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Pet rabbit - let me know the workload!

76 replies

NauseousNancy · 11/04/2020 10:44

My two children have been asking for a bunny for well over a year. I’ve always said no.

They are so persistent, and while I keep saying no, I’m coming round to the idea of a pet.

Tell me straight how much work they are. Kids aren’t of an age where I can rely on them, so I need to take the responsibility if we do get one.

Is there such a thing as a house rabbit?? Or would we build a run outside?

We both work full time, but there is someone in the house 5 days a week.

OP posts:
Shadowdoor21 · 11/04/2020 22:34

Again, 'not an expert' disclaimer lol.

Runnerduck34 · 11/04/2020 22:45

Rabbits are socialable so need to get two. Hutch cleaning once a week, they usually poo in same corner so may need to clean that corner out midweek. Top up food and water every day. They need regular handling to become tame, so buy a dwarf variety as they are easier to handle. They do have a strong kick but they relax if you hold them so they are laying on their back. Rabbits need a good size run and need head height to stand up on hind legs. They like tunnels, upturned flower pots etc.
My DD had a rabbits for her 9th birthday ,she loved them but tbh I think guinea pigs are easier to handle or the easiest pets ever are cats, totally independent, especially with a cat flap, they just need staff to put out food and water.

Daisiest · 11/04/2020 22:52

Rabbits are awful pets and when they bite, it really really hurts.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Runnerduck34 · 11/04/2020 22:53

Oh and if you get rabbits myxomatosis jabs are an absolute must!
I have to say lots of people are giving rabbits a hard time, I loved ours!

Easilyanxious · 11/04/2020 23:00

Had a few rabbits one was lovely as in would come to you Let you stoke him etc but wasn't majorly keen on being picked up but never bit .another one we had bit if you tried To pick her up or touch her and in order to put her into her large run on nice day we had to put down a net that she would step in and transfer her that way , she willingly walked into the net strangely . We had a pair that we had from young hoping that handling would help if we got younger as the other two we inherited , these two were lovely and didn't mind being handled mostly but one died quite early on ( not sure why ) so we got rescue to keep the other one company he was really friendly but only had him a few weeks and he became quite ill , spent a fortune at the vets and hand fed him for weeks but he didn't get better , the other one died soon after so not sure if they had some kind of breeding problem or if something was scaring them in garden ,but after that no more and actually found my dogs easier to look after etc in some ways. Kids had guinnea pigs as well but ours used to spend most of time hiding although they never attempted to bite if you tried to pick them up .

Shadowdoor21 · 11/04/2020 23:06

Haha xD aww tbf they dont bite that often though! I've only has one bunny that was a biter and that was just a phase he went through (if I vampire bite her neck she will put me down!).

Its more the scratches if you gotta hold them they arent having any of it. They friggin hurt xD that's why I say always check they enjoy their food(most do do it's all good) so you can tempt them back into their pens when needs be rather than lifting them.

Elsiebear90 · 11/04/2020 23:18

We have two rabbits, my fiancée begged and begged me to agree to have them, worst decision I ever made. They’re terrible pets, the amount of mess they make is unreal, hay and wood shavings everywhere, they’re house rabbits so we let them out their two storey cage every day to run around, if you don’t watch them like a hawk they chew everything, their favourite thing is wires. They don’t like being handled, so no cuddles, they will just about let you stroke them when in their cage if you bribe them with food. I am against rehoming pets unless it’s absolutely necessary, so we’re stuck with them for possibly 10+ years. Do not do it! Get a cat, or a hamster or gerbil, much much easier!

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 12/04/2020 01:56

I've never kept rabbits but I was reading up on them today ...they can cost £11,000 over their lifetime Shock much of that will be big investments like accomodation, neutering , vaccines . But add in Insurance, dental , vet appointments, food, hay , boarding... They can live 10-15 years .

We kept guinea-pigs , over eight years we had 8 of them. At one point we had 5 ( in a 3+2 set up)
They are lovely and sweet natured but do need quite specific care .
Our last piggies (old girl) had an eye ulcer which cost round £70 in Vet visits and treatment . She recovered but died a few days after her All clear !
Guinea pigs don't need vaccines and you only castrate the boars to stop them breeding. Sows don't need neutered and an entire boar pair can live together if you do it properly . (Rabbits need neutered for health, both sexes)
Guineas-pigs don't smell if you keep them properly BUT the hay does . And it gets bloody everywhere !

