Hello Everyone,
Thanks to Tamsin for sorting out my user account!
I haven't kept a rabbit since I was young, some years ago, but my son has wanted one for the last 6 months so I've been doing all the research I could to make the right choices. I'm lucky that my son dotes on animals ( he wants to work in a zoo when he grows up!! he owns more animal books than most petshops!) he insisted that he bought rabbit books (with his own money) so he could learn all about looking after them before dad builds him a hutch!
Originally the plan was to own one rabbit with two pigs to keep everyone happy and busy in a large hutch! about 5 feet long with a ramp and run under. The rabbit and pigs were to be shop bought, the hutch would be built by dad for the animals (dad loves to build! so he can make a home!)
Spot anything wrong with the above? didn't take me long to find the right path ;-) the plan is now slightly revised! to its current state of:
Rehome a bonded pair of rabbits from a rescue centre so we don't encourage pets at home to have more breed to sell.
The Pigs don't factor anymore!!
The 'large'!! hutch is now ditched in favour of a shed about 6' x 4' lino lined with a run about 8' x 4' accessed via a catflap
A simple heating / cooling system installed high up in the shed above teeth height!
Teeth proof the living room wires
Grow a few carrots in the veggie patch and some dandelions in a window box
Learn to speak rabbit fluently!
We live in Kent currently but we're moving home to North Wiltshire within the next month to a house with a lovely 80 foot rear garden coming from a house with a 15 foot rear garden we are more than a little excited about the prospects of now being able to offer a home to some binking buns.
I've got a couple of unanswered questions to find answers to, so if anyone can answers these, I'd really appreciate it!
1) My son like rabbits which are front half one colour and rear half another colour, that's what he likes......!!! I'm in no position to argue with him!! are these called Dutch rabbits generally?
2) Regarding building runs and treating any wood work. What type of wood is preffered for runs to be built from and what do you treat the wood with that will not harm the rabbits?
3) When we viewed the house we are buying, we noticied there are squirrels about. Are there any 'special factors' I should account for with them when building a home / run, or any health issues with close proximity?
It goes without saying that if I can offer any help moving animals about the country to help rehome them to their final destination, I will of course offer all the help I can, we're going to be in North Wiltshire close to the M4 not far from Swindon.
Thanks in advance for any replies!
Martyn
Thanks to Tamsin for sorting out my user account!
I haven't kept a rabbit since I was young, some years ago, but my son has wanted one for the last 6 months so I've been doing all the research I could to make the right choices. I'm lucky that my son dotes on animals ( he wants to work in a zoo when he grows up!! he owns more animal books than most petshops!) he insisted that he bought rabbit books (with his own money) so he could learn all about looking after them before dad builds him a hutch!
Originally the plan was to own one rabbit with two pigs to keep everyone happy and busy in a large hutch! about 5 feet long with a ramp and run under. The rabbit and pigs were to be shop bought, the hutch would be built by dad for the animals (dad loves to build! so he can make a home!)
Spot anything wrong with the above? didn't take me long to find the right path ;-) the plan is now slightly revised! to its current state of:
Rehome a bonded pair of rabbits from a rescue centre so we don't encourage pets at home to have more breed to sell.
The Pigs don't factor anymore!!
The 'large'!! hutch is now ditched in favour of a shed about 6' x 4' lino lined with a run about 8' x 4' accessed via a catflap
A simple heating / cooling system installed high up in the shed above teeth height!
Teeth proof the living room wires
Grow a few carrots in the veggie patch and some dandelions in a window box
Learn to speak rabbit fluently!
We live in Kent currently but we're moving home to North Wiltshire within the next month to a house with a lovely 80 foot rear garden coming from a house with a 15 foot rear garden we are more than a little excited about the prospects of now being able to offer a home to some binking buns.
I've got a couple of unanswered questions to find answers to, so if anyone can answers these, I'd really appreciate it!
1) My son like rabbits which are front half one colour and rear half another colour, that's what he likes......!!! I'm in no position to argue with him!! are these called Dutch rabbits generally?
2) Regarding building runs and treating any wood work. What type of wood is preffered for runs to be built from and what do you treat the wood with that will not harm the rabbits?
3) When we viewed the house we are buying, we noticied there are squirrels about. Are there any 'special factors' I should account for with them when building a home / run, or any health issues with close proximity?
It goes without saying that if I can offer any help moving animals about the country to help rehome them to their final destination, I will of course offer all the help I can, we're going to be in North Wiltshire close to the M4 not far from Swindon.
Thanks in advance for any replies!
Martyn