Do rabbits affect your social life? [Archive]

LionheadLuver

01-01-2008, 04:04 PM

Hi
I hope this is in the right section. It's about rabbits so thought it should go here.

My friends keep saying that I don't go out or anything. They're right, I don't. But I don't mind and they keep asking why I don't go out. And I say it's because of the rabbits. I mean, they need to be fed, watered, cleaned out every day. No-one else will do it for them. When I decided to get rabbits, I made a promise that they would be my responsibility and I would care for them no matter what. Now people expect me to have a social life. I can't, my girls rely on me to care for them, cos no-one else will. My parents will feed them etc if I'm ill or whatever, but I don't want to put my responsibility onto other people's shoulders. My friends don't seem to get it, that I need to be home at a specific time to feed the rabbits etc. I'm 16 by the way and I pay for them all myself, not that my parents wouldn't pay for them, but I WANT to pay for them. Is this such a bad thing? Do any of you have a social life?

01-01-2008, 04:14 PM

We rarely stay over anywhere together, haven't had a proper holiday together (5 years) because of the bunnies.
Neither of us are greatly into going out though, and don't mind the holiday thing either (we do go on holiday seperately :D). Having the bunnies is more than worth missing out on these things.

Ida

01-01-2008, 04:20 PM

I think everybody needs a social life besides having rabbits. I feed my rabbits twice a day, but not at specific times. I clean their litter trays about every three days and it doesn't take a lot of time, maybe half an hour. I go to school/university full time and up until christmas I had four jobs on the side (resently quit two). That meant not spending a big amount of time at home with my bunnies. But they sleep alot during the day so I'm not worried they don't get enough attention. I like having bunnies because they're not as big a commitment as a dog when it comes to time and money.

For me it's school and work that is keeping me from having the social life I want to have, but I do on occations go out, visit my friends, visit my parents, or having friends over. After my exam in two days, I will have plenty of time to do the things I want to do without having to work all the time :lol: A part of why I don't spend too much time with my friends is that alot of them really enjoy going out, both in weekends and other days. I can't go out on a thursday because I wouldn't be able to get up in the morning and go to school. And of course money is an issue, everything is so expencive, like going to the cinema for example. Being social costs!

Crystal butterfly

01-01-2008, 04:20 PM

i try to make time for everyone but if anything happens obviously my buns would come first i.e arrange a night out with friends one of my buns get ill id obvioudsly cancel with my friends and stay with the ill rabbit. although my social life was pretty much flushed down the toilet when i started working in i club :rolleyes:

AlisonA

01-01-2008, 04:31 PM

We don't stay away overnight very often but they don't really affect my general socialising (if they are unwell that is different but assuming they are healthy then I don't worry). Their water bottle will not run out in one day and as long as they have huge piles of hay to eat they won't starve, so I wouldn't worry about set feeding times too much. Sure they like routine, and of course it's important to keep an eye on their health (especially flystrike etc in summer) but it won't harm them if things are out by a few hours or more, they may well be a bit stroppy about it but they have food and water so I don't really think it's a big deal - I either feed them early or when I get back, depending on what is likely to be easiest.

donnamt

01-01-2008, 04:36 PM

i have pets cus i dont want a social life.... i did my fun times before i made my commitment to my pets.... if i wanted to i would go out tho, i just use my pets as an excuse not too ;)

Snowflakes mummy

01-01-2008, 04:36 PM

you say these words social and life ??? never heard them before - are they foreign ? :oops::lol:
I am just kidding you - I have no life whatsoever - my life is my animals - sad but true.
I dont think you're sad to want to spend your time with your bunnies - but please go out and let your hair down occassionally - otherwise you might end up like a few of us mad animal people on here :oops::lol: *Those know who I am talking about ;)*

LionheadLuver

01-01-2008, 04:39 PM

susiemae

01-01-2008, 04:41 PM

If you think your social life is affected by your pets then just wait until you have children :lol:

Seriously though, I think its great you love your animals and show such responsibility towards them, but your young and you still need a life, dont miss out on having fun and experiencing life as you may have regrets as you get older.

