Moving in the Bunnies

It was VERY cold on Saturday, Dec 5. Another super busy day inside and outside. 

Steve fixed the back stairs with a railing so navigation would be easier. 

Jonathan worked on the larger of the rabbit cages that came with the rabbits. The pair had been living together, during the colder days were in the garage with a heat lamp, and lived in spendy cages that were more fluff than stuff. Jon wasn't sure if the female (renamed Maude) was pregnant, but he really didn't want to have kits in the winter. So, he needed to reinforce the cage and make it into two rooms. Maude loves to chew on things and the cage was fair game. 

I took pictures outside and then had a spot of help with Holly. 

This is the larger cage before renovations. A soft hammer blow could harm this expensive purchase on Amazon. The cage parts on each end were reinforced and he added better latches. The cage they were picked up in, Jon's completely unimpressed with. He may use it for something later. He will also need to make a couple more regular cages to move the rabbits to and then this one will be rebuilt completely and used. 

This is Maude. Her previous owners called her Zsa Zsa.  

Here is Maude with Bucky, who was called Jimmy Bunny 007. They moved from the unheated addition to their outdoor cage and seem to be quite content not being pampered indoor outdoor bunnies! 

 

On the Bunny Trail

 The flowers are just because they are were so very pretty blooming inside, just before Thanksgiving. 

Jon worked very hard building cages for the new rabbits he was purchasing from a farm in La Pine, OR. The owner had raised her rabbits in a burrow method and most of them had escaped and been recaptured and consequently, butchered before the Dec deadline. She saved out some of the little ones for Jon. He was going to get two does and a buck. But, they needed places to live. Jon reused lumber, purchased more, bought the cage materials and made a place to shelter three cages. The cages can lift up and out, if you really want to! He was going to move the new buck into Granite's cage and have the ladies all in a row. 

We took a family road trip to La Pine, Or  and stopped on the way back for a family photo. It was taken by a  convenient rock off the side of the road. 

The farm, Far Away, I think, was a small family farm. The owner was raising a lot of different critters. We met a tom, who was slated for a Christmas dinner, and the hen, who was adorable!! They were outside the pen where the Chinchilla rabbits were living with a cute small pig and a flock of chickens. There was also a good sized shed in the pen for the critters to roost or rest in. Watching the capture of the three young bunnies was loud and a bit exciting!!! Chickens and rabbits running around the enclosure with two grown ups trying to grab bunnies on frozen ground. Jon didn't do much running, but he did manage to grab one with the blue tail. The boys had painted blue tails and the girls had pink ones. 

It was a lovely day with a stunning sunset. The blue sky went on as far as the flat acres of farmland. It was odd seeing mountains poke up here and there! 

(Jon took the tree photo)

Four rabbits at the Hansell house. Onyx, the buck. 

Slate and Quartz, the two girls. Slate is the smallest one, but she's been gaining weight quickly. We surmise she may have been the runt and being fed with no competition has been good for her. 

And the oldest bunny, Granite. 

Unfortunately, Jon later discovered that Onyx was actually a doe. So, his small bunny endeavor still needs a buck! 

Quail, rabbits, frogs, and Oliver (photos by Jonathan)

Jon almost always takes his camera to Grandma's house. If he doesn't, he'll see things to photograph! 

There are many wild rabbit around. Night shots are not as easy as they might be. 

 It is inevitable you will capture the elusive were rabbit with photography. Bunnicula's eyes do turn yellow, in Wallace and Gromit's: Curse of the Were Rabbit, the rabbit was a giant creature who really was Wallace. FUN movie!!

Jon also found a very tiny frog in the yard here in town.  I wonder if the little thing is normally this small? 

 And then a couple of photos of Oliver. I called him Dandy Lion til his teen owners came to rescue him and gave him proper identification. I do hope he keeps away from the young robins. However, he and the neighbor Siamese are incredibly fond of climbing trees. Which is how Oliver got on top of the Little House in the back yard!