Sorry this is a novel, I've just accumulated a bunch of questions recently!
1.) I've been wondering about leash/harness training. I bought Cheeto a harness when I got him and I tried putting it on him...once. He freaked out and was mad at me for like a week. I felt so guilty, I haven't tried it again. That was like a month ago.
Should I just forget it? (which I'm totally okay with, I just thought he'd enjoy some wandering outside in the spring) or is this common?
I know that you have to get them comfortable with the harness and then the leash and then gradually let them walk you, but my problem is actually getting the thing on him.
It's a reasonable size--one of those that comes with the bungee-leashes, so I don't think that was the problem.
2.) I've recently let him explore under my bed. I cleaned it up, vacuumed, bunny-proofed it, ect. and now it's his favorite place to run around. My only concern is that he's making these loud THUMPing noises and I'm concerned he's hurting himself. Am I being an over-protective mom? It's definitely his back feet thumping (I've seen it) so what do you think that means?
3.) Now comes my food question. I know that these answers are up for debate, but any personal experience is appreciated. So now that Cheeto is 7 months old, I switched him from unlimited pellets (Oxbow Bunny Basics 15/23) to 1/2 cup a day according to his weight on rabbit.org. I still give him the same amount of veggies and unlimited hay, but he seems SO hungry. It's not like puppy-dog "I need all of your food" hungry, it's like "I'M STARVING" hungry. He's growing like a weed and doesn't seem underweight. Is this just something he needs to adjust to? (By the way, I did it gradually, I didn't just stop giving him pellets.)
4.) I'm also having a hard time picking him up. I know that you're not supposed to--he doesn't seem to like it--but I need to know that I can if something happens and I need to pick him up, like in an emergency. Before (when I first got him) I'd pet him nicely and pick him up quick and easily and he actually seemed to like it (purring and falling asleep, ect.; now he's bigger and he knows exactly what I'm about to do. He even nipped me (didn't bite me, but let me know that it was not okay.) I'm new to bunnies--I know how to hold them and pick them up, but I've never owned one before him.
5.) Recently, I put up a playpen blocking my closet doors, so at night Cheeto will be secure in his cage. I had it around a larger area before and it was blocked with cardboard boxes so he couldn't chew on the wire. Obviously, I can't use cardboard boxes now, because he'd have absolutely no space to run around at night. I also don't want to block the pen so he can see out; I would hate to be enclosed like that.
Now here's my problem: he keeps chewing on the cage to be let out. Usually, petting works, and occasionally I'll give him half of his breakfast to keep him occupied, but I don't really enjoy losing so much sleep.
Last night, my brother had to be up at 7, and didn't get to sleep until 6 because of Cheeto's noisiness. I felt really bad because I didn't think he could hear him at all. I experimented and slept in my parent's room, and it's as loud as it is 3 feet away. Also, I hear wire-chewing is bad for his teeth.
I've heard about the bitter apple sprays, but I was wondering if something homemade is an option? What do you use to keep your buns from chewing? Cheeto seems to be a pretty picky guy; even his now-favorite snacks took days of coaxing for him to try, so I think he'll probably be one who stays away from odd scents.
Any suggestions are appreciated!
Thanks to all the replies; I'm new and I just want to make sure that I'm doing everything right!
Again, any suggestions would be great. Thanks!!
1.) I've been wondering about leash/harness training. I bought Cheeto a harness when I got him and I tried putting it on him...once. He freaked out and was mad at me for like a week. I felt so guilty, I haven't tried it again. That was like a month ago.
Should I just forget it? (which I'm totally okay with, I just thought he'd enjoy some wandering outside in the spring) or is this common?
I know that you have to get them comfortable with the harness and then the leash and then gradually let them walk you, but my problem is actually getting the thing on him.
It's a reasonable size--one of those that comes with the bungee-leashes, so I don't think that was the problem.
2.) I've recently let him explore under my bed. I cleaned it up, vacuumed, bunny-proofed it, ect. and now it's his favorite place to run around. My only concern is that he's making these loud THUMPing noises and I'm concerned he's hurting himself. Am I being an over-protective mom? It's definitely his back feet thumping (I've seen it) so what do you think that means?
3.) Now comes my food question. I know that these answers are up for debate, but any personal experience is appreciated. So now that Cheeto is 7 months old, I switched him from unlimited pellets (Oxbow Bunny Basics 15/23) to 1/2 cup a day according to his weight on rabbit.org. I still give him the same amount of veggies and unlimited hay, but he seems SO hungry. It's not like puppy-dog "I need all of your food" hungry, it's like "I'M STARVING" hungry. He's growing like a weed and doesn't seem underweight. Is this just something he needs to adjust to? (By the way, I did it gradually, I didn't just stop giving him pellets.)
4.) I'm also having a hard time picking him up. I know that you're not supposed to--he doesn't seem to like it--but I need to know that I can if something happens and I need to pick him up, like in an emergency. Before (when I first got him) I'd pet him nicely and pick him up quick and easily and he actually seemed to like it (purring and falling asleep, ect.; now he's bigger and he knows exactly what I'm about to do. He even nipped me (didn't bite me, but let me know that it was not okay.) I'm new to bunnies--I know how to hold them and pick them up, but I've never owned one before him.
5.) Recently, I put up a playpen blocking my closet doors, so at night Cheeto will be secure in his cage. I had it around a larger area before and it was blocked with cardboard boxes so he couldn't chew on the wire. Obviously, I can't use cardboard boxes now, because he'd have absolutely no space to run around at night. I also don't want to block the pen so he can see out; I would hate to be enclosed like that.
Now here's my problem: he keeps chewing on the cage to be let out. Usually, petting works, and occasionally I'll give him half of his breakfast to keep him occupied, but I don't really enjoy losing so much sleep.
Last night, my brother had to be up at 7, and didn't get to sleep until 6 because of Cheeto's noisiness. I felt really bad because I didn't think he could hear him at all. I experimented and slept in my parent's room, and it's as loud as it is 3 feet away. Also, I hear wire-chewing is bad for his teeth.
I've heard about the bitter apple sprays, but I was wondering if something homemade is an option? What do you use to keep your buns from chewing? Cheeto seems to be a pretty picky guy; even his now-favorite snacks took days of coaxing for him to try, so I think he'll probably be one who stays away from odd scents.
Any suggestions are appreciated!
Thanks to all the replies; I'm new and I just want to make sure that I'm doing everything right!
Again, any suggestions would be great. Thanks!!