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.

People like to parrot 'they're social animals' but the truth is it depends on the individual.

In the same way people like to say humans are social animals. Some, distinctly, are not xD

Individuals are Individuals.

Ideally a pair is good. Sometimes you find they don't bond with one rabbit buddy. Or, they don't bond with ANY they prefer their own space.

Rabbits are often very territorial. Bonding can be stressful and take months.

If they are house rabbits and someone is going to be around most of the day, they don't need another bunny for company imo. It's nice, but not necessary.

But people often lose their shit when you tell them that no, rabbits don't always need other rabbit company. It's like they've been brainwashed into thinking its a necessity and they repeat it as if it's fact.

The same as rescuing. It's good to rescue IF you have prior knowledge of owning bunnies (and ideally also plenty of backyard space for rabbits to run around in). I would not recommend a new owner rescue. Rescue rabbits often come with more complex needs such as severe cage stress (not always) and so may struggle with say, being shut in their enclosure at nights/if you're out.

I consider myself a relatively experienced rabbit owner but personally, I'd not rescue again unless i had a back garden they could go out and expend energy in several times per day to help reduce destructive behaviours. Again, not sating that's an issue for all rescues (for example sometimes there are baby bunnies) but... something to consider.

Of course there's always a moral dilemma of shopping not adopting but, you can say that with regards to any pet.

I’ve just adopted form the RSPCA. They no longer do home visit anymore, they just want pictures form the areas your animals will be staying in to ensure they’ll have adequate space and care with their new owners.

I can’t help but feel like you’re not trying hard enough to adopt and would rather ‘shop’ for them, potentially using backyard breeders.

Who objects to someone checking animal welfare anyway 😅 I don’t think you’re ready to have rabbits if you’re concerned about the people who are concerned for the animals checking the animals will be cared for properly.

So how does deliberately keeping a singular rabbit, benefit from prevention of both physiological behavior and health issues or a bonded pair.

How does a singular rabbit deal with the prevention of eye issues, such as eye infections blocked ducts, parasitic reduction and other conditions where a paired rabbit would assist in prevent these conditions. As well as neurological conditions due the prolonged increased stress hormones.

It's a fact that grooming from a bonded rabbit assists with the prevention of many health conditions where one rabbit cannot reach or groom and the ability to act on another's inert behavioural patterns to allow one to relax or exhibit its inbuilt behavioural traits.

It's not parroting anything when you have a solid education in such matters and a degree in these subjects, that are backed up by a long history of rabbit care.

Let me guess you think rabbits don't require physiological conditions to be met along other natural behaviours to have a fulfilled and healthy life. As long as you think it's happy it is.

Keeping an animal alive is not living.

There's a difference between keeping a rabbit on its own because you've tried bonding it a number of times with different rabbits and it didn't work, and just getting a single bunny from the start, when all the research shows that the majority of rabbits are happier in pairs/groups.

There are also hundreds of bunnies in rescues that are simply needing homes from people who didn't take the time to understand their needs or got bored of them - a reputable rescue would not be rehoming a rabbit with issues to a new rabbit owner. I've fostered and had many rabbits from rescues all been lovely and have had no issues.

Could your daughter maybe volunteer at an animal rescue if she loves animals? I've volunteered at animal rescues, and also joined borrow my doggy. I get to spend time with the animals without the expense or the commitment that way. Rabbits are a 10 year commitment. You shouldn't be keeping them mixed in with chickens.

