Should I get a rabbit?

[Nigellas]

I'm a huge sucker for fluffy things, so I know I'm likely not thinking clearly on this - My uncle breeds lion heads and has offered me one or two babies. I'll be over there for a family party on Saturday, so unless I have a clear plan in my head there is a danger of me just coming home with them. lol

I've had rabbits as pets as a child, but they were outdoor rabbits, and since I was all of 8 or 9 and they weren't loved on regularly, they were kind of mean (totally not their fault!). I would love to have a rabbit that gets love and attention rather than just sitting alone in a cage all day - A house rabbit sounds like such a sweet idea, but my house is REALLY small I know my husband would be much happier with this theoretical addition if it were outdoors at least in the warmer months. Can you talk to me about rabbit happiness outside versus inside? Also - Do you need two? I've read both that they need company and others have said they will fight...?)

What kind of time commitment will they require? I'm already going out to feed the chickens and treat them several times a day, so I don't imagine it being much more, but who knows. We do have our 3rd child due in November, so I need to keep that in mind too.


So... now that you've read my novel... What do you think?

 

[debilorrah]

Do it. I absolutely love my rabbits and they require much less care than the birds do. Daily brushing and alot of playing.

 

[bufforp89]

I personally dont really care for rabbits...I find that the novelty wears off quick and unless you are eating them they do nothing in return but take up space and eat. I also have found them super hard to rehome.

On the other hand, I had a house rabbit as a child, Stew....he was a cool pet, ran around the house by day and was in his cage at night. I walked him on a leash and he was suoer popular with all the neighbor kids considering I lived in the city...

 

[debilorrah]

My bunnies are really funny and they have individual personalities. They are all extremely glad to see me too. Sometimes the just chill on my lap and sometimes they run around like a poodle.

 

[Cpprpnny19]

I have 200+ rabbits and as of yesterday I am up to 6 hens. (=
Indoor vs outdoor is a question I m asked often. As a 4-H Leader for a rabbit club,
I alwys recommend it to be indoors so it gets lots of attention. Even just walking
by the cage and "talking" to the rabbit makes for a good bun. That said, if the rabbits
are not handled daily from birth until weaned and separated at 8 weeks, they will
not be people friendly.
Also-1 rabbit per cage. Rabbits do not co-hab. They do not need another rabbit for company.
They need lots of attention from thier human!

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
To add to this, they CAN co-hab until they are about 12 weeks old, then they start hating on each other.

 

[bullyforme]

I wasn't a huge rabbit fan either, but my son got a baby one for Easter. I was debating keeping her outside, but didn't have a hutch. So, I took a plastic vari-kennel and kept her in that in the kitchen for a week or two. Of course she started outgrowing it, and I still didn't have a hutch. So I opened up the vari-kennel and put gates on the kitchen doorways. She's 100% litter trained and has full run of the kitchen from 6 AM til about 11 PM. Even though I never anticipated being fond of any rabbit, she's completely won me over. She's very friendly and loveable, sassy and funny, and fearless to boot. You should see her chasing the cat out of her "warren." It just worked out for her to be in the kitchen, we've never considered putting her outdoors since. She can't have full run of the house as she is a VORACIOUS cord chewer and will seek them out no matter how hard I try to bunny proof. But she has a happy life nonetheless.

 

[Heathero617]

I've got 2 if anyone wants them. They were littermates, both does, living harmoniously together even at 8 months old. My kids, as kids do, lost interest, but then again they werent handled before i got them so every time we try to handle them >since we got them< i get the crud scratched out of me. With them >kiddos< getting ready to both go back to school, and me back to work, i'm not going to have the time i do now to TRY and force them to be people bunnies. And i do try to foce them to like us....they just arent interested.

 

[homesteadmomma]

I love our rabbit! I really didn't think I would, but the kids wanted a dog, and I didn't want another dog on our busy road. So I picked up this little furry creature and brought it home. It doesn't eat near as much as the chickens, poops in his litter box, stands up on your legs to be pet, and is a real treat to watch when he's got free roam of the house. He lets the girls (3 and 4) pick him up and carry him around like a baby, and will sit on my lap and chill at night. This is by far the easiest pet I have ever had, and when this one passes I will replace with another.

 

[bullyforme]

Oh, and I use hay for her litter, the used hay and the poop are FABULOUS compost.