Bunny Basics

[BabyGotQuack]

FWIW here are mine. The top pic is of Niven’s corner of my living room. She hangs out there during free range time. The living room litterbox is in another corner. Note that this pic was take right after I set everything up and before she had a chance to mess things up.

Next 2 pics are more realistically messy and show the crate she stays in at night and when both DH and I are working in person. I telework a lot though so she gets plenty of exercise and attention on days I am home and after DH is home.

Other pics are just for cute and to show some of her other favorite spots.

View attachment 3004212View attachment 3004213View attachment 3004214View attachment 3004216View attachment 3004217View attachment 3004218View attachment 3004219

Thanks for the pics, I can’t get over the cuteness! What is the white stuff in the crate? Is that some type of bedding?

 

[BabyGotQuack]

So the second type is soft and belongs only to the rex breed. People love rex for pets. Because of the colors on that bin and the size of the bunnies I think they could be mini rex.
The first is a very standard hair type, if the bunnies in the bin have that longer hair type they could be a couple different breeds.

I bet you could! I'll post two examples.

View attachment 3004209
Boyjust a straight little tube.
Girla tacoView attachment 3004210

Bahaha taco, got it! Thank you for that, I think I could handle figuring them out.

 

[CSAchook]

Thanks for the pics, I can’t get over the cuteness! What is the white stuff in the crate? Is that some type of bedding?

Aw thanks. I think she is pretty perfect

The white stuff is soft shredded paper bedding from the small animal section of the pet store. She has a history of foot problems so we try to keep everything really soft and comfy for her now. She has more blankets than I do!

 

[Everose]

Bahaha taco, got it! Thank you for that, I think I could handle figuring them out.

Great! They're a little bit difficult when they're babies, but the difference is usually clear.

 

[EverythingDucks]

-What all do we need for bunnies?

• A large wire dog play pen - cages and hutches are much too small, and are way overpriced. Dog pens provide much more space for the rabbit and it's needs, and can be purchased for half the price of any cage or hutch. Amazon sells them for around $30 - $40
• Hidey houses - they prefer two entrances, cardboard boxes work great.
• Toys - a wide variety of things to chew on to keep the rabbit busy, and to keep teeth from getting overgrown (I've made lots of DIY ones).
• Treats - avoid pet store treats, fresh veggies and fruit such as apples, bananas, and herbs are much better.
• Food and water dishes - ceramic or stainless steel bowls with a stand (avoid water bottles, they are hard to clean, don't provide enough water, and are very unnatural for rabbits to drink from)
• A brush - though rabbits groom themselves like cats they often ingest too much hair which can block their GI tract, which can cause GI stasis and kill them very quickly. "Bunny hair busters" work perfect, you can get them from amazon.
• Nail trimmers - small, simple, dog nail trimmers are all you need (you can have the vet do this, but it's good to have on hand)
• A large cat sized litter box - low storage tubs can work just fine (avoid the small corner litter trays, the rabbit should be able to turn all the way around and move comfortably)
• Litter - either pelleted pine litter and paper bedding (avoid cat litter, it has clay which can be fatal if ingested)

-Can they live outside year round?

It depends on the enclosure and the climate where you live. I personally am against keeping them outdoors in small hutches for many reasons. For pets, they really do best indoors where they can bond with you. Rabbits can get quite lonely when they're by themselves in a hutch all their lives, so having them with you often makes for a much happier bunny.
Hutches are usually much too small to provide enough space for exercise and play, and leave little room for the rabbit alone with all the proper things a rabbit should have in it's enclosure.
I've heard many experiences where people have lost their rabbits to predators such as racoons, dogs, cats, hawks, owls, and foxes. Even if your hutch is secure (although most that are sold are not), just about anything can literally scare the rabbit to death, causing a heart attack, without even getting into the hutch.
Not to mention the risk of heat stroke, or even freezing. Rabbits are fairly cold hardy, but in the summer they can easily overheat. This may not be a concern in some areas, but even temperatures above 75 F can cause issues.

One of the biggest threats however is RHDV2, a deadly and highly contagious disease that has been killing both wild and domestic rabbits in America. There is a vaccine now, but it's recommended to keep rabbits indoors and at least off the ground.

-How hard is it to have a fully inside bunny?

