Rabbit questions

[chloezoebob101]

i like mini rexs i breed them and they are two kind. our favorite is the albino mini rex called angel. she its a doll. and she grunts... lol!

 

[LCARTER87]

Aw I am so excited, I found a breeder here who has a male lop that we are thinking is going to be ours! He is 7 1/2 weeks old so we can go and pick him up next week!

Does anyone have any tips for me? We have the chickens, the dogs, but no experiance with bunnies so far! I have had rats though!

 

[chloezoebob101]

are you keeping him inside? or in a barn or just plain outside?
i have some in our barn and they always have to have fresh water. and make sure you don't put two together, they fight till death or at least pick on each other.
hold him a lot so he is used to you. don't give up after a month and decide you are bored of him. don't change feed very often and if you do, mix the feed together so that it can change subtly and does not hurt his stomach.
i am 13 and i raise and breed mini rexs and i love them! i bet you will love the lops! i wanted one but can't find one.. yet!

 

[cafarmgirl]

Aw I am so excited, I found a breeder here who has a male lop that we are thinking is going to be ours! He is 7 1/2 weeks old so we can go and pick him up next week!

Does anyone have any tips for me? We have the chickens, the dogs, but no experiance with bunnies so far! I have had rats though!

Diet is extremely important as rabbits are very prone to digestive upsets if not properly fed. Do a Google search on GI stasis in rabbits to get an idea.

While he's a youngster, up until about 6 months old, feed him his alfalfa based pellets and all the good grass hay he wants. Once he's about 6 months old switch him over to a timothy hay based pellet and only about 1/4 cup a day depending on his size, good hay should be available 24/7. Rabbits are nibbler's but you don't want them getting too fat, that's why the grass hay. Alfalfa hay is way to high in calcium, not good for adult bunnies.

Always fresh water available, and personally I like a heavy crock over a bottle.

If he's outside make sure he's in a cool, shady spot in the summer. Rabbits don't take the heat well at all. In the winter, shelter from the wind/rain. Of course if he's inside none of this applies. If he run's loose in the house better baby proof the place first, rabbits love nothing more then chewing through every electrical cord they can get those teeth into! As well as your furniture!

Definitely look into getting him neutered. It will reduce various not so pleasant adult rabbit behaviors, including spraying.

Handle him a lot when you get him, get him used to having his feet handled and nails clipped. And have fun with him! Rabbits are awesome pets! Oh and by the way, we'd like to see a pic if you get him!

 

[LCARTER87]

Thanks for all the food imput, this is very helpful for me. I am going to go online and order him some items, I am so excited to get him!

As far as cages, do they need a dual floor cage, or a single floor? I am only getting one rabbit so he will be okay without a friend, I will be his friend, myself and the chickens! He will also be inside, I have seen way to many poor rabbits at the feed store that are so hot, poor guys! Do you ever let your rabbits run around with your chickens (supervised of course)

 

[chloezoebob101]

i never thought of letting them out with the chickens! what a great idea! I'm gonna do that. and mine just have a single floor hutch. it seems to fit them just fine. and i would get a nesting box ( not the chickens kind) for a place to sleep and some straw in it. they'll eat the straw so you'll have to replenish the supply a lot. and also, beware: they poop ALOT! and boys should be placed farther away form the wall, because they will pee on your wall. i would keep them outside in the shade if you have space unless you guys have too hot weather. i don't know what you have up there. but anyways have fun! its really easy to care for a rabbit so i think your gonna like it!!!

 

[cafarmgirl]

Thanks for all the food imput, this is very helpful for me. I am going to go online and order him some items, I am so excited to get him!

As far as cages, do they need a dual floor cage, or a single floor? I am only getting one rabbit so he will be okay without a friend, I will be his friend, myself and the chickens! He will also be inside, I have seen way to many poor rabbits at the feed store that are so hot, poor guys! Do you ever let your rabbits run around with your chickens (supervised of course)

Last year I got each of our rabbits one of those two level hutches and they LOVE them! It really gives them lots of room and they get a little more exercise going up and down the ramp.

I don't see any reason why your bun couldn't go for a run with the chickens, just depending on how they react to him I guess! I guess a particularly bossy hen or rooster could try taking a peck at him but I know other folk's here on BYC have rabbits in with their chickens.

If your looking online for fun rabbit stuff there's a web site called The Busy Bunny that has lots of fun rabbit stuff plus she'll send you a $5.00 coupon with each order.

 

[Mrs. Feathers]

Congratulations!!! I am sure you will love your Holland Lop. I can't wait to see pictures. Ours keeps us entertained regularly. I would highly recommend neutering your boy. Our bunny is a rescue and he was neutered when we got him. I don't know if it is the neutering or his personality but he is so clean. Uses his litter box regularly and we can comfortably let him out on the carpet knowing he will go back to his cage (aka "bedroom" to do his thing).
For what to get to prepare....I do find that our boy likes to be busy. If he gets bored he tries to pull off his food dish and litter box tossing them around his cage...or tries to chew all those things we perfer he not such as my garden crocs...or the favored and very dangerous electrical cords. My hubby figures they are attracted by electrical impulses because bunnies just love to try to chew cords.. Cheap entertainment we have discovered is usually better than spending money on expensive toys (many from tips from BYC members..thanks

)
empty kleenex boxes or toilet paper rolls stuffed with hay...pine cones, paper to shred, apple tree branches, toys that can be picked up and thrown and that are safe to chew, boxes with both ends cut off to run through or hide in.
Have fun....bunnies are great pets.

 

[chloezoebob101]

HAVE FUN!!!

and Mrs. feathers is it that he was neutered? bc ours is NOT clean! If only we didn't use him to breed... *sigh* oh well he is kept in our barn. but as soon as he has bred a few times, we are so gonna take him to our neighbor to get a jimmy reinolds special

thatll do the job!!

 

[newduckie]

I have a lop ear (no idea what kind) she is a biter and we are going to give her away... when we find somone to take her that is..