Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Pets

Join our community on the Pet forum to discuss anything related to pets.

Buying my first rabbit

21 replies

babartheelephant · 09/03/2011 11:23

Hello. We are buying a rabbit for my daughter's 9th birthday. I want to find a hutch that allows the rabbit to run into its run at will, rather than wait for little people to get him out every morning and put into stand-alone run. Can anyone recommend best buy? Thanks

OP posts:
PinkWinged · 09/03/2011 17:37

Are you really BUYING a rabbit? There are loads in animal centres up & down the country both adults & babies, breeds and all-sorts.

You can usually adopt one either free or with a nominal charge. The ones from the RSPCA are even health checked & neutered before they come to you. They'll also provide advice on the right hutch, food etc.

If you post your town I'll see which centres are near you.

babartheelephant · 09/03/2011 18:27

Hi there
When I said buying a rabbit, I meant getting a rabbit. To be honest, I have not yet done the rabbit sourcing part, as was sure it would be easy to find a rabbit, but more concerned about making sure it has a nice place to live, hence hutch. We're in London. I talked to the local pet store people who talked me through rabbits and guinea pigs; we had a giant white rabbit when I was little but it burrowed under our garden fence and got the neighbours dwarf rabbit pregnant, so am eager to avoid similar happening. I did not know about RSPCA centres but tht soudns like a good suggestion. Thanks.

OP posts:
JuicyOlive · 09/03/2011 18:29

Saw this in Active Convos and clicked on thinking it was a different sort of rabbit Blush

polskiprincess · 09/03/2011 18:30

Me too Juicy!

southeastastra · 09/03/2011 18:31

the rabbits in our local centres are always snapped up quickly and they're really picky about who gets them! gumtree sometimes has baby rabbits for sale.

i had a bog standard hutch on some flagstones then attached the run to it. (most of it was on the flagstones as the rabbits dug alot) topped up with lots of hay and it was a lovely home for them.

PositiveAttitude · 09/03/2011 18:45

Blush I'm with you juicy Blush

But now I'm here......

Have you considered having 2? They are very sociable animals and I was advised to have a "pair" when we got ours last year. They are lovely together and look out for each other. I think they would be very lonely if they were on their own.

Pebbles88 · 10/03/2011 00:12

They are extremely social animals must be kept in pairs unless they are to be a house rabbits which gets hours of attention during the day, they are much like children that way.

With regards to a hutch you need at least a 6 x 2 x 2 anything else is actually against the rabbit welfare association standards.

I cannot put your off getting a rabbit for a child I am sure, however they are really not suitable pets. Rabbits contrary to popular belief do not like being held or cuddled. If you would like a rabbit for your child I suggest for the money you would spent on ahutch, get a shed or play house that way your daughter can sit IN the shed with them and stroke them, rather than pick them up.

I recommend this youtube channel as it offers realisic advice on rabbit care. http://www.youtube.com/user/HappyHoppersForum

good luck

Joolyjoolyjoo · 10/03/2011 00:18

One of the criteria a good hutch should have (which many don't) is that the rabbit should be able to stand up on it's hind legs in it (as part of its normal behaviour) I think there is an RSPCA website that deals with basic hutch requirements.

Our two are in a big hutch with a run below that they access via a ramp. I think I got it from a company called the HappyHutch company or something. HTH

PinkWinged · 10/03/2011 07:55

Hi

This lists some of the rabbit re-homing centres, I'm sure there are more in London than just the four listed :-)
www.rabbitrehome.org.uk/centres.asp

This is the RSPCA page on rabbits:
www.rspca.org.uk/allaboutanimals/pets/rabbits

Enjoy the new additions to your family Smile

southeastastra · 10/03/2011 08:27

blimey no-one would ever have a pet rabbit if they looked on mumsnet!

i'm sure a 9 year old girl will take good care of it

Pebbles88 · 10/03/2011 19:09

With all due respect, a nine year old girl is not going to be able to clip nails, do health checks, watch out for stasis a common problem with bunnies, a 9 year old girl isnt going to be take the bunny for three vaccinations a year, get the bunny neutered.

Im not saying dont do it, i dont know the OP, but the animal has to be wanted by the parents also, because the number one reason for rabbit rehoming is A. the child got bored. or B the rabbit was nasty to the child, which happens if they try to cuddle them, dont get them neutered etc. there are 33,000 in rescue at the moment. they also live ten years, if cared for properly

Happy hutch company is excellent! :D I have seen far too many bunnies who have muscle wastage and behaviour problems due to not being able to stand.

Rabbits are lovely pets, but they are hard work, and unfortunately the most abused pet in the country because far too many people think they are easy to look after. I have three so happy to offer advice.

x

diddl · 11/03/2011 09:01

Well, I don´t know if we´ve been very lucky then.