I had rabbits as a child in a similar set up and loved them but it was my DM doing the work. We had a few as an adult and some were quite affectionate but some absolutely hated being touched and almost all disliked the DC. They all had very different personalities. Some are very prone to stomach trouble and GI stasis some could eat anything. I didn't mind the work involved though. After becoming disabled I had stepped away from keeping small animals until dd2 appeared with a rescue leveret last year and I was tasked with keeping it alive until it could be released. Well it was a he and he relatively quickly decided he was tearing up the wild hare manual and in fact the domestic rabbit one and he was in in fact an indoor cuddle monster who lived with me. I am now known locally as Mama Hare <waves to anyone who knows me as this is outing>, he is called Argyll and free roams our downstairs spending much of his time on the back of the sofa and living room windowsill during the day to be admired and eating walls and dive bombing DH at night while hogging the tv pretending he's a Viking (don't ask!). He is more loyal and smart than the dogs and has evicted the cats to upstairs as one would eat him and he scared the other one off by peeing on him (sorry Tyr). Overall care is the same as rabbits but toenail cutting is a challenge and he is more susceptible to GI stasis if he eats brassicas. He is not a fan of dd2 though and gets very jealous of her if she comes for a cuddle with me and would box her, he also strongly believes he eats when we do and expects a portion of something tasty served on my lap or the arm of the sofa at dinner time and has tv preferences (currently Vikings or Pirates, previously Death in Paradise).

Companionship of one's own species is actually listed as part of one of the "five freedoms" in animal welfare, that is specifically, the freedom to express natural behaviours.
Rabbits are hugely society driven and societal creatures.
They need the companionship of their own species to thrive fully. It is conceeded that human interaction and companionship provided to them goes some way to fulfilling this need, but in no way does it compare to the relationship that they would benefit from, from others of their own species.
There are many many papers written on this by animal behaviourists and other animal experts.
Rabbits living alone suffer many more health problems than their counterparts who are either part of a bonded pair or a social group.
Many people will tell you that their rabbit is "happy" living alone but I would argue that in these instances, that have nothing to compare it to, and that the situation is either one of ignorance (they don't know that rabbits are social animals that require same species companionship developed over thousands of years of evolution), or one of circumstance (they have tried incorrectly to "bond" their pet with another rabbit, the session ended in aggression or other incident, and they gave up and failed to pursue the bonding), or they just haven't found the right rabbit/rabbit group to introduce their pet to.
Obviously there will be some occasions where a rabbit must live alone, for example, when a bonded partner dies and the owner does not wish to add another rabbit to the group etc. The situation is not ideal but with plenty of enrichment and attention, one may make the best of a bad situation and provide as good an environment as possible for their lone rabbit.

However, the data proves, and studies confirm, that rabbits should ideally never be housed alone.
FWIW I am a qualified RVN with 15 years experience and an honours degree in animal behaviour, and now working in a zoo.

Lone rabbits do not thrive - existing is not the same thing.

Not read full thread, but long term rabbit-carer here.

If you're anywhere near Eastbourne look for Eastbourne Rabbit and Guinea Pig Sanctuary. They're on Facebook. Aldo RSPCA Medway branch has lots of rescue buns.

Do not keep them near the chickens, they can cross-contaminate.

You will need to vaccinate each year and find a specialist exotic vet and have them on speed dial.

They need lots of space and bringing in for the winter. When one passes you will need to replace or rehome as they don't do well on their own unless they're fully integrated into a household with lots of human company.

I agree with the previous posters about rabbits not being very good pets for young kids. They really don't like being handled very much. Guinea pigs on the other hand,make fantastic pets. I had guinea pigs from the age of 9 until I was 18 and they were lovely. They can become very tame and don't mind being picked up. I always had 2 at a time as they like company (always 2 females so no risk of babies!). The only drawback is that they don't live as long as rabbits, although one of my piggies lived to the age of 6,which I'm told is a ripe old age for a piggy.

Rabbits are lovely and not hard to look after. Make sure you have secure space for them and a lot of outdoor space where they can dig, run. Ours have a full run of a large garden and they go into a fox proof hutch at night. Male and female from the same litter, both neutered, make the r best bonded pair. Get them young, neuter them and enjoy. Make sure they're vaccinated annually.

Omlet eglus and runs are merely fox resistant, definitely not fox proof.

My rabbit is out all day and comes in at night
He is lovely to hold and loves a snuggle.

My GP's were not indoor pets..
They lived to ripe old ages in their insulated and heated outdoor home.

