Hello from Sparky! (pics!)

YoungBaker

Hello
Last Friday we rescued a 6 year old rabbit from a lady who could no longer give him the attention and love he deserves.

He is absolutely lovely and just enjoys human interaction and being petted and held - sometimes he is more like a cat and will sit cuddled into us for a good 30 - 40 mins just being petted!

We are determined to give him a good life and want to make sure he is happy here. The lady previously kept him in her conservatory but said he slept outside on occasions - we have only got an outdoor hutch (brand new bought before we got him) and so far he has been in this. He seems quite content in it - seems to sleep well and is eating great. We have also got a pen for him to run about in as he pleases, and are bringing him in the house when we are sitting doing nothing for him to run about and explore also. Have brought him in this afternoon and he has settled down on my dining room floor for a nap lol.

Would appreciate any tips or advice for us in making this a good stay for him.

Is it likely he will be distressed at all in the change of owner as his previous owner was very fond of him? If so how long do you think it will take him to come round? Although he is super friendly, sometimes when carrying him back to his cage he has nibbled my arm a few times - hard enough to leave a mark through a jumper. He doesnt nibble at all when being petted, it has only been when moving around with him in our arms so thikning this may scare him?

Also took him to the vets yesterday and got his first jag, and she said he is very healthy.

Thanks

walwin

Sorry, can't offer any advice but just wanted to say how lovely he is.:)

Hello Sparky.
I hope you have lots of hapy years with your new family xx

MrsDrink

Awww he is lovely!!
Our bun hates being carried/lifted. He is, like you said, very cat like, in that everything is pretty much on his own terms. Some times he's very aloof other times very attentive. In terms of strokes/licks (me stroking, him licking) if he is the one seeking affection (and we're ignoring him say) he will either jump up on the arm of the sofa or get under our legs and nudge them; or if we want some affection from him we'll come down to him on the floor and drum our fingers on the floor (note - not a loud bang, just gently) and call him, then he'll bound over (if he agrees to give some affection). While he's grooming us he can nip (really gently, never enough to leave a mark) but it's clear he's just grooming us and has say found a hair out of place/has a knot in, or a bit of rough skin he doesn't like. I can't really offer advice on how to get him used to being carried, as this is something we avoid because we know how much he hates it (ours really only needs lifting and carrying when I'm putting him in his carry box to go to the vets or if we're doing something like trimming his nails). When we want him to move from one area to another (say from hiding in the garage to being locked up in the house at night) we stand behind him (or in the vicinity) and clap. He knows what it means ('bedtime') but sometimes chooses to ignore us (a la cat).
Not sure I've been very helpful as such - I just enjoy talking buns

scaredy_cat

as he's got long fur around his bottom, in the hot weather you mush check it for flystrike (fly eggs and maggots). They will eat his flesh if left.

YoungBaker

Thanks for the tip scaredy, he is currently shedding a coat of fur so he has more on his bum at the moment then he typically will have - but will definitely keep that in mind.

Thanks for the big post MrsDrink it's great to hear others tales of their rabbits lol.

We are just conscious that the trauma of him moving from his previous owner may be enough without the added of putting him outdoors if he has been so used to indoors. We just want to make sure he is happy.

We originally considered putting him in the summer house just now but on the rare hot day we get in Scotland it can get quite warm in there, but I think in another couple of weeks come the Autumn in September he definitely will be.

We would let him in doors permenantly but we are currently living with the inlaws and its a big no from them.

MrsDrink

Poor bun going through his moult. Our Bun is just coming to the end of his.

In my very limited experience I'd say he'll be fine with the changes as long as you spend plenty of time with him. keep an eye on whether he's eating drinking and pooing. If he's doing all 3 happily I'd say you're doing a good job. In time if he's staying as an outdoor primarily bun you might consider getting him a friend.

scaredy_cat

rabbits can be house trained to go in a litter tray, so i've heard.

http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/litter.html

MrsDrink

Our Bun is litter trained (he's sat in it as I type), we get Bio Catolet litter (recycled newspaper so safe for him to eat) from Pets at Home. It's vital to get non-clumping litter. It is definitely do able. He chose where he'd like to go to the toilet, we just put a litter tray there for him to use. The hardest part (which we haven't yet mastered) is moving the tray to where we'd like him to go to the toilet. (Whenever we've tried moving them he's just gone to the toilet in the same spot without the litter tray). He does most of his hard pellets in there (and all his wees), the odd ones 'escape' his litter tray when he jumps out of it. Getting him castrated stopped the territorial poo marking all over the house.

YoungBaker

Hes been pooing great in his new outdoor hutch I must say there definitely seems to be no problems there.

Hes pooing nice solid poos in his hutch - mostly in the same corner so it seems he has found a spot he likes already, he's eating everything we are putting down to him without a fuss including a good amount of hay, and also seems to be drinking water fine.

We let him to run about in his outside pen this evening for a while, and for about the first 5-7 minutes he simply sat and drank water constantly! Not sure if he maybe prefers the water bottle more than the one on his hutch, or what but he certainly was thirsty!

So you all think, even if he is pining for indoors, he will settle down nicely outside anyway? I know rabbits are naturally wild and so suit outdoors anyway but cant help feeling sorry for him (especially as my OH takes advantage of him loving cuddles and wants to mollycoddle him! lol).

Also, finally in regards to his molting - how long does it usually take your bunnies to finish fully? He doesnt have a lot left at all to get rid of now but just wondering? Thanks again for all your support

Fire_Fox

Lucky bunny! Is the other water bottle definitely functioning?

YoungBaker

Yeh Fire Fox he has been drinking out of it and its actually his *original* bottle that he used in his old house as, as small a thing as it is, I thought it may offer some comfort as he has used it before.