Blanco is loving the new setup in the garden (well, he's not happy that I fenced off my kale and lettuces, but he did get a flat of wheat grass and a dirt area all to himself!)

Linda came over the other day and brought this awesome statue that she painted to look like Blanco!

She came in the yard and hung out with us while Blanco had the run of the yard a bit. I asked her if she could please check his privates (and his nail length), since I had been having a hard time picking him up to check. I felt so horrible that Blanco bit her on her finger, but she was such a trooper through it all. She taught me all about what to look for to make sure he is healthy "down there." I appreciate her knowledge and support so much. For someone who runs a busy rabbit rescue, she finds the time to EDUCATE. I look forward to having her come to my class this year for a Humane Ed lesson!

Blanco got his first package from his Aunt Susan!!! She has always been so supportive and has always treated all of my animals as members of the family. 

I doubt I will ever be able to use the vest, so I will donate it, but we appreciate her thoughtfulness so much! Here Blanco is chinning his gifts - "Mine!!!"

I've been trying to think of new ways to enrich Blanco's time in the x-pen. Today I made him a dig box with recycled paper and he LOVED climbing in and out and digging through the paper. It was super easy to clean up, too!

"Thanks, mom!"

I've been letting Blanco run around the yard more each day as long as I am out there to supervise him. This has become one of my favorite parts of my day. I love watching him run around and play, especially knowing that he probably would not be alive today if Lisa did not post that video of him in the shelter.  It still makes me sad to know he was labeled "aggressive" at the shelter. It makes me think of all the other animals who are given that label just because they are scared. I am sure there are so many dogs, cats, and bunnies that might not get a chance of a home because of a label like that.

I wish I could save ALL the animals who need homes....they ALL deserve a chance.

He LOVES having the run of the yard!

Checking out the rosemary

It might be time to bunny-proof the garden!

Guess what?!!

I saw that Blanco started to "binky!!!!!" This is when bunnies basically do a happy dance for you by jumping and twisting in the air!
I have to admit, I got a bit teary-eyed when I read this about binkies: "All this is a rabbit's way of telling you straight out that it is happy and overall pleased with you and its life."

I sure hope this is true and that Blanco is happy with his life :)

I hope one day to get a video of him binky-ing!

Today he jumped in my lap and sat for a bit to let me pet him. He also tried to dig my yoga pants! I need to get him some kind of dig box soon - he sure really seems to love digging!

In mom's lap!!  Dig, Dig Dig!

Just chillin'.....

Blanco has still been settling in nicely. He has still been spraying pee a bit at me - most of the time I think it is because I startle him or he feels that "his space' is being threatened, but yesterday he seemed to do it "just because."
People have assured me that it's just his hormones and that it still takes about 6 weeks after neutering for them to calm down a bit. We shall see!

He still does not like me  picking him up. Part of it, I am sure, is my lack of confidence when trying....and NOT trying enough! To get him from the play area to the hutch I have to bribe him into the carrier with a carrot then transport him that way. Someday I hope to just pick him up and bring him over, but for now I am thankful the carrier method works easily! Luckily he is very food motivated - even getting him from having the run of the yard back into the hutch is easy with the right food!

Craig and I are in the beginning stages of planning the new bunny home. We knew his hutch / x-pen area were just going to be temporary. We plan on still getting Blanco a bunny buddy, so we want to coincide a new home with when we get Blanco's new friend so that there are no territorial issues with the old setup. There are SO MANY amazing setup ideas online - this one is my dream setup, if only we had grass!

My *DREAM* setup!

Some recent pictures....

Chinning mom....and to think he was labeled "aggressive!"

With Jenny

Blanco has been doing well lately :) we went away for 4th of July weekend, so Lisa came over to take care of Blanco and our cat Bela. He did awesome with her, of course. I really believe that he knows that she is the reason he is here today. He will always hold a special place in his heart for her. 

When we got back he seemed excited to see me - giving me lots of chin rubs. He also sat in my lap when I set up his new x-pen area! I need to gain confidence with picking him up. Everytime I try he squirms and kicks away. Time to re- watch the " How to Pick Up Your Bunny" you tubes!

Craig and I have been looking at ideas for a new hutch and play run for Blanco. Eventually we are going to upgrade his living space to allow him even more room for running around. 

The last 2 days I have also been allowing Blanco to run around the entire backyard while I sweep up his hutch. Our yard is completely fenced in and we've bunny-proofed it, but I still keep a close eye on him. He seems to really enjoy hopping fast around the yard and chinning everything as if to say, "Yep, this is mine!" 

It's been easier than I expected to let him do this. After a few minutes he comes back to his hutch to get his pellets and veggies - hopefully the ease of getting him back into the hutch lasts. 

