reluctantbubmom
New Member
Hello all. Very long, potentially boring. I apologize in advance.
Our household very recently became home to two bunnies. Now, I have zero experience with rabbits. We had one when I was very young, and he was allowed to roam free in our basement. One of my earliest memories is of my mother giving me a piece of lettuce to take down to "Oreo." I looked and looked and finally found him not moving in between two boxes. I was young enough to not realize he was dead, and placed the lettuce on top of him. When my mother told me he was gone, it was fairly traumatizing. That is seriously my only rabbit experience.
Our daughter just turned 9 and was begging for a bunny. I told my husband it was not a good idea, but he came home with two rabbits and two cages anyway. (One cage and rabbit has gone into our 5 year old son's room.) I swore to my husband that I would not clean up after these rabbits, nor buy them anything. (I'm already responsible for two German Shepherds, a cat, a hamster and 13 chickens.) Of course, that didn't last long.
He had them set up in a cage with pine shavings all on the bottom and called it a day. It stunk almost immediately, so after a little research I found they could be litter trained. My husband laughed at me, told me I'd be wasting my money, but within a week both rabbits were using their box inside their cage. That made cleanup easier for my daughter, as I insisted she be the one to clean up after both of them. For the time being, we have paper bedding, (got rid of those pine shavings. Yuck!) but I think we may switch to pellets the next time I need to purchase more. (What kind is best??)
I suppose I should mention the people my husband got them from weren't the best bunny parents. More like a bunny breeding mill. We were told they were both a couple months old, although one is quite a bit bigger than the other. They had spent their entire lives in a cage with a wire bottom, with not much human contact other than feed and water. My husband was told they didn't need hay, just pellets. Luckily I read up on rabbits the moment they came through the door to discover that wasn't true. They now have unlimited timothy hay at their disposal, pellets at a minimum.
Bun-bun, my daughter's rabbit, seems to be adjusting well. (We were told they were both bucks but I don't know for sure) Bun-bun celebration dance around my daughter's bedroom was nothing short of heartwarming. He was finally free. He allows my daughter to pet him while in his cage, but doesn't like being messed with out of his cage. The only issue I have with him is reminding my daughter to let him out and bond with him more.
The other smaller rabbit, originally named Chuck, is a different story. He charges anything that comes near him or his cage. I've read they are very territorial, and boy is he ever. This is the bunny in my son's room. My son has been instructed to LEAVE THE RABBIT ALONE and thankfully, he was raised to respect animals and also listen to his parents. He doesn't bother the bunny, although he would very much like to be "friends" with him.
Chuck turned into my project. I couldn't let him just live in his cage, especially being somewhat aggressive and charging when he would be fed or litter box changed. I excused my daughter from any Chuck responsibility while I worked with him.
Now, the internet has been my friend. I've learned to call the rabbit one name, and one name only so that they don't get confused. I had been calling him "bub" so Chuck is out and Bub is in. I got Bub to allow me to gently stroke him while in his cage, although it was very clear he hated it in the beginning. I just kept saying "It's OK" very softly, over and over. Eventually, a bit of trust was built and his look of absolute hate turn into slight dislike.
While my kids are at school and my husband at work, I open Bub's cage door and allow him to run and dance. I would just lay on the floor minding my own business playing a game on my iphone and let him do his thing, unless he chewed on baseboards or carpeting. (I would tell him NO in a firm voice, which at first he didn't care about until I approached him. Then he'd hop away.) He avoided me completely in the beginning, and I had to trick him back into his cage when play time was over.
Fast forward a couple weeks later. I still try to stroke him while in his cage. He holds still much better, tolerates it better, but it's obvious he's not crazy about human touch. He still tries to charge me when I feed him or clean his box, but backs off after a firm NO. We now have a routine when I open his cage door. He started to refuse to come out, so instead of laying on the other side of the room minding my own business, I'd sit next to the cage talking to him about laundry, dinner, whatever. He eventually would hop over to the side of the cage I was on, and sniff. I'd hold my hand up to the cage, and say "It's OK Bub." It shocked me the first few times when after a good sniff he'd turn, and hop right out of the cage. We do this every day now. He feels safe with me. I have gained trust, at least a little.
