Tell me all about rabbits.

[3BreastsInMyShirt]

I've been tempted by the sweetest leetle baby bunnies. Should I?

Should I get one or two?

What sort of hutch/trun do I need? What size?

What do you do in winter when it's muddy and cold on the grass?

Will the cats/dogs torment/eat them?

Always get two rabbits, because one alone will be lonely. Two sisters are best, or a boy/girl with one of them sterilised.

We have a double-decker hutch for two dwarf rabbits, so 124 cm x 75 x 2 levels, and it could easily be bigger. They run around in the garden in summer for an hour or two supervised, and in winter in the living room.

We live in central Europe where the winters are very cold, so we bring them in for winter and they go in the basement. Neighbours of ours kept theirs outside but had to insulate the hutch considerably. They let the rabbits out in their outdoor run even in the snow, and as long as the rabbits have developed a winter coat (for this they need to live outside over autumn) they will cope fine.

Dogs can get along with rabbits, so I've read, as long as they're well trained. Cats are more problematic and will always regard the rabbits as an enemy.

They need to be kept in pairs ideally, they crave company. A male and female pairing works best. They will need neutering when they reach maturity.

A pair need a min 6ft x 2ft x 2ft hurch with a sleeping compartment and a permanent run attached min 6ft x 4ft x 2ft. The hutch needs to be fitted with bolts (foxes open the twisty catches) and mesh over the front needs to be weldmesh not chicken wire 9which a fox will chew through). Same for the run which should be sited on concrete or paving slabs. Not on grass as rabbits dig out and foxes in.

They cope fine in winter, prefer it to summer. They snuggle together, just line the floor of the hutch with a good layer of woodshavings from the petshop and hay or barley straw.

You can give them littertrays which they'll learn to use. They are quite costly, need Myxi jabs twice yearly and VHD yearly. Need constant supply of hay (get cheap from a farm), same veg every day and a small amount of pelleted food. They are also expensive if they get ill as are classed as exotics, so I would advise insurance.

They are lovely pets, not ideal for children as quite skittish. I wouldn't advise buying from a pet shop as they are often bred badly and can have problems with teeth, also costly. There are lots of young buns in rescues which are health checked and you get advice and peace of mind. Or go to a reputable breeder.

Phew! If you need any other info just shout

would it be best to get a hutch - to keep on th patio with a separate run for the grass? or a combination type thing?

sweet baby bunnies have just been produced by a friends rabbit.
don't mind insurance/neutering costs.

so perhaps a hutch with run bit underneath on the patio with a run on the grass?

I really would recommend getting both sexes neutered. Bucks tend to spray all the time when reach maturity and if the female is constantly being mounted she will likely fight him. A rabbit fight ain't pretty. Females MUST be neutered, they are highly prone to uterine cancer, the majority of unneutered females will develop uterine cancer.

You could get a small shed or playhouse which means you can sit in with the rabbits (more fun) and may work out cheaper than a hutch and run combo. Keep it all on concrete, unless you are prepared to shut off access to the run when you're not there. They are most active at night, I've always allowed them out at night.

so if hutch/run combo is on concrete do you free them onto the grass/vegetable bed? or not? or have a separate run?

You can let them graze on grass (not on the veg patch) but will need to stay with them. Rabbit experts recommend building up grazing time slowly esp when the grass is lush.
They have very sensitive digestive systems so you are advised to give them the same small amount and variety of veg every day. They mostly need hay, hay and more hay and can survive quite well on that and a small amount of pelleted food alone. Just stick to the same boring old veg and they'll be fine (mine have 1 small carrot, a couple of spring green leaves and a small piece of broccoli each). If you introduce a new food it needs to be introduced slowly, a few bites at a time to see how they tolerate it, especially with baby rabbits. Give them what the breeder has been feeding them then change over very gradually.
Sorry, I digress. To answer your question if you contact a local carpenter you could get one built to your specification for the same price as a shop bought. You could then have a hutch with run under and an extension out the side, for instance.

aha. thanks. we had bunnies when i was a child but i've never had any of my own so am a bit clueless.
will be sending the DDs to the library tomorrow for books.

If you want them to be tame and handleable (is that a word?) then you need to work hard at taming them from day one. lots of gentle handling and attention and if you don't keep it up some will go quite wild and scratch and bite. That said it can be very rewarding.

Mine got on fine with the dog and were definitely the bosses.

Yes, they are definite personalities and can be feisty. Mine square up to predators, smug in the knowledge they are safe. The neighbourhood cats have been run at and 'chased' off on many an occasion!

I can't wait to get baby bunnies!!! it was either that or another puppy and at least bunnies don't pee all over the floor.

You'll be alright 3Breasts. They are a fair bit of work at first but once they settle they make nice pets. They're more intelligent and complex than people give them credit for, is all

You'll be alright 3Breasts. They are a fair bit of work at first but once they settle they make nice pets. They're more intelligent and complex than people give them credit for, is all

www.gardenwoodcraft.co.uk

I have just used this company for my hutch, ive had the 1 level back to back with a 2.5 meter run under and across. Its fab, couldnt recommend it eough. and it really is the bare minimum id have for a rabbit seeing my two boys in it. Its big enough that i dont feel guilty if i cant let them out everyday, bad weather etc, its well designed and very solid, and from the research ive done very well priced, and the lovely guy builds it in your garden for you. ace.

Rabbits are fab, i watch my two for hours!