More interesting updates - Daisy pictures, Bunny(and various critter) Blogger news, and other stuff like that

Hi.......Again!

It's always fun to do these update things and everyone seems to like them. First update - Daisy pictures. I didn't really have a lot of these on hand - new ones at least. She's in her pen now so I took a picture while I had the chance. 

( I also put in a ceramic bowl for water and gravity feeder for food and I like them much better! In the future I might put water in the gravity feeder instead because the water bowl is kind of small)

Here is another picture. 

I use boxes a lot in my bunny pen, as you can see.

"Well, duhh!"

Next thing is the daily comic - This time Minnie wants to show you her new doggie coat! I am against dressing animals up if they don't like it, but she seems perfectly fine with it.

She looks really fashionable in it! And more importantly it keeps her warm due to her shorter coat.

Next we have some bunny news. From Houseful Of Rabbits... 

http://houseofrabbits.blogspot.com/2013/11/some-chilly-coming.html

I so agree......

Then from Cute Overload....http://cuteoverload.com/2013/11/20/this-just-in-kleenex-alert-people/

Kleenex alert!!! Read a sad-happy story at Cute Overload. 

Finally, we have a poll - and it'll stay up until Christmas! Please check it out and cast your vote. 

Bye!

Amazing House Rabbit Pen Setups

I love seeing other house bunny owners ideas for rabbit cage setups. If you want to get good ideas to create a better living environment for your rabbit, you can look at these photos I collected. Then you can hop on over to some website info I collected.

What to Consider for an Indoor Rabbit Pen

When considering getting an indoor rabbit pen, there are many arrangements that are possible. It is important that the style of indoor housing pen for your house rabbit is an appropriate option, both for you and your pet.

Contrary to many a belief, rabbits don't need to be kept in a cage. What you may want to have is a pen area in which your rabbit has freedom, yet is kept safe. It's important that your rabbit get daily indoor or outdoor exercise, and is supervised by you.

Rabbits make such delightful pets - I've owned and fostered rabbits - and it's only natural that we want to include them in our home. Let's take a look at the options for keeping your pet rabbit(s) happy and safe in your home.

Inside The Pen

Essential to any rabbit pen are basic rabbit supplies, such as food bowls (one for veggies/fruit, one for pellets), a water bowl (more natural for rabbit than a bottle), and a litter box with litter.

Also, to keep your rabbit healthy and happy, you need to provide it with rabbit toys in its pen. Provide your rabbit with safe toys for mental stimulation and physical activity. Things to climb in, crawl under, hop on and around, dig into, toss around, and chew on are some options.

Ideas for what to put in a rabbit pen include:

-Cardboard box, for crawling inside, jumping on, and chewing
-Cardboard rolls, such as from paper towel and toilet paper
-Tunnels and tubes
-Untreated wicker baskets or boxes
-Magazines or newspaper
-Cat toys, such as Batta balls
-Parrot toys that can be tossed, or hung from the cage
-Dried pine cones
-Hand towel, for bunching and scooting
-Untreated and aged wood, twigs, logs
-Untreated sea grass or maize mats

Recommended indoor rabbit cages with front door access, so your rabbit can jump in and out on its own accord. Also including indoor rabbit pens.
Super Pet My First Home for Rabbits  $36.99 - $160.99	Marshall Chalet Small-Animal House  $110.00	MARCHIORO CAGE TOMMY 102 BEIGE  $89.99
GoGo Pet Products High Epoxy Exercise Pen w...  $79.92
24H" x 24" 8 Panel GoGo Black Epoxy Exercis...	Marshall Pet Products Pet Deluxe Play Pen, ...  $66.58	Ware Manufacturing Canvas 8-Panel Clean Liv...  $31.99
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This is amazing. The wood pieces add an amazing touch and this looks great! I can't tell if he's a free range rabbit or not, but you can always close off a thing like this with puppy pens.

These three lucky buns have loads of room and plenty of cool wood things. I advise you go to the website here posted in the picture. There's lots of bun fun, and great info. I cannot really tell how they did this whole setup, but you can certainly pull off something similar with a different pen.

This however, is not good. I thought this was a pen in the image but it is really a small wire cage. This could be an alternative for super small dwarf bunnies, but the rabbit should have plenty of exercise. 