Pringle

01-01-2008, 04:42 PM

I do have a social life but do worry about my rabbits a lot sometimes. I feed mine at night before i go to bed so really the time changed quite a lot but normally its about 10pm. But if i was out or busy it would be earlier or slightly later, like last night because i was going out they got fed at 7pm.

If i do happen to go out for a long period of time i make sure the rabbits will be ok, or i see myself often texting or phoning a family member just to ask how the rabbits are.

It doesnt stop me from having a social life though, i work 8am-5pm 5 days a week, come home spend a bit of time with rabbits, then settle down to do my plans for night, then i go out and feed them later on.
I clean them out every weekend properly and clean their litter trays or dirty bedding daily, which doesnt take long, i suppose if your flexible with your routine you can have a very good social life as well. xx

AlisonA

01-01-2008, 04:43 PM

capel

01-01-2008, 04:44 PM

LionheadLuver

01-01-2008, 04:47 PM

Is it possible for you to attach the hutch to the run? Then they could choose themselves when to be in which and it would give you more flexibility. I only top up hay once daily so as long as it's not going to get wet you could just give more first thing. Part of me wants to say that if they're in a run then yes they probably need to be back in the hutch before dark, but then part of me also thinks that if the run isn't safe enough for after dark, then it's not safe enough for during the day.

Think a couple of years down the line when you're working, you won't be able to keep up this routine then, at the moment you have the freedom to do so but it probably won't always be the case.

My previous rabbits affect me. One of them broke her back going down the stairs of a combination hutch, so I don't want it attached, the only reason why I chose a single-storey, and the other rabbit died of shock from seeing a fox so I don't want the girls out there after dark. I know that foxes can be around during the day but there's always someone in the house so we should *hopefully* be able to see it before they do.

LionheadLuver

01-01-2008, 04:48 PM

If you put enough hay out in the morning to last them while they are in the run, that'll free up your afternoons a bit.Looking after them doesn't have to take up your entire day, unless you want it to.

They would snoff the whole lot. I give them about a handful each time and they've eaten it within 10 minutes. I wait about an hour-two hours before giving them any more.

katie7

01-01-2008, 04:51 PM

Yes and no!
The main thing stopping me having a busy social life though is paying the mortgage haha!
I like to make sure I am around at feeding times etc as they like a routine - they know when to expect their food, but being late once in a while doesn't matter too much either :)

Pringle

01-01-2008, 04:51 PM

So you think I should get out more? All I seem to do is argue with my friends about going out. I do go out shopping but I have a curfew for the girls. It's not just feeding, it's putting them into the hutch and vica versa.

Could you not get a run attached to hutch so they have access all time and you dont have to worry about puting them out and in etc? when i never had runs attached i used to forever be out at them or i would put them in runs and phone whoever was in house loads to see if they were ok, where as not they are attched its fine, i just open hutch door in morning and close it at night? x

Fran

01-01-2008, 04:53 PM

It's not so much the time they take up or whatever, it's mainly the lack of money :roll: I mean I have money put away for them for vaccs & vet bills etc. and right now I'm completely broke, I've just spent quite a bit on Tilly's vaccs and her spay so even if I wanted to go out now I totally can't afford it anyway. Although I haven't been out for a while recently, the bunnies don't need me to spend loads of time with them because a few of them aren't really people rabbits at all and are happy enough if they're fed & have space so the bunnies don't stop me going out.

capel

01-01-2008, 04:55 PM

They would snoff the whole lot. I give them about a handful each time and they've eaten it within 10 minutes. I wait about an hour-two hours before giving them any more.
That's what they are meant to do..there should be enough there so that they can eat it all the time. If you put out enough they won't eat it all.

Pringle

01-01-2008, 04:56 PM

They would snoff the whole lot. I give them about a handful each time and they've eaten it within 10 minutes. I wait about an hour-two hours before giving them any more.

