Bun Jumping and Falling Over

[GunterandCallisto]

Hello! I currently have a 4 m/o lion-head dwarf. He has a big indoor cage (two levels) but does not seem to like it?  On the second floor there is a wire screen door that I can open from the outside. Lately he has been “jumping” in the cage like he wants to get out. He puts his paws on the screen, tires to climb but then he falls down. At first I thought it was for attention because he would do it early in the morning/ late at night (heeeey come feed me!) Now he’s doing it even if he has hay. I try to let him out and run around when I can watch him. It worries me because I’m scared he will eventually hurt himself. When he falls it makes a really loud thump, so loud sometimes it wakes me up and of course I want to check on him to see if he is OK. there’s no way I can change the cage (this one was very expensive) but I want him to be safe. I just lost his brother a week ago (sudden death) and I’m very paranoid that I will loose him too. Any ideas on how to stop this behavior? Thank you!   

[Mikey]

If hes trying to get out so bad and hes hurting himself in the process, he needs more exercise time. Consider a big xpen for him connected to the cage so that he has room to run

[sarahthegemini]

Wanting attention isn’t the same as wanting hay so just because he has plenty of hay doesn’t mean he still won’t want attention.

How long does he have out of his cage?

[Azerane]

I’m sorry to hear of your troubles. Was he doing it before his brother passed away? Perhaps he’s upset since then, is there anything in the room that could be scaring him? Sometimes things up high or sitting on top of furniture look like they can be looming and scare a rabbit. I had it happen once where I put an object where I don’t usually and Bandit was constantly trying to escape his pen for a whole day before I figured out what the issue was.

I agree that he probably needs more time outside his cage, before his brother passed away he was able to spend time with him, but now he’s on his own he needs more attention and more time out to play and run and jump etc, especially at such a young age, young bunnies are full of energy.

The suggestion of an x-pen attached to the front of the cage is a very good one, because you can let him out without having to have strict supervision.

[GunterandCallisto]

Thank you so much for the replies. Ever since his brother passed I’ve been showing him with attention. I also cleaned out a room so he can run around in. I would let him run for about an hour a day, two times a day. I will invest in the exercise pen you guys are suggesting for the future. I’m extremely sad to say that I found him dead this morning (his neck was bent completely backwards)….. I was woken up this morning with the same jumping sound…and the one time I did not check on him, was the time he needed me the most.  

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By GunterandCallisto on 1/01/2017 1:42 PM

Thank you so much for the replies. Ever since his brother passed I’ve been showing him with attention. I also cleaned out a room so he can run around in. I would let him run for about an hour a day, two times a day. I will invest in the exercise pen you guys are suggesting for the future. I’m extremely sad to say that I found him dead this morning (his neck was bent completely backwards)….. I was woken up this morning with the same jumping sound…and the one time I did not check on him, was the time he needed me the most.  

Oh my goodness I’m speechless. What an awful sight that must have been I know it probably won’t help you but if his neck was broken, at least it would have been quick? So it’s not like you could have done anything if you had checked on him. I’m so sorry, what awful news

[Bam]

I’m so very sorry this happened.

[Azerane]

I’m so very sorry for your loss, such a sad accident to have happened

[Tgbarber]

Oh that is sad news indeed. I’m so sorry. Hugs

[Author]

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