This is also very small for the rabbit in the photo, but it may suit a dwarf breed.

Apologies for the faulty images my house bun friends. The cat looks into these pens, watching his bunn-emies. See what I did there? These supposedly double pens are spacious and equally good-looking. Love these.

I now cringe at the terrible quality that my computer cannot fix. This is a cube cage. Learn more about these things at www.rabbitapproved.com. There should be a sidelink about rabbit pens.

This pen is also a good size. It's nice for single buns but multiple bunnies should have a much larger one!

Pen or Cage Options for Your Pet House Rabbit -It's Rabbit Week!

Recently I discussed the location of your rabbit's cage, but I have gotten so MANY requests for some ideas and guidelines for creating the perfect "rabbitat." 

Cages = a bad choice?

If you go the cage route, you need something that goes with the rabbit's breed and age. A cage with multiple ramps makes for a faulty cage if you are using it for a large or old rabbit, whereas a smaller spry, young rabbit may fit better with that option. I do not recommend cages very much, only because they are so expensive and so small. All cages have wires on the bottom, and ones that don't have any are "starter kits." Not only that, the cages are harder to clean.

Some Prefer Pens

 I love puppy pens because there is easier clean-up(sweep out and DONE) and the rabbit gets more access to your daily life. Another reason I love pens because you can generally conform them to particular shapes creatively, and the one I use was cheaper. The pen can be left open for free-range rabbits; a smaller pen can be used solely for a safe hideaway for a rabbit, or it can be put out for the rabbit to stay in at night. I am a rabbit-pen-user at heart. They are comfortable, spacious, the rabbit has more access to your life, inexpensive, perfect for bunn-proofing, and easy to clean. Pens tend to give better ventilation and even if your rabbit is shy, you can find some creative ways to have a proper in-pen hut or shelter for the rabbit to retreat to. 

Before starting....

Remember that although I do not prefer cages, some environments and households can find a way to use cages while still keeping the rabbit happy. Check both options first before deciding cages are a bad idea. Overall, cage, pen, WHATEVER, you always should purchase the best option for your rabbit, not for you. I know people don't like pens because they are big and don't look pretty, but (along with showing off your love for rabbits) it doesn't matter if the housing choice doesn't look good, it's the safety and comfort for the rabbit(and other household members) that counts!

Not a Rodent!

Even people who gravitate towards rabbits positively, still think rabbits are rodents. They are lagamorphs, meaning "hopping creature". Cage-whise, rabbits should only have cages just for them. Not ferrets, not rats, NOT chinchillas.... RABBITS! Even the most energetic rabbit cannot climb in the way a rodent could, so why would you give them a cage with ramps and ledges that only rodents can climb?

Pawse to consider- Rabbit's feet are JUST fur!

Another reason I don't like cages is because of the wire bottoms. Both rabbits are recovering from minor sore hocks(due to past cage-living history) and even in the pens, they have 24/7 resting pads and towels for comfort. They have no pads on the feet. Just thick hair! It's very important to consider a rabbit's feet when choosing a cage.

Hutches - No point!

No house rabbit owner I have met keeps their rabbits in a hutch. Hutches are MEANT to keep rabbits protected from harsh weather and predators, which they have no exposure to inside. Most hutches are off the ground, which I would find a problem when I open the pens to let them play and explore to their extent. Plus, all hutches are covered except for the mesh doors. This may provide protection for their outdoor counterparts, but all rabbits should be exposed and open to people walking and talking o rdin the home, which these types of habitats lack incredibly. PLUS, these expensive hutches are generally small and cause urine burn. All hutch residing rabbits are shy, and whenever the door is opened they will run to the back of the hutch, unexcited and frightened. 

A final word

Whenever choosing a rabbitat, remember to consider the rabbit's needs and desires before choosing one on impulse because it looks "fancy" or "cool." The rabbits house is the most important part of your rabbit purchases. Remember to do research and think like a rabbit for housing options.

Continue the entire week with Rabbit Week: a fun critter post extravaganza!