I'll go back to "my" side of the room and mind my own again. He would come up and sniff and hop away. For a while I held still. Eventually, I would stretch out my arm and encourage him to come sniff me. He would, but then hop away. He is still very defiant when it comes to baseboard/carpet chewing and my NO. It takes me moving in his direction to get him to stop. I swear, that rabbit gives me an evil glare when I do.
One day last week was a big step for us. I was minding my own when he came over for a sniff. The sniff turned into a lick. Three times. I got affection from him!!!!! I was ecstatic, but didn't show it. I still wouldn't reach for him or anything, I just let him do his thing.
Now, for the past couple of days. He still charges me in his cage, but backs off with a NO. I have started trying to "play" with him while he's out, and I think I succeeded today. He'd run in a circle, stop and look at me. I'd drum my fingers. He'd circle again, stop. Repeat. I don't know if I was scaring him or playing with him, but it was fun to watch. I also got TWO separate licking sessions today, one even included a small nibble. Yay!! I am making progress.
After our little game, he stretched out on the other side of the room, at the very edge underneath the bed. I decided to get up and sit next to him. He moved back. I started talking to him, and he relaxed a little. I decided to try a small stroke. I help out my hand so he could sniff, then held it away from the side of his head so he could see me coming. I went in for the pet, he started to charge, then decided just to move away from me. I went back to "my" side of the room. He does spend quite a bit of time over there with me, and every once in a while I attempt a pat or stroke on his back. Sometimes it's quick and done an he doesn't care, other times he jumps away scared to death. I never force more than a quick touch. He did nudge me with his nose a couple of day ago, but I am not sure what that means.
Anyway, I know this is so incredibly long. But someone please help me. I wish I could spend all day in there with him, but it's just not feasible. What else can I do to help him get used to human affection? (I have had my son in there with me playing his ipod and ignoring Bub like I told him to. He has gotten a few sniffs but that's all so far.) What games can I play with him? Am I doing anything wrong? I don't want this rabbit to be miserable, and I know my 5 year old wouldn't be able to "tame" him as well as I can, but I do want Bub and my son to bond as well. Also, this may be a dumb question, but how can I make for certain he is a buck? I can't lift him. Thanks in advance, and again sorry so long. I'm clueless but trying. I didn't want these rabbits, but I am getting attached to Bub without a doubt. I just want him to feel safe and loved, no matter who is in the room with us.
Our household very recently became home to two bunnies. Now, I have zero experience with rabbits. We had one when I was very young, and he was allowed to roam free in our basement. One of my earliest memories is of my mother giving me a piece of lettuce to take down to "Oreo." I looked and looked and finally found him not moving in between two boxes. I was young enough to not realize he was dead, and placed the lettuce on top of him. When my mother told me he was gone, it was fairly traumatizing. That is seriously my only rabbit experience.
Our daughter just turned 9 and was begging for a bunny. I told my husband it was not a good idea, but he came home with two rabbits and two cages anyway. (One cage and rabbit has gone into our 5 year old son's room.) I swore to my husband that I would not clean up after these rabbits, nor buy them anything. (I'm already responsible for two German Shepherds, a cat, a hamster and 13 chickens.) Of course, that didn't last long.
He had them set up in a cage with pine shavings all on the bottom and called it a day. It stunk almost immediately, so after a little research I found they could be litter trained. My husband laughed at me, told me I'd be wasting my money, but within a week both rabbits were using their box inside their cage. That made cleanup easier for my daughter, as I insisted she be the one to clean up after both of them. For the time being, we have paper bedding, (got rid of those pine shavings. Yuck!) but I think we may switch to pellets the next time I need to purchase more. (What kind is best??)
I suppose I should mention the people my husband got them from weren't the best bunny parents. More like a bunny breeding mill. We were told they were both a couple months old, although one is quite a bit bigger than the other. They had spent their entire lives in a cage with a wire bottom, with not much human contact other than feed and water. My husband was told they didn't need hay, just pellets. Luckily I read up on rabbits the moment they came through the door to discover that wasn't true. They now have unlimited timothy hay at their disposal, pellets at a minimum.
Bun-bun, my daughter's rabbit, seems to be adjusting well. (We were told they were both bucks but I don't know for sure) Bun-bun celebration dance around my daughter's bedroom was nothing short of heartwarming. He was finally free. He allows my daughter to pet him while in his cage, but doesn't like being messed with out of his cage. The only issue I have with him is reminding my daughter to let him out and bond with him more.
