Patridge bantam chicken poorly foot?

[Liz George]

We got our 2 lovely mini lops 4 months ago. They have been very happy in their eglu, but about a month ago they started removing the wood chippings from the eglu into the run (haven't seen them doing it, but assume they're kicking it out!). I decided to use hay as bedding instead, but they've kicked most of that out too. Should I just keep putting fresh bedding in daily or are they trying to tell me something?! Surely they need some bedding for warmth? BTW, they have also started taking the bowl out into the run too - no idea how they manage that!

 

Thanks

 

Liz

[cathybc]

I have two trash-monkey bunnies too. They have a small hutch in a big shed that they have the permanent run of. I fill the hutch, a dig box and a litter tray up with hay, but they soon kick it out everywhere.

 

I like to use hay as bedding as they eat it too, I tend to leave it where they have chcked it to, but fill up the night quarters in hutch if necessary.

 

Re the bowl - sorry, I have no idea about that !

[The Dogmother]

My mini lop girls have been using their rablu through the summer for 3 years now and they love it, but they have decided on their own living arrangement:

 

They like me to put their litter tray in the housing, and prefer to stay in the (covered) run 24/7.

 

Unlike GPs, buns don't need or particularly like to have a sleeping quarter - they spend most of the night time galloping around and snooze in the middle of the day. Mine have the inner tray from the rablu in the run, and it is filled with hay - they like to recline in there, munching hay and eyeing up the chiskens. They spend the winter in their luxury duplex log cabin, which is near the house and more sheltered.

[SnowWhite]

My buns ignore the sleeping quarters completely these days! I had to give up on the hay rack and bowl early on because they were thrown out into the run every day. Bunnies like to push and shove their bedding around (just watch them digging a hole in your lawn and you'll see it's all natural behaviour). Don't worry too much, it sounds like you are doing everything just fine! Just leave the bowl in the run for now!

[Willow_Warren]

I don't have a raglu but have had problems with rabbits throwing the bowl down the ramp of the hutch before? I just thought they were being destructive.

 

Have you thought about buying them one of thoes balls with little holes in, fill it with their pellets and then they have to role it about to get the food out? Will keep them amused for longer and give them a bit more of a challange to get their food?

 

Hannah

[Hockeyaholic]

Mine started kicking their bedding out so now I shut the door to the rablu during the day as they never went in there anyway (only to kick the bedding out of course). Not only does it mean they don't kick it out but it stays clean and dry for when I shut them in at night. In the run they have food, water and a dog basket with bedding in (which they happily sit in/lie down in), which is covered by a shower curtain and sheltered by our fence. Will probably start leaving the door open again when it gets colder but will see how it goes. Then when it gets dark I open the door to the rablu and shut them in for the night - as they know its bed time, they hop straight in and settle down. Many would disagree with my approach but my bunnies are used to it, as it's how it's been since I've had them and they are both healthy, happy bunnies.