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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Concerned about my rabbits mental health

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    • Emilykatelyn
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        Hello,

        Currently I have three rabbits. Two of them I had saved from a shelter and the third I bought from a pet store. The two shelter rabbits are around three years old, poorly behaved and one of them is slightly aggressive. Through trial and tribulation, none of them get along. The aggressive rabbit, Milo, will aggressively attack either of the other two if put in any situation with them. The other shelter rabbit, Cooper, will attack the pet store rabbit, Allie, if in any situation and also vice versa, but it is less aggressive. They are all housed in three separate cages, and I live in an apartment. I love each of them with all of my heart, but unfortunately it has become so overwhelming allowing all three rabbits to be out of their cages each day between working and also just because they’re all completely separate. I am not sure what to do. It absolutely breaks my heart that they have to be left in their cages most of the time. I do have a very special bond with the rabbit I bought from the pet store, and I do believe that is because I raised her from a baby to now. The two shelter rabbits don’t really like me, one of them flinches every single time I touch him and has ever since I picked him up from the shelter. I don’t want to bring either of the rabbits back to the shelter because they are older, not well behaved and one of them, as I said before, is aggressive. But I also don’t believe they are having a happy fulfilling life living here because I can’t always let all of them out and two of them have no bond with me what so ever. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do? Or any opinions on keeping rabbits in cages or keeping the rabbits as oppose to bringing them back to a shelter? Please, this situation is devastating for me. I love animals, especially bunnies, and I want to give them the best life possible even if it means that life isn’t here with me.


      • LBJ10
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          I’m assuming everyone is spayed/neutered?


        • Q8bunny
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            This is a difficult situation and you have a good heart to want to make it work. A number of factors come into play here with regard to your dilemma.
            – Are the buns’ cages adequately big to live in (not necessarily to exercise in)
            – How many hours a day can you be home with the buns
            – How long have the shelter buns be with you
            – Have any possible health issues that can cause aggressivity been ruled out
            – Are all the buns neutered/spayed

            If I were in this situation, I would make sure each bun has an adequate size cage and set up so I don’t worry about their comfort, and then I would make a rotation schedule that maximizes my time at home and gives me a chance to let each bun out to exercise and interact with me (even if I’m just folding laundry on the floor with him) without being able to get close enough to the other buns to lunge or nip etc.

            Aggressive buns tend to be that way because of hormones, or if they’ve been fixed because of territorial displays toward other unbonded buns (like yours), but also often because of awful treatment in their past lives (pre-shelter). Having worked at a bun shelter, I can tell you that this can be ameliorated – but improved behaviour depends on trust and that can take a very long time to gain. But man oh man, is it ever worth it. You would have to be extremely patient – we’re talking months and maybe even more than a year of consistent understated efforts like hand feeding and just letting each bun come and explore you rather than attempting contact yourself, etc.

            I realize it’s tough, but I hope some of this helps


          • sarahthegemini
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              I’d do what Q8 suggests. If you can’t do that, re home them. They shouldn’t have to spend their life in a cage.


            • Gina.Jenny
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                Hi

                I sort of have a similar set up in some ways to what you have described. I have 3 boy/girl pairs, five of the buns are rescues, and all 3 girls hate each other and two of them are still a little aggressive to me on occasion, even though I have had them for 2 years, these two were totally feral when I took them in. My dining room is divided into 3 runs, each run is big enough for the buns to hop around, periscope, jump on and off their hammock beds etc. All six buns can interact with each other, but not fight.

                In good weather, all six go outside in 3 covered runs, when they have to stay in, they take it in turns to get floor times, one pair at a time. Ideally, each bun should get several hours of floor time each day, but I find mine often don’t want hours of being active, even if offered. The time of day for floor time can make a big difference, early morning and evening time, my buns all tend to tear around, race up and down the stairs and binky, afternoon floor time tends to mean a pair of buns choosing to sleep under the table in the living room, instead of in their run. So if time is limited, aim for early morning, or evening.

                If I cant put buns outside in the morning, I use the buns own motivation to give each pair a share of that coveted early morning floor time. I let one pair out, let them race around for around 15 minutes, then I clean out their hay box, and as soon as the fresh hay is there, that pair run in of their own free choice, I shut them in, repeat for second and third pair. This gives all buns a quick but thorough leg stretch and gets them all out, in and clean in about an hour. They all then happily munch on their nice fresh hay. My buns all know and like this routine, if I take too long changing the hay, I am liable to get head butted to remind me to get on with hay-changing, rather than thanked for extra time out! Later on in the day, all three pairs then get more floor time, taking turns to get the long afternoon siesta under the table.


