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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

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Forum HABITATS AND TOYS Bun cage help..PLEASE

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    • AshleyLovesBunnies
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        My mom and dad want my bunny outside and they keep telling me they will NOT buy anything for it other than food. My rabbit is about 9 weeks old, and I got it Christmas eve night from my granna. As you can tell my parents do NOT want a bunny at all, and I am really wanting my bun to have the best life possible. I’m not happy at all with the cage he is in…but the thing  is that he has to stay outside…

         

        My grandad has Timothy hay for my bunny..so thats given to me for free. I have timothy pellets, aswell as veggie/fruit mix. HE has alfalfa blocks..that he gets about 3 a week. I am really wanting to to bulid a nice outdoor place for him under the shady trees in my yard..so here’s what I want to build..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy9LRldUp4Y

         

        My grandad has offered to build it. That’s the one I want to do for sure. Do I need a smaller size or a bigger size than that one. I will put a tarp over the wire on the top, so the rain does not get into the cage. I’m gonna order tons of toys and stuff from here to get to go into the cage.

         

        Problem is that my grandad does not want to build it yet..so I need to do something with my small cage right now to suit my bun. I will upload pics later of the cage…


      • Baby-Daisy
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          If you can please try to have your bunny to be a indoor one, if not make 3 parts of the cage one that has heat lamps, one that is open, and one that is covered. With the heat lamp one, put hay, and the coveref one would have 4 walls, but a cut in the one wall so he/she can get to te other rooms.


        • Snowytoshi
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            Out of interest why don’t your parents want the rabbit indoors?

            I will be able to offer more thoughts once I see pictures of the current cage…


          • Ava
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              Wow, that’s the best outdoor rabbit pen I’ve ever seen! I’ll have to show it to my dad, it looks much nicer than the one he’s planning on building for his own future rabbits. I would stay with the large one, it will give your bunny lots of space to run and do binkies. You can add cardboard boxes, cages, etc.. for warm, comfortable hiding places. If it were me building it for my bunny I would add a lot more dirt so my bunny could dig tunnels, but that’s just me.

              A friend on a dog forum I frequent posted this picture of a shelter that was used for feral cats, I think it would be great to have a couple of them in an outdoor rabbit pen as well.       

               

              I am of the persuasion that I follow my parents rules, I live with my dad and he has rules I don’t always agree with(my dog lives outside per his strong request, it’s a miracle he’s allowing Alvin to live indoors), but I follow the rules because I love my dad and I don’t want to create strife or friction in the household. What you can do is have your Grandad build the pen you want, prove how responsible you are with your new bunny, continue researching proper housing and care for rabbits, indoor and out, and slowly win your dad over. Most times the reason why they don’t want rabbits in the house is because they stink, create messes, chew wrong things, etc..it’s your job to prove to your dad that when a rabbit is responsibly taken care of, cleaned up after, litter trained, watched when out of the cage, etc..then they won’t be stinky, create messes, chew wrong things, etc… The key is to not nag or complain to him about it, just prove you are responsible.

              Oh, and if you’re going to  put a tarp over it, I suggest putting a pole in the middle so it’s like an umbrella, and rain won’t pool up in the middle causing it to sag. You’ll have to put something flat on the end of the pole so it doesn’t poke the tarp.

               


            • kamdynandsunshinesmom
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                I have had bad experiences with rabbits living outdoors and ever since that my rabbits have lived indoors. I have had parents who weren’t comfortable having rabbits living indoors after I showed them a few things they warmed up to the idea. Maybe show your parents the cons of having a rabbit outside the pros to having a rabbit inside. Rabbits can be litterbox trained. Rabbits are very clean animals and you can build an indoor cage out of nic cubes that is really inexpensive. There are alot of toys you can make from stuff around your house. Present this to your parents and see if it helps. Good Luck


              • AshleyLovesBunnies
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                  Ive tried and they keep saying no he cant live inside. He makes too much of a mess and poops all over. I have a idea though, maybe getting a shed with heating and air condition and building it to his needs will work?

                   

                   

                  EDIT: I think having the shed idea just might work. My grandad said he’d build anything for me..well I will have him build a shed and I can buy all the materials. and air conditioning would not be too hard..


