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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What do I do with a rabbit?

70 replies

ginnybag · 19/02/2017 17:04

Not an Sony, but need answers! Lady few houses along,has,a pet rabbit.... or more accurately it seems her son does.

It's been escaping on and off and got out again this morning. It's dug out of the back garden, so she said. I knocked on and she chased it back into her garden.

It must have got pretty much straight back out again, because it popped up on Facebook a couple of hours ago.

It's out again now. We've just pulled it from some dead ground across the road and brought it to her, but she's either gone out or not answering.

It's freezing here, it's been raining all day, there are loads of cars and cats, and foxes. I've brought it into the kitchen, lined an old toy box with towels and put some water in a dish.

What do I do next? I've nothing to feed it and nowhere else to put it if it comes to that. DD has been told to leave it alone and it seems to have gone to sleep for now.

OP posts:
EvansOvalPies · 19/02/2017 17:30

Erm - I'd suggest NOT bread, unless it is wholemeal and very hard-baked. I think MrsZombieMum has been more than incredibly lucky if her rabbits have lived a long life on that diet. Also, if you change a rabbit's diet suddenly, it will get very stressed. So if it is not fed bread (or cake, or Maltesers Confused) normally, it will become ill. I would not recommend it.

Crikey - hope it's owners come home soon.

ZippyNeedsFeeding · 19/02/2017 17:31

Hay (or grass) and water are important, but you should also bear in mind that the rabbit may well eat through the box and chew anything within reach- I've known a few electrical cables be gnawed by rabbits (which is why I'd hand it to my husband who would bring it back skinned and jointed).
Is there a rescue place near you? If you called they might come and get it or you could drop if off, they will be able to give it exactly what it needs.

SootyShearwater · 19/02/2017 17:32

Please just take it to a rescue and say you found it and have no idea who it belongs to. The owners obviously don't want it, but even if they say they do, they don't deserve to have it when they don't look after it properly. Please do it a huge favour and take it somewhere that it can have the chance of a caring home and not with people who don't give a toss about its wellbeing, or indeed, others who seem to think it's hilarious to make the old, well-worn jokes about rabbit stew, etc. Hmm

newbie789 · 19/02/2017 17:33

You shouldn't really feed him bread and cake (a tiny bit won't hurt) but better to go outside, pick some fresh grass and dandelions for him.
Rabbits can drink from a bowl, mine prefer it, but the bottle might help if that's what he is used to.
If you have to look after him overnight make sure he has food to eat all night, rabbits digestive systems need to be constantly active or they can go into statis, grass, dandelions, a piece of Apple, spinach, carrot, kale, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, mine even like the odd grape or a piece of pear

SapphireStrange · 19/02/2017 17:35

Poor bugger. I've no suggestions but I think you're very kind for caring about it.

TaraCarter · 19/02/2017 17:35

Definitely better inside than outside, as otherwise it'll basically be a weekend dinner delivery for a fox!

Noregretsatall · 19/02/2017 17:36

Please just take it to a rescue and say you found it and have no idea who it belongs to. The owners obviously don't want it, but even if they say they do, they don't deserve to have it when they don't look after it properly. Please do it a huge favour and take it somewhere that it can have the chance of a caring home and not with people who don't give a toss about its wellbeing, or indeed, others who seem to think it's hilarious to make the old, well-worn jokes about rabbit stew, etc.

^^This. Poor thing deserves to be looked after properly. Rabbits are sensitive, intelligent creatures with complex needs. It's not ok to just dump them in a hutch and forget about them.

OfaFrenchmind2 · 19/02/2017 17:37

Seriously, eat it.

Whocansay · 19/02/2017 17:37

I wasn't expecting this thread to be about a pet!
There may be something wrong with me.

Original poster
ginnybag · 19/02/2017 17:37

Ok, not bread. I am leaning towards just contacting the animal hospital in the next town. I've sent DH for some grass.

It's an open top box so we're having to keep a close eye, and it getting out and chewing something that would hurt it is what I'm most afraid of.

