BexB
New Kit
Hi all,
Wonder if some rabbit people can give me some advice please on my two bunnies. Rescued over a year ago, my two buns have been through a lot after being dumped in rubbish, and clearly had been mistreated so we have had a long journey to get them to where they are today.
Their setup is huge and they love it - a huge three tiered hutch, access to the secure run at all times and a complete thermal and water proofed cover on both to keep them snug, safe and dry. Whenever we are home they also have access to our secure garden. They tend to spend their time mainly between the run and the top of their hutch in the day when they snooze, however, I am noticing a behaviour they had when I first got them returning. Rather than moving to the warmest, most secure place (one of the two upper levels or inside the bottom floor), they seem to really like sitting right in the most exposed corner of their run. I know this gives them most visibility (although pretty much anywhere they go it's pretty good), I am starting to worry about them getting cold, especially at night as the temperature drops and autumn sets in. I am finding their place of choice to sleep is here too, which, from past experience with my previous buns and friends, seems a little unusual. Being that my girls are both quite jumpy and nervous still, especially with things they don't know or strange noises, they seem to do the opposite of going to a safe snug place.
Unfortunately, I am unable to compare to last year, as due to their trust issues of humans, and following a brief fall out, my two buns came into our home for the winter to allow us to bond and keep an eye on them (don't worry- they had a whole bedroom to themselves -spoilt fluffs!!!)! They returned to the garden in April, and have been fine ever since.
Does anyone have any suggestions for encouraging the girls to move inside to a warmer/'safer' spot? Although the hutch and run is very secure, as is my garden, I also worry that should something get in the garden, they are most likely to freak out there too and be seen.
Pip enjoys spending time in the hutch rearranging her hay and paper, and Boo, well....she's Grumpy Boo- maker of mess, so it's not like they don't like it, it's just they tend to spend the majority of their time out in the run. I think I've also only seen them use the 'bedrooms' on a couple of occasions.
Any tips for a happy, snuggly bunny and to encourage them to use the hutch more? I've found carpet tiles helped a little inside (although I've had to put some outside too so they don't get a cold butt on the paving slabs)!
Becky
Wonder if some rabbit people can give me some advice please on my two bunnies. Rescued over a year ago, my two buns have been through a lot after being dumped in rubbish, and clearly had been mistreated so we have had a long journey to get them to where they are today.
Their setup is huge and they love it - a huge three tiered hutch, access to the secure run at all times and a complete thermal and water proofed cover on both to keep them snug, safe and dry. Whenever we are home they also have access to our secure garden. They tend to spend their time mainly between the run and the top of their hutch in the day when they snooze, however, I am noticing a behaviour they had when I first got them returning. Rather than moving to the warmest, most secure place (one of the two upper levels or inside the bottom floor), they seem to really like sitting right in the most exposed corner of their run. I know this gives them most visibility (although pretty much anywhere they go it's pretty good), I am starting to worry about them getting cold, especially at night as the temperature drops and autumn sets in. I am finding their place of choice to sleep is here too, which, from past experience with my previous buns and friends, seems a little unusual. Being that my girls are both quite jumpy and nervous still, especially with things they don't know or strange noises, they seem to do the opposite of going to a safe snug place.
Unfortunately, I am unable to compare to last year, as due to their trust issues of humans, and following a brief fall out, my two buns came into our home for the winter to allow us to bond and keep an eye on them (don't worry- they had a whole bedroom to themselves -spoilt fluffs!!!)! They returned to the garden in April, and have been fine ever since.
Does anyone have any suggestions for encouraging the girls to move inside to a warmer/'safer' spot? Although the hutch and run is very secure, as is my garden, I also worry that should something get in the garden, they are most likely to freak out there too and be seen.
Pip enjoys spending time in the hutch rearranging her hay and paper, and Boo, well....she's Grumpy Boo- maker of mess, so it's not like they don't like it, it's just they tend to spend the majority of their time out in the run. I think I've also only seen them use the 'bedrooms' on a couple of occasions.
Any tips for a happy, snuggly bunny and to encourage them to use the hutch more? I've found carpet tiles helped a little inside (although I've had to put some outside too so they don't get a cold butt on the paving slabs)!
Becky