I put a HUGE pile of hay in with mine all the time, have pringle and sophies run is piled with hay. Maybe you should see if you can get a bale from a farmer so you have loads and they can have as much as they want, its very good for them and they would prob benefit from having more than a few handfuls a day x

AlisonA

01-01-2008, 04:56 PM

My previous rabbits affect me.

Oh dear, no wonder you're a bit paranoid about it!

What about lowering the hutch onto ground level and attaching a run to the front of it, that way there isn't a ladder for the buns to injure themselves on. If you know you're going out all day and won't be back until after dark you could put a tarpaulin or something over it so they are covered from any fox visits.

I'd definitely suggest putting more hay in at one time - it's great that they are eating so much of it, that will minimise the risk of them getting dental disease and will keep their guts nice and healthy :D They should be able to eat as much of it as they want...have you got anywhere to store a bale - if you can buy hay by the bale it will only cost a few pounds then you can put in loads at a time and it doesn't matter if there is any waste.

LionheadLuver

01-01-2008, 04:58 PM

Thanks. I will try to see if I can get a bale. And I'll see about putting more hay in at a time.

I'm going out all day tomorrow for the first time in a while and the girls won't be able to be in their run all day cos I won't be there to put them in and out, so it's a bit of a problem and I do try to avoid going out when they go into their run etc. They get very stroppy if they can't go out into their run but there's nothing I can go about it now.

Pringle

01-01-2008, 04:59 PM

this is how much hay mine have :oops:
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u226/scottishchick69/DSC02063.jpg
and the wee door is attached to
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u226/scottishchick69/DSC02028.jpg

So they have access to this run all the time plus have indoors where they can go if they want xx

Becki xX

01-01-2008, 05:06 PM

What social life?! :lol: Nah, they dont :D

Deelove

01-01-2008, 05:09 PM

Not really. I don't really feed them by at specific times and I only feed them pellets once a day. I put loads of hay in and top it up as it runs out, so that's not really a bother.

When I just had Molly at uni I think he quite enjoyed me coming back late at night as he was more active then. :lol:

abbymarysmokey

01-01-2008, 05:14 PM

I can't go out straight after work because I need to check the rabbits first. Luckily I live close to where I work, and also close to the city centre, so popping home for half an hour usually isn't too much of a problem.

I can't stay anywhere overnight because I worry too much about the rabbits. Most of mine won't drink from a bottle, so I get really paranoid that they'll tip over their water bowls. Or that they'll get ill and I won't be there to take them to the vets.

Unfortunately my O/H won't look after the rabbits if I go anywhere :(

foxyfaerie

01-01-2008, 05:16 PM

I have a social life when I can afford to. My buns wouldn't stop me from going out (unless it was serious of course).

I go to a pub quiz once a week, and when I can afford to (which is soon) I'm gong to start going out more often. When I'm at the pub quiz they don't get let out 'cos O/H has DIY & Stuff to get on with; but since they get let out from 6 - 10pm every other week night & all the time we are home at weekends I don't think they miss one night's "playtime".

Yes, they need fed but they never get it at a specific time apart from breakfast when I'm at work 'cos I (try to) leave the house at the same time. At weekends they get fed when I wake up, sometimes that's 8, sometimes it's 10 - they always have enough hay to see them through a "hungry" patch (and now Lucifer & Nyx have a bun-sized "hay & hide" from P@H). Lucifer & Nyx have a huge water bottle which takes about 2 - 3 days to run out; Azreal has 2 smaller bottles. I clean out litter boxes once every 3 days (two in summer) and it takes about 15 minutes.

Yes, it's my duty to care for them and I do; but at the same time I'm only 22 and I need to have a social life, tidy the house up and do various other tasks - the rabbits never go without and that's my first priority.

