Any Rabbit advice ?

johnson293

shelley1977 wrote: »

Id just like to second getting a bun from a rescue and dont know if anyone has mentioned they should have a large hutch ideally 6' by 2' by2' and its better to get a bonded pair than keeping as a single.

Yep, that is exactly what we did last year (see earlier in this thread). We got our from a local rescue (NRSA Rescue) and they were a paired brother and sister, fully nuetered. The hutch we bought was 6x2x2 and sits over/links to a run which is 6x4x2.

Just thought I'd a dd a little update as haven't posted on here since we got our Buns last September.

Sophie and Thumper are still with and doing fine - they settled in very well.

Was worried over the winter, with it being particularly harsh, however we bought a large tarpaulin to cover the hutch/run with, so the snow never got in with them. They grew out their thicker winter coats, and they were fine outside.

Weather permitting, they have free garden access in the evenigns and weekends, but are shut away during work hours and overnight.

We have had a few minor 'escape attempts' too, where they have started digging at the base of the fence to next doors garden! We had already 'rabbit proofed' the majority of the garden (beneath decking, behind shed, etc) but just have to keepo a watch out for new 'tunnels' appearing.

In terms of feeding them, they have baskets of hay in the hutch and run, but we also give them a bowl of Supreme Science pellets (which they were feeding on from the rescue) in the morning, and in the evening they have a bowl of fresh fruit and/or veg (carrot, Kale, Apple, Brocolli or similar).

They also come running for a treat digestive biscuit, which they love!

They still aren't too keen to being picked up / handled much, but they do allow us to stroke them when they are out on the lawn. Because of this, I had to modify the run slightly. It orginally had a top opening lid for putting the rabbits in/out, but as I say they didn't like being picked up, and when it came to putting them away, it turned into a nightly chase around the garden!

So I made and added a side door to the run, by removing some of the mesh. Now we just open that side door and they can come and go to/from the hutch and run as they please, then at night-time we just have to 'herd' them in, and they dont need to be chased and picked up, which is probably a bit less stressful for them too!

So overall, we've had a good first year with our Buns, and hope for many more yet!

MJ

shelley1977

Johnson293 your rabbits are very lucky to have such a good owner.As for keeping warm have you heard of the snugglesafe heat pad.I think you can get it lots of places online etc.I want to get one especially if this winter is as cold as last years.I was such a pain having the water bottles freezing all the time i was so worried every morning when i went out.What i did though was wrap the bottles first in some newspaper then a layer of foil and it did make a difference.

reehsetin

my little bun died yesterday - heartbroken is an understatement - he was only 3 months old, they think it was a brain bleed

Coveredinbees!!!!

Yea - Don't buy rabbits. We had 2 rabbits that cost £10 each. Between them they destroyed 3 carpets and cut thru various cables. One of them then got ill with head tilt he got better but the other one got it and died eventually. Even after he got better he was never right and we had to get him put down in the end. All in all our 2 £10 rabbits cost us several 100's of pounds in carpets electrical appliances and vet bills. The weren't even very good pets. Never again.

Oh yea even thou they were neutered they still crapped everywhere and used to shag each other constantly even thou they were both males

Kaelea

reehsetin wrote: »

my little bun died yesterday - heartbroken is an understatement - he was only 3 months old, they think it was a brain bleed

So sorry to hear this, my thoughts are with you

*hugs*

amy104

Yea - Don't buy rabbits. We had 2 rabbits that cost £10 each. Between them they destroyed 3 carpets and cut thru various cables. One of them then got ill with head tilt he got better but the other one got it and died eventually. Even after he got better he was never right and we had to get him put down in the end. All in all our 2 £10 rabbits cost us several 100's of pounds in carpets electrical appliances and vet bills. The weren't even very good pets. Never again.

Oh yea even thou they were neutered they still crapped everywhere and used to shag each other constantly even thou they were both males

I'm sorry you feel that way but I'm not sure your post is very helpful to people looking to this thread for advice. This is why it is so important to do research before impulse buying a pet - so you know they are right for you.

Anyone with a house bunny must accept that they are destructive and all wires should be properly bunny proofed.

I suspect your rabbit had EC. Did your vet advise pancuring the unaffected bunny aswell? This should of been done as a preventative measure. Although a very serious condition I know of several bunnies with permanent head tilt who cope fine.

Herbyme

reehsetin i am so sorry to hear about your little bun. I know how painful it is. Much sympathy.

A word to any new bunny owners - buns can go downhill very fast, if they look ill (glazed) or stop eating, get them to a vet at once and don't let the vet fob you of with that line of 'if it's no better in the morning, come back again' but insist on whatever they would do then being done now. Rabbits pretend to be well when they're not, being prey they don't want to look weak - so the vet can be taken in if not a rabbit expert, and so can you, thinking they've perked up, but it may not last. I wish I had known all this a few months ago. I speak from bitter experience, and I don't just mean the emergency vets bills but more importantly the life of my lovely Molly.

Have been reading back thro this thread, thought I'd mention a tip about how to get your bun on their back without stress - sit them on a towel then wrap them up in it like swaddling a baby, then it's easy to pick them up, turn them over gently and examine the bottom area. They go all dopey and don't fight at all. Hope that might be helpful.

katebl

Reehsetin, I'm really sorry you lost your little boy, that's awful. At least you know he had a happy life with you, and you seem like a great pet owner. Hopefully one day you can take your knowledge and give another bunny a home, but my heart does go out to you. Mine is 6 months and I don't know what I'd do without him now so I can't imagine how you feel. *big hug*

bizywizy

reehsetin I am so very sorry for your loss.

my heart goes out to you xxxx

reehsetin

Thank you for all of the kind messages, carolinerunner - thats really good advice, he was at the vets on Saturday and had one of his jabs, he was less perky than normal after that, because he was still eating and running around (just not as much) we didn't realise it was so serious, the vet said he may be quieter for a bit after having the jab...
I was planning on taking him back to the vet because I was getting worried but he collapsed very suddenly before we had a chance...