Getting a bunny

[jambunny]

Rex Mom, great advice. I wish I could get more people to understand a rabbit is not a cat or dog. I do show and after having a couple thrown off of the table d/t being over weight I got a bit paranoid. Have also had it screw up a couple of good does who basically became sterile. But your right if they aren't showing or breeding that's not a big deal.

 

[ChickenPotPie]

I'm not going to read through all these posts. I can tell you that what Gypsy said is correct. I agree completely. I've worked with show people and pet rabbit people and can tell you that you'd be well off to take the approach of the rabbit exhibitor in caring for your rabbit. It's not an expensive way to keep rabbits really, if you consider that you won't have a sickly rabbit and spend a fortune on vet bills.

Suggested reading: For kids..... Your Rabbit (Storey) , for yourself....Storey's Guide to Raising Rabbits by Bob Bennet.

I use Purina Show formula (just ask for the blue bag). Buy the bag, split it between your family that has the rabbits. Anything you find a pet store is junk. Now I'm repeating what Gypsy said. Just follow her advice.

Make sure babies are 6 - 8 weeks old before you bring it home. You'll have less chance of it dying if you know its system is stable. Normally, they'll be weaned by mom at 6 weeks and ready for new homes at 8 weeks.

Sexing rabbits is easy. My son could correctly sex a 6 week old when he was 6 years old. If he can do it, then it can't be all that hard. Google "sexing rabbits" and you'll get two great articles that will teach you how.

Enjoy your rabbit.

EDIT: Just wanted to add a few things after skimming posts. RabbitMage, Rex Mom, ChinBunny = all good advice. This is not to say others are bad, they are just misinformed. The ARBA has been around for over 100 years. HRS.....I like to call "PETA - Rabbit Division". I have experience working with HRS people and they are happy to lie to anyone to get them to come over to their side - whether or not it hurts your pet. I don't have much patience for people like that. And lastly, Purina does make some really lame foods. Those are marketed to your average Joe. The Purina feed you want is "feed", not pet food. Buy the blue bag at the feed store. It's much cheaper than buying the junk you find at the pet store (per pound) and MUCH higher quality.

 

[andbab]

Well we got our bunny on the weekend. It isn't drinking out of the water bottle and doesn't seem to be eating the pellets. It was seperated from the doe for about a week before we got it and only had a bottle for water. So I don't know what is going on. I've been giving it some grass and I gave it a dish of water which it drank guess will just wait it out.

 

[jambunny]

Just keep trying with the bottle and dish. It really wouldn't be a big deal if it only drank out of the dish. I would also keep trying the pellets. It will eat. Are they the same pellets your mother in law used? That could be the problem if they aren't.