Any Rabbit advice ?

laurajayne

We have two hutches (two couples, ah bless )

We were looking everywhere for ideas that'd keep them warm and dry - We've *ahem*, modified their hutches just a bit lol, and they have a permanent run attached, so it's now quite a difficult shape.

In the end, we caved, and bought the Scratch and Newton hutch covers. At £60 a time, they weren't cheap, but we've been delighted with them, as it's been pouring it down for weeks here. The buns stay inside and watch the rain fall down outside. We pull it up for ventilation as often as we can (I work from home, so if it starts raining, I just dash outside).

amy104

There is a seller on ebay who makes hutch covers to measure. I haven't used them myself but been told they are excellent and much better value/quality than the scratch and newton ones as I've heard these can start to leak badly as they get old - The material part is quite thin and becomes saturated easily.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RABBIT-HUTCH-COVERS-MADE-TO-MEASURE_W0QQitemZ180437586554QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Pet_Supplies_Small_Animals?hash=item2a02eb127a

Personally I use clear Ikea shower curtains to cover my hutches/runs. They are only 89p so cheap to replace if needed, and as they are transparent the let light in during the day. In really cold weather I also use the silver insulation you can get from B&Q, Wickes etc. I payed about £16 for a roll and that did three large hutches.

jvmills

amy104 wrote: »

Personally I use clear Ikea shower curtains to cover my hutches/runs.

Genius! Thats a great idea!

petspantry

Firstly £7.99 for 15 kilo of rabbit food is a very good price. The second thought is that if you are using 15kilo every 2 weeks on three rabbits then possibly they are being overfed on the hard feed . Rabbits need a diet based on fibre, or in simple terms 70% grass/ hay. Can I sugest you feed more hay.

as for suppliers, your local independant pet shop should be able to offer you a good range of feeds as well as hay etc. Many independants also deliver to your door. It may also suprise you but the majority of independants prices usually match or better pets at home etc.

amy104

We have 3 rabbits and they get through a 15kg bag every 2 weeks or so.

You are feeding them far too much commercial feed. Adult rabbits should have a tablespoon each a day. A rabbits diet should be 80% hay so you would be better off feeding them more of this. I buy a bale from a local farm for £4.

Alfrescodave

Our rabbit who lives in a cage in the living room does not accept that the cage is her real home and whenever she is let out of the cage will not go back into it. Consequently the living room floor becomes her toilet and she literally starves herself.

We have encouraged her to go back into the cage by using food rewards and leaving the cage door open. But it almost always requires some forceful persuasion to get her back into the cage.

Any advice as to how to convince her that the cage is where her food and water is (and also her toilet) would be appreciated

Fire_Fox

Have you tried a larger hutch or separate litter tray? What about clicker training?
http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/rabbits/a/rabbitcageidea.htm
http://community.webshots.com/album/43041674swKfJM
http://www.clickertraining.com/files/ClickingWithYourRabbit_Sample.pdf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSmaDv2isHk&feature=related

sarabe

I know diddly squat about rabbits but would she want to toilet where she has to eat and sleep?

ClareEmily

My bunny has her own room in the house, which she knows is hers but when we are here she also thinks the living room is hers also our bedroom.

We have a litter tray downstairs (newspaper with hay on top).

Bunny not eating is a very serious problem, look up stasis.

Go look at the rabbits united forum, brilliant advise there.

Basically your bunny needs move space, and a litter tray, my bunny is completely toilet trained. We have bunny proofed the whole house, she is very rewarding though.

joyfull

FINAL UPDATE

The dear bunny is dead. Don't know 'how' it died but after enduring those conditions it's no surprise.

The rabbit's owner stopped me this morning & told me that someone 'had it in for her' & reported her to the RSPCA but they had 'wasted their time' by coming out only to find the bunny was dead. She has even offered me the remaining rabbit food! She has no idea I was behind it all & know the whole story not just the 'I'm a victim' version of it all.

IMO the RSPCA have been not good in this at all. They failed repeatedly to update me on the case never returning phone calls. More importantly this rabbit suffered for months in unacceptable conditions. It took me writing to Head Office to get information out of them.

Anyway thank you to those who took an interest & gave support. If anything good comes out of this it will be that hopefully these owners will think twice before treating another animal like this knowing they are Being Watched.

RIP little bunny.