Hi All
This looks like a really informative forum and Im hoping someone will be able to help me out.
A few weeks ago my hubby rescued what we thought was a bunny from one the local cats. Ive been bottle feeding him and he has turned into a right little character, very tame and very loving and from recent researches (we only got the internet a week ago) Id say what I have is a hare (black ear tips, slanted brown eyes, very fine boned)...not a rabbit. I was wondering if anyone has had any experience of these creatures as the only thing I can find is about a chap called Cowper who kept 3 hares called Tiney, Puss and Bess in the 1700's. Ive been feeding him goats milk which he loves, toasted wheat bread which he also enjoys, and making available wild greens, a really good quality rabbit mix, dried hay and grass. He "demands" his bottle at least 3 times a day and loves to sit on my knee and sleep and munch on toasted wheat bread (oat bread) of an evening. He also has a stone in his house which he "grates" his teeth on when takes the mind to do it. He is a very clean little guy and relaxed enough to sit and clean himself on my knee.
Im sorry if anyone doesnt approve but if hubby hadnt rescued the little fella he wouldve been kitty chow.....and as we didnt expect him to live for more than 24 hours still having him after 5 weeks has been a real experience. We adore him and want to give him a good life. Hubby grows lots of veg in the garden so he will always have plenty of fresh organic veg to eat as well as the best we can afford to buy him.
Any tips or advice gratefully accepted.
This looks like a really informative forum and Im hoping someone will be able to help me out.
A few weeks ago my hubby rescued what we thought was a bunny from one the local cats. Ive been bottle feeding him and he has turned into a right little character, very tame and very loving and from recent researches (we only got the internet a week ago) Id say what I have is a hare (black ear tips, slanted brown eyes, very fine boned)...not a rabbit. I was wondering if anyone has had any experience of these creatures as the only thing I can find is about a chap called Cowper who kept 3 hares called Tiney, Puss and Bess in the 1700's. Ive been feeding him goats milk which he loves, toasted wheat bread which he also enjoys, and making available wild greens, a really good quality rabbit mix, dried hay and grass. He "demands" his bottle at least 3 times a day and loves to sit on my knee and sleep and munch on toasted wheat bread (oat bread) of an evening. He also has a stone in his house which he "grates" his teeth on when takes the mind to do it. He is a very clean little guy and relaxed enough to sit and clean himself on my knee.
Im sorry if anyone doesnt approve but if hubby hadnt rescued the little fella he wouldve been kitty chow.....and as we didnt expect him to live for more than 24 hours still having him after 5 weeks has been a real experience. We adore him and want to give him a good life. Hubby grows lots of veg in the garden so he will always have plenty of fresh organic veg to eat as well as the best we can afford to buy him.
Any tips or advice gratefully accepted.
Oh wow - you lucky lady! Sounds like you are doing a great job and don't even need advice - I hope he stays happy although obviously once he reaches sexual maturity that could change dramatically. I doubt you could release him into the wild with him/her (are you sure of the sex - it's very tricky?) being so tame, but you could maybe get him neutered at around 5 months by a competant vet who has attended small animal conferences (otherwise they tend to specialise in cats/dogs) - after a further 2 months you could then bond him with a female rabbit for company, or keep him single as a house bunny if he's still tame enough - so long as he gets lots of attention he will be OK alone too. Keep us posted as it's a fascinating story! 