After that I spend about 2 minutes walking around the yard to pick up his poops. He hasn't peed much on the pavers, but when he does I just hose it down. 

So far his favorite veggies are carrots / carrot tops, parsely, romaine lettuce, and spinach. 

What an interesting morning!
I've been trying to make sure I give Blanco some enrichment in his hutch - yesterday I put in some wooden balls and made a toilet paper roll toy with food inside:

Today I put a tissue box in there.
HUGE mistake!
He ended up getting his head suck inside!
I am sooooo glad that I was home and noticed it right after it happened.

I can't imagine if this would have happened this weekend when we are away and our petsitter is visiting!
When I approached his cage to try to help him, he was running around like crazy and peeing EVERYWHERE. I mean, the entire downstairs of his hutch was covered in pee. When I finally got him to calm down a bit, the entire tissue box was soaking wet. That made it easier to get off, but then I noticed that there was plastic around his body (no wonder he was running around!) Silly me did not even notice that there was plastic at the top of the tissue box. Luckily I was able to calm him down completely and distract him with a carrot so I could cut off the plastic. I felt like a horrible mom, but I guess it is part of the learning process.

The rest of the day went well. I picked up some  PUL fabric from Joann's to line the bottom of the x-pen area (thank God for the 40% coupon!) It is the same waterproof stuff people use to make diapers. I clipped it on and it made cleaning up from playtime SO MUCH easier! I realized that I need to put a litter box in the x-pen area, too. Maybe he can learn to use that and keep the x-pen area clean. Oh, the things we learn as we go!

SO much easier to clean after playtime - plus its super cute fabric!

The rest of Sunday went well - Blanco seemed happy in his new home. The only thing that concerned me was that I got sprayed with pee FOUR times today. Oh, and Jenny got sprayed once. Blanco should have been a fireman, because man does that kid have great aim! Right for the face each time...gross! Even with Jenny!

From what I can tell, this is his rebellious, cranky "teenager" stage, which neutering should help with. Since he was only neutered a week ago, his hormones are still raging for about another 4-6 weeks. I also read that it could be him marking territory...ok, ok...Blanco we get it now....we are YOURS! It could also be that he is getting used to his new surroundings.

On Monday, he seemed happy again - he was most active early in the morning around 6am. I saw him running around the bottom part of his hutch. Then most of the rest of the day he laid around. I cleaned his entire cage out today. It was pretty easy to get him into the carrier - just add a carrot and he walks right in! I put the carrier in the x-pen to let him hop around a bit more. He hopped for a bit, then relaxed the rest of the time in the x-pen.

I already have a better idea for the shading of the x-pen area...and some different floor material.

Dog and Bunny
Jenny did a great job out there with us. Whenever she got too close to the x-pen I would call her over and she came running (she has been learning "come.") I was quite proud of them both! She tried to spray at Jenny today, but missed (phhhhhhew!) and did NOT try to spray at me at all today! I hope we have another day tomorrow of not spraying mom!

This is how I exercise!

Cleaning
It was pretty easy to clean out the cage - sweeping up the poop pellets is a breeze, but
Blanco's aim in the litter box for pee leaves something to be desired. He seems to enjoy peeing right outside of the litter box. I also noticed that he peed in his sleeping box on the fleece I put up there :(

Blanco is famous already!
The Beach Reporter (local beach cities newspaper) posted a picture of Blanco today! I was so excited!

I transitioned Blanco to his outside home today and I'm hoping for the best! So far her seems quite happy in there! I put some of his old poop and pee in the new highback litter box, hoping he will use that. He had a bad habit of sitting in the litter box while it was in the bathroom and peeing just outside of it, as if his butt was hanging over the edge. We will see if this helps.

I put the carrier near the entrance of his new house and after a few minutes he saw his favorite treats and ventured in. The first thing he did was sniff and explore the downstairs area...then he started to chin rub everything down there. "Mine...mine...mine!!!"

First steps out of carrier to new home

I placed some parsley about halfway up the ramp with more up top to coax him up there. It took about 5 minutes for him to explore the upstairs area! he even went into his "bedroom" for a bit.

"Look mom! I made it up!"

Next, he got some exercise! He started to run up and down the ramps and back and forth on the bottom level for a bit. I noticed him chin rubbing some more and now he is sprawled out on the bottom level - front paws forward and back paws back as if he in lounging on a couch or something! I sure hope that he enjoys this new home. 

Chillin' in his new casa...

I am trying to just leave him alone in his house for today so he can get used to it. I did go out to give him some pellets before and when I opened the front door he sprayed me with pee -  it got all over my arm and my pants :(

Then, he did it again when I brought the dog out there (Jenny the dog was awesome when we went out there...no whining or barking by the Bun House!)

I'm hoping that's just a temporary thing....it is a big day for him, just like the first day in the bathroom was. He needs his space and time...