Track bunnies...

[Bunnicula05]

Maybe if your parents will pet sit for u, maybe a close relative, a sibling. Family is always the way to go too!

[tazz1227]

My trip is June 7-22. Yesterday a friend of mine that also has a bunny came over to meet the kids and I could see if they liked her and they did. She was surprised at the "good life" that my kids live in. She said her bunny Barkley only ate lettuce and carrotts. You know I had to educate her for her bunny's sake and my bunny's sake if I let her keep them. I am going to take the kids to her house to see if the bunnys can get along. Her bunny is a little dwarf bunny, my bunnys are going to run her bunnys CRAZY! But I hope it will work because I would love to have someone to share sitting services with.

But I will keep the private plane option on the side. Unfortunately I have no family here...they are all up north.

[Daisylover]

I am so relieved that you found a bunny sitter! And isn't it fun when you can "show off" your bunny knowledge???!!!! Hopefully Barkley will get even better nutrition that previously. Welcome to the ranks of the teaching......

I certainly don't want to rain on your parade but I would expect Barkley to not like your guys at first.... They are, afterall, invading HIS territory and he'll probably want to defend it from interlopers. DON'T be discouraged! What your friend should probably do is keep your guys caged and let Barkley out...they can investigate each other through the cage sides and no one can get hurt. Then after several hours (or the next day) she should put Barkley in and let your guys out for exercise. A warning...your guys will probably poop everywhere to let Barkley know they are there. She should do this alternating until she thinks they can be together without harm...but she should be prepared for a tussel. I seriously doubt there will be love at first sight between the 3 of them....of course it helps tremendously that you have girls and she has a boy, so you are ahead of the game. And too, whenever there are 2 or more buns they will argue about which one of them is the TOP BUN. Once they settle that, the situation will most likely work out fine.

Buns have notoriously short memories so don't be surprised if the 3 make friends this time but the next time they'll fight..... At the sanctuary whenever we remove a bunny from a yard who needs medication and is confined in the bunny hospital for a week or two, it's a headache to try and reintroduce them to their same location/bun friends.

So my advice is go, have fun and don't worry about them. The buns will be well cared for and it is no hardship on them if they end up having to be confined to a cage, as long as they do get out for some exercise each day. I left Daisy at the vets when he was recovering from an illness and I had a 2 wk vac planned and he was not traumatized when I came back!!! However I did get the turned back and the silent treatment until he decided to forgive me! LOL! So funny.

[tazz1227]

That is what concerns me....the kids do not EVER stay in a cage and when they are put in a cage they tear things up. And you know Boy Boy is so much bigger than the other 2. I am still concerned. I don't want to leave my kids. I wanted to leave them at the vet but they would be alone at night and in the cage most of the time. I know I am over protective but I want people to treat my buns like I do. I love them and I am going to be so upset if they turn their back to me when i get back!!

[Daisylover]

Did you ever get them one of those portable fences I talked about? That way they would not be in a cage and would have room to exercise without being too terribly confined. They give the animal more space than you would think by looking at it. And they could still poke their noses at Barkley and Barkley could get to know them. I think it's worth the expense, especially in this scenario. As I said a couple of weeks ago, you could also use it when you go traveling with them, or want to keep them away from a particular piece of furniture or even take them outside for a while.

When buns get destructive is usually when they are bored or unhappy, so it comes down to toys - and telephone books or newspapers.

If you are still considering the vet...talk to them. Tell them your concerns. You may find that they have an animal tech who is willing to exercise them and play with them after hours. I would NOT suggest a dog kennel....dogs/cats have diseases and the buns can get in a lot of trouble.....

[tazz1227]

The portable fence I found was a metal one that they could jump over or knock down. I got BIG bunnies. Do you have a spefic one that you can recommend?

[Daisylover]

All the portable fences I've seen in the various pet stores up here have come in a variety of heights, starting at 24 inches and going up to 56 or 60. Mine is quite high...probably 48 inches (I can't bend over it to open the drawers in the chest it protects) and I know there was one higher yet.
Maybe you should call the pet stores in your area first and ask them if they have the fencing before you make the trip.
I hope this helps.

[tazz1227]

Where did you get it Daisy? Is it metal or plastic?

[Daisylover]

I got mine at Pet Supplies Plus and it's made of metal. It's really nice and sturdy. It's hooks together with ... oh... those clasp thingys.


I've seen there several other places (I always check the prices)...Petsmart, Petco and a couple of local pet stores. If I can remember mine has a metal tag on it and I'll see if I can come up with the manufacturer's name....maybe that will help.

[tazz1227]

You know as always, you are wonderful!!

[tazz1227]

Daisy, I found this site. Is this what you are talking about? Can't they knock it down? http://shop.petmarket.com/standardexpens.html

[Daisylover]

I suppose if they both pushed on it at the same time that they might be able to knock it down, but I really doubt they would even try. We've used this for years at the sanctuary with various size buns (and at the 24"height too) and never had a bun jump over or knock it down. It is very sturdy. Because it's hexigon in shape, each individual panel actually reinforces the one next to it. Also I don't think the House Rabbit Soc would recommend their use if they felt there were or could be problems with the fencing being pushed oover......but knowing YOUR two...

The price looks very reasonable to me. I think I have the 42 inch one and I think the price is less than what I paid for mine. Do they have a store where you can actually look at one? Good luck!

[tazz1227]

I'm not sure but now that I know what I am looking for I may be able to find it.

[Daisylover]

The stores usually don't have them on display since they take up a lot of room, so look for them all folded up, in a stand up display, usually in the dog section. I've seen some packaged in a cardboard box too. Best ask someone who works there and have them open it up so you can get a good idea of how it works.

[tazz1227]

Will do....thanks again.