LGBTQ+ Poultry Keepers

[fluffycrow]

Jeez.... what a day.

I got back from scotland/up north on Wednesday night, I have this sinking feeling that my rabbit, Bonnie, needs to move inside. I felt like her quality of life isn't good enough anymore and that her enclosure is not ideal. Keep in mind she's 3 years old, and my childhood rabbit trauma was my rabbits never living past 3. So I've started being really anxious about Bonnie's wellbeing.

I tell my mum I want Bonnie to live inside at least over winter, out of the damp and cold. She said no, absolutely wouldn't budge. Which I guess is fair enough because when I rescued Bonnie I had assured my parents she would not live indoors, its their house at the end of the day. But this feeling didn't go away and I persisted in my concern today, feeling still that something is off about Bonnie being outside. The answer was still no, she's fine outside.

I go to the back door to go trim her nails and clean her hutch, look up and see her tug herself through a gap in the pen wire- and suddenly she's free.

This is not a rabbit that likes people, she is suddenly free in the large garden, the dogs could get her, the neighbours cat would go after her, she could slip under the neighbours fence if I try to catch her, they have a dog in their garden too.
Absolute terror, I sprinted and thank God my bf was close by and also rushed out, we managed to corner and grab her by some miracle.

I was literally shaking, if I had waited a few minute longer she would've been gone. I am not over reacting when I say she would've been dead had we not seen her at that moment just as she escaped. I was there by some miracle at the exact moment she squeezed out. This rabbit chewed through metal wire, she must've weakened it while I was up north and today it snapped.
Anyway I marched straight to my mother and insisted, she's coming inside, that's the end of it. I will never trust her outside again. I didn't want her out for another cold damp winter with only a few hours of daylight out of her hutch etc, but this is the cherry on the cake. Bizarre timing of all this. Utterly bizarre, what are the odds?

Shes currently in bunny jail (locked in her hutch as thats the only safe place right now) but I'm going to go pick up an indoor pen now and she's coming inside tomorrow...

Glad you get to bring her inside now! Super glad she didn't manage to run away

 

[KikiDeAnime]

I'll be putting together clips from my Fortnite matches and posting them on youtube if any of you are interested in watching them
You don't need to subscribe unless you want to be notified about new videos.
This is just for fun.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Just finished the Paul/Tyson fight

 

[BelovedBirds]

Bonnie moved inside today, I'm having to rehome some things to make space in my room, but it's a sacrifice worth making for her health and happiness!

She absolutely loves it. After 5 minutes of exploring toys, an enrichment/forage box and hides, she flopped out on her side for a rest. She seems pretty calm!
The pen is 8 foot long and at least 4 foot wide but I will be trying to give her a little more space once my room is fully organised and furniture is reset.

I don't believe there's anything wrong with bunnies living outside it just depends on the rabbit and on the set up, it just definitely isn't working for us. She would need a better secured pen and in my opinion preferably a friend.

And as Bonnie is a pet, I didn't get any enjoyment from keeping her when she was outside. I hardly had time to spend with her out there! This will feel much better and hopefully allow us to bond.

 

[calicocows]

Bonnie moved inside today, I'm having to rehome some things to make space in my room, but it's a sacrifice worth making for her health and happiness!

She absolutely loves it. After 5 minutes of exploring toys, an enrichment/forage box and hides, she flopped out on her side for a rest. She seems pretty calm!
The pen is 8 foot long and at least 4 foot wide but I will be trying to give her a little more space once my room is fully organised and furniture is reset.

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View attachment 3989609
I don't believe there's anything wrong with bunnies living outside it just depends on the rabbit and on the set up, it just definitely isn't working for us. She would need a better secured pen and in my opinion preferably a friend.

And as Bonnie is a pet, I didn't get any enjoyment from keeping her when she was outside. I hardly had time to spend with her out there! This will feel much better and hopefully allow us to bond.

you're doing a good job! depending who you ask, keeping rabbits outside can be frowned upon, as they're nervous creatures and sensitive to changes in environment, as well as susceptible to issues from temperature changes. be aware that they can be destructive little guys, make sure she can't get to any walls or anything that you don't want her chewing and totally destroying!

 

[BelovedBirds]

you're doing a good job! depending who you ask, keeping rabbits outside can be frowned upon, as they're nervous creatures and sensitive to changes in environment, as well as susceptible to issues from temperature changes. be aware that they can be destructive little guys, make sure she can't get to any walls or anything that you don't want her chewing and totally destroying!

I would favour this opinion typically, but I do like to keep an open mind, especially in situations where bunnies aren't kept as pets. If they have to be outdoors I think measures can be taken to ensure good quality of life- they can greatly benefit from companionship with their own kind, large enclosures, and as much shelter from the elements as possible.
But I do think when a bunny is a pet that they do best indoors, it means they're going to connect with their owner so much more, and if they're a lone bunny like Bonnie is, they get much more entertainment and companionship when living with humans. And it's most definitely safer to be inside!
It's been such a short period of time and the change in her behaviour has been amazing- she's still a sassy girlie, but she's significantly calmer and we're already bonding!
I would love to get a friend for her, my instinct is that she would be able to get on with the right neutered buck. And I believe this may make her feel more secure and more social with me- but it's not an option right now. And since I'm all she has for now, it definitely feels right that she's close by.

One day, I may try to rescue a male rabbit and attempt to bond them. I had a doe a lot like Bonnie once, and she was so much happier with her buck, they were absolutely inseparable, constantly grooming eachother.
If it doesn't ever work out, I'd just have to keep them separately or find a good home for him.

As for housing, I have a temporary pen set up, she can't damage anything really, and has lots of toys (she is a very destructive bunny, my first digger too) but I will be soon extending her pen and making a more permanent set up. So any tips welcome!

A photo of the flopper, enjoying an afternoon nap today (she sleeps as if she works a 9-5 job!)

 

[Fluffy_Moth_With_Silkies]

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A photo of the flopper, enjoying an afternoon nap today (she sleeps as if she works a 9-5 job!)

Her 9-5 job is sleeping ig

 

[KikiDeAnime]

Update on my flock.
We're down to 4 chickens and 4 ducks. I plan to keep it this small for a while until I'm sure that I can keep my birds safe.
I'm honestly surprised we haven't lost our 8 year old hen yet but I'm also glad to still have her.

 

[KikiDeAnime]

Do any of you have suggestions for anything extra I can give my poor molting senior hen? It seems to be the worst molt for her this year.

 

[fluffycrow]

Do any of you have suggestions for anything extra I can give my poor molting senior hen? It seems to be the worst molt for her this year.

I tend to up protein for a bit. That said, most of my experience is with younger birds