The problem with living inland is that it gets hot and dry faster than coastal areas. Our grassy backyard is drying up and turning to dirt. This is not good for bunnies who love eating grass. I now have to travel to cooler mountainous areas to get them grass. I am very selective where I collect the grass from, as I am well aware of the problems with Calicivirus and even Mixomatosis. I look for grasses that are new and near a fresh running water source (not one that has mosquitos, of course), as Calici cannot stay on grass that has flowing water. Stagnant water is a no-go-zone, the water has to be flowing in a rivulet or lake. I then select the freshest, most healthy looking grass I can find.
On the days the bunnies can go outside, of course it’s super hot. The backyard doesn’t get much shade during the day and it’s turning into being a tough decision to let them go outside even for an hour. But, on those days that are not super hot, and the sun isn’t too bright, I put them outside.
Mid-afternoon one slightly overcast 22° day they all went outside for a while.
I put their pens close to each other but separated by about 30cm. They all loved looking and playing with each other.
It was then that I realised I should find a way for the bunnies to be able to all meet each other. I had to place their pens in a way that they all could formally greet each other.
The next time they went outside I had placed their pens in a way where they all had a central viewing deck, kind of like a square cut into quarters.
They all played with each other, groomed with each other and even laid down next to each other.
I am a bit concerned that Buttons will want to be boss again, but he is not showing any of those behaviours. I think it’s because he has moved to a new place and he no longer rules.
Nova can be very hormonal and flicks her tail up to show off her bottom (both male and female rabbits do this when they not desexed). She was displaying this behaviour with Coffee, who had been desexed a couple of weeks before. Coffee wasn’t showing any interest in her behaviours, and went to do his own thing.
Hamish on the other hand, is starting to like Nova’s attention. They often sit next to each other in their indoor pens and stare at each other. Hamish is next on the list to get desexed. Then I’ll have to sort Nova out. Nova’s going to be interesting, with an ultrasound and a possible full desex.