Help new rabbit

[hftw89]

We've just recently got a 7 week old rabbit. Everything has gone wrong from the start we had to get her straight away which wasn't the plan and had to rush to get stuff for her. Due to this weve had her for 5 days indoors as the hutch didn't arrive until today (5th day) she is going outside. We are toilet training her. So down to the help side of stuff
1. She was originally an outdoor rabbit when we got her and has been inside for 5 days. Can we put her straight outside? Or has it been to long and now we did to gradually put her outside?
2. Food. We've got her junior rabbit nuggets and hay. We got her some natural treats as well are hoping to do some training with her. Is she able to have fresh veg/fruit yet? If not when can she? Is there anything we should stay away from?
3. Stuff to go inside the hutch. I always remember when I was little our rabbits had newspapers sometimes shredded paper and then straw on top. I've seen that newspaper is still good but in my panic to get stuff I brought wood shavings as when I had googled it said newspaper, wood shavings then hay. So that's what I got. Now I'm seeing no wood shavings. I'm not doing lino or that. Should I put something in-between the newspaper and hay or is that enough? Again she's being toilet trained and has recycled paper litter in that. What about her bed section should I add anything else to that to make her cozy?
4. This one is because of friends telling me horror stories and now I'm panicking. FOXES! We do have them where we live I don't typically see them in our garden generally only put the front. Is there anything that I can get to deter them from going near the hutch? We've got a big thermal cover to go on the hutch.
5. I saw something about we should get females neutered.. can anyone explain why please.

 

[Omi]

Hi and welcome to the forum. Well done for asking lots of questions. Rabbits are easy to look after well, but it's important to get the basics right.

Have a look through this website https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/ It might not cover all the advice you need, but it will definitely be accurate, plus it is fairly comprehensive. There is a lot of inaccurate and contradictory information out there.

I'll go through your questions and try to advise on those parts, where the RWAF perhaps doesn't offer anything.

1. If you are in the UK, I think the weather is sufficiently OK currently for her to go straight outside again.
2. Food. Make sure that she is not filling herself up on nuggets and not eating enough hay. She should have only the equivalent of an eggcupful of nuggets per day when fully grown, so make a small increase to account for her age now, but slowly aim to get to the ideal quantity. Commercial nugget companies will advise a lot more than that, but they have their profits in mind, not the health of the rabbits. I would find out whether she has been fed any fruit/veg where she was previously. If she had, then she can continue. Important when introducing any new food, to only give one type at any one time for a day or so, then monitor for any reaction before introducing something else. Young rabbits' digestions are quite sensitive. Make sure that any 'natural' treats are healthy, particularly not containing any sugar. Rabbits will appreciate an additional nugget, or piece of vegetable or forage, just as well as a processed treat.
3. Litter choices are very much trial and error. I think this is covered in the RWAF site. Rabbits do't always appreciate 'cozy'. She should not need anything extra in her bed section and indeed you might find she doesn't even use that area for sleeping. Wait and see what she chooses to do and where she chooses to go first. The best choice to keep her warm is another rabbit for her to snuggle up to
4. I know from first-hand experience that foxes are a threat to be taken very seriously. Rabbits can just as easily also die of fright from a fox, even without it actually touching them. You possibly don't see them in your garden, but I would bet if you had an ouside camera switched on at night, you would see them. Outside accommodation needs to be very, very secure. A thermal cover won't prevent the fox from being able to smell your rabbit. Foxes will also dig to get at prey. Something to consider very seriously.
5. Yes, female rabbits need to be neutered. This is extremely important for their health. Why will be covered in the RWAF site.

Best of luck. It probably seems like a lot of information, but if you get the basics right it will all work out fine. Please come back if anything is unclear or you have other questions.

You also need to get your rabbit vaccinated asap. So it's important to find a rabbit savvy vet in your area and then you can also discuss when to arrange her neuter. Make sure that your hutch is large enough too!

 

[hftw89]

Hi and welcome to the forum. Well done for asking lots of questions. Rabbits are easy to look after well, but it's important to get the basics right.

Have a look through this website https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/ It might not cover all the advice you need, but it will definitely be accurate, plus it is fairly comprehensive. There is a lot of inaccurate and contradictory information out there.

I'll go through your questions and try to advise on those parts, where the RWAF perhaps doesn't offer anything.

