The Bunny Chat Thread - For Bunny Owners

[EverythingDucks]

Here's what I have so far in the 'Is there anything else you would like us to know?' section:


I have two dogs, Teddy and Rosie, who are both small (11lbs and 5lbs), and well trained. I plan on free roaming the rabbit (indoors) though if he/she doesn't do good with my dogs she will be kept in a separate area and have free range of part of the house for at least 4 hours a day.

Though this will be my first time fostering and having a rabbit, I have done lots of research and even made an article about proper rabbit care. One of the rabbit YouTubers I watch is Lennon The Bunny. She has lots of great info on rabbit care and free roaming. I know how to properly bunny proof, groom, litter train, exercise, and bond with rabbits.

I love animals and both my dogs are spoiled with a closet full of outfits, four poster canopied beds, and a stroller. And I'll spoil the rabbit just as much (as long as s/he's comfortable with everything).

 

[Compost King]

I'm looking into fostering a rabbit sometime. Any advice or things to mention in the application? Or on having them with (small and well trained) dogs?

So far I have only had caged Animals, just so you know you aren't being ignored I replied but I might give bad advice to someone fostering a rabbit. I have never had a dog, I have seen dogs that are so well trained that they will not harm another pet, I have seen dogs that kill anything it can get its teeth into.

 

[EverythingDucks]

So far I have only had caged Animals, just so you know you aren't being ignored I replied but I might give bad advice to someone fostering a rabbit. I have never had a dog, I have seen dogs that are so well trained that they will not harm another pet, I have seen dogs that kill anything it can get its teeth into.

I don't think my dogs will even attempt touching him/her and will probably ignore him/her until s/he binkies or something, and then they'll probably hide and maybe bark once from a distance lol. If anything, Rosie will probably just follow him/her around a bit. The only thing I worry about really is the rabbit being scared of the dogs, or maybe the dogs getting territorial (unlikely) and barking whenever s'he moves.

 

[Birdie mom]

I have a bunny for sale. (Just take over payments)

Wish I could help there... I'm in NC and CA is WAYYYY to far to get a bunny...

 

[Three Little Bunnies]

That is great news, cat litter sucks for composting! My rabbits will stay outside so I won't be using a litter box I was just curious what people used.

I use wood stove pellets. They are cheap, smell nice, and don’t get maggots. At least on my experience.

 

[EverythingDucks]

Well, I tried to talk with my mom about it but the subject keeps getting changed. I can't get more than a few words out at a time.
One of the biggest reasons she's so dismissive is because of allergies. I'm allergic to timothy hay but I would just use orchard grass. She also says ' doing all this 'bunny proofing' is just too much and I don't want to deal with it'. Actually, it's quite inexpensive, especially if it's just in one part of the house. And easy. Another reason is because I sleep in? I mean, yeah rabbits are most active at dusk and dawn. Idk, it would help if we ate dinner at a better time so I could get to sleep at a better time. Still not sure what this has to do with fostering a rabbit? It's so hot here, so I'm going to start taking the dogs for a walk early in the morning before it gets hot so maybe that'll help?
I'll do all the work and the rescue will pay for everything, so all they would have to do is drive to events occasionally.
Any advice?
I (tried) to explain how s/he would be free roamed, and as long as we bunny proof, we don't have to give him/her 24/7 attention. For most of the day they nap, and for about 2 hours in the morning and 2 in the evening s/he can get exercise and run around and play.
All we (I) would have to do is clean the litter box, groom him/her, and bond with him/her.
I've been looking at adoptable bunnies and one that needs fostering does great with cats and dogs. He's an adult and pretty calm from what I've read.
I've explained that it wouldn't be permanent. It would be for around 4-6 months. Not 15+ years.
How should I try reproaching them?

 

[Teneniel]

That’s hard. As a parent, everything my kids take on is something I have to take on as well, because when push comes to shove, it can easily fall to me. My kids asking me to change my house and routine is exhausting just to think about, which is where she’s probably coming from.

