Those of you with over 10 buns?

Do you spend time with them all, if so how do you find the time?
Do you have a close bond to each of them?
Do you know all their characteristics and what their favorite thing to do is?
Are they all neutered/spayed and vaccinated?

Sorry for being a nosy bu**er :lol: I'm just curious to how you all cope with so many rabbits!

For me i spend all day from when i get up watering, feeding, cleaning and doing care duties- i.e clipping nails, checking teeth, weighing buns, booking in vet trips and doing vet runs, preparing greens, fetching hay from the shed, emptying the wheelbarrow, purchasing things online that are needed i.e bedding , food etc.

It can be done in a few hours at a rush, but to be done with attention takes alot more time and to actually have time bonding with the buns even though i do my best, they definately don't get the same as a one on one house bun or pair would get.

It is just impossible to get round them all if you work out bun to hours in a day ratio- you can see that. So everyday as a minimum basic care duties get done. I love spending time with all the bunnys, but it's hard to give a huge amount of one on one care for each of them.

Attention though is given daily in the form of grooming or nail clipping and general health checks which are done routinely.

I can sort out all the buns in 2hours45mins if i rush, but if i do things in a leisurely way- it can take me four hours for cleaning/feeding/watering and then another couple of hours doing meds, grooming and healthchecks.

Not sure how people who have full time jobs other than the buns cope. I am also doing charity admin for the other 2 hours out of an eight hour day then running another consultancy business along side for an additional two hours. Then there is running the household and caring for our pup. Not to mention the meowing kitty's who also need loves and cuddles - the cats are the easiest animals to care for

I do feel i have a bond with all of them- some stronger than others, some for other reasons, like I'm overcoming problems with them- i.e smudge with his food aggression.

They are all now neutered but some have vaccinations outstanding, which I'm in the process of getting upto date. Well they all need to be re- vaccinated before April for mixi as that is the 6 months up and a couple still need taking down to have vhd done.

Ambience said:

For me i spend all day from when i get up watering, feeding, cleaning and doing care duties- i.e clipping nails, checking teeth, weighing buns, booking in vet trips and doing vet runs, preparing greens, fetching hay from the shed, emptying the wheelbarrow, purchasing things online that are needed i.e bedding , food etc.

It can be done in a few hours at a rush, but to be done with attention takes alot more time and to actually have time bonding with the buns even though i do my best, they definately don't get the same as a one on one house bun or pair would get.

It is just impossible to get round them all if you work out bun to hours in a day ratio- you can see that. So everyday as a minimum basic care duties get done. I love spending time with all the bunnys, but it's hard to give a huge amount of one on one care for each of them.

Attention though is given daily in the form of grooming or nail clipping and general health checks which are done routinely.

I can sort out all the buns in 2hours45mins if i rush, but if i do things in a leisurely way- it can take me four hours for cleaning/feeding/watering and then another couple of hours doing meds, grooming and healthchecks.

Not sure how people who have full time jobs other than the buns cope. I am also doing charity admin for the other 2 hours out of an eight hour day then running another consultancy business along side for an additional two hours. Then there is running the household and caring for our pup. Not to mention the meowing kitty's who also need loves and cuddles - the cats are the easiest animals to care for

I do feel i have a bond with all of them- some stronger than others, some for other reasons, like I'm overcoming problems with them- i.e smudge with his food aggression.

They are all now neutered but some have vaccinations outstanding, which I'm in the process of getting upto date. Well they all need to be re- vaccinated before April for mixi as that is the 6 months up and a couple still need taking down to have vhd done.

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aww wow that's dedication How many rabbits do you have?

Mischief and Tinker's Mum said:

aww wow that's dedication How many rabbits do you have?

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Only 19 now. Still i don't know how those with 30 cope and manage a full time job etc

19 bunnies /6 hours (min)= 31 minutes per bun per day -including cleaning, feeding, watering, grooming, meds, attention and cuddles- that's not much really if you think about how much time you would spend with a solo bun or a pair.

I have 30 buns, and don't spend much time with any unless they need extra care due to illness.

