What breed is this rabbit?

[my gang eats grass]

Hi all, I was wondering if any of you have some ideas of what breed this rabbit is? Maybe a New Zealand? Sorry, but I don't have any background information on the rabbit, There's been two of them wandering around on our property for three weeks, I can't find the owner, and just finally caught this one. It's also a male.

I can also take more pics if you need certain angles or a size comparison.

Thanks!

 

[EverythingDucks]

Yes, If I can't find the owners I will be keeping him, and I'm also trying to catch the other one.

Please tell me all you want, because this will be my first time keeping rabbits.

Ok, great!

I'll start with catching them.
As I'm sure you've found out, rabbits are typically quite tricky to catch. The easiest way is to setup ome of these (which is what I'm guessing you've used)

But you just have to be careful that while they're in here something doesnt come along and try to eat them or scare them to death. Or that they don't get overheated or dehydrated or anything. Which is whole you'll have to check the trap regularly.
Here's a good video on catching rabbits

As for keeping them, you'll need to at least know the basics for now.
Starting with diet. A rabbits diet is made up of 80%, so it is critical that they have access to unlimited fresh Timothy hay 24/7 to keep their digestive tract working well and to keep their every growing teeth down. I recommend Oxbow Timothy hay, but if you end up keeping them it will be cheaper to buy hay in bulk from a local farm, or have it delivered.

Besides hay, they'll also need ¼ a cup of pellets a day (which you can split between breakfast and dinner or feed all at once). They also need about a handful of fresh spring mix veggies for breakfast and dinner.

As for their enclosure, a lot of people keep them in a small cage indoors or in a little hutch outside. Neither of these are truly suitable for a rabbit for many reasons. I'll start with the problem sof hutches.
For one, they are quite small and do not provide a rabbit with enough space to exercise and play as they should. This often causes pent up energy which can lead them to chew on things and even become aggressive. Rabbits are very playful and smart, so they require plenty of space to run and play.
Rabbits also like companionship. They often form a very strong bond with their owners, and when they are outside in a hutch they are away from their family which can make them depressed and unhealthy.
Not to mention all the dangers of being kept outside. Rabbits are prey animals, which means there will be omebty of animals out there wanting to eat them. Anianls like raccoons are very smart and can break into a hutch and eat the rabbit, and rabbits and easily die from a heart attack just from being scared. I know of plenty of people who devied to keep their rabbits outside in a hutch. So far, every single one of them has died one way of another. Most of them from predators eating them, and some just from a dog wanting to play d the rabbits instantly dying from a heart attack. Its really sad how fragile they are and how easily they can be killed.

Hutches often have wire bottoms too, which are nor very common for a rabbits un padded feet and thing skin. It can even cut into their skin, which can then be easily infected and cause bumble foot.

Another issue is the weather. Though rabbits can tolerate the cold, they often die of heat stroke. They don't do well in hot weather, and when they're trapped in a little hutch outside all their lives they have no way of escaping it, so they often die.

Lastly, rabbits can contract parasites and disease when exposed to the outdoors. There is a deadly rabbit virus called RHDV2, which spreads rapidly and kills in a matter of days. It kills both wild and domestic rabbits and there is no known treatment so far.

Cages have many of the same issues (being small especially) and are just not suitable living spaces for a rabbit. And both cages and hutches are extremely over prices and cheaply made.

Instead of getting a hutch or cage, you fan get a wire dog playpen off of Amazon for around $30. These provide enough space for all their needs whole still leaving room for exercise and play.
Play pens are also easy to fold and and travel with, and you could move it outside to give your rabbit some sunshine time.

Now, I know a lot of people would still rather keep their rabbit outside despite all the issues with this because many people think they smell bad. And yes, rabbit pee can stink. But it is not as bad as cat pee in my opinion, and when you keep their litter box clean theres pretty much no scent. Yep, you can litter train rabbits. Its pretty easy when you have the right setup. I'll include all the things you need in the supplies list, but basically you just need a large litter box, some litter, and plenty of hay in there (rabbits naturally eat whole pooping so lots of hay will entice them to use it).

