Hello
We collected 2 beautiful rabbits today - we found out about them by a friend who told us that her neighbour was looking to 'get rid' of them. We went along to collect them and they were living on the balcony of the 4th floor of a tower block. By living on the balcony I mean living on the balcony - without a hutch or a shelter and on the concrete floor of the balcony - no hay or straw or anything! We'd never seen anything like it! Also resident on the bacony was a mini motorbike and loads of tools...
We bought them home and they're now happily expolring our old chicken shed (the last of our ex-batts passed about a month ago at the grand old age of 7!) Anyway, the shed they're in in a 6 foot x 4 foot one, we've put a dog kennel in for them to sleep in and covered the floor in straw, they have hay in the kennel and a big bunch of hay tied up with string and suspended off the floor for munching on. The chickens were free range so we don't have a run (yet!) but our neighbour has lent us an old kitten pen she had which we've cobbled together as a 4 foot by 3 foot run. We're going to build a much bigger run tomorow so this one is just a temoporary fix.
Anyway, sorry to waffle on, my question is this. One of the bunnies is snowy white but I think living on concrete and not being cleaned has led to her standing in wee for a lot of the time because she is smelly and the fur on ther back feet, belly and bottom is yellow. Will this be making her sore? Can I bathe her and if so, whats the best way and what should I use (human baby shampoo/kitten shampoo/puppy shampoo etc?)
Also - and this could be the wrong section so I apologise in advance- both bunnies are beautifully friendly - they come up to us to be stroked, take food from our hands and seem to really enjoy our company but they thrash and kick if they are picked up. I don't intend to pick them up much if they'd rather I didn't but I wonder if theres anything I can do to make it less stressful for them (and me!) Can I teach them to be calm when being handled or would it be kinder to them to leave them be and just not pick them up unless its absolutely necessary?
Sorry for the long post, Thanks a lot!
Kelly xx
We collected 2 beautiful rabbits today - we found out about them by a friend who told us that her neighbour was looking to 'get rid' of them. We went along to collect them and they were living on the balcony of the 4th floor of a tower block. By living on the balcony I mean living on the balcony - without a hutch or a shelter and on the concrete floor of the balcony - no hay or straw or anything! We'd never seen anything like it! Also resident on the bacony was a mini motorbike and loads of tools...
We bought them home and they're now happily expolring our old chicken shed (the last of our ex-batts passed about a month ago at the grand old age of 7!) Anyway, the shed they're in in a 6 foot x 4 foot one, we've put a dog kennel in for them to sleep in and covered the floor in straw, they have hay in the kennel and a big bunch of hay tied up with string and suspended off the floor for munching on. The chickens were free range so we don't have a run (yet!) but our neighbour has lent us an old kitten pen she had which we've cobbled together as a 4 foot by 3 foot run. We're going to build a much bigger run tomorow so this one is just a temoporary fix.
Anyway, sorry to waffle on, my question is this. One of the bunnies is snowy white but I think living on concrete and not being cleaned has led to her standing in wee for a lot of the time because she is smelly and the fur on ther back feet, belly and bottom is yellow. Will this be making her sore? Can I bathe her and if so, whats the best way and what should I use (human baby shampoo/kitten shampoo/puppy shampoo etc?)
Also - and this could be the wrong section so I apologise in advance- both bunnies are beautifully friendly - they come up to us to be stroked, take food from our hands and seem to really enjoy our company but they thrash and kick if they are picked up. I don't intend to pick them up much if they'd rather I didn't but I wonder if theres anything I can do to make it less stressful for them (and me!) Can I teach them to be calm when being handled or would it be kinder to them to leave them be and just not pick them up unless its absolutely necessary?
Sorry for the long post, Thanks a lot!
Kelly xx