There's a local kennel/cattery that also boards small furries & birds; when O/H & I went to Turkey that's where Lucifer stayed & I'd have no reservation about taking them all back; perhaps in winter but I know my mother would have no problem in taking care of them - in fact she was in a bit of a mood when I said she was going on her own holiday.

abbymarysmokey

01-01-2008, 05:18 PM

I'm going out all day tomorrow for the first time in a while and the girls won't be able to be in their run all day cos I won't be there to put them in and out, so it's a bit of a problem and I do try to avoid going out when they go into their run etc. They get very stroppy if they can't go out into their run but there's nothing I can go about it now.

What about attaching the run to the BACK of the hutch, with a small hole or cat flap to access it?

Something like the hutch at the top of this web page:

http://www.kernowpethousing.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=2&Itemid=2

Amy

JIMGRACIE

01-01-2008, 05:48 PM

It isn't just the rabbits that affect my socila life.....its the 8 guinea pigs, 2 ferrets, 2 gerbils, 1 hamster and.......my mother!!!

My mum is so great with the animals, and says she doesn't mind sorting them out. But because i respect my mum so very much, i admit i have to come straight home, and then if i am going out, i'll go out after!! Most of my friends have their own animals too, so we are all in the same boat.

If your friends keep saying that you spend too much time with your bunnies, just let them know that your rabbits don't mind if they come round yours to see why you spend too much time with them.

FriskyClover

01-01-2008, 05:53 PM

I guess I'm lucky in that my mum is really good with the bunnies and doesn't mind feeding them and rounding them up if need be.

However, I think that when I move out (if I ever save up enough), I will have my rabbits indoors, so that it is easier to care for them. At the moment they're outside, which means that daylight is precious to us!

If you're really worried about your social life, why not set aside one night to go out a week? If possible, get your mum or dad to put the rabbits in for you, then you don't have to worry so much.

casu consulto

01-01-2008, 06:20 PM

I don't particularly want a social life. :oops: I'm happy in the company of my bunnies. If they're to go outside in a run, I have to be here. It's not safe to leave them out in a run if I - or my mother - is around. I don't think it's the rabbits that stop me having some active social life, however. I just don't like being very social... And I like using my time on the rabbits. If in the rare event I'd agreed to let someone drag me out somewhere, and either rabbit seemed even vaguely ill I'd totally cancel and stay with them.

*lily*

01-01-2008, 06:44 PM

It's not a social life that my rabbits affect it's my having a lie in! I usually wake around 6.30 - 7am, earlier when I'm at work, and I always get up straightaway so I can let the rabbits out and feed them.

I probably wont worry so much in the summer when they can stay out later, but I'm very, very tired at the moment, haven't slept properly for 3 nights, and could really do with a lie in but I worry that the rabbits wont be out for long :oops:

Sooz

01-01-2008, 06:47 PM

I gpt my rabbits to fill my free time. Problem is now they fill more than just my free time and have pretty much taken over everything.

Still I guess thats what 'obsessive' means isn't it :oops:

kitschkitty

01-01-2008, 06:51 PM

I would say no, but then again, if we are out all day one of us has to be able to get home at a reasonable time in the evening to feed Deej, and we haven't stayed away from home/overnight together since we got him.

ZakuraRabbit

01-01-2008, 07:25 PM

I didn't have a social life before I got bunnies and it seems to have improved now...online...
But no, I rarely go out, and if I do go out to watch a movie frankly I don't think my buns suffer more if I'm gone for a few hours than they do while I'm at school:roll: Problem is perhaps that I spend so much time talking about them most people who DO try to hang with me will get really tired of hearing about rabbits:lol:

sillyrabbit

01-01-2008, 07:45 PM

I dont go out all the time or anything but I do have a social life :D

I dont think actually caring for the rabbits stops me going out, I feed them their veg and top up their hay each morning and check their water, and clean the litter trays :D It takes about half an hour to do this for four bunnies and I keep stopping to baby talk to them anyway so it can be done quicker :lol: I hang out with them after work and give them their pellets and hay each night. I do say I cant go out sometimes just because I want to stay at home with them though :lol: I like being with them :D

I wouldnt go straight out after work though, even if I just get a taxi home to have a look and check their hay and that they are ok and have it wait outside to go straight back into town :lol: Ive done that a few times.