We've got 2 young cats now (DH always said he wanted cats , so after the piggies died we looked)

They are easier in a way . They are Family Cats so we all (DH , myself and 2 adult DC) feed , litter tray , chat to them.
They tend to lard about or go off in the garden.
DH always said "those pigs don'r actually do anything do they?"
The cats are not exactly Captains of Industry Hmm . But we love them.

safariboot · 12/04/2020 02:37

Oh yeah, I don't know if it's still the case, but when we had our rabbit pet insurance for him seemed to be nowhere to be found. Everything was just for dogs and cats. When he needed a vet visit we ended up begging for charity from the PDSA. (Who were excellent, but we should never have ended up needing them.)

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 12/04/2020 02:42

safari there are more companies now that insure rabbits .
I even found a company that covered Guinea-Pigs ( it was an Exotics Pet specialist ) but it was ££ .

Luckily , our pigs didn't need too much i the way of Vet care over the years so I think we were wise in just putting money away for them.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 12/04/2020 02:45

Oh and if you get rabbits myxomatosis jabs are an absolute must!

Not just myxi , there's VHD1 and VHD2

Pickles89 · 12/04/2020 02:49

Hi OP. Full disclosure, I've not read any of your responses because a post like yours sends my blood pressure shooting up so I have to reply straight away! So, probably everything I have to say will have been covered, but here goes anyway:

PLEASE DO NOT GET A PET OF ANY KIND UNLESS YOU PERSONALLY WANT IT AND ARE PREPARED TO LOVE IT AND LOOK AFTER IT FOR THE WHOLE OF ITS LIFE

I know, it sounds so obvious, but it still blows my mind that there adults out their whose children persuade them to buy a pet and then when they're bored 2 weeks later those adults are left at a loss as to what to do. The fact is, buns can live 10 years or more. My last boy was 12 when he hopped to the bridge. Where will your kids be then?

Rabbits need OTHER RABBITS! A neutered opposite sex pair is usually best. It's unfair to deliberately keep a rabbit alone, in the same way it would be to keep a lone horse, or a lone cow. They're social creatures and need each other.

Rabbits can be prone to health issues. They can have problem teeth that need sorting under general anesthetic (expensive!!) on a regular basis, or a dodgy tummy which can also need emergency treatment (expensive!!) as a rabbit who stops eating is dead within hours.

If you have them in your house they are so much fun, but a whirlwind of destruction - anything within reach (and most things you think are out of reach) WILL be chewed, scratched, weed on, knocked over, or generally destroyed. Even if you don't mind for your belongings sake, you need to be ultra aware of what can harm the buns - house plants for instance, or electric cables, or heavy items that might fall on them. Rabbits are naturally most active in the evening, during the night, and hideously early in the morning, so don't expect to be able to shut them up at night and have them settle down peacefully! They can be noisy as they charge around and binky and it can disturb your sleep. Don't even think of having them share anyone's bedroom!!

On the other hand, if you keep them out of doors there are things to be considered there. Space, rabbits need lots and lots of room (Rabbit binkying on youtube) in order to express themselves, keep fit and be happy, just as you can't expect a child to grow up mentally and physically fit if you keep them locked in a bedroom. The days of a hutch at the bottom of the garden being acceptable bunny accommodation are well and truly over.

My advice would be to compromise and get a shed, with an aviary style enclosure attached. It needs a roof to keep birds of prey and other predators out, and wire mesh buried underneath the grass to keep the buns in (obviously they'll instinctively try to burrow to freedom). I loved my shed because it was hooked up with electricity, so it could have a light, a heater in winter and a fan in summer. It was so much more pleasant mucking out on a dark wet winter's evening in a warm cozy shed with the radio on.

Buns need vaccinating against myxomatosis and VHD, and you need to keep a close eye on their bums to make sure they're clean, and not attracting flies. Flystrike is a really horrible way for a rabbit to die. Their claws will most likely need clipping every couple of months too.

