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Original poster

Convince me that keeping rabbits is lovely....

38 replies

WhenMarnieWasThere · 17/02/2015 17:37

because DH has accepted a pair of female rabbit babies (ready to leave their mum) because the bloke is giving them away and DD is desperate for 'bunnies'.

I'm not convinced. We've had gerbils, hamsters of several varieties, fish both in the pond and the aquarium and a cat. But I've never fancied a rabbit.

Project rabbit-house is underway as DH and DD are converting the wooden playhouse for them. And I'm phoning vets tomorrow for quotes for innoculations and spaying (if that's the right term for bunnies).

Are we making a mistake?

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sisterofmercy · 17/02/2015 17:48

Only if you don't handle them a lot when they're young. We made the mistake of being slightly scared of them and they grew up wild. They were still quite interesting being rabbits though, I used to watch them for ages. They're funny beasts.

FiloFunky · 17/02/2015 18:54

rabbits are very sociable and clever. ours live with our ducks and quails in a 144 sq ft outdoor enclosure with 8x6 ft shed attached.

handle them lots and they will be fabulous. please dont just let them live at the end of the garden with little interaction.

FiloFunky · 17/02/2015 18:58

Realise this is a poor picture! Will scout for a better one!

Convince me that keeping rabbits is lovely....
thoughtsbecomethings · 17/02/2015 19:01

We had 2 rabbits and loved them they had the run of the garden and loved playing with our little dog.
Bunnies are lovelySmile

FiloFunky · 17/02/2015 19:05

Must get some better pics!

Inasimilarboat · 17/02/2015 19:07

Rabbits are delightful pets but not easy to look after. They need loads of space (a Wendy house is great but they will also need a run).

They will both need spaying (costs around £80 each) and vaccinations (around £25 each).

Original poster
WhenMarnieWasThere · 17/02/2015 20:15

They will have a run built around the wendy house. It's not at the bottom of the garden (thankfully!) and DD will be prodded into giving them lots of attention if she wanes.

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FiloFunky · 17/02/2015 20:24

do bear in mind they are fabulous jumpers. mine can easily jump on top of the two storey hutch!

DoItTooJulia · 17/02/2015 20:27

Our friends have a rabbit. He is the most lovely pet! He lives in a hutch in the garage but has free reign of the garden in the daytime. He's had such a cushy life he's 11 years old and still going strong!

fiverabbits · 17/02/2015 21:58

The most important thing with rabbits is their food. They must have hay available at all times, a small amounts of veg, cabbage or carrots once a day and rabbit food. As I have six rabbits I buy a bale of hay from a farm shop. Definitely handle them everyday, mine live outdoors but take it turns to come in once a day for cuddles, checking claws, coats etc and getting used to being called by their names. Don't forget to give some toys, mine have a small furry toy and toilet rolls and cat balls with bells inside and big play tubes and cardboard boxes outside in the runs. How old are they ? Find out from a vet about neutering now as you may be surprised how young it can be done. Are you sure what sex they are ?
I have had rabbits for 32 years so I can answer most questions.

PragmaticWench · 17/02/2015 22:03

Not sure if other people do this but my rabbit used a litter tray. She tended to go in one area so I put a plastic tray down and she then just used that. It made cleaning up so much easier.

Agree about handling them lots and confidently, otherwise they become scared and wild.

Original poster
WhenMarnieWasThere · 17/02/2015 23:35

Good idea about toys. They are only little. Just about 8 weeks.

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pineapplewoman · 18/02/2015 13:02

May be an idea to get vet to confirm what sex they are. When I was little we had two rabbits that we were told were both boys, a few months later it turned out that they weren't and we had eight rabbits!

fiverabbits · 19/02/2015 23:35

When you say you are converting a playhouse what is the floor made out of, is it wood. What I do with anything made of wood is stick lino on the bottom and up the sides with no nails as it makes it so much easier to clean out and any water/wee doesn't rot the wood and makes it warmer. Less chance of any splinters for you and the rabbits. Yes I have litter trays for wee/poo my youngest two that I had at 22 & 16 weeks old were not litter trained when they came but a week later they was. Make sure you store rabbit food in bins with tight lids to stop field mice/ slugs getting to it.

Original poster
WhenMarnieWasThere · 19/02/2015 23:50

THanks, fiverabbits. It does currently have a wooden base and DH has mentioned the thought of lino. We don't have any spare so I shall have a nosy in the local carpet shop for an offcut tomorrow if they have one.

We have a litter tray and litter ready to go.

And the food is likely to be stored in the roofspace of the house or in the garage.

