Bun-zilla

[Gordygirl]

Ok, I need major input here – I believe bunny has had too much freedom too soon – I brought home my 9 wk buck bunny last week – I want him to be a free range bunny, so we introduced him to our condo living room, then increased it to upstairs as he successfully navigated the stairs – he was very tame when we got him and now does not like to be held too long (I know some buns just aren’t going to be lap rabbits) and is TRASHING his crate at night – I started off with a large guinea pig cage for his night crate, in my 10 yr old’s bedroom; that worked well, but wasn’t the long-term plan I wanted.

Since I thought his perm home-base would be a dog crate, we went to a small dog crate – it was really too small for him, and he threw his potty box and hay feeder around so we went to a soft-sided octagonal pet pen with zipper top and thought he’d like it because there’s so much room – my husband said it sounded like bun-zilla was in there throwing stuff around  

Now, I’m sure I’ve given him too many options too soon, but which should I stick with? I need to get this straight because I want to start litter box training him this coming week. Please let me know if I’m doing all this too soon – he’s young, scheduled to be neutered after spring break in a couple weeks and is very independent and strong-willed.

HELP…….and TIA!!!

[BunjaminML]

When we first got our bunny at a rescue in November, the business owner advised us to keep our bunny solely in his pen for a full week so he can get acclimated to that space and learn to claim it as his own. We initially got him an XL cage from Petco but the rescue owner told us to return it as it’s too small and recommended we use a 2×6 ex-pen instead. We had a large litter box for him set up in a corner, which he’s pushed away from the edges of the pen so he can slither around it.

After about a week, we slowly started to increase the pen space. At week 2, we started to allow him to roam the living room when we’re home. We would lock him up when we’re out for the day or in bed at night. It could just be his demeanor, but he hasn’t been destructive at all.

Within the last month, we’ve started allowing him to roam free during the day whether we’re home or not, but still keeping him locked up at night. He does rattle his pen and throw stuff around, but I think that’s just how he keeps himself entertained. He does like his little space and will often sit and loaf there even with the door open.

So, in conclusion, my neophyte advice would be provide him with a comfortable space and give him time to learn to love it. Also allow him to “decorate” the space as he pleases. He might’ve just not liked where the potty and hay feeder were, hence the throwing. They like to throw stuff around in general, so make sure his litter and dishes are heavy enough that he can’t do that.

[tobyluv]

It’s usually best to limit a rabbit’s range for the first week or so after you bring one home. An adequate size cage with an x-pen attached is a good way to start. It may be that your bunny was given a little too much room in the day time to start with, then he really got upset when put in small cages or crates at night, especially since night time is one of their more active times. All of the changes in housing were likely confusing to him. He is small since he is only 10 weeks old, but if you want to have a permanent pen for him, a large or XL dog crate might work.  Most pens sold for rabbits are too small. You could also attach an x-pen to that. It sounds like he has a good bit of room in that soft sided pen, but most rabbits are pretty bad about chewing a variety of materials, so you need to watch that he isn’t chewing on the pen, and especially make sure that he isn’t ingesting the materials.

You may not have complete success litter box training him until after he has been neutered and a month or so has passed for the hormones to be flushed out. You could start the litter training now, but when puberty hits him full force, he may forget all of the training. It’s not always the case, though.

[Gordygirl]

Thanks so much for the info bun-friends! One more Q: should I just back up and set up the limited space now, with the understanding that he’s gonna be mad about it? TIA!

[LittlePuffyTail]

I would as long as he has adequate space to hop around, it’s probably in everyone’s best interest for now.

[Limit]

Agree with Puffy Though he will be very mad knowing he had all that space and now he doesn’t get it Good luck with the stroppy teenager

[Author]

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