Wiserabbit
Young Bun
Morning all, I hope you can help!
My husband and I are experienced pet owners, having or having had chinchillas, gerbils, hamsters, rats and canaries ourselves and having had various cats and dog when we were younger. Neither of us has ever had rabbits, despite the fact that they have always been my favourite animals.
This is about to change!
Two days ago, my next door neighbour went to her hutch expecting to find two rabbits and found eight. :shock: Knowing I'm an animal lover and have quite a few rodents she came round to tell me. I'm not going to comment here on the obvious fact that she was very unwise to let her doe get access to a buck, which led to the unwanted litter. I'm fully aware this is a silly thing that she's let happen and just want to help her get sorted so it doesn't happen again. We loaned them the big carrier we use for the chinchillas and some bits and pieces to help them set up somewhere indoors for the new Mum, away from the buck.
She has decided to rehome both the doe and any female kittens. She has managed to find homes for four kittens so far with friends and family. So that she doesn't have to say goodbye to the doe, who she is very fond of, we have agreed to take the mum in, along with one of the female kittens. We are fully prepared to commit the time and effort to this, as we are both animal lovers, so that element is not an issue. Could you help me with these questions to make sure I do the right thing for her? (Sorry - some are health related too . . . .)
1. How can I make the move as stress-free as possible for mum?
2. Seeing as she is an adult bun, what's the best way to bond with her and help her settle quickly?
3. Seeing as we are considering making them both house bunnies eventually (they currently live in an outdoor hutch), am I able to "litter train" and older female?
and a couple of health ones . . . (sorry for the wrong forum).
4. I know that rats, chinchillas and gerbils all get "breed back" were the female is fertile immediately after birthing. Is this the same with rabbits? Seeing as the doe was housed with the buck at the time of birth (I know - again no need to comment that my neighbour has been silly), is there a chance that we could be taking on a pregnant female?
5. What vaccinations do rabbits need? Last time I looked at this it was VHF and myxi. Has that changed?
Thank you in advance! This is an odd situation and I want the best for both mum and baby!
My husband and I are experienced pet owners, having or having had chinchillas, gerbils, hamsters, rats and canaries ourselves and having had various cats and dog when we were younger. Neither of us has ever had rabbits, despite the fact that they have always been my favourite animals.
This is about to change!
Two days ago, my next door neighbour went to her hutch expecting to find two rabbits and found eight. :shock: Knowing I'm an animal lover and have quite a few rodents she came round to tell me. I'm not going to comment here on the obvious fact that she was very unwise to let her doe get access to a buck, which led to the unwanted litter. I'm fully aware this is a silly thing that she's let happen and just want to help her get sorted so it doesn't happen again. We loaned them the big carrier we use for the chinchillas and some bits and pieces to help them set up somewhere indoors for the new Mum, away from the buck.
She has decided to rehome both the doe and any female kittens. She has managed to find homes for four kittens so far with friends and family. So that she doesn't have to say goodbye to the doe, who she is very fond of, we have agreed to take the mum in, along with one of the female kittens. We are fully prepared to commit the time and effort to this, as we are both animal lovers, so that element is not an issue. Could you help me with these questions to make sure I do the right thing for her? (Sorry - some are health related too . . . .)
1. How can I make the move as stress-free as possible for mum?
2. Seeing as she is an adult bun, what's the best way to bond with her and help her settle quickly?
3. Seeing as we are considering making them both house bunnies eventually (they currently live in an outdoor hutch), am I able to "litter train" and older female?
and a couple of health ones . . . (sorry for the wrong forum).
4. I know that rats, chinchillas and gerbils all get "breed back" were the female is fertile immediately after birthing. Is this the same with rabbits? Seeing as the doe was housed with the buck at the time of birth (I know - again no need to comment that my neighbour has been silly), is there a chance that we could be taking on a pregnant female?
5. What vaccinations do rabbits need? Last time I looked at this it was VHF and myxi. Has that changed?
Thank you in advance! This is an odd situation and I want the best for both mum and baby!