Here's all the supplies you'll need:

• Fresh Timothy hay
• Rabbit pellets (Oxbow is a good brand)
• Fresh veggies
• A water bowl (avoid bottles since they are very unnatural, don't provide enough water, and are hard to clean)
• A large cat sized litter box (under-the-bed storage tubs work well and are inexpensive)
• Paper based litter (avoid cat litter since it contains clay which can be fatal if ingested, you can use paper bedding instead)
• Hidey houses (you can even use cardboard boxes. Keep in mind rabbits like two entrances)
• Toys (you can make DIY toys out of cardboard tubes and paper bags)
• A comb (though rabbits groom themselves like a cat, during shed they need some help to be sure they don't ingest too much, which causes GI stasis, since rabbits can't throw up)
• Nail trimmers (small dog nail trimmer work. You could also have the vet do this)

I think that's about it. You can check out Lennin the Bunny and 101Rabbits on YouTube for more information, and I'd be happy to help with any questions you may have.

 

[Skye'sDucks]

What a cute bunny, he sure is lucky to have you take him in! I agree he seems like a mix, possibly with NZ in him like has been talked about.

Love reading this thread and bunny convos...The biggest reason why people don't free feed pellets to pet rabbits is because it can cause health problems. Not saying people who do this have unhealthy bunnies, but too many pellets can cause different issues in rabbits--the number one being they can become obese and thus have lots of health issues due to being overweight.
My own rabbit actually was getting too many carbs from his pellets and thus was producing too many cecetropes or wasn't eating them--cecetropes are special 'poops' from the bunnies that they eat right away, since they are packed full of nutrients they need to re-absorb. I know it's gross, but it's a crucial part of their health, and I like to bring this issue up I had since it isn't very common. I cut back on pellets and he's been completely normal. So just to give you an idea of the different issues that can come with pellets for pet buns, although that doesn't mean rabbits can't have healthy lives on unlimited. Many people seem to feed this with no problems, but it never hurts to be informed before making a decision. You do you--whatever you find works best.

Also, rabbits by nature are foragers and grass eaters, which is why it is said hay must be given at all times. If you have a pet it is a good idea to give them unlimited hay; doesn't necessarily have to be timothy but granderthegander gives a good post about the differences in hay. The only one you don't feed to adult rabbits is alfalfa hay--this is too high in calcium for adult rabbits and can cause issues too.

Pet rabbits can live indoors or outdoors, as long as you provide safe, good enclosures and plenty of space for them to run around and get exercise! As long as you do research and give them the best care you can for where you are going to keep them, they can thrive in either outdoors or indoors. When outdoors you have to consider things like what weather you get, predators, and if on wire giving them a break from it (although it should be small enough wire their little feet won't go thru.) A good rule too is if you do choose wire, don't keep heavy breeds or rexes on it--rexes have very thin fur on their feet and big breeds put pressure on their feet and don't do well on wire.
Wire isn't cruel if you do it properly and are informed. Half the time my rabbits sit on the wire far more than on their rugs or tile!

There are soo many articles, discussions, and debates on this, but it is proven all the same that rabbits can live both indoors and outdoors if cared for properly. A rabbit can die inside from many of the same issues as outdoors (a sudden scare, a 'predator' like an aggressive dog or cat, or any kind of freak accident) if you think about it. My own rabbits have survived in ridiculous heat, cold temps, being around loud power tools, and even with predators like possums and raccoons being near or under their hutch. They don't care about most of those things either.

So mostly: seek help like from here, do your research, and do what YOU want for your new and lovely rabbit based on what you've learned.

 

[EverythingDucks]

Super cute! Glad you caught him.

I agree that he looks like a mix, though I could see him having some Rex and/or New Zealand in him.

Do you plan on keeping them if you can't find the owners? If so, I have lots if information on keeping rabbits as pets.
If not, you can contact your local animal rescue. Most will take rabbits now. You can also check the Rabbit House Society and check for rescues in your state. They also have lots of great info on their website.

 

[EverythingDucks]

The amount of pellets will depend on the size of the rabbit. What weight of rabbit is that 1/4 cup of pellets for?

