Sarah1989
Warren Veteran
Ok, so I got myself a lovely mini lop last night, a 2 year old black buck whom I've named Blackavar after my favourite rabbit in Watership Down. My intention is to bond him with Slipper eventually, but we have some work to do first. Probably no point to this post, other than that I feel guilty and not sure what to do for the best.
He has been a stud buck and BRC rung. He has the ring left on his hind leg - should I get it removed? I think so as his owners told me it may get embedded in his leg as he grows, although he's fully grown?
I'm going to get him vaccinated and neutered as soon as he's settled in as I don't want to stress him out too much coming to a new home with new people, new bunnies etc etc. I think 2-3 weeks before vaccinations and then book him in for neutering after that. I will also get him insured when this done as it's cheaper to insure a neutered, vaccinated bun and I don't think they insure if they're not vaccinated. Someone correct me if I'm wrong?
He's on museli, so I fed him last night on his current food (I got changeover food) and probably tonight too as he didn't really eat much last night, understandably, new home and car journey etc. Then I will start switching him over to the pellets mine are all on.
But what I feel really bad about is that he's outdoors. He lived outdoors his whole life with his previous owners, but mine are indoors and I feel guilty with mine indoors and him stuck outside. I'm getting a new cage sorted for Slipper and once that's done, he can come inside and have Slipper's old cage until they're bonded and can live together in Slipper's big new cage. Also, he's got a run attached to his cage by a ladder ramp thing - it's one of these double decker things a friend at work kindly donated to me as she didn't need it and wanted rid of it. He hasn't figured it out yet. I put him in his cage last night and I don't think he's been in the run over night. So I got up this morning and put him in the attached run, but I keep checking on him and he's just huddled up in a corner. He was exploring this morning, but just sat there now. I don't think he's been up the ramp yet back into his hutch. How do you think I should get him to go up and down? Or will he just figure it out?
He doesn't have any toys yet, just a big hay tube thing he can run through and eat too. Mine love theirs, but he doesn't seem bothered. He also doesn't seem to have touched his hay yet.
I know I'm probably being a big worry-guts, but I've never got an older rabbit before - I've always had babies and they've been inquisitive and bouncy after a bit. I guess he could also be missing his mate - apparently she died last month which is why this guy was up for sale. He's happy for me to pet him, but doesn't like being picked up - typical bunny really. He didn't like being lifted out of his carry case into his hutch and didn't like being put in his run, which is why I'd like him to use the ramp as and when he pleases. Kind of defeats the point of an attached run if I have to put him in it/take him out of it!
He has been a stud buck and BRC rung. He has the ring left on his hind leg - should I get it removed? I think so as his owners told me it may get embedded in his leg as he grows, although he's fully grown?
I'm going to get him vaccinated and neutered as soon as he's settled in as I don't want to stress him out too much coming to a new home with new people, new bunnies etc etc. I think 2-3 weeks before vaccinations and then book him in for neutering after that. I will also get him insured when this done as it's cheaper to insure a neutered, vaccinated bun and I don't think they insure if they're not vaccinated. Someone correct me if I'm wrong?
He's on museli, so I fed him last night on his current food (I got changeover food) and probably tonight too as he didn't really eat much last night, understandably, new home and car journey etc. Then I will start switching him over to the pellets mine are all on.
But what I feel really bad about is that he's outdoors. He lived outdoors his whole life with his previous owners, but mine are indoors and I feel guilty with mine indoors and him stuck outside. I'm getting a new cage sorted for Slipper and once that's done, he can come inside and have Slipper's old cage until they're bonded and can live together in Slipper's big new cage. Also, he's got a run attached to his cage by a ladder ramp thing - it's one of these double decker things a friend at work kindly donated to me as she didn't need it and wanted rid of it. He hasn't figured it out yet. I put him in his cage last night and I don't think he's been in the run over night. So I got up this morning and put him in the attached run, but I keep checking on him and he's just huddled up in a corner. He was exploring this morning, but just sat there now. I don't think he's been up the ramp yet back into his hutch. How do you think I should get him to go up and down? Or will he just figure it out?
He doesn't have any toys yet, just a big hay tube thing he can run through and eat too. Mine love theirs, but he doesn't seem bothered. He also doesn't seem to have touched his hay yet.
I know I'm probably being a big worry-guts, but I've never got an older rabbit before - I've always had babies and they've been inquisitive and bouncy after a bit. I guess he could also be missing his mate - apparently she died last month which is why this guy was up for sale. He's happy for me to pet him, but doesn't like being picked up - typical bunny really. He didn't like being lifted out of his carry case into his hutch and didn't like being put in his run, which is why I'd like him to use the ramp as and when he pleases. Kind of defeats the point of an attached run if I have to put him in it/take him out of it!