Just been given a rabbit! Guidance needed please>

Valli

I have kept rabbits for years

wild plants they can eat include dandelions, chickweed, groundsel and dock leaves. If you can't identify these don't guess, please!

buttercups are, apparently, toxic.

I've had runs and put away at night without problems, but a fox (as has been said) will happily take a rabbit.

fresh water is a must. Straw for bedding and hay which they need to chew on. their teeth grow so they need to chew to keep tham short. Clean the hutch at least weekly.
the hutch waste (inc droppings) will go in your compost bin - rots quickly and helps other waste rot down.

I had an earth run (it was huge, too!) but put two or three paving slabs in it, because that helps to keep their claws short. I also had some pipes (gas main bits) to make tunnels. Two of our rabits did tunnel - but too far from the fence!

begley

We have a Facebook group - items to sell or swap - and there' ALWAYS hutches and runs on there, may be worth looking to see if there's something similar in your area.
We had an awful problem with flies, particularly in the warmer weather. You can get a spray from Pets at Home to protect against flystrike, so invest in some of that (flystrike is HORRIBLE), and make sure you clean her 'toilet area' every day - as a rule they tend to use one area for their loo.
We bought our (now departed, bless her) rabbit balls with bells in, she loved them. You can get a ball that you fill with treats that they have to nudge to make the treats fall out, ours loved that too. Wilkinsons is cheap as chips for bits like that!
You'll need to get some kind of gnawing block for her to keep her teeth from growing too long. If you've got an apple tree, or can get hold of any branches they like to chew on them.
Enjoy her, we miss our bunny! She may have been a viscious little sod, but she was lovely and really entertaining!

rosie383

Just a wee update from the new bunny owner.
I went to Wilkos and was so glad I went when I did. Got the hay, straw, food pellets and water bottle. Had about £3 left from our £10 (budget for yesterday) and spotted a 10m roll of galvanised wire mesh for animal enclosures (25mm holes). It was reduced down to £3.50!!!!
Went home very happy and then asked dh to help make a run for her.
3 happy hours later, we had a lovely run for Bonny. We decided to use a patch of garden which hadn't really been used very much and have her hutch at one end (where there is most shade) and the run is about 10' x5'. We were quite resourceful and used an old stairgate as a gate in.
We haven't put a roof on it as we will just use it when we are out in the garden with her. There are foxes around here, so we don't want to risk her.
Very very happy. For a grand total of £3.50 and recycled bars and wood from the shed, we have a lovely secure place for the children to enjoy Bonny.
She is coming up to the kids and hopping around them and having a good sniff and will let them have wee strokes. Hasn't tried to bite anyone yet, so I think she has been handled in the past. Apparently she was a rescue rabbit and had been kept only in a cage, so hopefully will enjoy a bit of freedom and lots of attention from the kids!!
When I figure out how to send pictures to my PC I will share pics with all of you helpful people.

Oh, one question......... we don't know how old she is, and have no idea what she weighs, so how much food should we give her?
The packet of food says 75g/ 3kg weight of adult rabbit. As we haven't been able to lift her, I wouldn't have a clue how heavy she is, but she isn't a big rabbit. Maybe the size of a smallish cat.
I don't have scales so can't weigh her hutch with her in it and not in it. I just have kitchen scales.
I did see somewhere to give her a bunny sized bundle of hay each day, and we will give her carrots and greens (oh, apparently she has just been having those, hay and pellets, so we are on the right track).

OnTheRoad_3

There are some great rabbit recipes on the BBC Food website! Just google 'Rabbit Recipes' :eek::eek:

Fire_Fox

My cat looks like an older kitten and is under 4kg, so maybe feed the 3kg rate for now? If she seems hungry you can always up the feed rate. Either the vet can weigh her if you need to go or borrow scales from a neighbour, weigh yourself with and without bunny.

MrsDrink

Awww she sounds like she's been very lucky to have found you
I can't help with the advice on how much she weighs, our Bun is a mini-lop so he isn't very big, I could weigh him if it'd help? When he's hunkered down he's about as big as my forearm.
Cannot wait to see piccies
Oh and our Bun loves fresh basil - that's his favourite 'greens'.

VfM4meplse

Rabbits are soooooooooooo cute and cuddly, good luck with yours.

Not helpful I know, but I just had to express my opinion .

rosie383

OnTheRoad wrote: »

There are some great rabbit recipes on the BBC Food website! Just google 'Rabbit Recipes' :eek::eek:

Gosh! You're as bad as my husband!!!! He loves rabbit with cous cous!!

I have cleared a big patch of garden and have lots of seeds for the kids to sew today including basil, rocket, radishes and other herbs and greens. We also have a very friendly fruit and veg market stall that we go to and the guy gives us extra each time anyway (say, an extra bunch of bananas in our bag of apples for £1), so I'm sure he will be happy to give us the extra bits and leftovers. He won't sell stuff that is bruised so would prefer to give it away than throw it out!!

WantToBeSE

The batteries (AA ones) go in the back.
Switch it on, and enjoy!

rosie383

Naughty!!!