Rabbit in garage

[Kiki]

My parents want the rabbit.

We have dog nail clippers would that work or are their nails to small

I'll make sure the rabbits are fixed

I think they want a Holland lop would that need to be brushed?

I'll continue looking for rabbit cages. I think I might just ask the breeder on a good cage

And thanks again for the help

You already found a local breeder?

Almost all store bought cages aren't big enough. Did you watch the video I posted? Did you notice the walls of the cage are made with simply pieces of wood (pre cut cheap pieces used for stair railing at Home Depot) and hardware cloth?

A simple but large rectangle or square box will work.

Did your parents build your chicken coops?

 

[Skye'sDucks]

Thank you for doing research for your parents for their future bunny! Hopefully they will get more into it as they prepare, since anyone should be aware of (and be willing to make) the efforts it takes to keep any kind of pet or animal.

You can probably do a search online for rabbit hutch ideas and look around for any good ones, unless you guys are not going to make one. That, or you'll have to spend the money on a nice one. Either the hutch should have plenty of room, or you can have a smaller (but not tiny) hutch/cage and have a pen the rabbits can run around in during the day.

My set up is similar to that. I have a nice-sized exercise pen, but a roomy yet still smaller hutch my bun goes into at night. The run is only predator proof for day time predators and isn't as strong as my hutch.

Any which way you do it, be sure the buns get their exercise and room!

Also, it depends on how small your dog nail trimmers are. It has to be for a small dog or even a cat, since rabbits have small nails/paws. If it is a large one it may not work.

I believe holland lops aren't long-haired, but any bunny will need to be brushed fairly regularly. If it is a short haired like lops, you won't have to worry about brushing it as frequently as a long-haired bun. But rabbits do shed and go through periods of molting as well, when they will need to be brushed a lot more. But you usually can tell when they molt easily because they'll look all raggedy with tufts of fur coming out, lol.
That, or they start shedding a lot more. I remember my short-haired harlequin didn't get those tufts as much as my lionhead but I could tell when she was molting.

 

[EverythingDucks]

Update: So I talked with my parents and they agreed to wait until we get a proper cage for the rabbit until they actually get the rabbit! I'm not the one that wants it but I know they wont do a lot of research so I have a couple questions about the care of the rabbit.

1. Would the claws need trimming or should we just get them declawed or would that be considered cruel like when people declaw cats?

2. Would the rabbit need brushing weekly or daily or it doesn't even need to be brushed

3. Are there certain breeds that we should not get if we are keeping it outside?

4. If we do end up getting 2 rabbits would we need a boy and a girl or two of the same sexes

5. Where could I find plans for a good outdoor pen that we could make

Thanks everyone for your answers to my previous questions and answers that you will give to these

Yes, nails should be trimmed regularly. Small dog nail clippers should work. You cannot declaw them.

Grooming depends on the breed, but for a Holland lop, once a week should be good. During shed they need to be brushed more often though. Rabbits are very clean animals and will groom themselves, but if they ingest too much hair it can cause blockage, which may lead to GI stasis and the possibility of death.

If you get two, male and females get along best. Two males usually get along well too. But two females are more prone to fighting. It really depends on the individual personalities. No matter what they both have to be fixed before bonding though.
The easiest way to do this is to adopt a bonded pair. That way they're already fixed, have gone through the bonding process (which can take a while), and you don't have to worry about rehoming or separate housing if they don't get along.

As for the enclosure, you should avoid ones like this

I haven't seen any plans for appropriately sized outdoor pens, so personally, I would just buy a small shed and add a run to it. Something like this where you can walk into it would make it easier to clean and bond with the rabbit. But as long as it's high enough for the rabbit to stand up, jump around, and have hidey houses on top of that, you should be good.

 

[Lilac_Ginger_Butterscotch]

You already found a local breeder?

Almost all store bought cages aren't big enough. Did you watch the video I posted? Did you notice the walls of the cage are made with simply pieces of wood (pre cut cheap pieces used for stair railing at Home Depot) and hardware cloth?

A simple but large rectangle or square box will work.

Did your parents build your chicken coops?

