First time on here, wanting to buy a rabbit.

[Ida]

If you want a rabbit, and you want to do what's best for him, as you obviously do by asking all these questions, then I would say go for it. As long as you keep your membership her you will learn new things everytime you log on, and you can ask about your rabbits as the questions pop up There's quite alot one can learn about keeping rabbits, but it's impossible to learn all at once.

Rabbits can indeed be very cuddly, but most will want to be petted when they're on the ground. So sitting down with your rabbits I think will make them trust you and want to be around you. Also you can pick rabbits at the rescue that seems like they enjoy human company and cuddles.

 

[bunny babe]

Ok I think I do need to go to a rabbit rehoming place, anyone know of one near Runcorn, Cheshire? I currently don't drive so can't go too far away, might be able to get a lift short distance.

There is an RSPCA in Wallasey, you may be able to get there by train (walkable from Wallasey Village train station). Beth there is great if you want to talk to someone as she keeps rabbits herself.

http://www.rspcawirral.org.uk/small.htm#rabbits

 

[*lily*]

If you can't cancel the hutch off Ebay, attaching a large run to it and letting your rabbit have 24 hour access would mean that he/she had adequate space

 

[Samantha]

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[XMissySJx]

That's a really good idea

Really want one after seeing so many pics of them! :lol:

There is one more thing though. I have a 4 year old and 2 year old child. It wouldn't be their pet but I would allow them to see the rabbits and when with me gently stroke them (they are really gentle with the dog). When I looked on the RSPCA website they won't allow me to rehome with having children under 4. Therefore is it a good idea to get rabbits?

some people will disagree with me here but me and ym family have always argued against age restrictions on rehoming. once we were not allowed to adopt a dog who couldnt go to home with children under 12 when my brother was 11 and 10 months. and we had had 3 dogs previously, so he was great with animals.

sometimes if you explain to rescues they will look at your individual case rather than your childrens ages, i think its clear you understand that children should never be the pets 'owner' and i think explainging that will work in your favour. x

 

[montyflossy]

A lot of people on here have young children and rabbits. As long as you are the carer and owner I do not see a problem, but again a rescue would advise.

Please don't let being bombarded by all this info put you off - you do sound like you would be a good bunny owner (mainly because you seem to be thinking about it so much!)

Best and worse things for me:

Best - Watching my 11 buns out in the sun, playing with their partner and their toys.

Worst - When one of them is really poorly, you call emergency vets, administer loads of meds then have a long and miserable time just waiting to see if it works Not to mention the £200 it cost....

seriously though they are great animals to own

 

[Samantha]

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[XMissySJx]

i dont because i have four...and in my area it is £12 a month per bunny, so x'd by four it isnt worth it.

however...if you only ave one or two most people dp have them insured. pet plan is good!

 

[touie]

when i had 3 I had them insured, but after that it got too expensive.

 

[elve]

I dithered for many months before getting rabbits - the more I found out the more scary it all seemed, and the more scared I was of making a mistake - I bought all the kit and did all the research and had food and everything, did the shed out and made it all perfect, but still didn't get any bunnies :lol: I really wanted rescue bunnies, but there are so many gorgeous bunnies in rescue - how to choose? :shock: I just plumped for a pair of neutered adult brothers in the end - for no other reason than I felt sorry for them as nobody wanted them ('boring' brown )

I would definitely advise you get neutered adults - you can tell their true temperament, a good rescue will neuter, bond and vet check them before homing them to you, and you won't have the awful worry of having to get them neutered or bonding them yourself.

The worst thing about having rabbits is two things really - before you get them find a good hay supplier - pet shop hay isn't usually that good quality and their health depends on daily, fresh, good quality hay - 80% of their diet should be hay. you also need somewhere dry to store it - and if the sun gets on it when stored in plastic, it's ruined.

