To get a load of bunnies for the kids?

[JoanCollected]

Any rabbit owners who do it properly here who can advise me? I have finally agreed to get rabbits for my daughter and other kids. Mostly daughter (9) as she loves animals and has proven to be very responsible minding other pets and animals, as well as being organised and mature in general. I’ve tried googling and have a pretty good idea but it’s not the same as hints from real owners in the context of my own set up.

Ive an omlet run which I’ve bought a long tunnel and additional fox proof run off it for them to be in safely. They will be in a larger area that is chicken fenced and walled full of grass and trees. My chickens live there and I am planning to slowly introduce them to each other. (Anyone ever done this?).

Bunnies would be able to dig out of the area when let loose, but anyone know if I can get them to imprint enough on their big fenced area to at least go back or stay close when given freedom? We could only let them loose when supervised but ideally I like them to have as much freedom as possible while making sure they’re in their safe runs at night.

I think we’ve loads of space for 4 but is 2 better to make pets of? Would they be less friendly if they’ve more of their own buddies?

im planning on wood shavings in their hut as I’ve loads for my chickens. Is there anything easier for cleaning? Or better for bunnies?

I haven’t a good or water dish yet, any recommendations?

Anyone know if they are wise enough not to fall into a pond?

Thanks for any advice.

Had pet rabbits for many years and always warn against them as pets for children.
If kept correctly they are a lot of work and expense.
The pet rabbit stock in this country is often inbred and consequently health issues are very common. They must be neutered and vaccinated annually.
The reason we have had them for many years is they live a long time and shouldn't be kept singly so we have had a succession of partners.
The last old boy is 10 and I have told him he must go on alone.
The child who had the original pet is 32 and at 63 I do not really want a pet rabbit but I care for him well

You could also considering fostering first, to see if it's for you.

Please don't do this, for all the reasons other posters have explained. Also some poultry diseases, such as coccidiosis, are transmissible to rabbits. I come from a family of rabbit lovers and this set up sounds a lapine nightmare.

I must have been incredibly lucky with my rabbits from reading this! I had a dutch rabbit as a child who was lovely, would come up for a stroke, would sit by me in the garden, didn't want a cuddle but loved company.

As an adult I had a dwarf lop, who was my shadow, sat on my lap, grunted around my feet incredibly affectionate. He did have teeth issues when he was about 10 which cost £1k. He was neutered, and we got a rescue neutered female lop as a pair for him, they absolutely adored each other. When my boy died the female pined and we got her an adult rescue neutered male, they bonded and lived very happily together. I don't know what breed he was a moggy of the rabbit world I think! All of my bunnies have come when called, enjoyed company, followed me and my children round the garden and loved a stroke. 2 have jumped on laps for cuddles and jumped onto the bench to sit next to us.

I had them before I had children and they grew up together.

Mine lived in a 6x8 shed, with different levels, a litter tray and bedding area - hay. They were shut in there each evening and in the day and a 10 x20ft fenced area of the garden. This included a plastic dog kennel which I half buried in the soil and filled with top soil. They would spend ages in there digging all the soil out then filling it back in. There goal was digging rather than escaping. They had a ball and a plastic flower pot that they would play with.

Then the whole run of the garden when we were outside. My original boy would try and get in the house at any opportunity to sit on the sofa, he chewed through the telephone wire once.

I had a couple of the large gravity water bottles which worked well.

My youngest is allergic to rabbits, or we would still have them, They have been brilliant pets for our family.

One other point - you mentioned neutering costs, obviously they will differ depending on vet practice but it's not just neutering you need to consider. Rabbits need preventative vet care, vaccinations etc, and as the vast majority of vets do not spend too much time studying rabbits (or guinea pigs for that matter) you will find they fall in to the category of 'exotic' pet when it comes to experienced vet care. You may not have a specialist exotic vet nearby and may have to travel to find one and they will likely be priced accordingly. Something else to consider.

I had rabbits as a kid and loved them but they are NOT easy pets. They never liked being handled, and mine constantly tunnelled out of their run, or got themselves killed by foxes. Some were never seen again and I am pretty sure bred with the wild rabbits so if there are mixed coloured wild rabbits in the fields round Chard in Somerset, that'll be why. I did catch one that escaped, she was pregnant by the time I caught her and had 14 babies. She ate 7 of them, which was quite disturbing given I was about 8 at the time, and the other 7 I sold to a pet shop for a fiver each. Weirdly I came down one morning to find her and her companion dead in their run, seemingly untouched and still with leaves they'd been munching hanging out of their mouths. No idea what happened there but I gave up on rabbits after that.

