Multiples — How to tell who is eating & who is pooping?

[JackRabbit]

My bonded pair is now sharing our new bunny area (both cages are in the area too but doors are open). When they were in separate cages, I knew exactly how much each had eaten of their pellets and hay and how much water each drank. How do I tell if one isn’t eating, pooping, etc? They’re loving life together but I’m afraid I might miss signs of GI issues! Please advise!

[LBJ10]

It is more difficult to tell when you have two bunnies sharing everything. Do you feed them at a time where you can at least check to see if each bunny is interested in the food? Both running over to eagerly gobble up pellets is always a good sign. Poop is a whole different issue. This is going to sound weird, but my bunnies’ poop looks different. So I can see that there are two kinds of poop in the litter box. There is also the same amount of total poop on any given day, so I suppose a decrease in total amount would indicate a problem with one or the other.

[Deleted User]

Gosh JR! Good question! As per usual, I have NO idea – but I think what LBJ said makes good sense, but because I have 3 dog’s, thought about how I tell their poop from each other, and I can’t! For me I just know the dog’s and if one is unwell I just seem to pick up on it (sorry for using my dog’s as an example, they are my only multiples). I really get your worry with GI stasis, and so wish I could offer up a suggestion to make it that bit easier for you to spot if that were to ever happen again, but sadly I can’t. Sorry Cathie.

[JackRabbit]

I know what you mean by the poop looking different & if Kieko was in their I could tell which was hers. Marlee and Moshi are the same breed, same age, and have the same father. Their poops look exactly alike – ugh! Also, even though I put their food in separate bowls, they’ve decided to share everything — I can put them at separate ends of their area and as soon as I turn my back they are both at one bowl. Mosh us a little pig too and will just keep eating until its gone. I guess I’m more worried that Marlee won’t get enough or will stop pooping and I won’t know (Moshi is a hay monster and can fill a litter box in less than a day!)

[JackRabbit]

AH — dogs just seem easier. I guess because they don’t hide upsets they easier to read (we can just look at our dog and know if something is up). The bunnies hide things so well. I guess this is one more thing about them that I didn’t think through very well!

[NuggetBuns]

I think as long as they are interested in hay or pellets or veggies when you feed them, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about. I used to worry about one of my buns eating all the food and the other not getting any, but overtime they both learned to share. I’ve tried to feed them separately as well, but then they are too busy wondering why they can’t be near their mate and don’t pay attention to the food at all. If you have the time, you could hand feed Marlee so you at least know how much she’s eating. She should start eating at the same pace as Moshi after a while.

Rabbits do tend to hide any health problems, but after living with them for a while, you’ll know if something is not right. If it’s GI Stasis, not only do they not want to eat or drink or poop, but they hunch up in a corner and hardly move because they’re so uncomfortable.

[JackRabbit]

NB, Im sure your right. Kieko has claimed my husband as her human, Moshi is such a mess and he’s everyone’s bunny, but skittish little miss attirude Marlee is all mine. She’s my baby girl and I worry about her. Marlee and Moshi love each other but he’s like a bulldog puppy. If he wants something she lets him have it. Even tho their cages and everything in them is the same, he wants HERS –who and he’s too cute to say no!

[Stickerbunny]

Mine have had tummy upset a few times since bonded. If they don’t come for their dinner, I offer a craisin or other favored treat and if they don’t take it I know something is up. For poop, welll… mine are horrible with their litter habits since bonded so not a problem for me. But, usually when there is a problem the poops get smaller before they stop in my experience. As for sharing a dish mine do, the slower eater learned to eat faster.

[JackRabbit]

When you see smaller poops, how do you know whose they are?

[Stickerbunny]

Usually, its the one acting off – not rushing for craisins/pellets, loafing when they normally would be running around (active hours), etc.

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