Rabbit questions

ClareEmily

emweaver wrote: »

Do rabbits need to run on grass? we bought a hutch with a built in run but the base is wood, should we put them in a different run straight onto grass aswell every day?

It is always better that rabbits can run, sit and munch on grass, but saying that my bunny is an indoor rabbit so has plenty of space but no grass (she is on the hay/veggie diet). She sometimes has grass trays to dig/lay in.

ClareEmily

Guinea wrote: »

Hmmm thanks for all these replies. Do you seriously think I haven't thought about why I want to breed them, why not to breed them, the ventilation in a shed, runs, food, vets bills and the like? I am not a stupid person.
I want 'cheap' hutches because I don't want to spend an absolute fortune on them in pet shops and just wondered whether there were any other bunny lovers out there who knew of a wholesalers that sells them or perhaps somewhere else I could get them from.
Thank you to skye for the websites. I will take a look now.

I just feel like crying, how many are you going to put in a shed?

I am a "real" bunny lover and my bunny has a whole shed to herself when on her hols, run of whole room and then in evening whole house.

A bunny can't run and jump and be a normal bunny in a plastic box. How many cuddles, strokes will each bunny get from you, I only have one bunny and she demands loads of my time.

So many rabbits already looking for a good home, no excuse to breed them :mad:

ClareEmily

Sallylizzie wrote: »

Hi.. Can some one advise????
We have a 1yr old Rabbit, he's been handeled since we got him, he's ok being held, but actually gettin him is a nightmare. He is happy to sit on your lap but he doesn't like the "picking up" bit. I've tried various ways of picking him up but he sctatches and bits me to shreds. I'm begining to not want to handle him at all!!!
The other problem is his toilet habits, he has always done his business where he sleeps resulting in me having to clean him out every other day ( cos it smells bad) because I don't like the tohught of him sleeping next to his poo! can I train him to do it elsewhere or jus leave him to it???
Thanks in advance

Rabbits don't like to be picked up full stop, they are prey animals.

Some useful leaflets here:

http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/resources/content/leaflet_pdfs/biting_hand_may_05.pdf

http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/resources/index.php?section=leaflets.html

Have you had him neutered yet?

Yes you can litter train a rabbit easily, mine is, and I clean the tray twice a day no problem.

ClareEmily

Oops didn't realise some of these posts were soooo old, threads must have been merged.

Threadhead

hmm, a bit strange that all the rabbit questions are in one thread now. Will all the dog threads be merged next, or the cat ones? thought not....

Mely

Hi all...ive just rescued two beautiful female lop eared rabbits. They both have their own hutches, but they are too small. I am going to get them a big hutch between them as they like to snuggle up together...awww!
I know what to feed them, but should i bring them indoors in the winter? And is there any other advice anyone could give me, as i want to look after them as well as possible.
Any advice greatly appreciated xxx

Rummer

The advice of our vet was to have our rabbit either as an outdoor or indoors rabbit and not to try and balance both as seemingly there is a higher risk of pneumonia in rabbits that are brought indoors for part of the year.
We keep our rabbit outside in a sheltered area and when the really rough weather sets in we have a cover that goes over the hutch to add extra protection. Lots of hay, plenty of dried and fresh food and daily fresh water keeps him healthy and happy. For exercise we have a run for dry weather or a dash round the kitchen if the weather is too severe.
Next year we are going to build a large outdoor run that the hutch will fit inside so that he can go in and out as he pleases which will be great. We did have him inside for a year (due to external building work and lots of dust) although we had to really hunt for a huge cage and he lived quite happily in our hall way. I would have liked to keep him as a house rabbit but my OH was having none of it! Anyway I seem to have written quite enough, photos would be lovely to see if you have any?

Mely

Thanks for your advice - much appreciated! I have been giving them the dried rabbit food and fresh vegetables,clean water daily. Im really glad you mentioned the pneumonia risk if they live part of the year indoors. This makes sense as i suppose they toughen up if left outside all year round. Hopefully i will be able to find a large hutch asap as they really are quite large rabbits and i know they would be happier together. My OH is going to make a large run for them once we sort their new hutch out. I will try and get some pics of them on here. They really are delightful !

Bree

Don't know if you have got a new hutch yet, but I thought I tell you how we house our rabbits. We lined a shed and fitted mesh to the window, and can temporally board it up during fire works etc, and a mesh door just inside of the main door. Dependant on the weather we leave the main door open, so air can get in but nothing else. We also made a wooden box for their hideaway/bedroom.
We converted an existing 7ft x 5ft shed and partioned it off inside as we also house the 2 guniea pigs in there. So they are kept seperately. I can't find the link where I got the idea from, but they where using 4t x 6ft sheds costing around £100 each.

BridgetJones_2

Hiya,

I have 2 medium sized lop eared rabbits too!

My hutch is from pets at home (thistle hall) with a run but we're going to upgrade them to a modified shed soon. Try Happy Hutch for very well made and good sized hutches - they sell on ebay. Or convert a shed or kids playhouse. Security is obviously a lot higher and they tend to be easier to clean out.

For the diet part, mine are on a high veg low pellet (pellets from pets at home, adult nuggets) diet as they're both rather chubby!! We feed them A LOT of broccoli, sprouts, cabbages, apple, carrot etc etc They go mad a dinner time so they must enjoy it!! Make sure they have fresh water everyday and it's really important that they have constant access to hay. Mine are on Excel super forage (again from pets at home but can be ordered online)

There are a few great websites, try the forum at Rabbits United for ideas and tips. And Hay Experts sell amazing natural toys, the hay cubes go down very well with mine and are great for their teeth!!

Mine will be outside over winter, just ensure they have lots of bedding and as long as they have each other they can snuggle up for heat. Rabbits that have been kept outdoors will moult then grow a winter coat. I have a cover on my hutch, bought it on Ebay for £30 and it was made to measure. There are also some heatpads you can stick in the microwave but mine weren't too fussed with it to be honest!

Hope this helps!! Give me a PM if you have any questions.