Easy! Rabbits can be litter trained quickly (when fixed) and can be free roamed like cats and dogs. Lennon the Bunny, The Bunny Lady, and 101Rabbits on YouTube have lots of information on this.

-We have ducks and know that you shouldn’t have just one, is this the same case for bunnies or could we get just one?

It really depends on the individual. Some rabbits love it, while others prefer human company. A male and a female typically get along best (when fixed!), or two males. Females are more likely to fight, but some may get along just fine.
Be sure that both rabbits are at least 6 months old and fixed before bonding them. Rabbit rescues will often help you find the right match for your bunny, so you don't end up having to keep them completely separate.

-When purchasing from cal ranch or other farm store typically how old are the bunnies?

They should be at least 8 weeks old. I do not recommend buying from any sort of store, since they often come from places similar to puppy mills. If you really want a baby, I recommend looking for a reputable breeder. Someone who breeds with the best interest of the rabbits well being. Many people just do it to make a quick buck (no pun intended ) so be sure to avoid people like that, and scammers.

But with how many rabbits are dumped each year, and the millions of rabbits at shelters in need of homes, I personally believe adopting is best. Not only are there plenty to choose from, but rescues will often spay and neuter their rabbits. Which makes it much easier considering you won't have to find a vet and pay for the procedure (which can be anywhere from $40 - $200 or more). In my opinion, getting a fixed adult rabbit is much better than dealing with a baby, which will quickly grow to be a hormonal teen. Once rabbits reach sexual maturity, around 4-6 months, they can become aggressive, territorial, litter habits will worsen, and males may start spraying. Getting the rabbit fixed will, well, "fix" those issues, and will prevent accidental litters (which sadly leads to more dumped rabbits). Some rescues will put babies (8 weeks to 5 months) up for adoption though, so if you still want a baby, rescuing is definitely an option.
Of course you could always check FB or Craigslist for rabbits needing to be rehomed, but sometimes you never know what you're going to get.

If I were you, I would check your local animal shelter or rabbit rescue and see if you can foster some rabbits before deciding on getting one. Many rescues require you foster the rabbit before adopting anyways.

Hopefully this helped to answer your questions, feel free to ask me anything though, I'll be glad to help
I have a whole Pinterest board for rabbit enclosures if you need ideas too.

 

[BabyGotQuack]

• A large wire dog play pen - cages and hutches are much too small, and are way overpriced. Dog pens provide much more space for the rabbit and it's needs, and can be purchased for half the price of any cage or hutch. Amazon sells them for around $30 - $40
• Hidey houses - they prefer two entrances, cardboard boxes work great.
• Toys - a wide variety of things to chew on to keep the rabbit busy, and to keep teeth from getting overgrown (I've made lots of DIY ones).
• Treats - avoid pet store treats, fresh veggies and fruit such as apples, bananas, and herbs are much better.
• Food and water dishes - ceramic or stainless steel bowls with a stand (avoid water bottles, they are hard to clean, don't provide enough water, and are very unnatural for rabbits to drink from)
• A brush - though rabbits groom themselves like cats they often ingest too much hair which can block their GI tract, which can cause GI stasis and kill them very quickly. "Bunny hair busters" work perfect, you can get them from amazon.
• Nail trimmers - small, simple, dog nail trimmers are all you need (you can have the vet do this, but it's good to have on hand)
• A large cat sized litter box - low storage tubs can work just fine (avoid the small corner litter trays, the rabbit should be able to turn all the way around and move comfortably)
• Litter - either pelleted pine litter and paper bedding (avoid cat litter, it has clay which can be fatal if ingested)

It depends on the enclosure and the climate where you live. I personally am against keeping them outdoors in small hutches for many reasons. For pets, they really do best indoors where they can bond with you. Rabbits can get quite lonely when they're by themselves in a hutch all their lives, so having them with you often makes for a much happier bunny.
Hutches are usually much too small to provide enough space for exercise and play, and leave little room for the rabbit alone with all the proper things a rabbit should have in it's enclosure.
I've heard many experiences where people have lost their rabbits to predators such as racoons, dogs, cats, hawks, owls, and foxes. Even if your hutch is secure (although most that are sold are not), just about anything can literally scare the rabbit to death, causing a heart attack, without even getting into the hutch.
Not to mention the risk of heat stroke, or even freezing. Rabbits are fairly cold hardy, but in the summer they can easily overheat. This may not be a concern in some areas, but even temperatures above 75 F can cause issues.