I prefer to go out at the weekend though, so then the bunnies have had all day with me so arent missing out on their usual attention if I do go out that night :lol:

clutterydrawer

01-01-2008, 07:50 PM

Ok. My daily routine is:

7:30am - Feed pellets

8:00am - Put out into run, hay and water added.

Hay given throughout the day, about three-four times during the day.

3-4pm - Clean out, feed pellets, put into hutch, hay and water added.

So you think I should get out more? All I seem to do is argue with my friends about going out. I do go out shopping but I have a curfew for the girls. It's not just feeding, it's putting them into the hutch and vica versa.

But surely that means you'e got the entire day from 8 till 3, and from 4 till you go to bed, to do other stuff? :? :?

My bunnies do affect my schedule in that I curtail things and rush home if i know they need feeding or putting away or whatever, but I' mlucky in that my hosuemate helps with them a lot.They're back in their hutches at 5ish so I have the whole evening to go out if I want to - obviously if one of them needed nursing I'd stay in but other than that I don't really get why they'd be so restrictive on your social life. unless you had twelvety. :lol: I still go on holiday cos my housemate looks after them - or if she was away, I have other friends who would be glad to do it.

Lea-Anne

01-01-2008, 08:05 PM

I love my rabbits to death, they get tons of attention and care but I certainly make sure I have a life outside them. I have a full time job and boyfriend to keep happy and friends of course and its important to make time for all of those things.

I don't tend to go out until after 8pm anyways when the buns are shut away in the shed in a large pen (they are out in the run during the day). I always tend to them first thing (7am) and then when I get in from work (3pm) and then last thing at night (7pm). I usually spend over a hour each time with them, feeding, cleaning etc but I still manage to go out ! :lol:
I never feel guilty as they are in a group and are so content with each other. It also helps they are in a group as I can just sit in the pen with them and whoever wants cuddles will come to me and whoever doesn't won't. ;)
I don't feel my animals suffer at all. In fact I think they are very loved and well cared for and if I ever go away fortunately I have a wonderful dad who adores them just as much as I do. He also checks on them throughout the day while I am at work.

Lea-Anne

01-01-2008, 08:07 PM

I wouldnt go straight out after work though, even if I just get a taxi home to have a look and check their hay and that they are ok and have it wait outside to go straight back into town Ive done that a few times.

Aww bless you ! :D I agree, I always do a check straight after work no matter what. Its peice of mind. ;)

madysmummy

01-01-2008, 09:24 PM

i have a socail life and don't let the buns take over my whole life. yes i love them but that won't stop me going out or going onholiday. i only have the two, but my in laws have them when we are away and they take great care of them. i know mady and moses are healthy and happy, they are important to me to there is a limit. know what i mean.

Jazzy B Bunny

01-01-2008, 09:27 PM

Social life..what social life? but I dont blame it on the bunnies at all its my lack of friends thats the problem :oops::(

~bailey~

01-01-2008, 09:48 PM

Now I have the bunnies I won't spend the night away from them. Its too easy for them to become sick while you are away and fast treatment is best to help them. I still go on holiday though, they just stay with my parents. My mum has had long lists of instructions the first few times she looked after Bailey! Other than that I can still go out in the evening/have friends round etc, so they don't stop me too much. I just leave them with plenty of water and tonnes of hay and they are fine without me for an evening or a day :D

Jayney

01-01-2008, 11:43 PM

i do have a social life. it affects things like going out straight after work because i come home feed them and clean them out. the only way it would stop me going out in an evening would be if one of them was ill or seemed slightly off colour.

i cant ever stay out over night because i would feel extremely guilty about being late coming back to give pellets and put them in the run