Also before you get them, find a good vet! Ring around and ask if they have attended small animal conferences to update skills as most vets are cat/dog experts with little idea about sick bunnies, who are far more delicate than cats or dogs. Also without a car it is a real worry when they get ill - I can't drive and get cheap hay from farm shops, so have to spend a fortune, and they ALWAYS get ill on Sundays, midnight, or bank holidays when the vet charges double time and I have to arrange childcare as well as transport - I never enjoy Christmas as it's a sure thing I will be playing nurse :roll: I expect you're used to that with 2 small children though

 

[Maizy]

Totally agree with what's already been said, only to add that until I got a bun I had no idea of just how much happiness they bring. I get so much from mine and to see them happy and hoppy binkying in the fresh air is just lovely..

Downside well, I think there is a downside to most pets, not sure buns are that much different in terms of the sorrow felt when you lose one, but they may be disproportionately more expensive at the vets given their life expectancy. Dogs and cats are expensive at the vets, but live longer, so it may not be felt quite so much as with a bun. I have 3 dental buns and have had more than my fair share of vet trips, but I wouldn't be without them for the joy they bring.

As for the age limitation, I'm with SJ on this one, as my children have been raised with animals and have a very good sense of behaviour and respect for them. When we wanted to re-home 3 cats, we were turned down by every rescue because our children at the time were under 12 ( and in two instances the age was 14 ). I understand why the re-homers think putting age limitations protects the animals from unnecessary stress, but like SJ says each case should be considered instead of a blanket bar which potentially denies an animal a good and loving home. Wish you loads of luck and I think you sound like a great pet owner.

 

[Sooz]

The vet bills keep getting mentioned, do any of you have your bunnies insured?

Whilst I would advise anyone with one or two bunnies to get insurance be aware that of the few companys which will insure rabbits most exclude dental cover.

Many people prefere to put away a set amount of money each month which can then be used as and when needed for any condition.

 

[Cornishlass]

Hi Samantha! Welcome to a great forum! I visit here every day!! I have just got my first rabbit since I was about 7! (I'm now over 40!) He is 12 weeks old. I LOVE him to bits!!! He has become like my child! I have to keep him in a hutch cos my hubby is allergic, but I put him in his run as often as possible and have fenced off the garden so WHEN I AM OUT THERE he can have free run of the garden. It is then that he hares around like a mad thing. He needs to do this - he needs the exercise. Smudge is a Rex and SUCH a friendly rabbit. I had no idea what to do or how to look after them at first either. This site has been invaluable! Hope you go ahead if you really want one. Looks like you have done your homework. I didn't beforehand but am now more rabbit savvy!

 

[Fifibutton]

Hiya, you sound like a very responsible person and its great you want to research this before getting a bunnie.
I would say they are specialist pets, delicate in health, they eat a specific type of food and have a completely different biology. Owning reptiles though will be good practice.

Lets start with accommodation. Outdoors its best to get a 6 foot hutch or build a run and put a smaller hutch in the run. My set up is outdoor runs with hutches inside. These hutches have cat flaps attatched so the rabbits can go in and out at will. The hutches were also insulated with boiler lagging and silver reflective paper. I made them myself out of thick wood as many shop bought hutches seem to be made of wood with a thickness like cardboard. A run must be built of sturdy wood and wire should be strong inflexible and thick. Conventional chicken wire can be ripped by foxes and badgers.
Rabbits dig so lay down paving slabs on the floor of the run to preven them escaping and it also stops predators digging in. Cover the slabs with soil and or hay so the bunny has something soft to walk on. A rabbit that walks on har surfaces constantly will be prone to sore hocks (underside of back feet become raw and painful). Keeping rabbits outdoors may attract rats and mice, they will see potential food and shelter in a rabbit run. Rabbits will tolerate both rodents but its disgusting (mice will poo in food bowls) and mice carry Viral Haemorrhagic Disease which can be transferred to rabbits and can kill them.
Rabbits outdoors are more prone to contracting flystrike as well so constantly check the bunnie's bottom and keep the litter tray clean.

