The Bunny Chat Thread - For Bunny Owners

[ChocolateMouse]

Haven't had house rabbits in a decade but the one I had potty trained herself. Rabbits are naturally inclined to keep their cages clean after a little while.
To get them friendly, though I'd try to lure them towards you with snacks, try to get them to eat treats from your hands, sit in the room with them quietly, etc. Don't try to snatch at them or dive down to pick them up. They're prey animals and scare easily. Also they really mellow out after their first year IMO. You've got a rabbit that's going into its terrible teens. You gotta give them time to grow up just like puppies.

Birdie, can you describe your housing situation for Lilly and how old she is, etc?

 

[Birdie mom]

Lilly is a 8 months old NZR (she has albinism so she is actually white, not red, at least that's what the breeder said). They live in outdoor hutches. They aren't allowed outside the hutch right now (Lilly is an escape artist). I try putting them together one every 2 weeks, but nothing has happened so far. Here is a picture of their hutches.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

If she's got red eyes then she's a New Zealand White. New Zealand is a breed and white is really easy to cross with other colors, lots of red carry white. If she's got blue eyes that's something else.

Try giving her extra snacks for a few days then breed her again. With breeding her, always bring her to him and try doing it 2-4 days in a row instead of once every two weeks. Watch their behavior closely and see how she acts and report back if you don't see a successful breeding.

 

[Skye'sDucks]

Alright, a feed store near us actually has terramycin! How nice lol. @ChocolateMouse how long do you think I need to give him doses of the ointment?

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Alright, a feed store near us actually has terramycin! How nice lol. @ChocolateMouse how long do you think I need to give him doses of the ointment?

2Xs a day for a week at least. Two tops. Just a tiny bit rubbed into the corner of the eye.

 

[Skye'sDucks]

2Xs a day for a week at least. Two tops. Just a tiny bit rubbed into the corner of the eye.

Alright, thanks so much for the help!

 

[Birdie mom]

If she's got red eyes then she's a New Zealand White. New Zealand is a breed and white is really easy to cross with other colors, lots of red carry white. If she's got blue eyes that's something else.

Try giving her extra snacks for a few days then breed her again. With breeding her, always bring her to him and try doing it 2-4 days in a row instead of once every two weeks. Watch their behavior closely and see how she acts and report back if you don't see a successful breeding.

The breeders said both of her parents were Reds. She does have red eyes, would she still be a NZW???

Thx for the advise!!! I have tried a lot before but she won't lift...
Do you have any snack suggestions?

 

[ChocolateMouse]

The breeders said both of her parents were Reds. She does have red eyes, would she still be a NZW???

Thx for the advise!!! I have tried a lot before but she won't lift...
Do you have any snack suggestions?

Yes.
New Zealand is a breed.
White and Red are colors that describe their coat and are both showable. Much like a black ameraucana is not a blue ameraucana even if both parents were blue colored. It's black. Literally and genetically.
I'm quite certain that your white rabbit is not a red rabbit. XD (I know that's probably not what you meant but...)
Although, it may carry red genetics... But it's still white... Because, well, it's white.

I'd just give something high in digestible sugars, proteins or fats. Carrots, alfalfa, sunflower seeds, maybe some spinach... Don't go overboard but give a tablespoon or two up to a quarter cup daily. You're basically trying to "flush" her system into thinking there's lots of extra food and it's a good time to breed. Also try to breed on a sunny day.

Sometimes it's just the time of the month or the seasons.

 

[Birdie mom]

Yes.
New Zealand is a breed.
White and Red are colors that describe their coat and are both showable. Much like a black ameraucana is not a blue ameraucana even if both parents were blue colored. It's black. Literally and genetically.
I'm quite certain that your white rabbit is not a red rabbit. XD (I know that's probably not what you meant but...)
Although, it may carry red genetics... But it's still white... Because, well, it's white.

I'd just give something high in digestible sugars, proteins or fats. Carrots, alfalfa, sunflower seeds, maybe some spinach... Don't go overboard but give a tablespoon or two up to a quarter cup daily. You're basically trying to "flush" her system into thinking there's lots of extra food and it's a good time to breed. Also try to breed on a sunny day.

Sometimes it's just the time of the month or the seasons.

Thx!!! That makes sense. Whenever we first got her I told my family, "I am pretty sure she is a NZW." They all thought I was crazy. Now I get to tell them that she is a NZW

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Thx!!! That makes sense. Whenever we first got her I told my family, "I am pretty sure she is a NZW." They all thought I was crazy. Now I get to tell them that she is a NZW

Rest assured that if your parents tried to enter that rabbit as a "New Zealand Red" it would be disqualified and you MAY be laughed at a lot.

Since red eyed white is recessive to everything it's really easy to have it in your stock and never know it until you have a litter with white rabbits in it.