The other smaller rabbit, originally named Chuck, is a different story. He charges anything that comes near him or his cage. I've read they are very territorial, and boy is he ever. This is the bunny in my son's room. My son has been instructed to LEAVE THE RABBIT ALONE and thankfully, he was raised to respect animals and also listen to his parents. He doesn't bother the bunny, although he would very much like to be "friends" with him.
Chuck turned into my project. I couldn't let him just live in his cage, especially being somewhat aggressive and charging when he would be fed or litter box changed. I excused my daughter from any Chuck responsibility while I worked with him.
Now, the internet has been my friend. I've learned to call the rabbit one name, and one name only so that they don't get confused. I had been calling him "bub" so Chuck is out and Bub is in. I got Bub to allow me to gently stroke him while in his cage, although it was very clear he hated it in the beginning. I just kept saying "It's OK" very softly, over and over. Eventually, a bit of trust was built and his look of absolute hate turn into slight dislike.
While my kids are at school and my husband at work, I open Bub's cage door and allow him to run and dance. I would just lay on the floor minding my own business playing a game on my iphone and let him do his thing, unless he chewed on baseboards or carpeting. (I would tell him NO in a firm voice, which at first he didn't care about until I approached him. Then he'd hop away.) He avoided me completely in the beginning, and I had to trick him back into his cage when play time was over.
Fast forward a couple weeks later. I still try to stroke him while in his cage. He holds still much better, tolerates it better, but it's obvious he's not crazy about human touch. He still tries to charge me when I feed him or clean his box, but backs off after a firm NO. We now have a routine when I open his cage door. He started to refuse to come out, so instead of laying on the other side of the room minding my own business, I'd sit next to the cage talking to him about laundry, dinner, whatever. He eventually would hop over to the side of the cage I was on, and sniff. I'd hold my hand up to the cage, and say "It's OK Bub." It shocked me the first few times when after a good sniff he'd turn, and hop right out of the cage. We do this every day now. He feels safe with me. I have gained trust, at least a little.
I'll go back to "my" side of the room and mind my own again. He would come up and sniff and hop away. For a while I held still. Eventually, I would stretch out my arm and encourage him to come sniff me. He would, but then hop away. He is still very defiant when it comes to baseboard/carpet chewing and my NO. It takes me moving in his direction to get him to stop. I swear, that rabbit gives me an evil glare when I do.
One day last week was a big step for us. I was minding my own when he came over for a sniff. The sniff turned into a lick. Three times. I got affection from him!!!!! I was ecstatic, but didn't show it. I still wouldn't reach for him or anything, I just let him do his thing.
Now, for the past couple of days. He still charges me in his cage, but backs off with a NO. I have started trying to "play" with him while he's out, and I think I succeeded today. He'd run in a circle, stop and look at me. I'd drum my fingers. He'd circle again, stop. Repeat. I don't know if I was scaring him or playing with him, but it was fun to watch. I also got TWO separate licking sessions today, one even included a small nibble. Yay!! I am making progress.
After our little game, he stretched out on the other side of the room, at the very edge underneath the bed. I decided to get up and sit next to him. He moved back. I started talking to him, and he relaxed a little. I decided to try a small stroke. I help out my hand so he could sniff, then held it away from the side of his head so he could see me coming. I went in for the pet, he started to charge, then decided just to move away from me. I went back to "my" side of the room. He does spend quite a bit of time over there with me, and every once in a while I attempt a pat or stroke on his back. Sometimes it's quick and done an he doesn't care, other times he jumps away scared to death. I never force more than a quick touch. He did nudge me with his nose a couple of day ago, but I am not sure what that means.
Anyway, I know this is so incredibly long. But someone please help me. I wish I could spend all day in there with him, but it's just not feasible. What else can I do to help him get used to human affection? (I have had my son in there with me playing his ipod and ignoring Bub like I told him to. He has gotten a few sniffs but that's all so far.) What games can I play with him? Am I doing anything wrong? I don't want this rabbit to be miserable, and I know my 5 year old wouldn't be able to "tame" him as well as I can, but I do want Bub and my son to bond as well. Also, this may be a dumb question, but how can I make for certain he is a buck? I can't lift him. Thanks in advance, and again sorry so long. I'm clueless but trying. I didn't want these rabbits, but I am getting attached to Bub without a doubt. I just want him to feel safe and loved, no matter who is in the room with us.