Their diet can be expensive!! Mine couldn't cope with pellets or mixed feed, so I had to keep them on a 'hay and vegetable' diet. Which would have worked out cheaper if the little monsters had eaten hay. They'd have an occasional nibble of it, but hay and grass should make up a good 80% of their daily intake. Unfortunately with mine I had to supplement heavily with extra fresh vegetables and herbs. They can be a very expensive hobby!

They create a lot of waste, and will need their littertrays emptying daily, if not more often. With house rabbits you'll be amazed at the hay you find in the most random places, and when they moult the fluff just goes EVERYWHERE. I won't mention the poos...

They will need taming, and training. You can't assume they'll be friendly or enjoy being handled. Neutering will help, but you need to spend a lot of time each day gaining their trust, and you MUST make sure the children are always supervised. Maybe you end up with soppy cuddle-buns, or maybe grouchy 'Leave Me Alone!' buns, they all have their own personalities and if you buy them as kits you won't really know. Adopting an older pair that you can bond with first would be safer (and they should be neutered already, so one less thing for you to worry about!)

I don't mean to sound negative. Rabbits are awesome! So much more full of personality and fun than a lot of people realise. Just please please please go into this with your eyes (and wallet!) wide open.

CherryMaple · 12/04/2020 03:38

We have had several rabbits, and never had an unfriendly one. We have had rabbits who were happy being cuddled, and very affectionate and licky. As PPs have said, the key is a lot of gentle handling from the start. I think breed is also important. We mainly had Dutch rabbits - known for sweet personalities if you handle them from when they are young. They can be very clean as house rabbits. One male used a litter tray in the kitchen - and if he was upstairs and needed a poo, he would go all the way down to the kitchen, have a poo, and then go straight back upstairs again. We had some big vets bills though, and you must have the time to clean them out very regularly. I have very happy childhood memories of times spent with my pet rabbits.

MoreRainbowsPlease · 12/04/2020 04:17

I must have been very lucky with my rabbits then as I think they make lovely pets, but then I guess I love them so much looking after them is not hard work. I currently have 2 male rabbits, both were rescues and I have had them both neutered. We did try bonding them, but they fight so we have their hutches opposite each other, and they are both able to run round the garden, but are kept seperated by a mesh fence. They do seem to like each other when there is mesh between them!

I do have my rabbits in hutches, but we built them and they are huge. The rabbits are in them at night. During the day they are in the garden which is rabbit proofed. In the winter I bring them into the house to run around.

I have one rabbit who absolutely loves been cuddled and stroked.He particularly likes coming in the house in the evenings and watching tv with me. He has the option to run round, but prefers to sit on my chest snuggling up to my chin. My other rabbit took a while to be handled easily, I think this was because he wasn't handled much as a small rabbit. He doesn't mind be handled now, but is happiest to just run around and then come for stroking when he wants it. His favourite person is DP who never really wanted to get the rabbits.

My children were 7 and 10 when we got the rabbits. They play with them and I have taught them just to let the rabbits come to them to be stroked, they don't pick them up. They do feed them and check their water, but I clean them out. But the only reason I agreed to getting them was because I wanted them as well and I didn't expect the kids to be doing any of the proper care.

The only thing I will say is having rabbits now is expensive. My previous rabbit must have been made of stern stuff because I had her for nearly 11 years and she never needed to go to the vets. My current rabbits cost £80 each to have neutered. I paid £100 for a vacs for life scheme for each of them. This gives them the mixy vaccine and the rhd1 vac, but I also pay for them to have the rhd2 vac at £32 each. Plus one memorable year both of them required surgery to have spurs removed, 1 had a respiratory infection and the other had a stomach problem. That year between the 2 of them I spent £600 on vet bills! But they have been worth absolutely every penny as they bring me and the children so much joy.

Sorry about the essay! I just felt rabbits seemed to be getting a hard time. I guess you need to be very sure of what you want from a pet before you decide which type of pet is best for you.