                • AshleyLovesBunnies
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                    Thats like mine, but the is the whole top level with out a wall. I only have two levels not three. The bad thing is the two levels dont attach. My cage is on my porch..so it’s protected from rain and wind. I HATE the wire..but my grandad doesnt want to start to build till spring. I was thinking about putting tiles over the wire..?


                  • Beka27
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                      Honestly, I would look for a new home for him, one where he can be a pampered house pet. I understand he was a gift, but living outside in the elements for 10+ years is no life for a bunny. In the future, when you are financially stable, living on your own, and are able to make decisions for yourself, then you can explore rabbit ownership and you’ll be able to fully enjoy and spoil your new pet.

                      Right now, the biggest red flag is that your parents are not willing to provide anything for him other than food. All bunnies require annual vet exams at the very least, not to mention care/medication for common ailments that will arise (GI problems, respiratory and urinary infections, issues with overgrown teeth). When he gets sick, will they pay for vet treatment? By accepting this rabbit, they have accepted responsibility for his health. If he gets sick, they are obligated to seek vet care.

                      This site has been designed for people who choose to have their rabbits inside as house companions. You are free to remain a member (as long as all forum rules are followed), but the advice we will offer will be based on the needs of house rabbits. We’re not equipped to offer advice on outdoor habitats and we will continue to encourage you to find a way to house your rabbit indoors if you decide to keep him.

                      Edited to add:  Unneutered male rabbits do smell and they often poop all over.  Neutering is a simple procedure that reduces/eliminates these issues in almost every case.  Rabbits should be neutered, this allows them to be “good” house pets.  If your parents are concerned about pooping/smell, and that’s their only hesitation, will they allow him to be neutered to fix that problem?


                    • AshleyLovesBunnies
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                        My grandad said he could build a nice hutch with air condtioning, and my dad still refuses to do much for him. My mom however says she will help and pay for food,vet bills, and other supplies. Toys I will have to buy, which I can do. I’m so happy things are falling in place! So basically he will live in a house type thing with air conditioning, I think he ‘ll love it.


                      • Snowytoshi
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                          Will you be neutering him? Neutering is very important for a rabbit’s health, litter box training, and temperment.


                        • AshleyLovesBunnies
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                            I need to probably mention that ‘he ‘ may be a ‘she ‘ ….hes only around 9 weeks old..so till we take him to the vet we wont know for sure. I am leaning towards a male cause his pee has a very strong smell..


                          • AshleyLovesBunnies
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                              Yes, when he becomes the correct age he will be netured..or spayed if he happens to be a girl.


                            • Snowytoshi
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                                Female’s urine can have a strong scent as well, but if ‘he’ is a ‘she’ then spaying is essential. If a female rabbit is not spayed it is highly likely they will develop cancer by age five.


                              • AshleyLovesBunnies
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                                  Okay. I was thinking about bringing him to my horses and cats vet..but I need to call and make sure that he treats rabbits. Okay, I want Jingles to have a good vet that has worked with rabbits before.


                                • kamdynandsunshinesmom
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                                    Rabbits do require a great deal of care and are like a cat and dog they should be part of the family and having a bunny outside isn’t a good idea. Do you plan to litterbox train your rabbit? That will help with the mess. Hope everything works out


                                  • Ava
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                                      I like the shed idea a lot better if he has to stay outside. As long as it has proper circulation so it’s not overly stuffy, and the air conditioning is a good idea as well. And you can lock the door at night for added security. I have had very bad experiences with outdoor rabbits as well in the past, so if you can get a good sturdy lock for the shed door, that would be great, and not one that can be pried off with a crowbar. Just keep in mind that where ever he stays, you have to protect him from dogs, wild animals, and cruel people.

                                      For your current cage, you can put down some wood or cardboard on the bottom so he’s not always in contact with the wire. I put a rug in my bunny’s cage because I ran out of cardboard and didn’t have any wood that would fit in it. He would probably enjoy having a thick, sturdy cardboard box as well, one that’s enclosed completely with a hole in the side for him to go in and out.

                                      There is a very thin plywood that you could use to surround the outside three sides and the top, it’s thin enough that you could put holes in it with an awl and attach it to the cage with zip ties.

                                      Forgot to add: Definitely make sure he has a good litter box, if he doesn’t already have one. Note where he potties the most and place the box there. 


