Any Rabbit advice ?

amy104

How old is the new rabbit? I'd be very surprised if an un-neutered male didn't fight when the hormones hit.

helping_hubby

johnson293 wrote: »

I have another quick question - re: location of the run.

Our garden is a decent size, but the lawn has a slight slope to it, and is uneven in places. In the bottom corner, we have a hardstanding area paved with paving flags - our small garden tool shed is sited on this. However, the area is large enough to comfortably house the shed and the hutch/run combo I have ordered.

Would it be ok for the rabbits if their run is placed on the paved area?

We hope that during the day we can leave the door between hutch and run open so they could have free access to play/exercise (the run itself will be closed obviously), but in the evenings/weekends we could supervise them and let them have a run on the grass area too. We also thought that the shed could provide a degree of shelter from the wind for the hutch.

Also, being on a patio area may be easier for clearing any mess up within the run.

However, I wasn't sure whether a hard paved, potentially cold (in winter) surface would be ok for the buns? There is also no chance of them burrowing out of the run if its on a hard surface as well.

Cheers All.

MJ

As others have said, being on a patio has more advantages. Both our runs have paving slabs. This way I can leave them with access to outside all night.

I also have a very similar hutch/run combo to you.

It's really refreshing to see someone doing their homework before getting a rabbit.

I get insurance for both of mine. Gizmo costs a mere £6.85 a month because I can shop around for him and use quidco cashback etc. But Twiggy I'm stuck with Petplan because she's got Pasteurella and it's a recurring thing so I need to renew every year to be covered by it. She costs £12.50 a month to insure.

Start looking out for cardboard boxes/tubes for toys. Most rabbits love to destruct a cardboard box (as long as they don't ingest the bits)...you should end up with a nice pile of ripped up cardboard.

johnson293

Cheers for all the replies.

The hutch/run arrived yesterday, and I built it up last night when i got in from work (Very quick with a cordless drill/screwdriver ) - just got hinges to fix to the roof for opening then its done.

It fits great on the samll patio area alongside the shed - just gotta arrange it to a final position, then contact the rescue centre as they will do a house/garden check.

Gotta get some supplies sorted (straw, food, toys, etc) but hopefully we may have new bunnies in the next week or so, and I'll get some photos sorted then.

MJ

amy104

Sounds great. :j

You may want to check what the rescue feeds as bunnys can have sensitive tummys so any changes in food should be gradual. Pellets are a better option as they prevent selective feeding.

Also don't forget the hay. Your buns diet should contain 80% of the stuff.

You might want a litter tray too. Rabbits like to use the same area to toilet so by using a tray cleaning out is a breeze.

johnson293

WooHoo - we are getting our rescue bunnies tomorrow!! :j

The lady from the rescue centre called this morning and approved our garden and hutch/run and talked us through the rescue rabbit's needs, and our responsibilities.

We had seen a pair on their website which our son liked, and their current carer rang us this afternoon and told us all about them - they seem perfect for us.

They are a brother and sister bonded pair of white (with black markings) lionhairs, and are approx 2 years old. Both are fully vaccinated and neutered/spayed. They are very friendly, happy to be around children, and will even come when called, apparently.

The carer has had them for about a year now with little interest, and it sounds like she will be sad to let them go - but we will take good care of them.

We've been out this afternoon and got some straw, hay, water bottle, etc. The carer will be bringing some of their feed with her, so we know what to buy in future.

Looking forward to tomorrow now, and will post some pics up as soon as the buns are settled, and we take some.

Wish us luck!!!

MJ

morg_monster

About having the run on the patio, I just want to check, does the run have wire mesh on the bottom? I presume it has, because otherwise if it was on grass the bunnies could dig out! Anyway, you do want to be careful in this case, because it is possible for the bunny to get its foot stuck between the mesh and the patio stones, and then get distressed, or worst case it gets startled and takes off while its leg is even slightly caught under wire, injuring it :-( This happened to my brother's bunny when we had the run half on grass, half on patio. Poor thing broke its leg, she was OK but had to have her leg amputated in the end as the break wouldn't heal. When we told the vet that she'd been in her run when she broke her leg, the first thing he said was "is the run on the patio?"
Anyway just consider the gap between wire and the patio, and maybe consider removing the wire on the bottom if you're worried about it.

johnson293

morg_monster wrote: »

About having the run on the patio, I just want to check, does the run have wire mesh on the bottom? I presume it has, because otherwise if it was on grass the bunnies could dig out! Anyway, you do want to be careful in this case, because it is possible for the bunny to get its foot stuck between the mesh and the patio stones, and then get distressed, or worst case it gets startled and takes off while its leg is even slightly caught under wire, injuring it :-( This happened to my brother's bunny when we had the run half on grass, half on patio. Poor thing broke its leg, she was OK but had to have her leg amputated in the end as the break wouldn't heal. When we told the vet that she'd been in her run when she broke her leg, the first thing he said was "is the run on the patio?"
Anyway just consider the gap between wire and the patio, and maybe consider removing the wire on the bottom if you're worried about it.

The run we have (that came with the hutch) does not have mesh on the bottom, and I realise that placing it on the grass would have been a burrowing risk.

However, I also wasn't sure whether placing it on the patio area during winter would be too cold for them, but have been told on here and by the rescue centre that the patio area is fine.

So the bunnies will be directly on the patio area, without any mesh underfoot.

They will also have time to play out of their run in the whole garden when we can supervise them.

sassygirl_2

That looks a nice hutch, tempted to buy one myself now (not very MS lol)
I have a rabbit i got through the adoption part of P@H . She had been dropped by the previous owner, an 8 yr old boy. She now has a bad head tilt and is partialy blind.
I also had a french lop, the most beautiful rabbit (in my eyes) and she was a wonderfully tempered girl. She was happy for my girls to handle her and she would spend hours sat in the living room with us.
Here's Honey (RIP)




And this is Misty who has the head tilt

johnson293

Took a few pics yesterday when the buns arrived, and they are in this folder on Facebook (which I will be updating), which hopefully everyone should be able to see.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid=120041&id=656896445&ref=mf

They are a bit shy at the moment, but seem very well natured - and having been together for their two years, they love each others company. They are actually lionhair crosses.

Apparently at their previous home, they lived in a summerhouse/shed type outhouse and had free run of the garden, so they aren't used to using ladders from hucth to run. So up to now they have spent most of their time in the hutch, but hopefully they will venture down the ladder today and see they have more space to play.

Once they are fully settled, we will get them out and let them have supervised access to the whole garden.

Our son is a little disappointed as he thinks they dont like him.:o But we keep reassuring him that its simply as they are in a new home with new people, and just need time to get used to everything and us.

MJ

Emzycal

Children shouldn't have pets smaller than a medium sized dog.
Why?

Well,would you want something that hasn't developed it's motor skills yet picking you up,bashing you about and drooling over you? Squeezing you and pulling your tail?

Then,when you bite it to protect yourself,YOU get 'put to sleep'?

It's cruel and unfair to expect animals to put up with children unless they are the kind who can walk away - bunnies,rats,gerbils,guinea pigs are too small to properly defend themselves against the horrid little things.


(PS ; I don't hate children,I just prefer animals and hate children when they're around them - my niece killed my hamster!)