Most first-time rabbit owners experience difficulty in making their bunnies adjust to their house. This is normal since rabbits are sensitive animals who become confused when they are suddenly introduced to a new atmosphere. If you are not careful with the process, the rabbits can even suffer from stress-related health issues.
However, the good news is that you can do a lot to make your rabbits comfortable in their new space. Here are 7 effective tips for first-time rabbit owners to ensure a happy homecoming for their bunnies.
Set up a safe enclosure for your rabbits well before actually introducing them to your house. An ideal living space for your rabbits will be a pet cage, having the facility of including accessories like bedding, a hiding house, food and water bowls, toys etc. It will help your rabbits to feel safe and make them adapt to their new environment quickly.
If you already own a rabbit and are moving to a new house, try to create a space for the rabbit, almost similar to the one you had in your previous house. This will help reduce a lot of anxiety in them and make the transition much easier.
Give them a Nutritious Diet
High-quality nutritious food is essential for rabbits in the first few days in their new home since their digestive system can be a little sensitive due to stress. Make sure that they are eating their Timothy Hay at all times. If your rabbits constantly deny food, you should call your vet without any delay.
You may also want to see the poop pattern of your rabbits in the first few days, just to see how they are managing stress. Rabbits that are stressed will have small poops and it’s common to see small faecal pellets. If you see these patterns repeating after two days, inform your vet immediately.
Keep the Rabbit in a Quiet Space
Rabbits are sensitive to loud sounds as well as fast movements. During the initial days of rabbits at your new home, you should ensure that their room is free of any major distractions. If you have kids in the house, make sure they are calm around the rabbits. Also, use earphones while you are using your phone to keep the volume low. Your rabbits will feel safe once there is less noise in the area.
Project a Sense of Calmness
You may want to avoid bothering the rabbits too much in the initial few days. This is because they need space as well as time to adjust to their new house and environment. However, this doesn’t mean you should stop giving them attention completely. All you need to do is do your things calmly and quietly just for the first few days. Also, since most rabbits are fearful of being picked up, it is best to avoid cuddling or holding them till they start feeling comfortable with you.
Create a Routine For Them
Rabbits love being in a routine as the predictability of their daily activities reduces their stress significantly. It makes them feel safer when there are no surprises ahead of them. They are generally contented when they know the time for their food as well as their playing sessions. Another benefit of having a routine is that your rabbit will be comfortable in its surroundings and will be willing to explore more areas.
It is essential to rabbit-proof your house before you introduce them because bunnies are often naughty in new places. So make sure that you cover wires and cables that are lying low just to ensure that they don’t chew it. Also, keep away toxic plants and room heaters from rabbits as they can be highly dangerous for them.
Increase their Freedom Gradually
When you have introduced your rabbits in the house for the first time, give them a small space to stay for the first few days. Giving your rabbits too much space in the very beginning can make them stressed and anxious. Despite having large spaces, they are less likely to go out and explore.
Rabbits will be more confident when they are introduced to areas in the house only gradually. Increase their space little by little till they have full access to their living area.
Final Say,
Although some rabbits adapt quickly to their house on the first day itself, most of them only settle in 1-2 weeks. The above 7 tips will significantly help you to make your rabbits comfortable in their new space quickly. Lastly, if you see your rabbits scattering poops around the places quite frequently in the first few days, this is just their way to mark their territory and this tendency will subside quickly in the next few days.