We do have a local breeder

I just watched it! It looks very cute we may try to make the loft (I'm pretty sure that's what the raised bed is called) if we don't we'll just make sure they have plenty of space

They built the run we had a friend build the coop

 

[Lilac_Ginger_Butterscotch]

So apparently only my step father is totally ok with it being outside I just talked with my mom and she said she still wants it in the garage because she would like to just go and visit it without having to go far. BUT she did say that she might be comfortable with it outside as long as it is close to the house where she can see it and that she knows that it will be safe for them

 

[Skye'sDucks]

I'm sorry to hear that, perhaps you can politely try to convince her with facts about how it is bad for the bunny? Perhaps you already have--but some reasons I thought of that I didn't see mentioned where:

When the garage is closed, there will be poor ventilation (even with a fan) that will (as others said) make it hotter for the rabbits and with not as good air flow, I can imagine it's possible they could stink more.
Do you guys keep cars in the garage? Because if you do, I would worry about my rabbits being exposed constantly to fumes. Or, if you keep power tools in there, again I would worry about gas fumes.

An outdoor hutch may be a bit farther than the garage, but ultimately the rabbits will be happier out there. They can enjoy the weather and outdoors properly like in nature. Plus, a hutch can easily be made predator proof and I know I and others have successfully and safely kept our rabbits outdoors for years with no issues.
Rabbits get used to loud noises and chance sightings of predators as well. Lots of people worry about them being scared to death (like with a heart attack) when startled, but to me I've never really heard anyone actually use real life examples of that happening (at least very often). My rabbits got used to power tools and other crazy sounds without batting an eye. They also had a completely closed-in area of their hutch they could run to if they ever felt the need to hide. (And sometimes they did! But were okay)

Properly provide for them with good housing and other needs (especially depending on the season) and your rabbits will be set up for success. My bunny loves to sit out in rainstorms (in the uncovered part of his hutch) and mine have made it through many different kinds of weather (hot, cold, stormy) with no issues. We've even had plenty of visitors from predators like raccoons and possums and now our stray kitties we adopted and my rabbits never batted an eye over them. Sure, I'm not saying startles from predators trying to get in can't happen, because they can, but I think if you give them a good, proper, sturdy hutch/cage you wouldn't have to worry too much.

Those are my experiences, at least. I know some of this overlaps with what others have already said (and what I presume you've told your mom) but hopefully I have offered more that might help!

Lastly, unless you already have, it doesn't hurt to remind her that these are living creatures that have needs that should be met. You shouldn't put your needs/wants (like having them close) first before the safety and comfort/health of your animals. If you don't want an indoor pet, you'll have to deal with the fact that the animal has to stay outside, and that means making the effort to have to go out to see them and care for them.

In my opinion, I love having my animals outside. It gives me a chance to get out of the house and get fresh air.

Wishing you all the best! Sorry for the lengthy post and hopefully I have been of some help.

 

[cassie]

I am snarky sometimes. I admit it. If I were you I would ask mother to pick out a nice burial plot, because if she insists on keeping that bunny in the garage she will be using it before many weeks have passed. Maybe that will get through to her. Maybe.

 

[EverythingDucks]

So apparently only my step father is totally ok with it being outside I just talked with my mom and she said she still wants it in the garage because she would like to just go and visit it without having to go far. BUT she did say that she might be comfortable with it outside as long as it is close to the house where she can see it and that she knows that it will be safe for them

If she wants it to be close by and safe, then maybe indoors would be the best option?
That way it would be safe, even closer, and yall wouldn't have to spend time and money building a large outdoor enclosure.
Rabbits shouldn't stink at all when properly cared for. Have you showed her videos from Lennon the Bunny? With even just a small amount of research, she'd understand that they don't smell and the garage is not a suitable home.

Anywhere would be better than a garage. You're going to end up with either a dead, or very unhealthy and unhappy rabbit if it stays there.

 

[Kiki]

I'd remind you mom about how things need to be predator proof first.

Today was a sad day as I went out to give my chickens some treats and find on of them laying dead in front of the door she had a couple of feathers missing on her neck and there were feathers on the chicken wire if anyone knows what killed her please share it and any tips to prevent the others from be killed as well

 

[Lilac_Ginger_Butterscotch]

I'd remind you mom about how things need to be predator proof first.

What do you mean?