4-6 pounds. A rabbit that weights less than that should have less, but it's not necessary for a rabbit that weighs more than that to have more pellets, unless you're raising them for meat amd you want some more fat on them, or of they're babies or pregnant. In that case, unlimited pellets is normal. But for a pet that is getting veggies and hay it isn't nessacru to have more than ¼ a cup.

 

[EverythingDucks]

I've kept many rabbits outdoors in cages or hutches. Every rabbit dies eventually, but most of mine lived healthy lives until I butchered them (because I was raising them for meat.) A few were killed by the neighbors dogs (after which the cages were improved, to avoid repeats.) I lived in a place with mild summers and cold winters, so I did not lose rabbits to temperature-related problems, but I did spend plenty of time carrying fresh water to them during the winter.

For a single pet rabbit, I think it is probably better to keep it indoors, if possible. But I know that rabbits can be safely housed outdoors, and people who raise large numbers of rabbits (for shows or meat) often house them outdoors. One rabbit in the house is tolerable, but hundreds are not.

I agree that people who breed rabbits and/or keep them for meat should have them outside, that just makes sense. I have no problem with that, but when people keep them as pets and just keep them in a tiny cage outside it isn't very fair. In my opinion, of you have a rabbit for a pet it would be pointless to keep them out in a little hutch where they can't bond with you as much. Or where they can't get proper exercise or playtime time a pet rabbit should.

The peoples who's rabbits have passed died from unnatural causes (such as being killed by a predator, having a heart attack from a predator, dying of heat stroke, and mis handling by young kids that should not be anywhere near a rabbit).


There are definitely ways to keep them housed out doors and still have happy and healthy rabbits. I, personally, cannot keep them indoors because of my allergies and not having a great space for them. So I'm going to build them a house that's at least 10x10 feet big with AC, and a 10x10 foot predator proof run. This of course is expensive and not something may people can do or are willing to do, so I didn't include that.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Its probably just a mutt

 

[SpotTheCat]

There is no real way of telling what breed it is, you can guess what it might be but it probably is just a mix. It does remind me of a breed but I can’t remember which one

 

[NatJ]

Was going to say Rex but the head just doesn't look the right shape.

Rex rabbits have extra-short fur (feels like velvet.) That rabbit appears to have normal length fur, so not a rex.

I can also rule out:
Any kind of lop would have ears that flop, which this rabbit does not.
Any kind of angora would have long wool, instead of the normal-length fur I see in the photo.

Hi all, I was wondering if any of you have some ideas of what breed this rabbit is? Maybe a New Zealand? Sorry, but I don't have any background information on the rabbit, There's been two of them wandering around on our property for three weeks, I can't find the owner, and just finally caught this one. It's also a male.

How much does it weigh? That's probably one of the fastest ways to narrow down the options. Rabbits can range from 2 pounds (example: Netherland Dwarf) to over 15 pounds (example: Flemish Giant). A New Zealand male should weigh 9 to 11 pounds.

Besides hay, they'll also need ¼ a cup of pellets a day (which you can split between breakfast and dinner or feed all at once).

The amount of pellets will depend on the size of the rabbit. What weight of rabbit is that 1/4 cup of pellets for?

I know of plenty of people who devied to keep their rabbits outside in a hutch. So far, every single one of them has died one way of another.

I've kept many rabbits outdoors in cages or hutches. Every rabbit dies eventually, but most of mine lived healthy lives until I butchered them (because I was raising them for meat.) A few were killed by the neighbors dogs (after which the cages were improved, to avoid repeats.) I lived in a place with mild summers and cold winters, so I did not lose rabbits to temperature-related problems, but I did spend plenty of time carrying fresh water to them during the winter.

For a single pet rabbit, I think it is probably better to keep it indoors, if possible. But I know that rabbits can be safely housed outdoors, and people who raise large numbers of rabbits (for shows or meat) often house them outdoors. One rabbit in the house is tolerable, but hundreds are not.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I beg to differ on the whole rabbits /must/ have access to hay 24-7-365 thing. Mine get it as treats occasionally (usually when they're stressed from fair or moving or breeding) and they do just fine with only rabbit pellets