I wouldn't say I have a 'bond' with many of them because most aren't really interested in humans, but I definitely know each one very well. I'm very familiar with the normal behaviour and feeding habits of every rabbit and can tell pretty much straight away if any aren't right.

Most of mine are neutered and vaccinated...the exceptions being any sickly rabbits, or any newcomers.

Ambience said:

Only 19 now. Still i don't know how those with 30 cope and manage a full time job etc

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It's all down to experience and refining your routine. I can probably do most jobs in a fraction of the time a new owner would.

It also helps to have an understanding vets who will go out of their way to work around my schedule...and I'm very fortunate that I live close to my workplace, so I can pop home at lunchtime if needed.

abbymarysmokey said:

It's all down to experience and refining your routine. I can probably do most jobs in a fraction of the time a new owner would.

It also helps to have an understanding vets who will go out of their way to work around my schedule...and I'm very fortunate that I live close to my workplace, so I can pop home at lunchtime if needed.

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I think your doing an absolutely amazing job! I bet you get to know the poorly buns, as they do tend to bond to you eventually when giving medicines. Even if it seems counterproductive. I've had some of the best bonds with poorly buns. I guess they do know they are being helped deep down.

i havent got ten i have nine however(i only wanted a neutered pair:roll
But im uo 6am chill for half hour or so pop down feed and release the buns checke each one as they go into their run.
go to work (finish at 2:30)
This is when i sit in the run and socialise the buns groom the babies and handle them for a while keep them friendly used to brush and feeding from hand

then after an hour or so i go and sit in Jay/eccles's run (until i can bond them they share) talk to them for a while have hugs etc.
then for bed time and treats. usually every other day i clean the babies hutch out to make sure they arent sat in there own wee (ruby wees in the bed area :roll

abbymarysmokey said:

I have 30 buns, and don't spend much time with any unless they need extra care due to illness.

I wouldn't say I have a 'bond' with many of them because most aren't really interested in humans, but I definitely know each one very well. I'm very familiar with the normal behaviour and feeding habits of every rabbit and can tell pretty much straight away if any aren't right.

Most of mine are neutered and vaccinated...the exceptions being any sickly rabbits, or any newcomers.

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This, I have 15 buns but a lot of other animals to look after. I do have a bond of sorts with most of them. For example Sorrell will freak out with anybody other than us, and Katie is turning into a real little sweetheart. I know if somebody isn't well almost immediately. All mine are neutered ( or are about to be) vaccinated twice yearly for myxi and once yearly for VHD.

I have 10 and work full time as well as doing a lot of fundraising for the rescues on here and up until August last year I helped care for my mum.

Firstly you need to be organised such as buying in bulk and prioritise everything (it also helps if you have a willing o/h and daughter that don't mind doing vet trips), I use the same vets as Amy and they are extremely good at fitting us in. I get up at 5.30 (at the latest every morning) I check the outside buns and feed them etc, they all live in sheds so they have plenty of room.

I have 3 indoor buns that all have dental problems, they are allowed at in different areas of the house at different times, none are couped up for long periods of time, (I am lucky as my son has study days off from college and my husband works shifts so there's always someone around to supervise them).

You do have to get to know them especially as I've adopted a lot with health problems and you need to identify if they are not well or displaying unusual behaviour, there's hardly a week goes by without at least 2 at the vets, but I knew of their problems before I adopted them, so this has become the norm for me (The receptionist knows my voice now and remembers my address without asking:lol.

Basically you have to do things like cleaning litter trays, and sweeping the sheds and runs quickly so you can spend more time with the buns

ETA the ones I had the strongest bonds with were Chester and Digby, both were very poorly and needed daily medication, both were extremely affectionate and would groom me

I have 22 bunnies , I work part time (5 mins walk from home which is great) .

Bunnies pretty much come first all the time the first thing I do in the morning is let a pair out to free range ,later on I see to the rest of them and put them out in runs etc.

All have good set ups so have plenty of room and all have access to a run or free range every day.... I know each of their little ways,likes and dislikes and spend ages in the garden with them (good excuse to be outside and not doing housework :lol: ).