OP posts:
gillybeanz · 19/02/2017 17:37

Stew is very nice, or slowly roasted.
that's if you need cooking tips.

kaelea · 19/02/2017 17:40

if you put a post on facebook saying you have a stray rabbit can anyone help with some food, hay, pen/old dog cage etc for the night I'm sure someone will answer you and help you

I know I did when I saw a post just like it, I went round with hay and food but ended up bringing the rabbit back home with me, thankfully the owner came and claimed it the next morning

p.s I have 2 rabbits, one likes to drink out water bottle, the other out of a bowl, I provide both and I have seem them switch over, so don't worry so much as long as you have provide water

SuperFlyHigh · 19/02/2017 17:40

You lot are wicked thinking of rabbit dishes for the poor creature! Grin however I've got 2 friends (1 French) who had pet rabbits that ended up in the pot... Sad

I'd keep it for now feed on grass, have convo with the owners in the morning and if it seems like they're bored with it etc take it to a shelter.

PlumsGalore · 19/02/2017 17:40

My rabbits (lived 12 years) ate dry wholemeal bread regularly, Ryvitas as well. I doubt a couple of crusts is less preferable than being hungry.
Dandelion leaves are a massive love of rabbits and free and available.

BBCNewsRave · 19/02/2017 17:41

Vegan I've a friend with 2 huge rabbits that she never lets out of their hutch...I had to look after them when she went on holiday.the poo and sawdust was half way up the hutch, they just top it up with sawdust rather than clean it out

What horrible, uncaring people - how can they be so cruel? And how could you leave the rabbits in those conditions? Please rescue them.

flumpsnlumpsnstuff · 19/02/2017 17:41

If the box is open and the rabbit is still just laying there I would be trying the vets. Poor thing is possibly in shock or stressed. Both very bad for bunnies. Food wise grass, dandelions etc but the odd piece of biscuit or bread won't hurt as long as it's not constant or a packet of Jaffa cakes I would be handing it over to a shelter as the owners don't deserve it.

exbloomer1 · 19/02/2017 17:43

I'm with Whocansay.......was expecting a totally different conversation ...oops 😇

YesItsMeIDontCare · 19/02/2017 17:43

I have no idea, but please don't hand it over to the RSPCA. They'll just put the poor little thing down. 😢

thecolonelbumminganugget · 19/02/2017 17:44

Mine prefer a water bowl to a bottle but they drink out of either, I wouldn't worry about that. They are quite clever creatures. I second the grass idea although fresh picked and not lawn cuttings (like anyone is cutting their grass at this time of year anyway , but just in case). Avoid lettuce. They are curious animals and like to get in and under things, it might not stay in the box too long, the bathroom is probably the best place to put the box as there tends to be no electric cables or too many things to chew in a bathroom.

One of mine is licking my foot as I type this. She is awesome in her own bazarre way

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 19/02/2017 17:45

The RSPCA take in stray rabbits only, do not mention your neighbour.
Pets at Home, in some stores, have a rehoming corner.
Look on the Internet for rabbit rescues.
Don't hand him over to just anyone, there's a good chance, he will be eaten !

BBCNewsRave · 19/02/2017 17:46

Post on this forum - likely to be someone who can take it or point you in the direction of a local rescue.

Original poster
ginnybag · 19/02/2017 17:46

It's sitting, and is moving a bit. It has grass now, too. DH is contacting the animal hospital.

OP posts:
Unjudgemental · 19/02/2017 17:47

Agree about giving it a handful of grass. My rabbits prefer their bowl to water bottle - they have both in their hutch. They love plain cereal occasionally.

SuperFlyHigh · 19/02/2017 17:49

Sugarpie I agree re the eating, for some people think it's perfectly acceptable to eat a pet rabbit (see my earlier post).

Whilst they're not my favourite animal (had one as a out briefly) I certainly would never kill one to eat, a pet one anyway, or joke about it.

Having said that my French friend loves rabbit to eat and can't get the general English squeamishness about eating them.

abbsisspartacus · 19/02/2017 17:49

Do you have a local rabbit rescue?