Learning to love rabbits

[Fruitflylady]

I have two rabbits, male and female. They are nearly 3 years old, and I've had them since they were little. The problem is I feel like they are just prisoners in the garden. I really regret having got them but the children would be devastated if I let them go, so how can I learn to love them instead of resenting all the time I have to spend cleaning and feeding them?
I think I only got them because my DH refuses to get a cat or dog, which is what I'd prefer, but having pets just living in the garden rather than in the house isn't what I had in mind and I don't feel any bond with them.

You could just make them indoor rabbits?

I have an indoor rabbit and he's perfectly fine - in fact I have better piece of mind considering the nasty diseases rabbits can pick up.

I just have an indoor cage like this.

And if you're struggling to bond with your bunnies maybe learning how they're communicating with you might help?. It will certainly make you feel less guilty IMO.

They are prisoners in your garden so you're right there! What set up have you got for them? If they are stuck in a hutch no wonder you've got no bond with them, if they had a great set up they would be happier and you could watch them. I'm sitting in the sun watching mine strip a willow branch in their run now.

Do you have a shed you could convert into a rabbit home? Otherwise attach a paved run to their hutch. If you can rabbitproof your garden (we put wire mesh dug down into the ground and attached to the fence, this was quite cheap to do) you could watch them running around having fun. I think you'd enjoy them much more. I get a lot of pleasure from seeing them happily running around and dozing in the sun or munching grass. If this is not possible could you fence off a part of your garden. It would improve their quality of life greatly.

I still get fed up with the cleaning

As PP said they could become house rabbits. My own house bunny is the best company for me - she has such a huge character and personality. Rabbits are remarkably clean so are easy to litter train (if yours aren't already). You would have to rabbit proof your house or perhaps crate train them at first (like you would a puppy - this is what I did).

If that's not an option then I'd really recommend just spending more time with them. I think lots of rabbit ownership is about patience. Feed them from your hand and make easy toys for them to play with (RSPCA has loads of ideas). Get them used to being handled - this can be a long process but is definitely worth it for the bunny cuddles Like I say be patient - rabbits have such gorgeous personalities but it takes a while for them to shine through, but when you're fully bonded with a bunny there's nothing better.

Any pics?

Here's a link to some enrichment ideas from the RSPCA: www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/rabbits/behaviour/enrichment/-/articleName/CADRabbitsBehaviourEnrichment1