Bunnies or more guinea pigs? Need to decide today!

[sanguinechompa]

We're ready to acquire two new pets having lost, within three months of one another, our pair of beloved gps earlier in the year

I absolutely adore gps and would be happy to have more.

But I've unexpectedly lost my heart to a pair of nairn flop eared bunnies. They are reserved for me until 5pm today.

I've done lots of research and I know that these particular bunnies will require at least an hour's attention each day, they are much less robust than gps, they are more expensive to keep, less interactive with dc.

I shouldn't do it, should I??????

Thanks for responses - MUCH appreciated

trilottie crisis averted and your advice was spot on. Male bunny spotted drinking and eating since I posted last (same bottles as breeder) but he does so much less frequently from female friend so harder to spot and I am paranoid atm. Thanks for the book tip (had already spotted it on Amazon but good to have personal recommendation!) and promise to bum-check regularly!

bonkey will also take it very gently with the picking-up and take it very slowly in general while they settle in. I'm sure rushing things would be counter-productive anyway. Working on getting accommodation to the point where they can go and come ... just making a few adjustments ...and will also work on them coming to us. Female already interested in sniffing our feet!!

Thanks eveyrone - really reassuring to have this advice!!

Great news! They sound like they're settling in very well. I have SOOO much information I could impart but I think a lot of it is covered in that book (another one is called the complete house rabbit) or its specific to each bunny. You'll be seeing bunny binkies, bunny yawns and sprawled out relaxed on the floor bunnies before you know it. However PM me if you have any other questions!

That's really kind of you Trilottie- thank you

Have definitely already witnessed "sprawled out" bunnies!! And one of them has started coming up to say "hello"

They seem to be settling in really well (although early days I know)

They seem much more active and hungrier than at the breeders although I guess one follows on from the other.

My only question for now would be, I know they have to have continuous fresh supplies of good quality hay which we have - but what about the pellet food? The breeder said one (adult) handful between them per day but they had demolished that about 10 mins after I had put it in the bowl so I gave them another handful in the evening - also demolished speedily. They seem hungry. I had to regulate gps food because they ate everything in site - is it the same principle with bunnies?

Sorry - should have pm'd that! Have ordered book which will be here by middle of next week.

I have also introduced a tiny bit of carrot which they both enjoyed with no ill-effects at other end so will be giving a bit more today.

If I have any more questions I will pm you - thank you again - but everything (touch wood) seems to be going quite well for now!!

70 - sorry typed my message in really fast and just re-read sounds very grumpy..apologies for that...

Bonkey - that is brilliant that you have done that. Taking away their hiding places in a dreadful suggestion too. GPs love to be able to hide as they feel so vulnerable out in the open.

The pellets are like sweets for rabbits, they wil gobble them. Ours have an eggcup each a day. All they really do need is hay.

Mine are rescues, so won't bloody eat hay, thought I am working on it. I have a set up of a double decker hutch and a run and second elevate living area all joined up. But mine free range in the garden during the day, so eat mostly grass and a bit of forage.

They really do hate being picked up, so you can train them to jump in a cat carrier for transport. Eventually as they get used to you, they will come up to you. They simply aren't cuddly pets though. Mine will jump all over my dd, they love her, but as soon as the food is gone, they are off. A rabbit's sole focus is food! They are adorable tho, and fun to watch. They do communicate, but body language, you just have to watch for it.

So regulating food, yes to pellets and any fresh food, no to hay!

Silver

ChopstheScarletDuck

When we were growing up, my db had pigs, I had a rabbit. The rabbit would come diving up to the bars when I went out, run around the garden hump the boars fall asleep on my lap with nose rubs, etc.

The pigs just sat in the corner wheeking! And they had long hair which was a nightmare to keep clean.

Tho, despite best intentions, we knew shamefully little about rabbits and gps when I was a kid, so I'm sure they prob would have been far nicer pets had we known a bit more how to keep them properly. And I will concede that baby gps are absolutely adorable, whereas newborn buns are ugly

Yeah, agree with Chops, ours has half a scoop for breakfast and another for tea, plus unlimited hay. The pellets go as soon as you put them out for him.
He also has a HUGE pile of veg for dinner although I understand this isn't the norm for most rabbits. He'll have a spring green leaf, an inch or so of carrot, 2 or 3 florets of broccoli, similar amount of cauliflower, a celery stalk and some green pepper.And he isn't overweight at all!
if you're giving too much food, you'll soon see v soft tiny stinky pellets which are caecotrophs (sp?) which is part of the digestion and theyre meant to eat them. If theyve got plenty of food they won't bother, and you'll have to clean them up. If you see more than a very small amount of these, cut back on food and up the hay. This is what you'll see spread around their bums if they're not cleaning themselves properly. (apologies if you already know all this!)