My advice would be to show them every single thing you’d need to purchase, every change you’d need to make and how you would do it, and go from there. I don’t mean vague “wire cover stuff” but I’m talking measuring all the wires and carting everything on your amazon account or whatever so you’ve already done all the mental labor that needs to go into the communal space altering.

Then, ask what the shelter expects. To be honest, many dog foster homes don’t have the shelter dogs free roaming the house. They’re crated for a large part of the day except for when the foster is working with them. Free roaming a foster bunny may not be what the shelter prefers.

 

[Three Little Bunnies]

Well, I tried to talk with my mom about it but the subject keeps getting changed. I can't get more than a few words out at a time.
One of the biggest reasons she's so dismissive is because of allergies. I'm allergic to timothy hay but I would just use orchard grass. She also says ' doing all this 'bunny proofing' is just too much and I don't want to deal with it'. Actually, it's quite inexpensive, especially if it's just in one part of the house. And easy. Another reason is because I sleep in? I mean, yeah rabbits are most active at dusk and dawn. Idk, it would help if we ate dinner at a better time so I could get to sleep at a better time. Still not sure what this has to do with fostering a rabbit? It's so hot here, so I'm going to start taking the dogs for a walk early in the morning before it gets hot so maybe that'll help?
I'll do all the work and the rescue will pay for everything, so all they would have to do is drive to events occasionally.
Any advice?
I (tried) to explain how s/he would be free roamed, and as long as we bunny proof, we don't have to give him/her 24/7 attention. For most of the day they nap, and for about 2 hours in the morning and 2 in the evening s/he can get exercise and run around and play.
All we (I) would have to do is clean the litter box, groom him/her, and bond with him/her.
I've been looking at adoptable bunnies and one that needs fostering does great with cats and dogs. He's an adult and pretty calm from what I've read.
I've explained that it wouldn't be permanent. It would be for around 4-6 months. Not 15+ years.
How should I try reproaching them?

Maybe set up a time to talk to them? This sounds ridiculous, but when I am trying to convince someone, I make a PowerPoint. It seems strange, but if you carefully set it up with all the details, asking them to hear you out, it may win you some points.

 

[EverythingDucks]

Maybe set up a time to talk to them? This sounds ridiculous, but when I am trying to convince someone, I make a PowerPoint. It seems strange, but if you carefully set it up with all the details, asking them to hear you out, it may win you some points.

Thanks!
I have so many power points right now

I'm actually working on an article about them too.
I'll get to work on one about fostering though.

That’s hard. As a parent, everything my kids take on is something I have to take on as well, because when push comes to shove, it can easily fall to me. My kids asking me to change my house and routine is exhausting just to think about, which is where she’s probably coming from.

My advice would be to show them every single thing you’d need to purchase, every change you’d need to make and how you would do it, and go from there. I don’t mean vague “wire cover stuff” but I’m talking measuring all the wires and carting everything on your amazon account or whatever so you’ve already done all the mental labor that needs to go into the communal space altering.

Then, ask what the shelter expects. To be honest, many dog foster homes don’t have the shelter dogs free roaming the house. They’re crated for a large part of the day except for when the foster is working with them. Free roaming a foster bunny may not be what the shelter prefers.

Thanks for the advice, I'll start on the supplies. Thankfully the rescue will cover most things, so the expense of bunny proofing won't be too much.
The rescue seems to be pro free roaming too. The bunny won't have complete free range of the house though. Probably the kitchen, sun room, and maybe the living and dining rooms. S/he will have a large playpen as a sort of homebase, and I'll probably use it to block off the living room at first or if s/he tries to eat the carpet..

My dad seems more okay with it, but it'll be hard to get my mom to sit and talk with me about it. Maybe it'll help to just give them some time without asking or talking about it often before..

Wish me luck, I'll need it

 

[EverythingDucks]

Also, I'm homeschooled so I have plenty of time to care for the bunny too