We have 2 dwarf Lionheads & they both love being cuddled.

diddl · 11/03/2011 09:03

That said are-GPs are a better bet if you want something that will definitely want to be cuddled?

southeastastra · 11/03/2011 09:05

a child wouldn't do the same with a cat or dog though would they? but still have them as pets :S?

i also had rabbits from a young age and clipped their claws myself - have always had rabbits

my rabbits also loved to be stroked, one used to put her head up and sit for ages while i stroked her head Grin

Pebbles88 · 11/03/2011 11:43

Guinea pigs much prefer being cuddled to rabbits, dont need vaccinations or neutering either. Because with rabbits you have no garentee they will like it.

On occaison you do get some which do like it, however i would recommend going to a rabbit rescue because they can match you up with a bunny that is a softie and likes to be stroked, its not like if you get a baby bun you can bring it up to be friendly, it doesnt work like that.

I have three, one likes being cuddled, the others dont, so i dont push it.

No i apriciate what you are saying in that a child would not do the same with their dog or cat, but the common problem i see working with rescues is the rabbit is bought for the child to be the sole carer of, which longterm is not really a good solution. My cousins have bunnies and they have an aviary set up and they go in and sit with them and make them toys out of loo rolls stuffed with hay (they go mad for it) and its a good set up, so im not being one of those people who say "kids cant have pets" - im not honestly.

I just mean go into it with an open mind and dont be fooled into thinking they are easy pets, because theyre not. Theyre lovely and very enjoyable, but little monkeys!

Most bunnies love to have noserubs youre right, all of mine do. I think the best way to bond with a bunny is to sit down with them and give them nose rubs as opposed to cuddling them.

But Im not deliberatly out there trying to change peoples minds about getting bunnies I just want to put what I know out there, which is years of experience with rescues, rabbit welfare, I really encourage you to go to that youtube channel and find the link for the e magazine, it is such a good read and you will learn so much.

good luck with your new additions, i am sorry if i offended.

LetThereBeCupcakes · 16/03/2011 08:20

Another one who wouldn't say they're the best pet for children, but that's not to say that this particular 9YO wouldn't do a great job. Check out this website - I got all 4 of my buns from this rescue and she's fantastic. Loads of info: www.cottontails-rescue.org.uk/.

But the basics:
Rabbits are best kept in pairs (not with GPs)
MOST don't like being cuddled (two of mine do - lionheads again. Maybe a breed thing?)
Many (most) pet-shop-bought rabbits have poor teeth and will suffer dental disease in their lives.
They MUST be cleaned out regularly. Google images of flystrike and you'll see why.

Hutch wise, I'd second (or is it third?) something big enough for the child to get in - you often see second hand wooden wendy-houses advertised cheeply. PM me if you want to see photos of how we added ramps and hiding places to ours.

Finally, a great book for children is the Really Useful Bunny Guide by Carolina James. Only £4.79 on Amazon.

BabyDubsEverywhere · 20/03/2011 21:02

www.gardenwoodcraft.co.uk

I had my hutch from these, the guy delivered it himself and put it up in the garden, pay on delivery/erection even knocked some off the price on the day as 'its sunny' haha!

I have the back to back with a 4 section run under, its ace. Cant recommend it enough. Fabulous value for money too. I do let my two bunnies out into the rest of the garden regularly, and also in the house.

Oh, have you thought about what you are going to do with them next winter? i also have a 4foot double hutch that they sleep in over winter, they are then given free access to a sectioned off part of the room, this year they will haver run of my new office.

Please get two....what a lonely life otherwise.

BabyDubsEverywhere · 20/03/2011 21:10

I dont find my rabbits hard work, infact i dont find any of my pets hard work, if you want them enough in the first place they arent a chore. But they are all mine, the kids get to enjoy them and help me (they are only 2 and 3 so not much help!) but i bought/rescued all 14 pets prepared for the work.

I dont think its fair on the pet if you take it on without being willing to put in the work if the child fails....but really it is a 15 minute job once a day, then just lots of looking at them going arrrr arent the cute/funny/sweet/a bugger whatever. Grin

Jix · 09/04/2012 15:31

I'm getting a rabbit for my daughter too. We were told best thing was to get a boy, get him neutered and then introduce a girl later. Does that sound right?

Lozislovely · 11/04/2012 18:50

Jix - we got a boy bun first, had him neutered and then got a girl bun. They got on like a house on fire (until boy bun died Sad)

We got a boy rescue 6 months after boy bun 1 died and they also get on fine. Girl bun rules the roost though Smile

smilingthroughgrittedteeth · 12/04/2012 10:39

I don't get why people insist on saying rabbits aren't good pets, I have had them since I was a child and currently have 4 boys, 1 is a house rabbit and the other 3 live happily in the garden, they all (as have all the previous rabbits been) are very cuddly and will come and hop onto your lap for a cuddle, they all come when called and all have their own unique personalities. I genuinly think it comes down to how much they are handled as babies.

I do agree that if they are given to a child as a pet then the parents need to want it to because in the end the responsibility rests with the adult.

I have 4 lop x dutch baby bunnies (4wks old at the moment) that need homes, if anyone is interested, I am in kent and can email pics.

As for the size of a hutch I always go for the biggest I can afford, I've recently got a new one from ebay (brand new, double story with run) for £95.00

New posts on this thread. Refresh page