If I've worked an evening shift I finish at ten and that means sorting out bunnies when I get back so going to bed late but thats cool ,they depend on me after all.

All but one of my 22 are neutered and all are vaccinated .

biscuitblossom said:

I have 22 bunnies , I work part time (5 mins walk from home which is great) .

Bunnies pretty much come first all the time the first thing I do in the morning is let a pair out to free range ,later on I see to the rest of them and put them out in runs etc.

All have good set ups so have plenty of room and all have access to a run or free range every day.... I know each of their little ways,likes and dislikes and spend ages in the garden with them (good excuse to be outside and not doing housework :lol: ).

If I've worked an evening shift I finish at ten and that means sorting out bunnies when I get back so going to bed late but thats cool ,they depend on me after all.

All but one of my 22 are neutered and all are vaccinated .

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Housework what's housework:lol::lol:

I have 17 of my own and 3 fosters.

I don't tend to spend much time with the groups or pairs, for a variety of reasons which differs depending on the pair (Roger is a wildie who freezes if he feels threatened- i.e. if someone is near-, so its not pleasurable for him to spend time with me, Candyfloss has behavioural issues and fights Dusk if I try and spend time with them because I smell of the other bunnies, and the two other trios who I do like to spend time with, both currently have lice and are in strict quarantine, but they manage very happily by themselves and don't need people at all). I do spend time with my loppies though. I make an effort to spend time with all the single bunnies, or those who are isolated singles get a chance to interact with others (through safe bars, etc).

I know them all inside out and back to front. I've had several people comment to me about how I have described them all differently on my website, which shows that I must know them all. I know their habits and patterns, likes and dislikes, health issues, the lot.

I don't work, but if I ever do manage to, then the bunny care won't be compromised too much, but the singles may struggle, although, likely by that time, at most, there will be 3 singles.

As foor bonds, yes, I have more special bonds with some bunnies than others. Sky is top of the list. My best friend (and he reckons I'm his wife, and get jealous if I interact with anybunny else). Badger I'm also very close to. In the past there have been others, Flash, Moon, Summer.

Other bunnies have their bond with me and see me as their bonded friend (which is predominantly the singles I have spent a lot of time with, like Star, Angel, and Hay Monster).

Whilst I'm closer to some though, each and everyone belongs here and gets the love and care they need and I wouldn't change them for the world. I do feel that right now I have too many bunnies though, but that's because the three fosters arrived as a trio, and then all divorced each other, which has caused a headache. Once I'm back to just my bunnies things will be far better.

Thanks for sharing everyone Was a good read. :thumb:

Just another question, do they all have the reccommended sized housing, as in 6ft x 2ft hutch with 6ft x 4ft run or even better sheds etc? I'm just wondering because i only have 4 rabbits and 1 i am struggling to fit in with the right size hutch/run!

Mischief and Tinker's Mum said:

Thanks for sharing everyone Was a good read. :thumb:

Just another question, do they all have the recommended sized housing, as in 6ft x 2ft hutch with 6ft x 4ft run or even better sheds etc? I'm just wondering because i only have 4 rabbits and 1 i am struggling to fit in with the right size hutch/run!

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I have 6x2x2 hutches outdoors and separate runs for my outdoor buns, but I'm looking to attach the runs permanently shortly. I put all the buns out in runs during the day, which are all 6x4 or above. I have some secure runs and some fencing, so i can play with size and double fence to keep them extra secure.

Indoor buns have min of a 4 foot dog crate or indoor base with a min 6x4 run attached permanently. Again some of the runs i can make any shape or size so i often create larger enclosures for them to play in.

Shortly im having a paddock- part of a horse field fenced off- a really large area so i can have enclosures out permanently on grass, with electric fencing round, at the moment most of the runs are on concrete or lino. I do sometimes alternate buns onto grass, but supervise as i haven't yet figured out how to undermesh runs ( i'm rubbish at diy) and my buns do dig. I used to have them on grass which they totally trashed and with them not undermeshed- they would sometimes dig out by morning. It was safe as the garden was enclosed, but I'd rather have the runs meshed this time before i leave them out permanently on grass.

