Help with rescued bunny...

[gypsy2621]

Quote:


This is not the case MOST breeders do in fact keep rabbits in their homes.

Not all rabbits in a breeder facility are for breeding, show meat etc. I have 30 Show Quality breeders and offspring in the rabbitry and 3 indoor "pet" rabbits.
Breeders in fact keep rabbits inside for the sheer pleasure of having one run around and be a pet. they also take that opportunity to study the rabbits habits, needs, behavior, the list is numerous.

As for ARBA<
The President of ARBA is Dr Hayhow, He is in fact a Vetranarian.
As are a few of the Other Top Elected Officials.
Research and Development,( for the betterment of ALL rabbits) is headed up by some of the Top Research People available.
Please when trying to promote a Org that directly deals with a banned Org, do research into everything .

 

[chinbunny]

Agres with gypsy. Not only that, the research team also has help from companies like the purina livestock feeds, manna pro, etc. Those are interested in keeping our animals healthy. The ARBA memers also have to deal with some of the HRS members, who at times can be really nasty towards them for promoting breeding rabbits, not feeding an all veggie diet, etc. That diet, and even some of the stuff they recommend using for free roaming rabbits can be be dangerous. like keeping rabbits in a cag with shelves. A rabbit can easily jump off one of those and break its leg. Towels, carpet, and anything cardboard, that can be injested and can block their intestines up. To name a few. Plus most of the stuff they have on their against breeders, and feeding pellets is not correct. You will not see the ARBA publishing baised, unresearched, stuff like that.

 

[Chickenmaven]

Oh boy! I think this ARBA vs. HRS argument has been done to death. HOWEVER, my main concern is whether the OP has gotten the necessary info.

Can we agree that clean water, good pellets and the occassional fresh snack is an acceptable diet? (please.)

Any 4-H info on the web is rock solid - IMHO. I would also advise the OP to check a couple bunny books out at the library. The info in these books is pretty simple, that's why I don't suggest buying any certain book.

 

[ksalvagno]

I breed alpacas and will soon be breeding goats. I'm also a meat eater. I have nothing against breeding rabbits if people are responsible breeders. I make sure to be a responsible alpaca breeder and soon to be goat breeder. But I am a member of HRS and I have been involved in many cases of neglect/abuse. I'm taking care of a severely neglected rabbit right now. I have not said anything against ARBA's way of doing things. I would just appreciate the same respect. People can go to the HRS website and decide for themselves what is worthy of using and what is not just like the ARBA website. I do not say in my posts that it is the only way to care for rabbits. I only suggest going there for options. I realize there is always going to be tension with breeders and rescuers but I'm sure people can pick out the information that works for them from either site.

The OP wanted to keep the rabbit indoors and HRS does have suggestions on how to do that. She can look at them and think they are worthy or she can look at them and think not.

 

[cutiepieacres]

Congrats on your new bunny, bunnies are a lot of fun and have big personalities!

1) Toe nails...how long should they be and how often do they get clipped? Hers seem long.

Depends on the bunny but they should be relatively straight and somewhat short, if you see them getting a lot of curl to them I would trim them. If they are white/clear you can see the quick and trim just above that. If they are dark trim a little bit at a time, Usually just above where they start to curve is about right.

2)and is it a she? boys would have testes right? I haven't flipped her around to look, didn't want to scare her...wanted her to get used to us and new home and new animals and smells. (but she is used to living with other dogs and cats for the last several months and being free at times with them)

Its not as easy as just looking sometimes, some bucks do have obvious testicles some dont especially if you havent ever sexed a bunny before. Here is a site with pretty decent pics http://www.geocities.com/dutchrabbitinfo/sexing.html

3)feed requirements and treats? The lady said carrots gave her diarrhea? She had a closet full of bunny treats from the pet store she gave us... yogurt nibbles, seedy treats, wood chews, salt licks....

Personally I feed a high quality pellet and unlimited grass hay. Treats are not given all that often maybe once or twice a week and consist of a couple baby carrots or a small handful of cilantro, a strawberry etc. I would stay away from the pet store treats most are just full of sugar and oil. They dont need salt licks.

The apple sticks are good just remember when you collect from outside make sure it is chemical free.

4)bedding and litter box filler.... she has pine shavings in the litter box and has nothing in the box house because she said she empties it out.

A litter box with pine shaving is perfect. If you put anything in her house she may also view that as her litter box. She is fine without anything in the house. Wire works fine for flooring as long as they have places to get off the wire when they want to.

5)exercise... what's normal play time for bunnies?