              • Gina.Jenny
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                  PS – you didn’t mention are the buns cages are at floor level or raised? Buns generally don’t like being lifted, so if raised, providing a bun friendly step or two, so they can make their own way in and out could save them the stress of being lifted? I don’t lift mine when they go outside, I herd them, one pair at a time, into a cat carrier set in front of them, carry them out in that, open the door and let them hop out onto the grass themselves. Even using a carrier to lift them up and down from their cages may be preferable to your buns than being pick up?


                • Emilykatelyn
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                  52 posts Send Private Message

                    Yes it’s two boys, one girl and they’re all spayed/neutered.


                  • Emilykatelyn
                    Participant
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                      Each bunnies cage is about 4 feet long. They definitely don’t have space to run around in their cages but they have space to spread out and move around comfortably with a lot of extra space. I’m home with the bunnies around 6 hours per day not including time when I’m sleeping. I’ve had one of the shelter bunnies for about a year, the other for around six months. They’ve each been taken to my rabbit savvy vet. They’re each neutered/spayed. I do believe the bunny who is aggressive by nature had a very rough past. He was rescued from a barn and his living conditions were not good. Also just by the way he flinches whenever I go to even pet him, he definitely has mistrust for a reason. The other shelter rabbit came from a good home, but his owner was in he military and got deployed. This rabbit is very poorly behaved, impossible to potty train and rips up all the carpets. Since I’ve had each of them for a little while now I just wonder if I’m giving them the best life possible. I am trying really hard, but it’s so difficult letting each of them have enough time out. My heart is bigger than my home lol. I would never bring them back to a shelter because I have formed a bond with them even though they may not like me so much. It’s just so difficult knowing whether they’re better off here or somewhere else to another home where they can get more attention.


                    • Emilykatelyn
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                        Wow your story has honestly made me feel so much better. I was worried they should each be out of their cages all day long, and I do agree 80% of the time when I let my buns out they will run around for maybe 15 and then lay on the floor relaxing for the rest of the night. I try to give them each time out, and I’m happy it’s enough and there’s other people with the same crazyish type system I have to use.


                      • Emilykatelyn
                        Participant
                        52 posts Send Private Message

                          Each bunnies cage is floor level with the gate part that opens so they can hop out.


                        • DanaNM
                          Moderator
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                            Hi there, 

                            A couple questions, have you tried to bond any of them properly? As in introducing them and dating them in neutral territory? If not, it is expected that they would be aggressive towards each other. 

                            Also, what have you tried to bond (yourself) with the new buns? Shy buns can take a long time to trust. Here are some tips that have worked for me. 

                            – first, and very importantly, be sure that the bun can come out of it’s cage on it’s own. The cage should be your bun’s “safe space”. If your bun’s home is elevated, you can use a ramp or steps to allow it to come and go as it pleases. Try your best not to clean or reorganize the cage while the bun is in it. 
                            – Once bun decides to come out to explore, play “hard to get”. ignore them. Lay on the ground while she is out, read a book, etc. If she comes up to you, don’t try to pet her (yet). Be patient and calm around your bunny. Respect if they want to be left alone. 
                            – Hand feeding! You can feed her veggies and pellets by hand. Talk to her calmly so she associates your voice with good things. 
                            – When the bun has become comfortable enough with you that she will lay down or relax near you on the ground, you can “ask” her if you can pet her, by placing your hand on the ground in front of her, so your pinky is on the ground and the back of your hand is facing her. If she puts her head down, she wants you to pet her head! If she doesn’t then don’t force it. Stick to petting only her head and ears until she gets really relaxed with you. 

                            With the buns that are “flinchy”, they might not ever get super comfortable with you petting them, but you can still form a relationship with them with toys and food. 

                            Lastly, one of the big problems with cage life is boredom. This can come in situations with lots of space too. There are lots of tips on this forum on preventing cage boredom. Most of them focus on providing a variety of toys (often homemade things), especially things to chew and shred. 

                            . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  


                          • Gina.Jenny
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                              Posted By Emily on 7/28/2017 3:23 PM

                              Wow your story has honestly made me feel so much better. I was worried they should each be out of their cages all day long, and I do agree 80% of the time when I let my buns out they will run around for maybe 15 and then lay on the floor relaxing for the rest of the night. I try to give them each time out, and I’m happy it’s enough and there’s other people with the same crazyish type system I have to use.

                              Glad to help 

                              Just a thought. I think you said you live in an apartment, so I guess space is limited, but could you fit in one run? If so, could you attach it to each cage on a rota, so every third time you are out at work/sleeping, each bun could get that extra bit of space? 

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                          Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Concerned about my rabbits mental health