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fiverabbits · 20/02/2015 21:51

Field mice will also get into the roof space or in a garage. Where my rabbits live indoors is a double glazed porch against a concrete garage wall with a proper tiled roof but they still get into it and they make nests with anything paper or plastic bags. We have mouse traps up on the top of the hutches all year round. What kind of litter are you using ? Do you what kind of rabbit they are ?

Original poster
WhenMarnieWasThere · 20/02/2015 22:55

Ok. Sealed food/bedding container. Will get a bin-thing.

I have the wood pellet litter. Is that OK?

Unsure of what type of rabbit. I've had a peep over the fence to where the NDN keeps his hutches and they don't look long haired. We are going tomorrow to have a proper look in daylight.

NDN has 4 12 week olds (not 8 weeks) to rehome. 3 girls and a boy and we are having 2 girls. We WILL double check with the vets as to their sex.

Apparently, he put the boy parent pair together for MINUTES when cleaning out hutches and, guess what, he now has a new litter of 4 to rehome.

I'm sure there's a well known phrase about going at it and rabbits.....

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TheCatAteMyTaxReturn · 20/02/2015 22:59

Can't help.

They have weird staring eyes, foxes want to kill them [and do], and I couldn't stand the trauma of DS finding one dead again, so

buy a chihuahua...

Original poster
WhenMarnieWasThere · 20/02/2015 23:09

Ha ha ha. You forgot their big, kicky back legs too.

My only experience of rabbits is that my friend had one as a child in their garden. They had litters of babies. I recall (Don't read on if squeamish!) the dead body of one on their compost heap, squirming with maggots. And that they kick. And jump.

THAT'S my experience of rabbits.

No puppies here though. We had a lovely cat until the summer who died at a ripe 19 years old. Sad I still miss him, but DH isn't keen to get another.

I think he agreed to rabbits as an alternative.... but not a cheaper alternative.

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MrTumblesBavarianFanbase · 20/02/2015 23:21

We got our first rabbit as an adult from the RSPCA 9 years ago, and were given an unwanted spayed adult female to be his friend about 7 years ago.

I would just say they live a really long time...

Ours are fine, perfectly nice pets. Kids lose interest in outdoor rabbits in winter in my experience and strangely regain interest when they have friends around...Hmm Be prepared to do most of the donkey work yourself (unless your OH will)...

They are not that hard to look after, just long term.

Ours are friendlier and easier for the kids to handle now they are older (the rabbits) though still lively at unknown ages of probably 10+ and 8+ respectively.

TheCatAteMyTaxReturn · 20/02/2015 23:40

Ha ha ha. You forgot their big, kicky back legs too.

Ours was called Fumper - his legs were more of a hindrance than a help - I think there must have been steroids in his carrot tops...

His end was not pretty - like Reservoir Rabbits...Shock

fiverabbits · 21/02/2015 10:31

More advice. AsK NDN when they was born so they have a birthday so you can keep up with how old they are when asked by the vets. Have you thought of any names yet, if not sure of what sex chose unisex. Not like me I called one of mine Rosie and it turned out to be a boy which was a bit of surprise as he was 16 weeks old. How old is your DD ?

fiverabbits · 21/02/2015 11:01

Sorry hadn't finished but got interrupted by 35 year old DD banging on the patio door asking up to help her to get back in without letting the rabbit that is running loose in the garden coming in with her. We told her it is her fault as she brings him in to sit of the arm of the chair and feeds him grapes, bread and carrots whilst he watches EMMERDALE, all true. Yesterday he got in and sat under the table for 3 hours, I think he thinks that as he is the oldest rabbit that we have at 6 he should now live indoors with us, like our previous 2 oldies did for 2 years. I don't agree about nasty rabbits it's all down to being handled correctly. One trick is to speak to the rabbit and gentle smooth them but don't pick up as many times in a day as you can so they get used to you and so when you do pick them up they are use to you. Yes I you don't really have all day to talk to the rabbits but it does pay off in the end. Hope this advice helps you and your DD enjoy the rabbits.

MillieMoodle · 21/02/2015 11:08

We've got 3 house rabbits and they're lovely pets but not low maintenance. They are social animals and need interaction and attention. Ours are 8 1/2, 6 and 5 so be prepared to be in it for the long haul!
Also find a good rabbit specialist vet; rabbits are still classed as exotic animals and there aren't many specialists in the UK.
Good luck Smile

Original poster
WhenMarnieWasThere · 21/02/2015 11:17

Thank you.
Dd is 10, and did a lot of her own research be gore being allowed to get them, so she actually tells me a lot of the things they will need. She's had smaller pets for years and is used to a daily commitment of feeding etc. Her current indoor pets are a pair of her is.

I'm aware that some of the care will fall to us too to make sure they are looked after properly.

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