I think everyone has had quite enough of you today. Goodbye.

They can have very costly Vet bills one thing could be Dental
Issue if there is Maloclussion with regular trimming needed under sedation/ga and also Gastro issue they are essentially small horses and can get Ileus which can be expensive with injections and other supplements and can re occur x

@orchiddottyback is talking a lot of sense. If you're not prepared to listen, then perhaps you should clear off yourself.

Guinea-Pig girls and a soppy neutered boar
Even awesome-er

I'm listening but don't appreciate some stranger making assumptions and telling me they don't think my pet will live to see teenage years. That's really rude. I only came on here to say rabbits are good with my kids they can make good pets, not for some stranger to jump down my throat then cause upset by saying my pet will not reach teenage years. I think they're being rude tbh. I'm looking after my pet the best I can and obviously have reasons why she's not in a hutch with other rabbits atm.
I'm leaving this post now. I've said what I wanted to say to support that rabbits are good with my kids and lobe to be pet and cuddled.
Thanks both @orchiddottyback

Rescues will be over-run in the school holidays as people will dump their pets rather than find them holiday accomodation.
And even more end up on Gumtree as they try to make a few ££ (to prove that the new owner is sincere )

One of our guinea-pigs was taken to boarding with his brother and never collected . Once they tracked down the owner , the piggies were signed over to the Boarding (which was a rescue centre )

We got one of the sweetest little rodents on earth, castrated by the rescue to join our ladies .

They mean they don't accept them for rehoming when people give up on them because the waiting list is enormous and they don't have the finds because there is a rabbit rescue crisis.

As I suggested above, message me the area you are in and I can refer you to a reputable rescue.

Alternatively, look at Clement Rabbit Rescue, Rabbit Residence, Bunny Angels for some examples of the sort of welfare problems that rescues are taking on at the cost of thousands of pounds everyday. They are desperate to rehome their rabbits to good homes. Get in touch with any of those and they can refer you to a local rescue.

At the moment it sounds like you are saying the right things about wanting rescue rabbits hut actually have no intention of really exploring this. Sorry.

My friend looks after pets for a living and advised me not to get rabbits. Apparently they need lots of expensive immunisations. I imagine that x 4 would be a nightmare!

If they can burrow out they will, or Mr Fox will get in!

Also rabbits are a lot of work. They need a lot of attention as in cleaning etc. They eat a lot, and do not like being handled.

You need good quality hay that is pricey and decent pellets. My rabbits ate alot of fresh veg and herbs to.

I had a huge Omlet double height run I could stand up in, it was amazing and fox proof. Cost over £700 though!

I had to rehome mine in the end though as I couldn't devote the time to them, so think carefully if you can to.

I was also told I had two girl baby rabbits which turned out to be a boy and girl. They weren't old enough to be neutered so had to be separated, which was a pain!

Northern Ireland. I’ve checked out most (all?) the rescues mentioned but none based here. I’ve also checked all I could find on Google searching for rabbit rescues Northern Ireland. It seems unbelievable that there’s not more or a greater volume of rabbits up for adoption. I’ve seen 2 pairs mentioned across all the sites I found, in two different rescue centres.

Some really interesting and informative posts from people. Its really helped and I was nervous I was missing understanding the real hassle of them but feel clear on that now and still keen. I think I’d get so much joy seeing them hopping about or just following me around the garden (I garden a lot and am usually followed everywhere by my two cats and chickens and sometimes my sheep).

I can afford the costs and between my DD and I, the time.

Thanks for some of the lovely stories and the horror stories very useful too.

Almost home animal care NI have some bunnies looking for homes.

If you can find a rescue they are brilliant. Mine didnt need to visit, just to see a picture of the set up. They had a LOT of rabbits looking for homes but steered me to the ones they thought most suitable for my set up, and for our family in terms of temperament.

Honestly after a tough day I love nothing more than to sit and watch my bunnies grooming each other and the reward when they let me groom them too is lovely.