Oh dear, I got a rabbit, now what? (pics)

[TheBrumstead]

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They eat grass.

Adult rabbits can have unlimited grass, while bunnies can only have a little each day.

Next question is gonna sounds stupid but what is the difference between bunny and rabbit? I thought they were the same thing. And if they are two different things then what is a bunny rabbit?

A baby rabbit is called a kit, not a bunny.

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
Next question is gonna sounds stupid but what is the difference between bunny and rabbit? I thought they were the same thing. And if they are two different things then what is a bunny rabbit?

A baby rabbit is called a kit, not a bunny.

This is correct and bunny is a rabbit, baby or adult. A kit is an infant rabbit.

 

[Connorrm]

Rabbits eat one soft pellet every 12 hours. It's very long and sticky. The rabbit knows it's going to have this stool and prepares for it. Living on wire won't ruin that for him.

I would suggest picking up a tile from Home Depot or Lowes for a dollar to give him something to relax on off the wire. But, as the general rule, smaller breeds are fine on wire.

He is 100% not a JW or JW cross. Wool is a recessive gene in rabbits. For them to have wool you would know it. They would have a long cottony coat and be a gigantic fluffball (on a dwarf wool breed about 2-3 inches long).

Any cross with JW and they have normal fur. His fur looks a little longer, my guess would be some sort of average bunny mix with a rollback coat.

Alfalfa, like someone said, is much too high in calcium for a rabbit. In fact rabbit urine is very high in calcium and extra alfalfa can make it even harsher. It will coat the wire floor and need a metal grill bristle brush cleaning frequently. Timothy hay can be fed at any age in unlimited quantity, along with 1oz of pellets per body weight. I do free feed mine for show, as I feel if they're going to go over weight, it won't matter if I restrict feed or not. However, for those at home raising one or two bunnies, and wanting to measure the 1oz per pound is the general rule.

And yes, many rabbits are inbred. However, that isn't a bad thing. Most of the top breeders of rabbits in the country haven't added many "non-related" rabbits to their herd.

Teeth problems - A.K.A Maloclussion, Wolfteeth, Buck Teeth, etc; are genetic as someone else posted. You will not have to watch teeth if they do not have this condition. The top incisors should overlap the bottom. That alignment will cause them to rub together, wear down, and stay nice and sharp. The they butt, are do not overlap properly you have Maloclussion, and you will need to watch your rabbit and take it to the vet for regular (once every 2-3 month) teeth trimming. DO NOT ATTEMPT AT HOME without first being taught MANY MANY MANY times by your vet. The worst thing in the world is shattering one of those teeth and hearing your rabbit scream for days. And I do mean scream.

 

[homesteadmomma]

OK, thanks for all of the helpful sites. And all of your information. I found a neighbor that was nice enough to share some timothy/orchard mix hay. It should get me by until I find someone who actually sells this stuff. Right now little Hart/Heart is getting a handful of pellets each morning and each evening. This might be too much, but I don't have a way to measure it in weight. He also gets a couple apple tree leaves and a few blades of grass every morning that I pick up on my way back from feeding the chickens. I also started on a lovely addition to his cage, giving him another 3x3ft cage that has a ramp and some wood blocks and some paper towel rolls. I've also put a 1x1ft 1/2" pine resting block in his main quarters, untreated so if he decides to chew on it, it's safe. I want him/her to be a happy bunny, and I hope that will happen. There is something about a small animal in a cage that makes me sad, although he's sleeping in my lap as I type this. So spoiled rotten. Heart also seems to be an escape artist, as soon as the door is open, he's hopping about the living room floor and behind the lazy boy, and back around to the couch and then comes over for some love. I saw his first happy bunny dance yesterday. Doing buckin bronco kicks and acting like he might have had a mt. dew slipped in his water bottle.

He has a nipple waterer that holds about 1/2 qt or so. It seems he doesn't drink much. I washed it today and refilled it. Will he drink if he's thirsty or do I need to switch to a different watering method?

 

[TheBrumstead]

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Binkys! Aren't they fun?!

I have both a water bottle and a small dish of water in Cocoa's cage. He's little, so it may not seem like he drinks much. Or he may not be used to your water yet. Offer a non-tip dish and see what he does.