Playtime

[Ana]

Some of you may know about my recent consideration of rehoming my bun (and my decision not to do so.)

Anyway, since I’m keeping her forever and ever, how do I make sure we’re BOTH happy?  She obviously needs play time, but she chews and ruins blankets and leaves a little poo here or there, so her “out” time is limited.  In June I will have my own room, which I plan to leave her in 24/7.  Until then, any suggestions on what to do while I keep her out-of-pen time limited?  How can I keep her content in her pen?

[RabbitPam]

I stayed with my parents for 2 weeks before we moved and they had to limit our out time. One thing we did was go into a bathroom, bring her toys and new tunnel, close the door, and let her play a while in there. She actually liked sitting on our laps in there. If you can take a litter box with her poops in it with you into a small room that’s bunny proofed, close it off, she can get some play time with you. Sit on the floor where you can both supervise and be company for her.

[bunnytowne]

Aha the bathroom sounds like a good idea.   You mentioned a pen. Do you have an xpen she plays in? If not you might consider getting one if you will be using it in your new place. Something to think about.

The poos. There will always be a few poos here n there. thats just something we have to deal with if we have a bun,   Takes a little getting used to I know.  Lately I am seeing more than b4 but we just rearranged the living room for the umpteeth time so that is to be expected. For a few days anyways.

[Ana]

She’s in a big XPen (which doesn’t seem to be enough because she chews on it and tries to climb it 24/7). Our bathrooms are small and she HATES tile because she has no traction and just slides everywhere.

Any other ideas? :/ She just has too much energy for four full time college students in a 3 bedroom apt! (My fault, I know…)

[Beka27]

it’s important that she get exercise time outside of the pen each day. an xpen, while a good size for a cage is still not large enough for a young, active bun. i answered in the other thread regarding this but i’m not sure if you saw it so i’ll copy and paste it over here…

in regard to leaving poops…

they’re going to happen. i mean, there’s really no two ways around it. i guess a bun is only ever 98% littertrained… mine don’t leave poos that i’m aware of, but they do kick them out of the box regularly… do you know that these poos are being deliberately “placed” there, or is it possible they’re just getting kicked around. last week i was walking out of my room and there was one single, solitary poo in my bedroom doorway. the bunnies litterboxes are about 12 feet away from my door. those suckers can FLY! i think so little of finding a stray poo that it doesn’t even register with me that it’s there, if that makes sense. i can just shrug my shoulders, pick it up, and throw it away. if i’m in the middle of something, i’ve been known to step over it and go about my day…

i understand it’s tough with non-bunny slaves in the house… but can you explain to them that it happens and that this does not mean she is not littertrained? in my mind, “littertrained rabbit” means all the pee in the box and most of the poop.

 

i think it’s great that you are keeping her.  that’s a very mature decision.  you made a commitment, and you’re honoring it.  she might be a bun that is going to need constant supervision, at least for a little while.  i don’t suppose you have any areas bunny-proofed?  bunny-proofing is one of the most important things you can do for a house rabbit.  that ensures they are safe, your stuff is safe, and it’s okay if you take your eyes off the bun for a few minutes…  until you have an area set up where it is bunny-safe, you’ll just have to watch her.  there’s really no two ways around it.  even if you do it in short bursts, a half hour in the morning, half hour early evening, half hour before bed…  it will help her.  if mine cannot get their exercise time for some reason, they get even more wild in the pens.  that might be her trying to climb the sides.  try and get into a good schedule where she gets fed the same times each day, playtime is the same time…

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