They seem to be better pets as house rabbits, but I don't know how that works with the poo aspect. Rabbits poo a LOT. Cleaning out their houses is hard work!

Do you mean they don't accept any more unwanted pets or that they don't rehome them? Because there is a difference between a rescue and a sanctuary.

I work with a number of rescues, if you let me know roughly where you are, even as vaguely as North West, South East, I can provide you with a list of reputable rescues in that area which will consider you for adopting a rabbit.

If you simply just want to buy a rabbit from a shop, please know that many rescues have waiting lists of over 100+ rabbits, many of whom will never make it to the top of the list, so if it doesn't work out, you are likely looking at euthanasia.

Even neglect cases are not making it to the top because its often costs thousands to treat the rabbit before it can be rehomed. That's why many are saying no to new rabbits, because they can't afford it and adoption fees barely make a dent in their costs.

If you adopt, a reputable rescue will always accept your rabbit back, no waiting list.

My best rabbit was a continental giant that thought he was a dog. He wasn’t so keen on being picked up (standard rabbit) but was very friendly and interactive, and enjoyed being stroked. If you got his tickle spot he’d lick your hand while you scratched him.

We got two rabbits when DD was 10, she's now 17 and we're on rabbits 3 and 4 now as the others died. We tried having one indoors for the winter and that was a major mistake. They're really sensitive animals, take a dislike to lots of things however they're great pets, once you realise you can't handle them and they just talk to you / nibble you. DH and DD look after them, I just throw them some green bits when I remember, but they're dedicated and you need to be this but it sounds like you are. We got all ours from rescues, they're already neutered and we bonded them ourselves. Good luck!

I'd go for guinea pigs. We've had both when our children were younger. The guinea pigs were far better pets - the rabbits were harder work and more antisocial. (not surprising as they were not human!)

Down side of Guinea pigs - they are hard to sex. They know though! We ended up with more than we planned for. We gave away pairs, other males had the snip (and a bit)

What ever you get do put them away securely at night - we lost one to a fox. They are quite good at getting into places you think are secure.

Our rabbit did fall into our pond. Luckily I saw it happen & got it out straight away, although it had already come to the surface & started swimming. I also would not get another rabbit. I don’t think they should be pets. Originally kept for food which morphed into pets in hutches but am sure they would rather be running around a field

What the fuck? Where is there even the slightest suggestion that they want to eat the rabbits?

You’re right - over the years we’ve had 11 rabbits. 10 were the most antisocial creatures ever literally hated any contact. One however was the sweetest thing ever we joked maybe he thought he was a dog! He would jump on our laps, snuggle in, lick us and then hop to the cupboard excitedly where he knew his food was 😂 he had a blanket he would drag to our feet when we sat down and he would burrow in and fall asleep on our feet ! He also never chewed anything ! The other 10 destroyed so many things and bunny proofing a house is a real job in itself !

She sounds wonderful, op! I hope it goes really well with the bunnies 😊

Not all children get bored. My DD took her horse, rabbit and guinea pigs to uni!

I had 5 I wouldn't recommend. They cost a lot to neuter 180 each. They get territorial so can fight hurt eachother need a ton of space. Teeth problems are common cost a lot.

If you're set on bunnies then get two, a bonded pair and never separate them even for vets trips.

Guinea pigs however are much better pets for kids. Cats or dogs I actually find easier. Cats especially look after themselves yet still want cuddles.

I stand to be corrected but don't rabbits and guinea pigs live well together?

If so, best of both worlds. Pets you can cuddle + rabbits.

There is a lot of good advice being given OP.
We rescued two baby Netherland Dwarf buns 3 years ago and they are wonderful pets with patience. They’re indoor free range bunnies and one of them loves a head pet from time to time, the other quite happy in her own company. They’d be bereft without each other though (actively jumped 3 foot pen to reach each other post surgery for example!)

I’d recommend getting something bigger than a Nethie if you want a bit more interaction- my understanding is their prey drive is super high and they can be quite standoffish if they’re not in the mood for human company.

This thread is making me glad I'm out of the rabbit ownership cycle. I adored them but my god the stress and expense. And the late nights syringing feeding through stasis. Think hard OP they can be bloody hard work.

