• Forum/Server Upgrade If you are reading this you have made it to the upgraded forum. Posts made on the old forum after 26th October 2023 have not been transfered. Everything else should be here. If you find any issues please let us know.

Advice appreciated

Star83

New Kit
Hi,

Thank you in advance for reading and any advice you may be able to give. To cut a long story short I have inherited a rabbit with 2 hours notice, I have never owned a rabbit, nor have I ever wanted too so have no idea what I am doing. He was given to me with a 2 story hutch, some straw, 2 water bottles and some rabbit food from Wilkinson. I want to do my best for him, money is tight till payday but obviously anything essential he needs I will be buying tomorrow and anything advisable after I'm paid.

Thank you x:?
 
Wow, that's short notice! Can you tell us any more about the rabbit? Will you be keeping him indoors or outdoors?

Health-wise, can you check whether the rabbit has been vaccinated or neutered/spayed?

First of all, it's going to be important for your rabbit to have a secure space to exercise in - a hutch just isn't big enough for 24/7.

Is the rabbit fed muesli? Muesli isn't optimum for a rabbits diet - it would be a good idea to switch him gradually to a better rabbit food - most of us feed Burgess Excel, as it has a good fiber content. You can't switch straight over, as it can upset the buns tummy.

Be sure the rabbit has a plentiful supply of hay and water for tonight, and just let us know what questions you have!
 
Hi,

Thank you in advance for reading and any advice you may be able to give. To cut a long story short I have inherited a rabbit with 2 hours notice, I have never owned a rabbit, nor have I ever wanted too so have no idea what I am doing. He was given to me with a 2 story hutch, some straw, 2 water bottles and some rabbit food from Wilkinson. I want to do my best for him, money is tight till payday but obviously anything essential he needs I will be buying tomorrow and anything advisable after I'm paid.

Thank you x:?



Welcome to the Forum :wave:

I would buy some hay for your rabbit. Hay and newspaper form a good basis for a litter tray, which can be a washing up bowl or something smaller if that doesn't fit inside the hutch.

Longer term you ought to read up a little, if you're intending to keep the rabbit:

http://www.therabbithouse.com/diet/

You can also download a free copy of the Rabbit Welfare Association's booklet "Hop to It', which contains all you need to know :)

https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-care-advice/rabbit-care-booklet/

We will help in any way you can, even if at the end of the day you don't wish to keep the rabbit. They can be very expensive little creatures, with neutering and vaccinations, quite apart from anything else :)

Good luck
 
I hadn't thought about neutering I will try and get an answer. I've been told he has been vaccinated but dates have yet to be forthcoming.

I am happy to keep him as he's a lovely little thing but obviously want to do right by him. I will look for vets in the area that specialise in rabbits and take him to be checked.
I will keep him outside for now and have been looking for runs for indoor/outdoor - does this look ok? https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01DBSBMI6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

He is on muesli but will switch to pellets, is it similar to switching a dog mix the muesli and pellets gradually reducing the old while upping the new?

I wasn't given any hay just straw so I have provided straw food and water and will go to the shop as soon as it opens
 
Welcome to the Forum :wave:

I would buy some hay for your rabbit. Hay and newspaper form a good basis for a litter tray, which can be a washing up bowl or something smaller if that doesn't fit inside the hutch.

Longer term you ought to read up a little, if you're intending to keep the rabbit:

http://www.therabbithouse.com/diet/

You can also download a free copy of the Rabbit Welfare Association's booklet "Hop to It', which contains all you need to know :)

https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-care-advice/rabbit-care-booklet/

We will help in any way you can, even if at the end of the day you don't wish to keep the rabbit. They can be very expensive little creatures, with neutering and vaccinations, quite apart from anything else :)

Good luck

I have started to read the Mini Encyclopaedia of rabbit breeds and care and will start on your links next thank you. I realise this will be a silly question but how do I set up the hutch? its 2 layered with the top layer including an enclosed space which I would have thought would be for sleeping but it appears that's where he mainly toilets.
 
:wave: I'm impressed ...an owner of just a few hours & you're already here asking questions. I bet you'll fall for rabbits in no time.

Yep, hay is definitely the priority. Lots of straw to keep him warm tonight. I'm not sure how to set up a hutch, sorry (I've always had house buns)

We're coming to the end of the main foraging season but I'm a big fan (as are many others on here) & it'll cost you nothing. Grass, plantain, dandelions, brambles are still around. Maybe try small quantities initially, one at a time
 
Rabbits pick a toilet corner and stick to it. It appears yours likes an upstairs bathroom.

Line all of it with newspaper and put extra down where he toilets, then put the straw down.

I would personally be worried about foxes with that run, they dig under.

If you have a look in the housing section on here, you'll get loads of ideas on how to give bunny a fun, safe home. Loads of creative and cheap solutions as well.