Indoors: You can get a cage for the bunnie but I would keep it locked in the cage. Many people leave the cage open and let the bunnie free range the house only locking them up when the owner has to go out to work etc. Other people give their indoor rabbits a whole room to themselves. My sister has a housebunny in her flat. The bunny has her own room. There is a cage in there but its always open and her drinking bottle is attatched to the cage. A cage or carrier or cardboard boxes provided rabbits with hidey holes. Being prey animals, they are more paranoid and need a bolt hole to escape into when they feel threatened. Also in the rabbit's room are a couple of litter trays, some toys and a feeding station (basically a table mat with her bowls placed on it) and she also has boxes and a hay manger filled with hay. My sister has eft this room unfurnished so damage is basically nil although some bunnies chew skirting boards and carpets. Other people with indoor rabbits set up an area in a room and fence it off using dog crates.

Diet:
Rabbits are classed as ruminants and like cows and horses, are capable of digesting huge amount sof cellulose (fibre). They are herbivores and should be fed a diet which is 80% hay. 10% can be pellets manufactured by Allan and Page or Burgess or any of the other companies which cater for rabbits. The other 10% can be fresh fruit or veg or plants. But be careful, rabbits have delicate stomachs which are easily upset so I would only feed the following:
Dandelions, broccoli, rocket, parsely, watercress, spinach, carrots, cabbage and kale in moderation, roses (flowers and leaves), small amounts of apple or strawberry. Pear and banana are also favourites. All these fresh foods must be fed in small amounts, say a teaspoon a day. This gives the rabbit variety in the diet but be careful, rabbits are greedy and will keep eating if you keep offering food. Rabbit are prone to getting fat so remember, pellets and fresh food in moderation but hay should be unlimited. There are commercial treats available but I would avoid them as they don't encourage the rabbit to eat properly and use their teeth. i would also avoid feeding human food like chocolate. Rabbits have a sweet tooth and are greedy, they will eat almost anything. as for drinking, always make sure fresh clean water is available. Give a bottle and a bowl to allow the rabbit to choose and change the water daily.

In relation to diet I must mention 2 things. Rabbits have incisor teeth which they use to crop plant material. These incisors can easily be seen at the front of their mouths. They also have molars situated at the very back of the mouth under the eye socket. Now rabbit teeth grow in length constantly so they need to constantly wear the teeth down by eating things like hay. there are also many toys for rabbits made of wood or willow which can be chewed. Always feel your rabbit's jawline for bumps which may indicate an abcess. For you see as the teeth grow, so do the roots. Neglect of rabbits often results in overgrown teeth. Roots grow deeper into the gums, piercing the eye socket in extreme cases. Overgrown teeth in rabbits is know as Malocclusion. The symtpoms can include discharge running from the eyes, poor or no appetite and lumps along the jawline. It also seems that lops are more prone to teeth problems than straight eared bunnies.

Gastric stasis which is similar to colic in horses, is a stomach complaint which is very common in rabbits and can kill. Rabbits cannot vomit so if a foreign object or unusual bit of food or even gas bubbles form in the gastric tract, there is only one way for it to and that is out of the rabbit's rear. Home nursing can include syrinege feeding water or mushy or powdered sceince solutions. If you are ever in any doubt though, take the bunnie to the vet. Bunnies seem to go into denial about illness and hide symptoms. Also they are less vocal than dogs and cats. However if bunnie is not eating and is grinding his teeth you may have a case of stasis where the gut stops working. A rabbit's digestive system is a constant cycle which is another reason why they must have acess to hay all the time. A lack of poos can also indicate stasis.

Rabbits can be litter trained and use litter trays, they play with toys and are very mischevious, clever animals. They are often underestimated by people which is sad becuase they make wonderful pets. They can inflict powerful cat like scratches and sore bites. So be careful when handling. An angry bunnie grunts a bit like a pig. Affection comes in the form of nose rubs, chin rubs and licking. Not all bunnies do this but don't be disappointed, you can still have a wonderful bond with a less affectionate bunnie.