Oh, and to weigh in on the bit about kids getting bored- they’ve been the making of my son. They are his pride and joy and it’s incredible watching how responsible he’s been - he’s about to turn 13 and their pen is sparkling daily!

Get rats!

They're wonderful pets and so good with kids!

Having kept rabbits in our home and family for years, PLEASE Ignore any one who tries to feed you the story of which one to get as they are good to hold and good for pets.

I can tell you for a fact every single rabbit will have its own personality, a litter of rabbits will have ones that refuse to be handled, ones that don't like being held and ones that will be amazing pets no matter what you do. They are not good pets for beginners they must be treat like an exotic animal.

They take an awful lot of care and attention they will cost a lot of money and live for a long time. They also need specialist care and adequate space to be maintained and bonded correctly. You cannot go out and just buy 4 seperate ones and expect them to be happy and fine.

People who have previously kept rabbits and only had them for less than 8 year or so have not kept rabbits unless they passed away for underlying health conditions or unforseen predation.

They are a long term animal with specialist needs, are you prepared to have lots of expensive trips to the vets in their later years, monitor them daily for health conditions? have their eyes flushed out if they get blockages, monitor their teeth and nails and for fly strike. They have very specific dietary needs.

As others have saids they are the UK`s most cruelty harmed pet and nearly all of this is from owners who never should have taken them on in the first place not researching them.

If you going to get two then i would suggest they are your only pet and they are for you alone and you do your research inside and out.

Don't get guinea pigs and rabbits together. My mum did this when I wanted rabbits as a kid. Actually I wanted a hamster and she said no but we could have a rabbit. We got 2 rabbits. She was jealous and wanted a guinea pig but I had to look after it. Long story. I'm sure the rabbits suffocated by sitting on him. He was died very quickly. Mum didn't believe me. She got a second one. That one died very quickly too. I'm assuming suffocated because no injuries to the guinea pigs

MN is very anti Rabbit as pets, especially for children. There is however a massive problem with bunnies in rescue, they are overflowing. They are hard to keep and you will not get some much love from a bunny as a dog. However, your set up sounds much better than the average set up in a rescue. So if you did decide to home a rescue bun you would be offering them a better life than they have a present and that is a good thing.

I have two rescue rabbits. They live in a large wooden hutch with tunnel access to both secure run and larger open unsecure run. There are doors on the tunnels. When we are in the garden they have access to all. The moment we go indoors they are confined to hutch and secure run. I line their hutch with paper and straw. This isn't a problem as mine are not chewers. They have a littler tray which gets changed daily. They eat timothy hey, excell nuggets and whatever fresh veg I have in the fridge or can forage from the herb garden.

They do not like being picked up at all. But they do like attention. They eat from my hand and enjoy a stroke while they are eating. If we are in their large, non-predator proof run with them in the garden (usually reading in a lounger if the sun comes out, or the kids set up their craft table in there and do coloring) then the rabbits will usually be hovering very close to us and having the occasional stroke, they will jump on a lap for a stroke if they feel like it. So long as we don't try to pick them up. They hate being off the floor.

So yes they are hard work, so are all pets but you sound like you are used to that. They are interesting little characters and I would not be without ours, it sounds like you would be a good owner. However, please try to find a rescue and give an abandoned pair of bonded bunnies a home. Because for every responsible rabbit owner there seem to be a huge number of irresponsible owners. Don't encourage breeding for sale by buying a kitten, but help out a bunny that needs you. My pair cost me £360 to adopt, where bonded, neutered and I was told all their personality traits, they had had all vaccinations and a vet check over. I couldn't be happier with them.

Rabbit Rehome - Adopt an unwanted bunny from a rescue centre

This site has lots of rescues listed.

Bonding 4 together would be hard. Even if they are siblings, their relationship will change as they go through bunny puberty. Plus you need to separate them when they are neutered for a while and when they get back together they need to rehash out their dynamics.

With four...there's a lot of variables. One may end up just preferring it's own company for example, no matter what you do. Then you have to house it seperate forever etc...

2 is good.

They won't deliberately go in ponds. But are very curious creatures and may fall in whilst exploring. Qnd always remember, the places that you don't want them to go (especially if they KNOW you don't want them there as they see you blocking it off) are the places they most want to get to. Imagine saying 'no' to a 3 year old having a tantrum and that'll give you a good idea of how stubborn bunnies can be.

Often billiant pets. But they are hard work.