracting my two.  Another bunny is not always the answer.  Appreciate your rabbits for who they are and recognize how lucky you are to have them.

Bond the buns you have… it’s not impossible.  Make it a priority and work at it daily.

If you can, get involved with a local rescue, either thru volunteering or by donations.

 

What do you think?  Other suggestions to add? 

 

 

[Sarita]

How about doing an annual well rabbit exam – okay, I know your rabbit might not really appreciate this but it will give you a chance to talk with the vet and establish or re-establish a relationship with your vet.

[TARM]

My poor bunnies have had to take a little bit of a back seat to the fosters…I don’t want 7 skittish adolecent bunnies trying to find homes after they’re fixed so we’ve been focusing on socializing mama (Whom I’ve named “Cali” because she has the colored ears and white body like a Californian) and babies. Mama already grooms me, it’s gonna be hard to let her go when the time comes.

[KitD]

At work they were updating all the light fixtures and that involved putting all new tube bulbs in so the guy was letting the used tubes go to some of the employees.

He didn’t quite understand why I wanted the empty four foot long boxes which he had so thoughtfully opened on the end. awesome FREE tunnels!!

[BunnyLiz]

Great idea Beka! Sometimes we forget how much we love them and see taking care of them as a chore. Or we see some of the things they do as annoying, when really they are just trying to tell us something.
1) Check/restock your bunny emergency kit. It will remind you of how much you care, plus its just a good idea to keep it updated.
2) Make a batch of bunny cookies! It will brighten up there day, and yours.
3) Try and expand playtime areas. the extra space will keep them busy and entertained, therefore making them less destructive and you will be able to enjoy them even more.

[Beka27]

Good ideas Liz! I’ve always wanted to make bunny cookies and I’ve just never gotten around to it!

[KatnipCrzy]

look at the toys that you have that they are not playing with- what can you do to jazz it up for them?  Grass ball- cram a  Craisin or Papaya tablet in to the middle- buns are suddenly interested in that toy again.  Will not probably tear it to sheds- but at least now they are getting some use out of it.

The big wads a wrapping/packing paper from shipments- ball the up and hide raisins, papaya tablets and etc in the layers of papers.  By the next day the whole thing was shredded!  Good body and mind exercise for Schroeder who “sought and destroyed” to find his hidden rewards.

Julie

[bunnytowne]

Wow what a good idea.  

Hmm bunny cookies have sure gotten them excited and I can make diff flavors too.   A new cardboard box.   Also I been saying i am going to bring Ruby to the store across the street that I bought my Bare Escentuals from .

Maybe I will actually do it. I realy really plan on it.

[Author]

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