But that's for another day, right now, it sounds like this boy is safe, warm and in good hands.

For vets, if you are happy to share your general location, start a thread over in Rabbit Chat and call it 'Rabbit savvy vet near XX' and people should help.

Welcome to the forum!
 
:wave: I'm impressed ...an owner of just a few hours & you're already here asking questions. I bet you'll fall for rabbits in no time.

Yep, hay is definitely the priority. Lots of straw to keep him warm tonight. I'm not sure how to set up a hutch, sorry (I've always had house buns)

We're coming to the end of the main foraging season but I'm a big fan (as are many others on here) & it'll cost you nothing. Grass, plantain, dandelions, brambles are still around. Maybe try small quantities initially, one at a time

I learnt a long time ago when in doubt find helpful experts and have no problem showing ignorance :D I can see being a rabbit owner is going to have me getting closer to nature than I expected.
 
I learnt a long time ago when in doubt find helpful experts and have no problem showing ignorance :D I can see being a rabbit owner is going to have me getting closer to nature than I expected.

you'll be posting photos of you rabbits poo before the years out :lol: Its almost compulsory
 
Rabbits pick a toilet corner and stick to it. It appears yours likes an upstairs bathroom.

Line all of it with newspaper and put extra down where he toilets, then put the straw down.

I would personally be worried about foxes with that run, they dig under.

If you have a look in the housing section on here, you'll get loads of ideas on how to give bunny a fun, safe home. Loads of creative and cheap solutions as well.

But that's for another day, right now, it sounds like this boy is safe, warm and in good hands.

For vets, if you are happy to share your general location, start a thread over in Rabbit Chat and call it 'Rabbit savvy vet near XX' and people should help.

Welcome to the forum!

Thank you for the feedback, I will have a look at the housing section for better run options luckily my husband is very handy. Looks like I set the hutch up correctly thankfully ;)

My daughter is thrilled and my dog is unsure, my husband just asked am I planning to open a zoo :lol:
 
Thank you for the feedback, I will have a look at the housing section for better run options luckily my husband is very handy. Looks like I set the hutch up correctly thankfully ;)

My daughter is thrilled and my dog is unsure, my husband just asked am I planning to open a zoo :lol:


I had someone ask me once whether I was starting a farm and my husband whispered under his breath ..

"We already have one" :roll::lol:
 
I hadn't thought about neutering I will try and get an answer. I've been told he has been vaccinated but dates have yet to be forthcoming.

I am happy to keep him as he's a lovely little thing but obviously want to do right by him. I will look for vets in the area that specialise in rabbits and take him to be checked.
I will keep him outside for now and have been looking for runs for indoor/outdoor - does this look ok? https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01DBSBMI6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

He is on muesli but will switch to pellets, is it similar to switching a dog mix the muesli and pellets gradually reducing the old while upping the new?

I wasn't given any hay just straw so I have provided straw food and water and will go to the shop as soon as it opens


The benefits of neutering rabbits:

http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/pdfs/neutering28807.pdf


Also, there are two vaccinations for rabbits these days ...

The myxi combo (Myxi and VHD1)

http://www.rabbitawarenessweek.co.uk/for-vets/vaccinations-for-rabbits/nobivac/

... and VHD2 (VHD1 + 2)

https://www.harcourt-brown.co.uk/owners/frequently-asked-questions/FAQRHD
 
I hadn't thought about neutering I will try and get an answer. I've been told he has been vaccinated but dates have yet to be forthcoming.

I am happy to keep him as he's a lovely little thing but obviously want to do right by him. I will look for vets in the area that specialise in rabbits and take him to be checked.
I will keep him outside for now and have been looking for runs for indoor/outdoor - does this look ok? https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01DBSBMI6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

He is on muesli but will switch to pellets, is it similar to switching a dog mix the muesli and pellets gradually reducing the old while upping the new?

I wasn't given any hay just straw so I have provided straw food and water and will go to the shop as soon as it opens

Yes, gradual switchover over a couple of weeks. It's just that muesli has bits that are quite sugarry for rabbit digestive systems, and they tend to eat those and leave the fibre bits. Most of us feed Burgess.

Hay is really the most important part of the diet, a good Timothy feeding hay is best - it can be trial and error to find one the rabbit likes. We just bought a bale from timothyhay.co.uk - they will send a free sample for you to try if you like.

It's bonfire night next week too, so if there are fireworks nearby, can you look at places to move bun to? a garage or utility room for a night?

If you can spend a bit of time each day with bun bun from tomorrow, and use bits of basil, banana, apple (aka food) to get his attention and trust too, that would be fab! Bunnies need company, so long term we're going to pester you to get him a friend :lol: but start a new thread when you're at a point of considering it - it's more complicated than dropping another rabbit in.

Like others say, that pen isn't ideal due to bar spacing.
 
Back
Top