Exciting NEWS: Rabbit Pen Update

Hi everyone! Today I must learn again how to use a keyboard. This is the first time in a very long while that I have sat down and used the computer. I used to use the iPad or other mobile device when the internet was not set up in our new house. So, bear with me. Okay, fine. For a proud mom of two awesome house "bunns", it's exciting. We managed to get out "ye old playpen in garage that nobody uses ever since the baby grew out of it" and set it up for Daisy.

(wait a second while I exit out of Firefox and go to Google Chrome because "This server does not support 'www.Blogger.com' due to loading problems." Wha?)

Okay, I'm back.
Anyways, the rabbits have successfully switch-a-rooed from their old cages to new cages/pen. (: They love the new set-ups - the only change is all the room they get! Daisy was getting so big and even with supervised out of cage time and the hours she spent frolicking around our house, she needed more space! We now have the big baby pen up with comfy resting pads and her stuff; she adores it! Lily loves her new(Daisy's old) cage and has enough room to play. Although our bunnies have plenty of room, we always let them out once a day to romp and have fun with the family.(And of COURSE, watch TV! What rabbits goes without watching football at least once a day?)

Daisy is more comfortable in her pen than her smaller cage.

I can agree!

I just read this blog and I think you should read it as well. (Also check out her Critter Care blog)
crittercorner-emily.blogspot.com

Rats + outdoor playing/living = a good idea?🐁

Whether you're an experienced rat owner or a first-time rat owner, you may wonder... "Could I let my rat go outside to play?" The answer varies with different websites, but the right answer is always clear. Rats playing or living outdoors is not safe!

Harnesses and Pens: Extreme Danger

Everyone's seen them. Rat harnesses look fun, but pose a threat to rats. First of all, if you put on the rat harness the wrong way or it has been designed poorly so it feels uncomfortable, your rat will want to escape the harness's feeling on his body. He's likely to chew or squeeze out, leaving you with no more rat. Predators like birds of prey or feral cats and dogs could scare your rat as well, causing him to panic and get twisted in the harness. So it's closing for the harness idea, but what about other playtime solutions, like a playpen?

A rat owner who knows rats well doesn't have to use their own experience with pet rats to know that all rats are great climbers! Obviously, any open-top playpen would be too easy for an intelligent rat. Closed-top playpens look safe, but even a sturdy one couldn't keep out unwanted predators, dangerous parasites, and worst of all, heat. Besides, for a few minutes the fresh air would seem nice to a rat, but it would quickly get boring and very hot. An ideal way to let your rat get a bit of fresh air is to carry his cage onto a clean, covered deck or patio and sit out with him for no more than 10 minutes. Never take him out of the cage even for a minute, as any predator could spook him. 

Can I keep my rat cage outdoors?

Inexperienced, first-time rat owners may think keeping a rat outdoors is okay. As many people think all rabbits and guinea pigs belong outdoors, rats are put into this concept. Although rabbits and guinea pigs can normally survive outside,(although the boredom they encounter is considered cruelty) rats will become sick and/or the first few days of outdoor living.

Not only will your rat(s) need attention and human contact, he will also get sick from parasites, heat exhaustion, and exposure to wild rodents, which he could transfer diseases from and pass them to other people or domestic animals. A rat outdoors is no fun for the owner because they will only go out to clean the cage and give him food and water, and the owner will not get to experience the benefits of a great pet rat. Any animal relegated to a hutch or outdoor confinement will be bored and act boring towards the owner. Besides, how can you create fun mazes, train your rat to do cool tricks, and relax in front of the TV with your rat if he lives outside? A true rat owner wouldn't keep a rat outside to die, but he or she would want to create a great environment for the rat and help him have the best 3-4 years he lives up to. No form of outdoor living can top the tremendous love a rat can offer when living inside with his family. Rats don't live that long, do its up to you to help him live his life to the fullest. Be sure to keep your pet rat indoors when having him as a pet. There really is no point in getting a rat if he is left outdoors, because all you are doing is keeping him alive if he's left outside. Be a good pet owner and keep all pet rats indoors only. You will be rewarded with a happy rat that can fully experience the best life you can give him.

I mean, what life is without cuddles, kisses, and a happy, healthy pet rat ready to be your best friend? Not any life I know! 

The placement of your rat's cage is very important!