1. If you are in the UK, I think the weather is sufficiently OK currently for her to go straight outside again.
2. Food. Make sure that she is not filling herself up on nuggets and not eating enough hay. She should have only the equivalent of an eggcupful of nuggets per day when fully grown, so make a small increase to account for her age now, but slowly aim to get to the ideal quantity. Commercial nugget companies will advise a lot more than that, but they have their profits in mind, not the health of the rabbits. I would find out whether she has been fed any fruit/veg where she was previously. If she had, then she can continue. Important when introducing any new food, to only give one type at any one time for a day or so, then monitor for any reaction before introducing something else. Young rabbits' digestions are quite sensitive. Make sure that any 'natural' treats are healthy, particularly not containing any sugar. Rabbits will appreciate an additional nugget, or piece of vegetable or forage, just as well as a processed treat.
3. Litter choices are very much trial and error. I think this is covered in the RWAF site. Rabbits do't always appreciate 'cozy'. She should not need anything extra in her bed section and indeed you might find she doesn't even use that area for sleeping. Wait and see what she chooses to do and where she chooses to go first. The best choice to keep her warm is another rabbit for her to snuggle up to
4. I know from first-hand experience that foxes are a threat to be taken very seriously. Rabbits can just as easily also die of fright from a fox, even without it actually touching them. You possibly don't see them in your garden, but I would bet if you had an ouside camera switched on at night, you would see them. Outside accommodation needs to be very, very secure. A thermal cover won't prevent the fox from being able to smell your rabbit. Foxes will also dig to get at prey. Something to consider very seriously.
5. Yes, female rabbits need to be neutered. This is extremely important for their health. Why will be covered in the RWAF site.

Best of luck. It probably seems like a lot of information, but if you get the basics right it will all work out fine. Please come back if anything is unclear or you have other questions.

You also need to get your rabbit vaccinated asap. So it's important to find a rabbit savvy vet in your area and then you can also discuss when to arrange her neuter. Make sure that your hutch is large enough too!

Thank you so much. Vet is on my list to do. Her hutch is 5ft and a double so it has a run at the bottom. Also getting her and cage/run for on the grass

 

[Orenoko]

Personally if I had foxes in the area I wouldn't risk putting the rabbit outside at all, I don't mean this as a horror story but foxes can easily break into hutches, they aren't secure enough.

You mention only getting one bunny, they are extremely social animals and do much better with companionship. She will likely be quite lonely outside on her own. I don't know if you have space but I would consider whether she can be an indoor bun and use the run solely for outdoor exercise rather than a permanent home, or alternatively look into more secure outdoor accommodation options.

Thank you so much. Vet is on my list to do. Her hutch is 5ft and a double so it has a run at the bottom. Also getting her and cage/run for on th

 

[bunny momma]

Sending you and your new bunny positive vibes for a long and happy life together.
Once you navigate the information posted by others, I hope you will share pictures and stories.

 

[tulsi]

How exciting! Sounds like your rabbit is in good hands. I second the idea of a companion but dont want to overload you. It is so great that you are doing thorough research. It would be lovely to hear more about her and to see some pics.

I currently have two recently bereaved rabbits and am going to be bonding them once I have a few days in a row at home to watch them.

 

[ShafaqatBlogger]

We've just recently got a 7 week old rabbit. Everything has gone wrong from the start we had to get her straight away which wasn't the plan and had to rush to get stuff for her. Due to this weve had her for 5 days indoors as the hutch didn't arrive until today (5th day) she is going outside. We are toilet training her. So down to the help side of stuff
1. She was originally an outdoor rabbit when we got her and has been inside for 5 days. Can we put her straight outside? Or has it been to long and now we did to gradually put her outside?
2. Food. We've got her junior rabbit nuggets and hay. We got her some natural treats as well are hoping to do some training with her. Is she able to have fresh veg/fruit yet? If not when can she? Is there anything we should stay away from?
3. Stuff to go inside the hutch. I always remember when I was little our rabbits had newspapers sometimes shredded paper and then straw on top. I've seen that newspaper is still good but in my panic to get stuff I brought wood shavings as when I had googled it said newspaper, wood shavings then hay. So that's what I got. Now I'm seeing no wood shavings. I'm not doing lino or that. Should I put something in-between the newspaper and hay or is that enough? Again she's being toilet trained and has recycled paper litter in that. What about her bed section should I add anything else to that to make her cozy?
4. This one is because of friends telling me horror stories and now I'm panicking. FOXES! We do have them where we live I don't typically see them in our garden generally only put the front. Is there anything that I can get to deter them from going near the hutch? We've got a big thermal cover to go on the hutch.
5. I saw something about we should get females neutered.. can anyone explain why please.

You should hire an expert for this

 

[ShafaqatBlogger]

Personally if I had foxes in the area I wouldn't risk putting the rabbit outside at all, I don't mean this as a horror story but foxes can easily break into hutches, they aren't secure enough.

You mention only getting one bunny, they are extremely social animals and do much better with companionship. She will likely be quite lonely outside on her own. I don't know if you have space but I would consider whether she can be an indoor bun and use the run solely for outdoor exercise rather than a permanent home, or alternatively look into more secure outdoor accommodation options.

I like this

 

[twistedtiggerz69]

Hi and welcome to the forum Bunnies are wonderful creatures and you can learn so much about them by reading some of the threads on here as I am doing so currently.

I personally agree with others that you definitely should NOT put your new little bunny outside until you have the hutch and enclosure fully secure from foxes. Also I think she would get very lonely on her own outside after being with mum and her siblings. I would keep her inside for now while you read up on rabbits and get everything sorted. I am sure you will love getting to know her too.

Good luck with everything and I look forward to reading all about your new girl