We are getting a rabbit!!!!

[violentvioletx]

So.... Managed to convince DH that DC would like a rabbit. Have purchased;
Two tier Hutch, hay, sawdust, food bowl, hanging food container, water bottle, baby rabbit food, grooming kit, hutch cleaner and sanitiser, book vet appointment to get rabbit health checked and arrange for neutering. Is there anything we are missing? Hopefully pick rabbit up tomorrow and excitement is really kicking in now!

[newtscamander]

You need two really for company. Mine adore each other, they'd be very lonely alone.

[newtscamander]

Is it an outdoor rabbit? You need a run or ideally fully rabbit proof the garden so they can run all around it for an hour or so a day (whilst being watched of course). Remember to get teeth and nails checked a few times a year.

[justdontevenfuckingstart]

Look at megasorb for bedding. Much cheaper and cleaner. Dd1 got jaffacake a Hungarian dwarf two weeks ago. Cutest thing ever.

[Ramonaramona73]

Rabbits are very social animals and it is very cruel to keep them on their own - I had thought you had to have two actually. Please think about getting another, I'm sure they will both be friendlier, easier pets together.

[Slippersandacuppa]

Yep - another rabbit and some sort of outdoor run for them. Congrats! Ours are favourites with visitors!

[SoftSheen]

You will need to get two rabbits, as they are social animals. A male and female neutered pair often works well.

I am not very keen on multi-tiered hutches for rabbits as they are not climbing animals. What they do need is lots of space to run about. You need a minimum hutch size of 6' x 2' x 2' with access to a run of at least 10' length. Bear in mind that the rabbits you see in pet shops are usually babies, and adult rabbits are significantly bigger.

Hay should form the main part of a rabbit's diet, with supplemental pellets and small amounts of fresh vegetables and fruit.

Please think very carefully, as rabbits are not the easiest of pets nor are they ideal for children (most don't like being picked up/cuddled). They can also live for 10+ years. Generally speaking guinea-pigs make much better pets for children.

[MilkyChops]

Another rabbit - then get them spayed/neutered - they are not solitary animals.
Put aside money for rabbit vaccinations e.g. Myomatosis
A fully enclosed area/run
Don't use sawdust - buy megasorb - it's horse litter but it's much kinder to bunny noses.
Good quality timothy hay to prevent teeth problems
Not that awful rabbit muesli mix - get the all in one pellets - remember there main source of nutrients is hay - never leave a full bowl of pellets - just layer a small amount into the bowl once a day.
A good brush - furminator
Nail scissors and oven mits.
Go and pick fresh blackberries and bramble leaves, they love coriander, green leafy carrot tops, basil, parsley, fresh grass, spring greens, brocolli. Despite popular culture carrots and too much fresh fruit is not good for them - very sugary.


thehayexperts - sell good hay and megasorb and are very reasonable.

[bearofnothingness]

don't let mn dampen your excitement! rabbits are lovely pets, remember to handle it alot when little and let them run about inside to get used to you! def get a nice outside run for it. mine virtually live in theirs!

[timelytess]

Go to Rabbits United and read up.
Two rabbits, not one.
Not suitable for children.
Bite like bastards, kick and scratch.
'Exotics' when they go to the vet - with all the accompanying cost.
Live forever.

Get a big hairy Syrian hamster. Lives 3-4 years, full of character, totally lovely. Not a small bitey hamster.

[BennyTheBall]

Please, please don't get one. It will be lonely and miserable.

You need a bonded pair. It is cruel otherwise.

[babbafishbabe]

They will also need something to chew, mineral stone and salt lick. Also some toys ... Our bunnies love throwing balls about.
A run is a necessity unless like us you have a fully enclosed garden. Get some springs for your water bottle as it will pee you off tiring to get that off. We also have 2 water bottles.
A litter tray and some small animal litter means you'll have a nice tidy hutch!
You should have two... One of ours died and we wasn't going to replace but she was soooooo very very lonely.
We got her a man and they LOVE each other... He's been fixed. Ours are English Lops called Pixie and Korbin.

[babbafishbabe]

They will also need something to chew, mineral stone and salt lick. Also some toys ... Our bunnies love throwing balls about.
A run is a necessity unless like us you have a fully enclosed garden. Get some springs for your water bottle as it will pee you off tiring to get that off. We also have 2 water bottles.
A litter tray and some small animal litter means you'll have a nice tidy hutch!
You should have two... One of ours died and we wasn't going to replace but she was soooooo very very lonely.
We got her a man and they LOVE each other... He's been fixed. Ours are English Lops called Pixie and Korbin.