Gin4thewin · 12/04/2020 06:52

I have a continental giant, hes a very big lad. Hes mine not the kids but he absolutely adores them, not a nasty bone in his body, towards them at any rate, plus hes so big i can only just about pick him up myself. He cant be trusted by himself in the garden, will snip the outdoor lights wires, chew the decking and generally try to get into anywhere hes not allowed like a naughty toddler. Is litter trained so can come in the house too. He is very good with the kids and has a lovely personality but being giant means more food and more room

ThyrilThneer · 12/04/2020 07:42

Rabbits are arseholes and guinea pigs just poo everywhere.

How about a cat?

IceBearRocks · 12/04/2020 07:52

Weve had about 4 rabbits ...one is the black widow and the others always end up dead ...do she is alone. She is snarky and miserable and hates to be held or touched! I think shes 5 now and our kids are 12 and 9 and only at the stage where they can care for them well!
Dont do it get a cat!!!

louise5754 · 12/04/2020 07:58

Growing up I had

3 Rabbits. (All separately. I never knew you had to have pairs).
2 Hamsters. 2 Dogs. 2 Cats. 2 Guinea Pigs. Lots of fish. 1 Terrapin.

We currently have a 9 month old cat a 3 year 8 month hamster and a rescue hamster age around 2.

The cat is so easy to care for especially now she doesn't use the cat litter tray. Definitely the least high maintenance.

Therollockingrogue · 12/04/2020 08:01

I wish I’d known how varied the personalities of rabbits can be! All I can say is if I was looking to purchase rabbits again then I’d ensure I spent a LOT of time observing it and considering our compatability. Much like a dog. Or a man Grin.
Some can be unbelievably possessive, some are meticulous about their feng shui, some fly around like mad lunatics while others just flop on the floor and sunbathe all day. I honestly thought this was similar to choosing a hamster.. omg how wrong I was!!!!! Oh and rabbits really hold a grudge.
So don’t piss your rabbit off, or it’ll be sticking it’s bum at you as a greeting for the next fortnight and you’ll be begging for forgiveness and escalating its privileges in a cycle of emotional rabbit blackmail.
No op, don’t get a rabbit 😅

midnightstar66 · 12/04/2020 08:03

OP I asked the same question as you a few weeks back and I'm really glad I did. I'd also really come around to getting rabbits after DC badgered - wasn't just dc really though, I've got friends who have house rabbits and they've clearly got very lucky as they aren't like anyone here described. They seemed a really appealing pet. You go round and they hop up and sit on you, really sociable, don't chew etc but there is enough people here saying the opposite to know that this isn't the norm. We're getting a dog instead! (Well we were always getting a dog, just getting one sooner)

We had quite a few Guinea pigs as kids and they were fairly hard work and only one or 2 liked being handled they preferred being left alone with their social group

DD also has a royal python and she's an absolutely amazing pet for anyone with sensible, not too young children. DD loves cuddling up and watching tv with her - I know snakes aren't for everyone though

midnightstar66 · 12/04/2020 08:07

@Therollockingrogue hilarious- they sound akin to a room full of toddlers

BlackAndWhiteCat01 · 12/04/2020 08:15

I would recommend a rabbit but neither would I recommend guinea pigs for children, and they commonly are.
They are so nervous and often fragile; I wouldn’t !

twinguineapig · 12/04/2020 08:23

I would never recommend rabbits as they are hard work, guinea pigs are much more rewarding for the work you put in. They are sociable, funny and love your company.

HildegardeCrowe · 12/04/2020 08:25

We’ve had rabbits and they’re harder work than cats and dogs (we have a cat and dog now so I know). They need a run in the garden and close supervision if you have them in the house. Hutch cleaning is a PITA. Children love hamsters and they’re so much easier. I know dogs and small children generally don’t mix so how about a cat?

houseofrabbits · 12/04/2020 08:42

We have 2 house rabbits and as much as I adore them I wouldn't get any more. They have been destructive, they get ill really quickly and their diet is quite specialised. Ours love our company but as a prey species they like to keep all four feet firmly on the ground, which I think children could find difficult. We've also had hamsters which are lovely but are somewhat unsociable. I've said this on other threads but I think the best pets for children are rats. We have four rats and they are the best pets we've had. They are extremely sociable and love human company. They adore being handled and spending time with us.

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