JeffS
Well-Known Member
Here he is after being naughty:
I think it began yesterday when I decided I'd had enough of Riley peeing wherever he thought felt like a litter box. He wouldn't go just anywhere, but for instance I had a tunnel with a towel on the bottom, and apparently that was an ok wee spot for him. I remembered reading about how you put rabbits in a small-ish place to let them decide where to go, put a box there, increase the area etc. I did this with pancake and it worked quite well.
Today he peed in an acceptable place! yay! So I let him and Pancake play outside their cage. What happens? Riley begins mounting Pancake. In the past few days the mounting has been minimal in frequency and ferocity, so I figured I'd just try and make sure that he didn't bite Pancake like before. This went on for an hour or more.
Finally I've had enough. Pancake isn't feeling too bad; she just flops on the floor when he's done and runs if she wants a break. I want to go to bed. I try to get Riley to stop by holding him down, making a squeek "you're hurting me" noise, or just nudging him off. None of these work.
I put them in their cage to see what happens. Riley is still randy. After letting him and Pancake work things out for a while I get mad and impatient and start grabbing Riley to hold him down. I'm not sure if he panicked or felt dominant to me, but he nipped me a couple times on my arm.
As a last resort I've put Riley in a little cage with some water and pellets to last him until I can deal with him tomorrow.
I'm really at a loss about what to do differently tomorrow. Pancake obviously likes Riley since even after all this crap she's laying next to him in his little impromptu cage. The only thing I can think of is to try and get Riley some exercise outside.
Please anyone have any ideas? I'd hate to have to separate them now that Pancake likes Riley so much.
Thanks!
Jeff
I think it began yesterday when I decided I'd had enough of Riley peeing wherever he thought felt like a litter box. He wouldn't go just anywhere, but for instance I had a tunnel with a towel on the bottom, and apparently that was an ok wee spot for him. I remembered reading about how you put rabbits in a small-ish place to let them decide where to go, put a box there, increase the area etc. I did this with pancake and it worked quite well.
Today he peed in an acceptable place! yay! So I let him and Pancake play outside their cage. What happens? Riley begins mounting Pancake. In the past few days the mounting has been minimal in frequency and ferocity, so I figured I'd just try and make sure that he didn't bite Pancake like before. This went on for an hour or more.
Finally I've had enough. Pancake isn't feeling too bad; she just flops on the floor when he's done and runs if she wants a break. I want to go to bed. I try to get Riley to stop by holding him down, making a squeek "you're hurting me" noise, or just nudging him off. None of these work.
I put them in their cage to see what happens. Riley is still randy. After letting him and Pancake work things out for a while I get mad and impatient and start grabbing Riley to hold him down. I'm not sure if he panicked or felt dominant to me, but he nipped me a couple times on my arm.
As a last resort I've put Riley in a little cage with some water and pellets to last him until I can deal with him tomorrow.
I'm really at a loss about what to do differently tomorrow. Pancake obviously likes Riley since even after all this crap she's laying next to him in his little impromptu cage. The only thing I can think of is to try and get Riley some exercise outside.
Please anyone have any ideas? I'd hate to have to separate them now that Pancake likes Riley so much.
Thanks!
Jeff