ShivyRex
Mama Doe
Before I got Fia, Zion used to have supervised run of the garden on the weekends and some evenings. He was very happy binkying around and munching on the grass and the plants and so I was happy.
When I got Fia we introduced them to each other in the garden and she had a run around but Zion was chasing her around and so she took refuge in a bush which, when the time came, I was able to pick her up and put her away as she was so scared.
After this time she managed to jump out of the run on one occasion whilst I was cleaning them out. So I let her have an exploring time and then it started to get dark and so she needed to go back into her hutch but I could not catch her for love nor money. She would run off as soon as I got within a metre of her and no offering of tastey veg tempted her. In the end I literally had to jump on her with some plastic sheeting to catch her and put her away and that took me the best part of 40mins!!! :shock: :shock:
Since then I haven't let them out to run around the garden . Fia is still very wary of me and I can't even stroke her without her getting funny and shuffling off in another direction although I think she is getting better coming to greet me at the door at dinner time etc. This makes me even more reluctant to let her out with Zi in the garden as I still haven't gained her trust and I don't want to stress her out chasing her around the garden.
I just feel dreadful but i think it is unfair to let Zion out for a run around and not her. He is putting on weight cos he keeps stealing her food (have to separate them now) and I am sure a run around the garden would get rid of this.
Also the garden has like a bushy part at the end and a hedge either side that Zion often went into exploring and impossible to get him out of unless I have a carrot. He can be easily bribed with food but she isn't that fussed and I am afraid it would be a case that she just wouldn't come out and I'd have to leave her there until she gets really hungry! :shock: They're also really difficult to cut off access to - hopefully this won't be such a problem once we buy our new house.
I was considering maybe putting Fia on a harness and letting her out with me holding the end of the lead at all times thus obviously under supervision. I am not keen on harnesses but I feel so cruel leaving them in their playhouse and their 6x4 run and bringing them into the house for the odd run around after seeing how happy Zion was.
Any thoughts/suggestions would be most appreciated.
A guilty feeling bunny mummy
Shiv
When I got Fia we introduced them to each other in the garden and she had a run around but Zion was chasing her around and so she took refuge in a bush which, when the time came, I was able to pick her up and put her away as she was so scared.
After this time she managed to jump out of the run on one occasion whilst I was cleaning them out. So I let her have an exploring time and then it started to get dark and so she needed to go back into her hutch but I could not catch her for love nor money. She would run off as soon as I got within a metre of her and no offering of tastey veg tempted her. In the end I literally had to jump on her with some plastic sheeting to catch her and put her away and that took me the best part of 40mins!!! :shock: :shock:
Since then I haven't let them out to run around the garden . Fia is still very wary of me and I can't even stroke her without her getting funny and shuffling off in another direction although I think she is getting better coming to greet me at the door at dinner time etc. This makes me even more reluctant to let her out with Zi in the garden as I still haven't gained her trust and I don't want to stress her out chasing her around the garden.
I just feel dreadful but i think it is unfair to let Zion out for a run around and not her. He is putting on weight cos he keeps stealing her food (have to separate them now) and I am sure a run around the garden would get rid of this.
Also the garden has like a bushy part at the end and a hedge either side that Zion often went into exploring and impossible to get him out of unless I have a carrot. He can be easily bribed with food but she isn't that fussed and I am afraid it would be a case that she just wouldn't come out and I'd have to leave her there until she gets really hungry! :shock: They're also really difficult to cut off access to - hopefully this won't be such a problem once we buy our new house.
I was considering maybe putting Fia on a harness and letting her out with me holding the end of the lead at all times thus obviously under supervision. I am not keen on harnesses but I feel so cruel leaving them in their playhouse and their 6x4 run and bringing them into the house for the odd run around after seeing how happy Zion was.
Any thoughts/suggestions would be most appreciated.
A guilty feeling bunny mummy
Shiv