Also i have a 10x12 shed about to be built shortly and i have another 8x6 shed i currently have. I've also been contemplating dog kennels, but I'm not sure which one to buy yet. Fortunately i am live on a equine livery yard at the moment/farm so there is alot of land. At some point i hope to increase the land further and have entire stables for groups of my bunnies. 6 months is when i plan to look for my next property if we don't stay here, and i'm going to be even more demanding about my requirements for the buns

Mischief and Tinker's Mum said:

Thanks for sharing everyone Was a good read. :thumb:

Just another question, do they all have the reccommended sized housing, as in 6ft x 2ft hutch with 6ft x 4ft run or even better sheds etc? I'm just wondering because i only have 4 rabbits and 1 i am struggling to fit in with the right size hutch/run!

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We have a huge assortment of housing here...4 aviaries with hutches inside, 2 playhouses (runs to be attached asap), 4 big 6x2ft hutches with runs under, and chicken coop with run attached.

We weren't able to supply all rabbits with the recommended housing size this winter because we had a number of rabbits become ill and needed to be taken indoors...but we should be okay when everybun goes back outdoors.

Indoors I currently have a 16x6ft 'rabbit room' which houses 5 rabs, 2 pairs in the living room, and a pair in the kitchen.

Mischief and Tinker's Mum said:

Thanks for sharing everyone Was a good read. :thumb:

Just another question, do they all have the reccommended sized housing, as in 6ft x 2ft hutch with 6ft x 4ft run or even better sheds etc? I'm just wondering because i only have 4 rabbits and 1 i am struggling to fit in with the right size hutch/run!

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Outdoors; I have 3 sheds the smallest 7 x 5 each one has a walk in run attached which is probably bigger than the shed. 2 sheds have a pair in each and the biggest shed has a pair and a single doe who prefers not to bond with any rabbit:? The shed has two built in hutches so when the pair are out Martha is kept in and vice versa.

Indoors; I have 2 dog crates with shelves, Harry and Henrietta share one and Dodger is on his own after losing Gizmo, they each have separate time out and are not couped up all day, however, during the day they spend time in their crates out of their own choice:roll:

I currently have 6 of my own (soon to be back up to 8 ), because they have all been in the big shed, i check and water them in the morning, hay if needed. This is a quick, are you all well visit. I work 13 hour shifts, and work 3.5 days a week. At the end of my shift, i come back, feed the buns, water and hay them again. This is pretty much all i do during work days. I can assess during this time that they all hope fine and eat. On my 3.5 days off a week, i let them out in the runs, do grooming, proper health checks etc. Most of them really dont care if i spend time with them or not, but i make sure they all get time.

When i had Flynn and Gracie as single bunnies, they got more time when i was working, because they were in the house, so got attention while i got ready for work/chilled out after work.

Just now, i have 13 because i have fosters. The idea is the exact same as for my usual lot. However, on work days it takes longer as they are distributed between 2 sheds and a bedroom.


ETA - my big shed has 4 pens in it which are 8ft x 5ft each

:shock: I struggle to spend time with just 2 buns! :shock:

You guys are amazing!

Set ups for my lot.... 2 pairs have brick built sheds ,one is 7x4 the other 6x6.

2 pairs have playhouse/aviary set ups - one 9x6 aviary,one 12x5.

1 pair has a 2 storey 6x3x2 (each storey) hutch with a 6x6 attached run.

1 pair has a 6x2x2 hutch run combo ,run is 6x4 , they have that within my 12x8 greenhouse which they have free range of in the winter and then use a run on the lawn for daytimes in the summer.

I have 2 singles , one has a 3 tier hutch each tier being 6x2x2, the other has a 6x2x2 two tier hutch....both go out in runs on the lawn during the day.

My pair of nethies have a 6x2x2 with seperate run for daytime.

I also have 2 pairs indoors, one pair free range downstairs and the other pair free range in my bedroom.

I think I've covered everybun!!