One of the biggest threats however is RHDV2, a deadly and highly contagious disease that has been killing both wild and domestic rabbits in America. There is a vaccine now, but it's recommended to keep rabbits indoors and at least off the ground.


Easy! Rabbits can be litter trained quickly (when fixed) and can be free roamed like cats and dogs. Lennon the Bunny, The Bunny Lady, and 101Rabbits on YouTube have lots of information on this.

It really depends on the individual. Some rabbits love it, while others prefer human company. A male and a female typically get along best (when fixed!), or two males. Females are more likely to fight, but some may get along just fine.
Be sure that both rabbits are at least 6 months old and fixed before bonding them. Rabbit rescues will often help you find the right match for your bunny, so you don't end up having to keep them completely separate.

They should be at least 8 weeks old. I do not recommend buying from any sort of store, since they often come from places similar to puppy mills. If you really want a baby, I recommend looking for a reputable breeder. Someone who breeds with the best interest of the rabbits well being. Many people just do it to make a quick buck (no pun intended ) so be sure to avoid people like that, and scammers.

But with how many rabbits are dumped each year, and the millions of rabbits at shelters in need of homes, I personally believe adopting is best. Not only are there plenty to choose from, but rescues will often spay and neuter their rabbits. Which makes it much easier considering you won't have to find a vet and pay for the procedure (which can be anywhere from $40 - $200 or more). In my opinion, getting a fixed adult rabbit is much better than dealing with a baby, which will quickly grow to be a hormonal teen. Once rabbits reach sexual maturity, around 4-6 months, they can become aggressive, territorial, litter habits will worsen, and males may start spraying. Getting the rabbit fixed will, well, "fix" those issues, and will prevent accidental litters (which sadly leads to more dumped rabbits). Some rescues will put babies (8 weeks to 5 months) up for adoption though, so if you still want a baby, rescuing is definitely an option.
Of course you could always check FB or Craigslist for rabbits needing to be rehomed, but sometimes you never know what you're going to get.

If I were you, I would check your local animal shelter or rabbit rescue and see if you can foster some rabbits before deciding on getting one. Many rescues require you foster the rabbit before adopting anyways.

Hopefully this helped to answer your questions, feel free to ask me anything though, I'll be glad to help
I have a whole Pinterest board for rabbit enclosures if you need ideas too.

Wow that was great, thanks so much! I’ll definitely keep you in mind when I have questions!

I have also been looking at rabbits needing rehoming in my area, I am not stuck on getting a 8 week old bunny. But fostering is something I hadn’t thought of and might be a good idea before going all in.

 

[HappyClucker7]

Wow that was great, thanks so much! I’ll definitely keep you in mind when I have questions!

I have also been looking at rabbits needing rehoming in my area, I am not stuck on getting a 8 week old bunny. But fostering is something I hadn’t thought of and might be a good idea before going all in.

Fostering is a great way to get a bunny. That's how I got the two I have now. You can essentially try out the rabbits, and see if they will be a good fit for you.

 

[BabyGotQuack]

Fostering is a great way to get a bunny. That's how I got the two I have now. You can essentially try out the rabbits, and see if they will be a good fit for you.

I just started looking but I haven’t been able to find a place that fosters out rabbits/bunnies near me, just adoptions.

 

[BabyGotQuack]

Still no luck on fostering, but I’ve been looking at adoptions. I found one I may be interested in. I’ve tried calling and no answer yet, I don’t want to just drive there and hope she’s there, it’s over an hour for me. Can anyone tell me what kind she is?

https://www.utahhumane.org/adopt

Not sure the link takes you straight to her, her name is Ashley

 

[EverythingDucks]

Still no luck on fostering, but I’ve been looking at adoptions. I found one I may be interested in. I’ve tried calling and no answer yet, I don’t want to just drive there and hope she’s there, it’s over an hour for me. Can anyone tell me what kind she is?

https://www.utahhumane.org/adopt

Not sure the link takes you straight to her, her name is Ashley

She's cute! It says she's an American, but it's hard to tell without seeing her whole body. She could also be mixed with something else too.