I want to get a bunny...

[TheRookie]

I'd love to hear different opinions of breeds and doe vs. buck. It will be a while before I can get one but I want to go ahead and get my research done so I know exactly what I'm looking for later. I will probably keep said rabbit in a cage in my room while I'm not home and it would be allowed out in certain areas of the house and in a predator proof playpen outside while I am home. I am a teenager and I'm going to have to pay for everything for this rabbit out of the money I earn so I'm not looking for a great show bunny. Just looking for a nice tempered pet. Probably would only have one at first, so I'm thinking buck. Whatever I get will be spay/neutered. Anyone have any suggestions? Oh and please feel free to post pics of your bunnies if you are recommending their breed as a pet. Some of the bunnies I've read about on here, I've never heard of and Google isn't always reliable you know.. Thanks in advance

 

[Kevin565]

Just to weigh in I think Females make better pets. IMO they tend to be less aggressive

 

[TheRookie]

Well I've heard it both ways. With males being more aggressive. And then with females being the aggressive one. That's why I posted. To get peoples opinions.

 

[Bunnylady]

The rabbits in my rabbitry are Holland Lop, Netherland Dwarf, Mini Rex, Jersey Wooly and Harlequin. In the 25 or so years that I've been raising them, I have had individuals with temperaments that ranged from truly vicious to total love-bugs. Fortunately, the really nasty ones have been pretty rare! But IMO, it is less about the breed or gender than the breeding and the breeder. Rabbits that are calm and friendly tend to have offspring that are calm and friendly. Bunnies that get lots of attention as babies tend to enjoy attention as adults. As I said, I have had a few nasty ones, so I know you can't guarantee the temperament of an adult, but looking at the parents gives you a better idea of what a bunny will grow up like.

 

[shadow rabbit10]

Some bunnies are nice, some are evil. I have six rabbits and one is a devil. I personally prefer does over bucks, but some people beg to differ. It's really your personal preference. Bucks are calmer, but dirtier. Does are a bit more hyper at times, but way cleaner. My favorite breeds have been Holland Lops, New Zealands (they are on the large side), American Fuzzy Lops (a holland lop with hair, but requires a bit of wool maintnence, not for the allergy intolerant), English Spots (fun rabbits, but are a running breed and are on the hyper side), and Polish (cute, tiny, fun rabbits!). If this is your first, get something calm, with a sweet personality. All of the breeds listed above are sweet, but some have complications such as size, fur maintnence, and hyperactivity. Size is not a problem if you don't mind carrying a big rabbit, and fur is only a problem if you don't have five minutes to brush it out every day. The Fuzzy Lops are Holland Lops with wool and are VERY sweet. Their fur is no where near as bad as an Angora, so the maintnence is not that bad. You just have to pull loose hair, and run a metal toothed comb through them. Do not use a regular brush, it destroys guard hairs. New Zealand's are meat rabbits, they weigh 10-12 pounds and in my opinion are very calm and sweet, with the exception of occasional shyness. Polish are great for kids, they are small, sweet and fun. English Spots are nice, fun, smart, and VERY curious, however I don't recommend them for beginners because they are very fast, their bones can break if dropped, and can be a little bit hyper. Now, many people recommend Mini Rexes, but I do not favor them, if you want a soft rabbit, get a full size Rex. The Minis tend to be hyper, and mine is a nasty little brat. He bites anything and everyone. I had a horrible experience with the Minis, and I know others who have had this experience with this breed as well. I would recommend full size Rexes, but not Minis. These are just a few of the many rabbit breeds out there. Some are better choices than others, so you must research! As a whole, rabbits are fun, nice, and smart, but just a warning: they are one of the more unpredictable pets and you never know when you will get a bad apple. They can bite at any time and will bite if you do something they don't like. Few bite for no reason. Most are sweet and make great pets.

 

[punk-a-doodle]

I have owned and been around a wide variety of breeds. English lops are unlike any other rabbit I've personally experienced. They are laid back and dog like, and they seem to be fairly consistently that way despite the breeder. I have personally heard of only one aggressive Elop, and that was recently on this forum. Their energy level seems to be less than that of other breeds, which makes them more of a cuddly breed...even when compared to really friendly but hyper breeds and rabbits. They also seem not to be as prone to chew things they shouldn't because of this increased laid-backness. X) I have not had to take any extra care of their extra long ears, but mine are housed indoors. From what I've experienced, bucks tend to be more cuddly, laid back, and less nippy/moody. Females *tend* to be tidier, more playful/energetic, but can be testier and less likely to cuddle up for long lengths of time.

 

[TheRookie]

I've been doing more research, both on BYC and elsewhere, and I'm leaning towards a Polish because they seem like a pretty good rabbit for a beginner and as long as I get them from someone good, I don't think gender will really matter. How old do they have to be before they can be taken away from their mothers? I'm used to dogs and cats taking a while to get weaned, but it seems bunnies don't take as long..

 

[shadow rabbit10]

I've been doing more research, both on BYC and elsewhere, and I'm leaning towards a Polish because they seem like a pretty good rabbit for a beginner and as long as I get them from someone good, I don't think gender will really matter. How old do they have to be before they can be taken away from their mothers? I'm used to dogs and cats taking a while to get weaned, but it seems bunnies don't take as long..

 

Rabbits should be taken away as soon as they start maturing. The females are not as big of a concern as the males. Once the males grow their "parts", they should be separated right away. The ideal time is 8 weeks. Polish are a great choice and you will love them. I have a black buck and although he is a little messy, he is so fun! He plays with toys and barks like a small dog! Most Polish are sweet, calm, and playful. They are an awesome breed! Do you have a choice on color yet? Males and females are both great.

 

[TheRookie]

I like the broken black ones, but I'm not picky lol I think they're all adorable

 

[shadow rabbit10]

I like the broken black ones, but I'm not picky lol I think they're all adorable

Broken black are nice. I always liked the Broken Chocolates, but they are kind of hard to find. People buy them like chocolate. The Blue eyed and Red eyed whites are cool too. All Polish colors are pretty!