I'm not an expert, but I didn't think you should really see any caecotrophs. I've only ever seen one from my three. I'd be panicking about statis issues if I saw them regularly.

Hello everyone

Again - really appreciate all the responses

Will moderate the pellets and although they have copious quantities of hay, they don't seem that keen but I suppose they will get used to it if there is nothing else much available (I'm introducing veg - but very slowly)

Both of them seem a lot less stressed and a lot happier today and are more amenable about being picked up. They really are adorable - two balls of fluff. The one who we think is female (beige with grey stripes) is very curious and intelligent and pretty fearless and the one who we think is male (black) is rather remote and still until he is outside the cage - and then he comes alive!

We are still arguing about debating the question of names

Tried to get photos yesterday of them hopping about on our terrace and although they stopped to nibble the odd strawberry leaf, they didn't exactly hang about to pose! Will have to see if I shot anything decent. If not, will try again over the w/e.

Also in midst of constructing biggest houses /runs possible.

Seeing the vet on Monday so will no more then.

Just realised you have a male and a female. You do know a female can get pg from 12 weeks?

The make neuter can be done as soon as his bits have dropped, early as 8-12 weeks, but he will stay fertile for up to 8 weeks after that. You can then start the bonding process, but it is quite tricky. You can sometimes find rabbit experts who will bond them for you. Your female should also be spayed as an extremely high percentage of females will go on to develope cancer if not spayed. If this is done after the bond, your boy should be able to accompany her to the vets, so the bond isnt broken.

Ideally you can keep them in cages right next to each other for now, so they can see and smell each other but not have contact. Though even buns that appear amicable side by side may still fight to the death when introduced!

I have pics of my trio on my profile btw :)

Thanks ChopstheScarletduck

Your bunnies are gorgeous - as are your dc!! Must upload pics/profile when I get a minute ...dd took some on her ds that are better than mine.

Thanks for breeding info - particularly pertinent atm. Genders not as yet confirmed (will be one to four weeks when certain apparently) but breeder had already put them together when I arrived to collect them. They get on very well. She assured me that female can't get pregnant yet. I am hoping this is true!! Vet providing more advice this afternoon.

Dashing for the moment - but will update later - thanks again!

one to four weeks in time that is - not age

They generally do get on well until the hormones kick in then the fighting starts. Which is why people tend to wait until they are spayed and then bond. Mine are all girls, so it was a bit easier, but the two sisters are closer and the dominant doe makes sure the non sibling is kept in her place!

How did the vets go?

Oh dear ... I didn't know that about waiting before being spayed to bond ...

Thanks - I think a lot more research is required

Vet cancelled yesterday owing to emergency. She is rescheduled for Wed pm. Will report back!

Thanks again chops!

research
on my part that is!

I learned all I know from rabbits United. I got mien before really knowing what I was letting myself in for!

Wouldn't be without them now though. They are loving the sun, cuddled up together under the trampoline, all flopped out.

Thanks for link Chops

Your floppers sound lovely!

Just one quick question - we have a secure, walled garden. Once the buns have been vaccinated - will it be OK to let them roam? Dying to let them have their freedom ...

On the other hand, our late guinea pigs were very savvy and rejected plants that were toxic to them. Can you trust rabbits to do the same? (We have lily of the valley and lots of bulbs) Also, I am worried about such a dramatic change of diet when so young.

Obviously, can cordon off areas if that's the better option.

Update - bunnies have had their first veterinary check up and all well. (They've been vaccinated and can go out to roam in garden once antibodies fully established in three week's time.)

The only surprise is that the vet is 75% certain that they are both blokes! I was a little disappointed as have read that the best sort of pairing is with a doe and a buck but vet didn't seem to think it would be a problem once they have both have had the snip.

It certainly eliminates the chances of having baby rabbits anyway which is a relief!

Vet returning in one month to verify genders. Guess we will have to think of a different name for "Lily" ...

Some buns are more savvy than others regarding toxic plants. Mine are pretty good, they eat all my herbs, but onions and garlic are fine and left alone! Most owners seem to strip out poisonous plants but it would be a nightmare for us. There is also risk of predators or digging to escape, but I love to see them run free too. Mine are only caged at night. I'd let them go and just watch them to see how much sense they seem to have.

Boys should be fine once neutered, as your vet said. Just keep close eye as they do mature and hormones kick in.

Thank you again Chops. You have said exactly same as vet re: roaming!! If in doubt, we'll put in a couple of strategically placed barriers here and there.

Not much hope of stripping out every poisonous plant here either (and I really love lily of the valley so that's going to be sectioned off)

Bunnies great fun this evening. They've been 'binking' and have started to come to us to be fed by hand (a few carrot tops and the odd bit of parsley). After they had had enough of running around the sitting room, they then stretched out their back legs and lay on a rug - look like two furry draft excluders!