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Original poster

I promised dd a rabbit for her birthday...dp said she can have 2!.....

18 replies

PinkChick · 20/11/2008 21:05

but i think ive totally changed my mind!..we go away for 2 weeks in aug (birthday april) and often go away for weekends, plus i work long days and tbh dont think i can be botherd(i know that sounds bad, so cute and cuddly, i DO love rabbits) with all the cleaning out/vet visits/buying of indoor hutches to take them to mums when were away...am i really mean??..are they THAT much hassle??..feel awful, but i know (from doing the same when i was young) that I will be the one looking after them....hmm.

OP posts:
fishie · 20/11/2008 21:07

more than one will probably fight they aren't all that friendly anyway. get a guinea pig.

southeastastra · 20/11/2008 21:07

weird as they're talking about rabbit on tv at this very moment

they live better together if you get them neutered so it'll be just the same as if you had one

they're really not that bother but my rabbits are very tempremental

thisisyesterday · 20/11/2008 21:09

they aren't that much hassle. but if you feel like you wouldn't be bothered then don't! because you'll only resent it and it'll be just another job you don't want to do.

rabbits need to be handled a lot, gently, if you want them to be good kids pets. if they aren't then they can be quite aggressive, which will mean they end up being shut up all day and being neither a good pet, nor well looked after.

they are best in pairs though. they get lonely otherwise. so if you're going to do it, get 2

thisisyesterday · 20/11/2008 21:10

if you can get 2 from the same ltiter then they should be fine together

southeastastra · 20/11/2008 21:12

if you get them neutered, i have sisters one just fights anything, she's like a bull

tatt · 20/11/2008 21:13

if it doubt - don't! They are not good pets for children as they don't generally like to be held and can scratch when returned to their hutch. They are also quite expensive as they need lots of hay and vegetables.

Rabbits are often treated very badly - if you do go ahead buy the Problem with rabbits from the RSPCA, get two (rescue rabbits) so they have company and make sure they have enough space.

BrokenliSpears · 20/11/2008 21:14

How old is your daughter?

I have said this before, but I think rabbits are terrible pets for children.

They need time and attention every day, as well as a nice big space to live in (not a hutch). They are not necessarily cuddly.

Rabbits are about as affectionate and biddable as a cat and as dependant on you as a dog.

castille · 20/11/2008 21:15

We have 2 dwarf rabbits (female siblings) and they never fight. And they are no more trouble than having one.

southeastastra · 20/11/2008 21:17

i must have a really arsey rabbit then, i have three and two really get along, the other though it very uppity

thisisyesterday · 20/11/2008 21:20

aww I must've had a lovely one! if I sat in his run he would come out and run around me and then jump into my lap. he loved cuddles and was soooooo friendly.

and I think in comparison to cats and dogs they are very inexpensive

apparently the bigger the rabbit the more docile they are. so something else to consider.

southeastastra · 20/11/2008 21:23

male rabbit are better than female ime

SpringySunshine · 20/11/2008 21:26

We had a rabbit & a guinea pig when I was young. They got on well together & there was no chance of them breeding. They both live in the same conditions, so would be no different to two rabbits.

tatt · 21/11/2008 09:02

the RSPCA don't recommend mixing rabbits and guinea pigs because of the risk of the guinea getting bullied. It can work but it often doesn't.

Rabbits can be fun to watch, when happy they jump for joy. They can be trained like dogs but without the need for long walks. If they are happy they don't make lots of noise (although when they do thump the sound travels). The droppings are really good for your compost heap. You have the satisfaction of giving a good home to animals that are ususually very badly treated.

Still say if in doubt, don't.

Original poster
PinkChick · 21/11/2008 09:39

HI all, thanks for your replies ..i used to ahev rabbits as a child..LOTS of them, we had a huge outhouse with their hutches in and runs for them in the ggarden, so im used to looking after them, but as dd is just 5, it would be me obv to clean out although she would help.

I was looking at the dwarf rabbits, we went to 'bunnyland' a while back were i got a lot from when i was younger and they seem really well looked after and handled, many would come over and let you pet them.

i wouldnt get them at all if i thought i wouldnt look after them, i know i will, but just think i felt a bit put on at home last night and this concerned me about having them to clean out etc..as its been a long time now, how often do you clean them out?, i know it will be more often in warmer weather and are they ok being in large hutch outside?, what type of cover would they need as have seen some expensive ones (made by nasa!!)...think i just need to know what it all involves and then decide if it SHOULD be this or anotehr birthday rpesent??

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Original poster
PinkChick · 21/11/2008 09:40

outhouse was not one with toilet..was like a huge brick shed..used to be wash house and coal house i think

OP posts:
tatt · 21/11/2008 16:03

Cleaning out depends on how much they will be in their hutch. Droppings need to be removed and any wet patches. Mine had free access to an outside enclosure that they used as a toilet so I didn't need to clean out often. If they were confined to the hutch (when ill) it was every day. They can be trained to use a litter tray but one of mine would go over the side.

If the water freezes in their hutch it's too cold for them to be outside. Mine spent most of the time outside - with extra hay inside and a blanket over the hutch - but would have to be put in the garage for short periods. You can't do that if your garage has fumes from a car.

Good hutches are expensive. Some people use sheds instead and another option is to convert an old piece of funiture. We had one hutch that looked like the base was an old table. It had roofing board across the top and fencing type boards on the sides and back. It was very sturdy but weighed too much to move easily. An old sideboard (from freecycle?) can make a good hutch if you replace one solid door with mesh. You'll need to build a sloping roof onto it though.

giraffescantdancethetango · 21/11/2008 16:10

i have a rabbit and hes lovely but not very cuddly. he likes being stroked and sitting beside me but not being held. he will tolerate children playing with him for a small time then he will get fed up and go and hide in peace. he accidently scratches me when he bumps out of my arms when i go to put him down, but has never intentionally hurt me

I do think guinea pigs make better pets for children as much more cuddly. I think rabbits are more intelligent though.

Original poster
PinkChick · 24/11/2008 10:13

Thanks everyone..ive spoken to dd and she was very grown up and agreed that she will wait until we have taken down our old garage and put up a large shed, we wwill then make sure there is space in there for the rabiits should the weather become too cold and we can then help cover/insulate the hutch better and keep it dry..our concerns were reconfirmed when we woke up to thick snow yesterday..so am glad i thought twice and spoke to you lot.thanks

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