                                    • AshleyLovesBunnies
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                                        He has a litterbox that he uses sometimes…but has many accidents. Any accidents he has, I put in the litter box so he knows where he should go.


                                      • AshleyLovesBunnies
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                                          Last night, I added a rug. He seems to really like it! He sure was flopping in it a lot.


                                        • kamdynandsunshinesmom
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                                            Here are some great tips on litterbox training your rabbit. https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/tabid/53/CategoryID/5/PID/940/Default.aspx
                                            Have you tried putting hay in the litterbox my bunny loves to sit in there for hours eating her hay and going to the bath room all at the same time. You want to be careful with a rug to make sure he doesn’t chew on it. here are some great homemade toys https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/tabid/53/CategoryID/22/PID/940/Default.aspx


                                          • kamdynandsunshinesmom
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                                              here also is a great website for homemade toys http://budgetbunny.ca/category/rabbit-toys/ and for other information as well. I love it because it saves money when owning a bunny


                                            • AshleyLovesBunnies
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                                                We found this hutch and thinking about buying it. http://images.craigslist.org/3G93F43J95N45Gb5Kcccf6da423e58ccb187a.jpg what do y’all think about it?


                                              • AshleyLovesBunnies
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                                                  We do think we will be able to put a fan in there too!


                                                • AshleyLovesBunnies
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                                                  • mocha200
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                                                      I made the pen ( and video) posted above. As much as I love this pen it is only to be used as a fun place for my rabbits to enjoy the sun in nice weather. I would never leave my rabbit in it over night.


                                                    • Hazel
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                                                        You won’t be able to build a proper bond with him if he isn’t living in the house with you. They need to be part of the family. This is not only important for his psychological/emotional well being but also for his health. You have to know him INSIDE and OUT to be able to realize when something in his behavior is even slightly off, rabbits don’t show sickness or pain easily so it’s up to you to recognize a problem before it’s too late. You won’t be able to do that if he’s not living with you and spending the majority of his time with you.

                                                        I agree with what Beka said, it would be best for you to find him a new home where he can live indoors. I know it sounds harsh but making him live outside the house away from you isn’t really an option, if you want him to be happy.

                                                         

                                                        I know this isn’t your fault, your grandparents shouldn’t have put you in this situation without consulting your parents first.


                                                      • floppybunny123
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                                                          omg I totally know how you feel. Sometimes I used to start crying because I felt so bad for Lilly because she couldn’t have the life she deserved. But once my neighbor gave me that x-pen (she has dogs), I was always outside and sometimes even inside just in the x-pen either doing homework or just trying to be as affectionate as I could.

                                                          P.S. I like the first hutch but you might want something with more insulation


                                                        • floppybunny123
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                                                            Just a note to Mocha200, I love <3 101rabbits


                                                          • AshleyLovesBunnies
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                                                              Lilly’s mama- I was thinking the same thing..but in the summer it would get really hot in there with it? I just really want my boy inside.


                                                            • kamdynandsunshinesmom
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                                                                ashley try talking to your parents and showing your parents why rabbits should live indoors. Show them videos. If they don’t agree. I know it might be hard but finding him a new home where you can visit with him might be an option. Rabbits do need human contact and you can fully bond with him if he is outside. I will continue to pray your parents let him inside.


                                                              • AshleyLovesBunnies
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                                                                  Thanks. I’m gonna make slide show with a lot of info. Hes not fully litter box trained yet so, ill have to promise them I will get him to. Anyways, hes just about 10 weeks now.


                                                                • AshleyLovesBunnies
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                                                                    Okay, I’ve just made and finished the slideshow. I know I will show them in a little while…I will have Jingles with me for a little goodluck.


                                                                  • floppybunny123
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                                                                      oooohhhhhh! good luck! *fingers Crossed*


                                                                    • AshleyLovesBunnies
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                                                                        Thanks Lilly’s Mama. Any idea how to do it? Should I just tell them…or should I butter them up?


                                                                      • Hazel
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                                                                          Good luck! I hope they’ll listen to you! How you do it depends on your parents I guess, you know what works best with them.

                                                                          Just tell them he’s too pretty to live outside


                                                                        • AshleyLovesBunnies
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                                                                            He’s just too pretty. HAha, Hazel!

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                                                                        Forum HABITATS AND TOYS Bun cage help..PLEASE