The Bunny Chat Thread - For Bunny Owners

[FortCluck]

I mean, IMO as long as they're cared for and not in a tiny cage, they're in a good home. I have seen PLENTY of house rabbits go into cages indoors, or get shut in rooms, and never really cared for... And lots of outdoor farm bunnies get spoiled and loved on every day. Lots of farm dogs live outdoors too... Indoors/outdoors isn't exactly an indication of care quality.

People who don't put their rabbits indoors are fine. Just different strokes for different folks. As long as they have space, basic needs, and enrichment, I say they're doing well. I think training, time spent interacting with, accommodation of needs, medical care, etc. are the better indicators of quality of life.

Yes! So true

My bunnies are outside in the shed and they’re living the life. They have fresh greens every day and get to run around all day.

I’d like to make them a massive outbuilding someday

 

[orloffer]

Oof, I can relate. Allergies suck. I had to take something called SLIT for a few years to even be able to have hypoallergenic dogs. It's basically like a allergy shot but it's just something you spray under your tongue. Thankfully it worked for me but it doesn't work for everyone.
Are they groomed often? Regular grooming helps keep dead hair that can cause allergies off the rabbit.
Some people with rabbit allergies have a room where they let their rabbit free roam and they just clean it with a mask and change their clothes after.

I never groom them.

 

[locoyosh]

Domestic rabbits and wild rabbits are very different. Wild rabbits will have a much much easier time living outside, whereas domestic rabbits won't. It's like the difference between dogs and wolves.
Lennon the Bunny has some great videos explaining why better than I can.
May I ask why keeping them indoors won't work? I might be able to help

We have a small house and 2 kids to clean up after. Therefore, pets must live outside.

I mean, IMO as long as they're cared for and not in a tiny cage, they're in a good home. I have seen PLENTY of house rabbits go into cages indoors, or get shut in rooms, and never really cared for... And lots of outdoor farm bunnies get spoiled and loved on every day. Lots of farm dogs live outdoors too... Indoors/outdoors isn't exactly an indication of care quality.

People who don't put their rabbits indoors are fine. Just different strokes for different folks. As long as they have space, basic needs, and enrichment, I say they're doing well. I think training, time spent interacting with, accommodation of needs, medical care, etc. are the better indicators of quality of life.

Thank you for saying this! The thought of keeping a bunny inside had never even crossed my mind. I see it as an outside animal, but as you said, different strokes for different folks. I've found that most animals, no matter what they are, prefer the outdoors.

 

[EverythingDucks]

I never groom them.

Watch this

 

[ChocolateMouse]

I actually do groom mine! >_> Even though they're meat rabbits. My rex shed stupid and they get so tufty they don't lose their fur correctly so I brush it out and save the fur to pad nests for moms that don't pull enough fur. Especially in the heat because it's not as important in the winter. This is extra true if they're feeling hormonal from pregnancy or false pregnancy and their fur just is everywhere.

Plus rex are notorious for horrible, long, skinny, terrible nails that twist all over and ruin everything. So I clip nails regularly too. So grooming is a semi-regular occurrence, once every few months as needed per rabbit. I sit them in my lap on a towel (if they're feisty I burrito them) and I brush them gently with a dog furminator and I clip their nails with doggy clippers.

Sometimes I also do ear maintenance, gland cleanings, or spot cleanings from hutch stains. But much more rarely. They tend to maintain that on their own.

 

[FortCluck]

I actually do groom mine! >_> Even though they're meat rabbits. My rex shed stupid and they get so tufty they don't lose their fur correctly so I brush it out and save the fur to pad nests for moms that don't pull enough fur. Especially in the heat because it's not as important in the winter. This is extra true if they're feeling hormonal from pregnancy or false pregnancy and their fur just is everywhere.

Plus rex are notorious for horrible, long, skinny, terrible nails that twist all over and ruin everything. So I clip nails regularly too. So grooming is a semi-regular occurrence, once every few months as needed per rabbit. I sit them in my lap on a towel (if they're feisty I burrito them) and I brush them gently with a dog furminator and I clip their nails with doggy clippers.

Sometimes I also do ear maintenance, gland cleanings, or spot cleanings from hutch stains. But much more rarely. They tend to maintain that on their own.

I clip their nails and they still shred my arm one of mine is a whacko. Any little noise she’s booking it. The other one is calm.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Well, that's why I have the towel! To burrito them as needed while handling. XD Having said that, yeah even clipped bunny nails are awful. But the rex are just the worst IMO.
(They're still my favorites though.)

 

[EverythingDucks]

@black_cat
Any updates on getting a rabbit?

 

[FortCluck]

Well, that's why I have the towel! To burrito them as needed while handling. XD Having said that, yeah even clipped bunny nails are awful. But the rex are just the worst IMO.
(They're still my favorites though.)

Usually this is when I’m cuddling them. It’s just that one and I now know how to tell when it’ll happen. I’m getting less scratching. They really weren’t handled much when I got them

 

[Compost King]

We had a Hurricane/Tropical Storm band pass over... a renegade band that didn't have much of a punch but a few gusts of wind to clear out the stale humid air that has been suffocating us then semi heavy rain fell. I checked the hay rack to see if water rolled down the wall of the shed that the Rabbit Pen was built against and it was dry but splatter water got on the feeder which I never filled ... just a scoop of feed in it that got wet. So I need to work on stopping this water from getting in. So I extended the roof a bit with plastic feed bags, I still need to do a little bit of work to it and next rain fall I will see if it worked. very hard to get a good picture of it because there is not much room between my Holly Hedge and the pen which is a good thing because it keeps the area shaded with nice air flow