LeoLionhead
New Kit
Hi guys
I havent been here in a while - I rehomed a lovely little black doe a couple of years ago from here to be a girlfriend for my Lionhead Leo (if Daisy's old owner comes on here - she is still going strong and they are still very much in love ).
I wasnt really thinking of getting another rabbit but I must admit I have absolutely fallen in love with the Belgian Hare currently advertised in the rehoming adverts. I have spoken to his owner and am now just having a think about whether or not this is really practical (no).
His size is obviously one consideration - Im moving house soon and looking for a one person flat. The intention would be to have him loose in a bunny-proofed house whenever Im in, and in a cage for safety when Im away. After much looking the best thing I can find for that is an Extra Large and long dog cage so he doesnt bang his head on the roof and has plenty of room to hop/stretch.
Space is a problem for this so I cant decide whether to offer him a home until I find the flat and measure up whether such a cage would fit somewhere - especially since I already have a 4ft guinea pig cage! He is currently an indoor rabbit but I am keeping my eyes peeled for a flat with a garden so he could get some sun from time to time....
My other problem is that I do not like animals living alone, so I would need to have him neutered and get him a playmate. This cost almost £200 for my lionhead, because he got a bleed and had to be rushed back to hospital. I have rung 2 reputable local vets for quotes (one I use for my horse, the other for my guineas) and been quoted £81 and £97 assuming no complications. Ouch, but doable with a few extra shifts at work.
So the cost looks to be around £30 for the cage (second hand), £81 for the neutering, and petrol to go fetch him (about an hour and a half away).
I would need food, obviously, and bedding. I bed my pigs on Carefresh and feed them Burgess Excel, with Excel Hay and veg, and Im really over the top about reading labels and only giving them stuff which is egg/dairy/E number free (way more picky than I am for myself). Im estimating the rabbit will eat roughly the same as both pigs together, so initially I would be doubling my spendings on that?
I would only be able to get a girlfriend for him if she were free, so will just have to keep my eyes peeled. Im assuming at a year old he is too old to be bonded with a young male? Thats what I did with my pigs and it worked perfectly.
Im a student but also have a job so I should be okay at affording any emergency treatment he might need (fingers crossed not) if I just start up a little savings account for them. My pig got a problem recently - balding and swelling of his genitals - and that cost me about £100 to sort out - all to be given some moisturiser which fixed it!
Does anyone else insure their rabbits?
My boyfriend is trying to dissuade me but he is rather beautiful, Id appreciate any opinions. Or anything I should know about Belgian Hares. Or anyone telling me its a silly idea and not to do it .
Thanks guys!
Jo
xxx
I havent been here in a while - I rehomed a lovely little black doe a couple of years ago from here to be a girlfriend for my Lionhead Leo (if Daisy's old owner comes on here - she is still going strong and they are still very much in love ).
I wasnt really thinking of getting another rabbit but I must admit I have absolutely fallen in love with the Belgian Hare currently advertised in the rehoming adverts. I have spoken to his owner and am now just having a think about whether or not this is really practical (no).
His size is obviously one consideration - Im moving house soon and looking for a one person flat. The intention would be to have him loose in a bunny-proofed house whenever Im in, and in a cage for safety when Im away. After much looking the best thing I can find for that is an Extra Large and long dog cage so he doesnt bang his head on the roof and has plenty of room to hop/stretch.
Space is a problem for this so I cant decide whether to offer him a home until I find the flat and measure up whether such a cage would fit somewhere - especially since I already have a 4ft guinea pig cage! He is currently an indoor rabbit but I am keeping my eyes peeled for a flat with a garden so he could get some sun from time to time....
My other problem is that I do not like animals living alone, so I would need to have him neutered and get him a playmate. This cost almost £200 for my lionhead, because he got a bleed and had to be rushed back to hospital. I have rung 2 reputable local vets for quotes (one I use for my horse, the other for my guineas) and been quoted £81 and £97 assuming no complications. Ouch, but doable with a few extra shifts at work.
So the cost looks to be around £30 for the cage (second hand), £81 for the neutering, and petrol to go fetch him (about an hour and a half away).
I would need food, obviously, and bedding. I bed my pigs on Carefresh and feed them Burgess Excel, with Excel Hay and veg, and Im really over the top about reading labels and only giving them stuff which is egg/dairy/E number free (way more picky than I am for myself). Im estimating the rabbit will eat roughly the same as both pigs together, so initially I would be doubling my spendings on that?
I would only be able to get a girlfriend for him if she were free, so will just have to keep my eyes peeled. Im assuming at a year old he is too old to be bonded with a young male? Thats what I did with my pigs and it worked perfectly.
Im a student but also have a job so I should be okay at affording any emergency treatment he might need (fingers crossed not) if I just start up a little savings account for them. My pig got a problem recently - balding and swelling of his genitals - and that cost me about £100 to sort out - all to be given some moisturiser which fixed it!
Does anyone else insure their rabbits?
My boyfriend is trying to dissuade me but he is rather beautiful, Id appreciate any opinions. Or anything I should know about Belgian Hares. Or anyone telling me its a silly idea and not to do it .
Thanks guys!
Jo
xxx