Rehoming my rabbits

[millimurphy]

I have put them on Preloved. I can't cope with the mess anymore. I am a bad and selfish person and should have looked at the ammount of work and effort is needed when caring for rabbits. I thought I could look after them but all they do is wee everywhere - there is wee up the windows, all over the floor (they are living in a conservatory).

They are both does, 6 months old and gentle little creatures. My 2 year old son loves them but I can't go on cleaning windows, floors, the sofa cushions etc.

I know I have been stupid but can anyone please advise how to find these girls a better home than they have now. I feel constantly angry with them .

[fiverabbits]

Have you had them neutered ? They are the right age. Do they have a litter tray ( like for a cat ) with hay or woodshavings.

[LtEveDallas]

At 7 months my Doe started peeing everywhere. I'm sure it's a hormone thing. It calmed right down within 2 weeks of her being spayed. We kept an eye on where she did her business the most, and after a week put a litter box full of wood shavings and straw down in that place. She's also sleeping in her hutch on old towels that I wash every other day. It's much easier and far less smelly.

As for rehoming, I don't know. My three were all rescued privately. Blue Cross always seems to have rabbits though, so maybe through them. I bitterly regret our rabbits as DD has completely lost interest and DH won't help, but I won't give them up as they are my mistake to deal with and I think it would give a bad impression to DD to rehome them just because its hard - sorry.

[millimurphy]

I honestly didn't think they would be a problem. We already have companion animals (6 parrots and 3 fancy goldfish). The birds have been with me 10+ years and the fish around 7 years - they are high maintenance but I have just accepted this and got on with it - they seem to give something back in return. I just can't get on with the rabbits.

[millimurphy]

They are not neutered. They have a 2 litter trays with woodshavings.

[PagingDrFaggot]

And there lies your problem! They will never litter train successfully unless they are. My boy is neutered and never ever goes anywhere apart from 1 corner of his base cage. It's really important for does to be neutered anyway as they will undoubtedly succumb to uterine cancer if they are not. It makes them far nicer rabbits to be around , no hormonal strops for a start!!
House rabbits do make a bit of mess usually bits of hay flying round my house and he does have the occasional chew or dig , I just clap my hands loudly and say no he then stops . If you can't cope with them anymore please get them neutered of try and find a rescue place for them.

[LtEveDallas]

You need to get them spayed then Milli. Our first doe was spayed before her first season and has remained lovely and gentle. Our second unfortunately went into season the day she was booked in for her op, so it couldn't be done. It was a horrible 2 weeks with her tearing her fur out in clumps and trying to hump everything that moved. She had to be moved away from her daughter because she got vicious towards her. It actually made me quite sad to see how much she was suffering by being in season. We were able to get her done 2 weeks after the season finished and she improved in nature etc after about a month.

Get them both spayed, preferably together, and then take stock. You may find them easier to cope with afterwards. I know I did. Don't give up just yet.

[BigFatBarry]

Had you considered putting them outside if the mess is the main thing getting you down. They should be perfectly happy outside provided you can give them a decent sized hutch and some space to hop around.

FWIW, I used to have an unneutered doe and she was litter trained (not in a tray but she would never go inside her hutch, always in one corner of her outside bit.) Uterine cancer did get her in the end, but given that she was 7 or 8 (not quite sure as she was a rescue), something would have got her sooner or later.

[MandragoraWurzelstock]

Gosh yes get them neutered, it's worth every penny. (though does cost a bit)
Mine were growling and weeing and fighting till I had them done and afterwards they were like different animals entirely. They also litter trained themselves.

[Floralnomad]

If you do go down the re homing route please do it via a proper rescue or your pets could end up as bait for someone's dog .

[FernieB]

As everyone else has said, get them neutered. However if you really can't get on with them, then please don't used Preloved. Take them to a proper rescue/RSPCA who will find them a good home.

[dogrosie]

If you are going to get them rehomed, please get them spayed and get their jabs up to date beforehand, then you know that you've done the best you can for them. Otherwise you'll be relying on other people's donations to charity to get them done before they can pass them on as rescues.

[millimurphy]

Going to get the little blighters neutered. Weather has been good so I have been putting them out in the bird aviary (built just off the conservatory) in the day with fresh food/hay/water. They also have some big planters to dig in and branches to chew. They just come into their hutch in the evening (although they can access the hutch at any time).

They still manage to spray/pee quite a distance through the grating of the hutch every night but a least I am not having to clean windows every day. They look a bit sorry for themselves and I know they would be happier to run about inside. Hope I am not being mean putting them outside.

[FernieB]

They'll be much more content when they're neutered and a lot cleaner and easy to litter train.

[LtEveDallas]

Don't expect miracles though Milli, it took my does about a month to settle down after the neutering - I think they still retain the hormones for a while afterwards (disclaimer, not a vet and could be completely wrong!)

My eldest doe, the one that was done late is fine now, can be handled and is litter trained, but it still took some effort.

As for being outside, you're not being mean - you are just not giving up on them! Mine went back out this weekend and are perfectly happy. I've gone overboard with bedding in case it gets too cold for them at night, but they can't wait to be scooting around their run during the day.

best of luck, hope everything improves.

[millimurphy]

Husband has plans to extend the length of the outside aviary now and to make them a proper outdoor hutch for the warm weather. It is better now they are not constantly peeing inside.

Got to look up the costs now for neutering and save up a bit - have recently spent nearly £500 on vet bills for one of the parrots and so we are a bit skint! Hopefully they won't charge as much as an avian vet!

[LtEveDallas]

Thats great news Milli . My Does cost about £70 each for neutering, hopefully yours will be similar.

[Gay40]

My rabbits live outside and they are fine. They have a huge hutch and pen to run about in, although we secure them at night in just the hutch. It's just the right weather to put them out as they will adjust to sunny days and cool nights.