Vet bills vary depending on your area. Becuase I live in a area which is taxed quite high by the council tax :roll: (posh in otherwords) my vet can charge higher fees that the city vets do. However I feel it is worth it becuase he knows his rabbits and has handled mine so well over the years.

I've babbled on a lot but I think its important to give you the essential basics.

Hope it helps.

 

[Happy Hopping]

You don't want to buy a bun because the pet store bun has poor gene diversification, these weak genes will cause a lot of health problem (I know that because I made that mistake 3 yr. ago)

Go to http://rabbitrehome.org.uk/

and click any of those re-home bunnies

 

[montyflossy]

I do not have my bunnies insured as I have 11. However I do put quite a bit of my wages aside each monh to cover routine things such as vaccinations but also emergency things (like Bagels last week) This means that although sometimes vets bills are a shock I have at least some money in saving to go towards this.

 

[Fairy13]

Hiya :wave: I agree with everything thats been said already. Also sounds like you would be a good bunny mum as you really are doing your research which is alot more than many people do.

Sooz is right. The cost of veterinary treatment is a big consideration. When I only had 2 I had them insured though that number grew and I now have 12.
I let the original 2 that were insured remain so and was glad I did as one of them, the now late Wellie became very unwell with a jaw abscess which despite 2/3 weeks intensive treatment at the vets was not successful and unfortunately we lost him.

I was very relieved I kept up the insurance as the bill for that approached £800. Our vets are fab and had he not have been insured I'm sure we would have worked out a payment plan with them.

There are a few best things about bunnies I think, 1. as someone else said, they are not naturally very affectionate to people I don't think so having a bun groom you, or ask you to groom them or just sit on the floor beside you makes me feel very honoured !

Also watching them play, especially if they are in a pair or a group with other buns. They are so funny the way they interact with each other and binky about. We have a doe that lives in with us and her husbun in the house and she has mad half hours where she tears up and dont the lounge at the sped of light, twisting and leaping!! Its soo funny! And she otherwise a dead shy quiet bunny!

I think the worst thing about bunnies is as Sooz said the cost of they are ill but also the worry! (i am a worrier though!) As you were saying about flystrike etc that is a worry that ypou must be aware of and watch out for, but also just the worry if they are ill. I love mine so much. Me and the OH refer to them as our "furry children"! :lol:

Also I have two daughters, 11 and 4 and I have had bunnies for 3 years now. My youngest is never left alone with them if they are out and s learnt from a very young age to be gentle with them and that they are not toys. We have been very strict about this and she treats them very nicely. She also knows not to pick up and cuddle them etc as the bunnies just dont like it! So I don't think bunnies with children is such a no no soi long as the adult takes full responsibilty for the buns and kids are supervised at all times. But then you know that anyway x x x

Sorry Haven't I gone on!!! Good luck with whatever you decide x x

 

[jane28]

Best thing about owning a rabbit? For me it is when they join me outside when i am digging... It maybe just because they want food, but if they are in their hutch and hear me outside they come down the ramp and watch me garden or take the bins out

Worst bit? For mine it is trying to litter train them! I may have to accept they are just messy girlies :evil::roll:
And also wondering who it is with the upset tummy at the moment...

I think you are being very responisble in lookng into them further.. I have spent more on my rabbit housing than my own house at the moment! People tend to take rabbits on thinking they are easy and only live for a short time but a rabbit can live for as long as a large breed dog in most instances... Take an irish wolfhound... Live for approx 9years, my old rabbit died at 8 years old...

Imagine that long cooped up in a small hutch with no company, which happens alot to bunnies still

Godd luck in finding your bunny

 

[Samantha]

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[sasha_108]

Hi Samantha
Its much cheaper here, but they are not getting a delivery until June!
http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/rodents/cages/rabbit_hutches/natura/53359
There is also a 10% discount for your first order.
I also looked at this, but then decided the hutch part was too small as I wanted 2 bunnys. You need to fit in a litter tray, food bowl, hay rack, water bottle and any toys you may have. The ramp will also take up some of this room. Fantastic run though!