At 8PM I descended down into the rabbit basement to clean the cages of my respective warrens: Nixie and Monk on the left, and Huxley and Tacey on the right. Two garbage bags later, all the scattered poos (piles of poo I should say) torn newspaper, and uneaten hay is scooped. I fill their dishes with pellets, refill the hay container, and freshen their water. I'm all set to return upstairs when I realize I have a spare cardboard box. . .
Now, I've wanted to do something about the set-up for sometime. Each warren is a NIC rectangle, 24 NIC squares around, 2 NIC squares high. Altogether the parameter is 48 squares around. But they share a wall. This wouldn't be a problem (they've happily had it this way for some time) if it weren't for cleaning up.
Literally within a day they will have marked along the entire perimeter of their cage with poos. Both sides. Nixie and Monk along their side, Tacey and Huxley along theirs. This means they're forever ruining their floor (along that edge only) which means more cleaning & the more I have to go out & buy new flooring. A little while ago I decided that when it came time to throw out this floor (which wasn't tonight) I'd dismantle the cages, create two separate pens (not attached) and move them to separate places in the basement. So that they no longer destroyed their floor & perhaps were happier bunnies? That I wasn't so sure about, but I figured they couldn't be too happy constantly marking territory - especially now that they each have a 'special' bunny to share their lives with. (It was different when I had three). But anyway. . .
I decided to literally erect a cardboard wall between the two pens. Well, put up a cardboard shield. And. . . although they appeared to be very concerned by what was going on, all standing on their back legs trying to peer over the wall (they failed - the wall is too high for their little legs to stretch!) within minutes I had my answer:
Huxley slumped down in the newspapers. Tacey did three very impressive binkies. Then she groomed him. And slumped down on top of him. On the other side of the cardboard barrier, Miss Nixie binkied around the cage at super sonic speed. Binkies I've never seen before. (Not the usual helicopter or running man binky she's famous for). Monk joined her. Then Nixie groomed fake Nixie (the stuffed rabbit she's shared her cage with since she was a baby). Monk came over and groomed her. Then they too snuggled.
Usually they're contented bunnies, binkying around, snuggling often (often seems like an understatement given their nature - relentless grooming & lovings). But tonight they seemed super happy. And there wasn't nearly the running up and down the 'wall' laying down droppings. So. . . I guess I got my answer. Until they eat through the cardboard wall, I've at least bought myself some time. And I will officially break apart the cage & rebuild within the month. I'm in no hurry though, after all, rebuilding is not fun & my hands thanks to electric ties especially especially hate the process. But, I think they'll benefit in the long run.
As I walked the short distance to the stairs Nixie did one final celebratory binky. I'm sure it was as if to say "YAY, I no longer have to see that bossy Tacey anymore! Woo hoo!" Tacey is especially bossy to Nixie, even through a fence. . .
My little Monk and his adoring Nixie-wabbit.
My sweet Huxley and his bossy but beautiful Tacey.
I also can't believe that all of my bunnies are now older than Kenya was when he passed away. I used to think that if they could all out live him I'd be a very happy Mommy. Now that Monk is two months older than he was when he left us, I want them all to survive at least another three years. My poor Nixie (if it weren't for those astounding binkies tonight) is nearly four years old. Even my eldest I'm not ready to lose anytime soon. I know, it can't be helped. But I swear I still worry incessantly about them. They're all so unique and special in their own wonderful way.