Any Rabbit advice ?

Kavanne

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

makes you wonder how rabbits survive in the winter, and in colder climates than our own, where they will be eating vegetation with frost and snow on it on a regular basis though doesnt it? No one has told the rabbits that like to eat my cabbages and brussels (growing) that they musnt eat them in these conditions!

But that stuff *IS* frozen, maybe there's some problem with stuff that was frozen before but isn't anymore?

clutterydrawer

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

makes you wonder how rabbits survive in the winter, and in colder climates than our own, where they will be eating vegetation with frost and snow on it on a regular basis though doesnt it? No one has told the rabbits that like to eat my cabbages and brussels (growing) that they musnt eat them in these conditions!

wild rabbits are much hardier than domestic rabbits though...domestic rabbits have been selctively bred for appearance without a thoguht for their health and have much more delicate digestive systems than wildies. i still don't know why they can't have frozen thigns though

feelinggood_2

I persuaded OH to give him some cauliflower instead. I think he misses having a hamster that would happily eat anything we were eating. We are careful with the rabbit, and I had a feeling frozen things wouldn't be recommended, although can't think why.

I'll definitely try him with fresh sprouts soon, been a little while since I introduced something new in his diet, he is probably ready for it. When I first got him, he only had a very limited diet and they said to add new things in slowly.

So far he has liked everything apart from banana. And he won't go near OH if he has a beer in his hand!

He does like chocolate orange. Really need eyes in the back of your head, rabbits can get in things pretty quickly!

clutterydrawer

feelinggood wrote: »

I persuaded OH to give him some cauliflower instead. I think he misses having a hamster that would happily eat anything we were eating. We are careful with the rabbit, and I had a feeling frozen things wouldn't be recommended, although can't think why.

I'll definitely try him with fresh sprouts soon, been a little while since I introduced something new in his diet, he is probably ready for it. When I first got him, he only had a very limited diet and they said to add new things in slowly.

So far he has liked everything apart from banana. And he won't go near OH if he has a beer in his hand!

He does like chocolate orange. Really need eyes in the back of your head, rabbits can get in things pretty quickly!

they're shockign aren't they - my rabbit finds things to eat that i didn't even know were there - every so often I find her munching on an orange that i didn't know was in the room. :eek: and she once ate a toy stuffed with lentils.

Turtle

weegie.geekie - I had a house bunny until very recently when sadly we had to have him put to sleep after 7 great years. I do not know the reason actually about not eating frozen veg, I had read it in my house bunny book and so never gave Bob any veg that had been in the veg basket in the fridge as it sometimes got a bit frosty there. Never wanted to risk it. Sorry if you think 'people' state things and don't back them up with fact, just passing on what I'd read - why wouldn't I when there's no reason to feed the bunny frozen food? iKennett has clearly heard this too. In addition, wild rabbits are tougher than domestic ones no doubt eat alsorts that domestic bunnies are not 'supposed' to, but we have no idea how many of them don't survive after do we?

tiamai_d

Most bunnies won't eat frozen and defrosted vegetables as they defrost 'mushy' due to the water within the cells expanding during freezing and bursting cell walls. You don't notice this with veg your going to cook as cooking does the same. But it will not do them any harm as apart from the veg becoming softer, there are no chemical changes within the food.

Make sure it is completely defrosted and it will be fine (if they eat it). Some things just don't work though (think about lettuce).

gabyjane

We have 2 rabbits both roughly around a year old give or take a couple of months difference..both males and bought them seperatly but not long apart..they have been fine for all the time we have had them (roughly 6 months i think useless with dates!)
Over the last 2 days they have started fighting and after watching them today it is the younger of the 2 who is doing all the attacking, he was the first one we got (banoffee), he is a very jumpy rabbit and very hard to handle, jumps every time you get near to him and practically impossible to hold but very sweet none the less and has lovely markings!..Snoopy is the older one and is very placid, very friendly and comes to you when you call his name like a dog! so they are very different.
SO i am getting worried that one is going to hurt the other and not sure what to do about it..is it a phase? only way round it is either get another hutch which i dont want to do due to various reasons or get rid of one...looking at Banoffees face i can't as he is so cute and he was dd's first one so she will be upset but can't obviously leave them to eat each other..HELP!

xJayJayx

Have they both been castrated? This can help with the "bonding" as it were, if they aren't i would suggest they are done immediately and you may have to re-bond them from scratch. Two castrated males can be ok together but males that aren't castrated can fight and it can even lead to death if they aren't separated!

snowman2_2

The first thing I would do is get them castrated. testosterone is not helpful and neutered males tend to be far friendlier and more placcid

foreign_correspondent

When I was a teenager, my friend had male rabbits that were not castrated - till one of them decided to try and do the job himself, and bit right through the other rabbits testicles - cue emergency vet to lop the remainder off (which was all dangling out horribly by then!) and tidy up!

The moral of the story is... its better to get them castrated before they have a go at DIY surgery!