When I had lots of bunnies, I let mine out of their cages a couple times a week. I have an enclosed bunny garden with edible chemical free plants and they got to stay out for about and hour. Now with just one bunny she has her own 20'X 20' pen so she is out all the time and I just come and visit her and she comes up for scratches and love! If you let them out they should be supervised, bunnies will chew up and dig at anything including electrical cords, carpet etc. Can be dangerous.

6) anything else I should know?

They also love toys. I give mine empty toilet paper rolls stuffed with hay. They love the plastic cat balls and as long as they dont chew them up(take them away if they do) they will toss them around and carry them. They also like wicker balls and grass mats that they can destroy. An untreated willow basket is also fun to shred. The one petstore toy I like is the refillable hanging wood toys that have pieces of wood on them to chew.

 

[chinbunny]

We want to see the Op get the right information, not the wrong. That is why we speak up against the hrs info. When someone is new to rabbits, they should start with something that is accurate, and has been around, and researched by pet owners, breeders, and vets for a very long time. a new person is not goingt o know that rabbits eat things that the hrs recommends to keep in their cages to lay on. Nor are they going to have the knowledge to make sure their diet is properly balanced so the animal is getting the right amount of nutrients, and staying in healthy, good condition. A new owner could get this information, think it is right, and accidentally kill their animal by using it. many rabbits end up suffering from malnutrion, GI stasis, and broken backs and legs from their recommendations. I know people that have gotten the info from the HRS, and their rabbit has died on them. I dealt with a rabbit once that was fed the hRS diet. He was malnourished. He would only eat vegetables. He didn't even know what pellets and hay were. I am on several forums where the owners use the hrs info and end up with sick and injured animals.

Most rabbit breeders are very knowledgeable and responsible when it comes to caring for their rabbits. You guys only see the few that aren't. Now as for good books to purchase or look for at your library, I would suggest the guidebook to raising better rabbits and cavies published by the ARBA. It has everything you would need to know about keeping rabbits, including pets. The 4h guidelines are also good. You can get copies of those at your local 4h extension office. You may even find older copies of the guidebook at them too. Another good is the new one published by the FFA called raising rabbits. Its also geared towards breeders and pet owners. Storeys guidebook to raising rabbits is another one. You can find both that one and the FFA one at tsc tractor supply.

 

[horsejody]

Quote:
Don't ever over feed lettuce. It can be bad. Excessive anounts can kill them.

 

[RabbitMage]

I may well get lynched, but let me stick up for some of the HRS info.

I don't like the House Rabbit Society, because they do have a very 'my way or else' attitude about everything. They have-at least in the past-happily passed around misinformation and plain lies about breeders and rabbit shows. And of course I will never forget making the mistake of writing a rabbit rescue as a 15 year old, new to rabbits, and offering to help out a nearby rescue only to be called a murderer.

However, I know plenty of people with pet rabbits. Litter trained, spayed and neutered, free range pet rabbits living on a diet more closely resembling the HRS diet. Most of these rabbits have been happy, healthy, and long lived.

It takes A LOT to do a mostly veggie diet right. It can get expensive and you absolutely need to do your research and make sure you're providing a wide enough range of the right foods to cover all of your rabbit's nutritional needs. You need to introduce new foods slowly, and know what foods to avoid. A mistake can cost your rabbit it's life. But it is entirely possible to have a healthy rabbit on this diet.

IMO, the diet most breeders use-a good quality complete pellet, hay, water, occasional treats-is a safer, cheaper option and the one I recommend. However, I would never tell people it's the only one.

 

[cluckychick]

I say websites are kinda like this one here..people come for information and suggestions. You must take what is written and either apply it or not. I say gather/read all the info. you can and then apply it as you see fit.

http://www.thenaturetrail.com/index.htm
http://www.rabbitsonline.net/
http://www.rabbit-guide.com/

Here's a few other sites for you viewing enjoyment!! Enjoy your new bunny!!!

 

[chinbunny]

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Wow. i can't believe they called you a murderer for breeding and showing rabbits.

Well, I don't think everyone has to feed their rabbits the one and only one way. But, I for one would rather see someone get started off the right way,and not take of chances of the bunny getting sick. Vegetables and anything else added to the pellets do make nice treats now and then, but shoul dnever be the staple of the diet, and esp if the rabbit can't handle it. I have seen what it can do to them. Is not pretty.

I actually met an angora breeder at a show once that had experience with hRS fed bunnies. She she that while they weren't in the best condition, they were just average. They did see a lot of them over the diet and food complications since som eof the owners did not feed pellets at all.