[timelytess]

Bedding - waterproof base/ puppy pads/ extreme hay. Soft, warm absorbent and easy to clean.

[BennyTheBall]

And they need a massive run, not tiers.

Our rabbits have their own 'garden' which is about 7ft by 5.

[MadHattersWineParty]

The only rabbit I have had who was happy living alone was a beautiful scruffy loppy thing who lived inside with me, but I think he thought he was a dog (id even found him as 'a stray' all matted and sad lolloping along beside a road) he'd follow me everywhere, sit on my lap watching tv and kip on the end of my bed. I introduced him to the other rabbit we had who lived outside and recently lost her mate but she hated him and he just wanted to be with me and would pine at the back door.

He was litter trained too.

Also rabbits don't generally like being picked up and cuddled, of course kids want to as they're ridiculously cute, but if you spend time handling him every day he'll end up loving a good stroke. Watch your wires if he comes indoors, all my bunnies have loved biting through wires!

[newtscamander]

No need for people to be so negative

Yes, it will need a friend (I have two girls who get on great. Both neutered about 8 months old) and you need an outdoor run/enclosed garden.

But they are great pets, so intelligent and full of character. Love mine to bits. Don't be put off!

[violentvioletx]

My apologies I should have said we are collecting the first tommorow, the second one isn't available until 02/09/2016. We do also have a run that measures 15ft X 15ft that DH made. The two tier hutch is currently separated as one is male and one is female so figured I could leave one on top one on the bottom whilst waiting for neutering. And then place ramp at a later date. Have a monthly pet payment with local vet that offers vaccines, nail trimming, teeth checks, health checks microchipping 20% of neutering etc for £9.99 a month, rabbit will also be fully insured with pet plan as is my dog. DC will have no access to hutch or run without me letting them in.

[violentvioletx]

Also have Timothy hay, will get more toys and a salt rock tomorrow

[MadHattersWineParty]

Please put pictures and names

[violentvioletx]

Also have a water proof cover and a hitch inside for really bad weather. Living room has no exposed wires as they are all buried in the wall.

[violentvioletx]

Hutch salt lick autocorrect fail! Sorry for jumbled post trying to answer every bodies points

[BennyTheBall]

Well that sounds lovely! Make sure your solo gets loads of attention between now and getting the other.

Our are male and female and they are very close.

Thy have lots of interest in their run - a couple of tunnels and they have dug a burrow that they sleep in - they don't bother with the hutch. We have a couple of tree stumps in there for 'visitors' to sit on. Our rabbits love attention and stroking but they are never picked up.

[violentvioletx]

I have organic pellets and not muesli mix

[violentvioletx]

Kind of wishing I hadn't posted on here now, have done lots of research, if I'm completely honest rabbit is definitely more for me than DC. And thought I had actually done a good job of preparing now feeling like I haven't and doubting the whole thing

[hownottofuckup]

A hay holder is a good idea placed near their litter tray/their favoured toilet spot (they like to eat and poop), hay should make up 75-80% of their diet mine has meadow hay topped up with Friendly grass and leafy greens. Read up what they can and can't have, they will eat harmful things. Personally I would only give brocolli leaves if you want to feed broccoli. Mine loves dandelion leaves. Follow the rabbit comes to you approach. Really try to avoid picking it up or chasing it, don't forget it's a prey animal not a predator animal like a cat or dog. I spent a lot of time sat/laid in the floor with dandelion leaves with mine, now we're besties :)
Keep fruit treats to a minimum, and none before 7 months. Look up GI stasis so you re aware of symptoms and keep an eye on their poop.
They should really have access to their run for at least 4 hours a day, 2 hours in the morning and 2 in the evening (which are their natural 'awake' hours) and ideally their hutch should have enough space for them to take at least 3 consequative hops and stand up without their ears touching anything (imagine they're babies now? But something to bear in mind for the future depending how big they get) they would prob like a low prop they can jump up onto in their run and a tube/"burrow".
What breed are you getting? Have you chosen names yet?
Oh do groom, especially fluffy ones as they can't be sick and you don't want to get any probs/discomfort from hair balls.