If you have pet rabbits how much do they cost weekly?

[PumpernickleInaWarehouse]

My friend said she spends 25 pound a week on her two bunnies and that sounds like a lot more than I thought it would be.

That is all really.

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They can also live for up to 12 years. Are your children likely to stay interested and committed for that long? Are you willing to take over when they aren’t?

£5 a week! Yeah maybe if you get REALLY lucky - if you don't take insurance out and your rabbits never have to visit a vet. I would not have rabbits again, they are expensive pets and not suitable for young children. Rabbits are the most neglected pet in the UK because people don't realise how much work is involved and there is a huge waiting list at most rescue centres. Children lose interest in them very quickly.

The hutch is not enough website is a good one. If you go for the hutch and run combination the minimum hutch size is 6ft x 2ft x2ft, with exercise run of 8ft long, 6ft wide and 3ft tall. If you have someone to make that for you, then great, if not, it's an expensive outlay initially.

We used to budget £60 a month for 2 rabbits which covered insurance, a good quality hay and rabbit pellets. Unfortunately one of them couldn't tolerate many vegetables so we didn't buy many otherwise that would have cost a little more. Vaccinations and neutering obviously come at an extra cost. Insurance doesn't cover everything and even on conditions it does cover, there will be an excess to pay per year, per condition. Insurance isn't compulsory, but I had a rabbit with congenital dental disease and it was a godsend. I frequently had £500+ bills - which I still had to pay upfront, then claim the money back from the insurance company.

Eldest is 11, but obviously I know I would be responsible regardless if the novelty wears off for her or not.
I'm animal mad and have other family pets but I am.the one that is responsible for them all.
I said 5 pound just as a rough budget so I have an idea of how much extra it will cost from shopping budget.

After reading lots of your comments I am.now considering ginea pigs may be a better pet for them/us?

I know the girls will want to handle them lots and it doesn't sound like bunnies enjoy that?

This is why it's so great to be able to post on here and get some realistic advice.

Yes very true, they really don't enjoy being handled. That's why I think they're not the best choice for youngish children.

Because bunnies look so cute it's natural to want to hold them a lot, especially for children. But the best interests of the bunny means not doing that. I imagine that would be frustrating for a child!

I've never had guinea pigs so don't know about them.

I think cats are easier pets than rabbits or guinea pigs. Especially if you don't get a kitten (sharp claws, biting etc) but a slightly older rescue that can be matched to the needs of the family. They don't need much special stuff, food, vaccinations and some toys, but you don't need hutches, hay etc. They'll also have the vaccinations and be spayed/neutered by the rescue if they're 6mths+.

Also, my son's gf has two House rabbits and they now all live together. I realised I was really allergic when I went to visit their new flat and the rabbits were there. Not from the rabbits not the hay and the dust it creates. A friend had rabbits outside and they had to rehome as the husband was v allergic. Just something to consider.

Kids will lose interest ... quickly.

When we had 3 we would spend about £50 a month roughly, that was a big bag of food that lasted a month, hay and woodshavings, I don't count the cost of veg because we would buy that for us anyway, just bought a bit extra. In winter we would spend less as we didn't clean them out, as we were advised not too, as it added insulation to the hutch, just clean them out before winter hit and once spring arrived. If you do get one I would advise on a Dutch rabbit, they are better pets and have more personality in my experience, we have had a Dutch, a lion head and two dwarf lops, the lops weren't overly friendly, not particularly vicious just not friendly and the lion head was very timid. The Dutch was protective of her food bowl but once out of the hutch very friendly and loving. She made a real connection with me. Also don't forgot nail clippers unless you plan on taking them to the vets regularly to get their claws clipped. As someone else said adopt them from a shelter as they will already be done, rabbits fight for breeding rights otherwise and can can have phantom pregnancies and other complications if not done, it us expensive to get them done and rabbits don't do too well being put under for operations.

Also get pellets and not musli as they only pick out the bits that they like, which are the fatty bits.

I would say that was about right i spent more than that but i had 3 but that did include insurence & pet plan. It could be alot more than that if i had a trip to the vets. Emergency vet trip in the middle of the night was £££

Guinea pigs are fab. Especially indoors if you have space.
Look at a rescue if possible - they can match you up to a suitable pair or trio, if they are well handled adults they will be less skittish then babies. Plus easier to tell the sex on an adult so no unexpected babies! Lots out there looking for homes.
They should always be kept in pairs or groups. Very sociable, make delightful noises and are usually quite happy to be held. I've never been bitten by a guinea pig, and I've had them my whole life. My current pair squeak when they hear the fridge door, they are lovely.

Ive had bunnies for 10 weeks now, it kind of happened by surprise. I'd agree that they're not easy pets - id say my two cats cost less, are less work, and interact more than my two bunnies.

Re giving veg - at this time of year I give them mostly grass - on top of what is in their run, I pick long grass from the side of our fields (grass verges). I try to pick a different variety of grasses (different tops) and dandelion leaves. It costs nothing and is good for them. I realise not everyone can do this, but if you can, why not?

I also have horses, so I use their shavings, straw and hay - I can't believe how expensive small animal tiny bales are. As long as it's good quality it's fine. Obviously a bit bigger to store, but would save a lot of money.

Shavings are bad for a rabbits respiratory system, not to mention not very absorbent. A wood based litter such as megazorb, auboise or easibed from a farm shop is far better.

Guineas would be far better suited for small children

Some brilliant advice here.

bagel we already have cats etc

Good idea about the rescue I would like to adopt two very friendly ones that are used to being handles already as that will be better for the kids.

Also I think pets at home often have some for adoption

I’ve had rabbits and cats

Cats are a million times easier, and a lot cheaper. I had the issue that the vets round by us didn’t see rabbits as being worth the bother, (years ago and and a very agricultural area) so it was hard to get treatment and vaccines for them. We eventually lost them to myxomatosis when the vet wouldn’t vaccinate because he didn’t think there was a risk. They got it a couple of weeks later.

Rabbits are so often mistreated, they need lots more space than people realise (ours had free access to house and garden) and they HATE being handled. Totally unsuitable as a pet for small children.

Also be careful of the PAH adoption, it’s usually either ones that didn’t sell, or ones that have been returned. Often for behaviour ‚‘problems‘

They will likely need an experienced owner.

Can people please recommend the best insurance for rabbits?

@iveburntthetoast Agria or Petplan are the main ones, not many insurers cover dental though