rabbit care please

[AnotherLoad]

I went into a pet shop looking for pet mice as my DS's hamster died a while ago and had a cage stored collecting dust.

any way... i walk into the shop and there was a young rabbit, nervous wreck, no toys, hardly any hay, no safe house to hide in, bedding was wet and messy.

it was bought in by some one who had too many. so they slapped a price tag on 'rabbit & cage' and plonked in at the end of the shop.

i was asking general questions about her and the owners (one texting the other writing) with no eye contact, shop was empty so not busy... they had no info other than 'its about 4 months we think!' it was like they had no heart in what they do, no upbeat atitude about selling this rabbit.

I decided i wasnt going to leave the shop with out it! poor thing.

now - i know i bought some thing i know nothing about (not that shop owners knew more )

i want to bring this rabbit new life, the best care - so need your help with first hand experince as google is often unreliable!

please can you give me info on the best food, bedding, fresh foods they like and anything i need to know.

since being home summer has settled so well, hasnt even been 24hrs! she loves a cuddle, is allowed free roam (no exposed wires or danger) seems to be a little happier.

thanks in advance.

she has plenty of hay, im not sure what the original owners had her on - but the pet shop was feeding her on that muesli crap (that i dont even think shes touched)

im introducing her to excel pellets :)

so do i take out and change the left over hay daily or only when its starting to soil?

ive been taking the fruit and veg offerings out as soon as they start to turn.

i change water daily :)

this morning i went to greet summer and open her age for her to roam, put my hand in to stroke her and she nipped at my knuckle (didnt hurt)

so thought she was hungry because her pellets aint disappearing and she hasnt took much interest in the veg. :(

I got her a carrot and i cut a small piece of bell pepper for her. the pepper she wasnt interested in at all.

im not sure if she's never had fresh foods or they hand fed her because she would only eat the carrot if im holding it. still she only took afew nibbles.

she jumped out of her cage so i went to stroke her and she nibbled my hand again :(

yesterday i was running my finger over the drinking bottle and she was licking water off my finger! i done it to make sure she was getting some water.

any ideas why she's nibbled? thanks

veg wise,my rabbits were selective.carrot and green leaf veg,not much of the rest.
We put in a handful of grass from time to time,and they absolutley loved dandelion leaves.
Apart from that we tried differnet brands of rabbit food.They most liked the non pellet ones,but I think rabbits have different taste buds like humans do.

She's probably scared and confused please don't take it personally!!! Animals remember what they have been through and it takes time to gain trust. On other hand maybe she's not feeling well.

A female rabbit is receptive to the male about once every four weeks so maybe her hormones are kicking in. Just give her some time, and patience and when she's neutered a friend would be a good idea. If you get a male and have to neuter him then ge will still be fertile for a month so a pre nuetered rescue male would be best idea. :)

thanks for your replies,

will continue to try other veg, plus get hold of some dandelion leaves.

because the pet shop never bothered to ask what food she they were feeding her and just shoved her on their cheap shops own meusli style one - i have no idea! she dont like the muesli or the pellets :(

she settled in so well on thursday when i got her, she was a little shaky but loved cuddles and was so placid to a bouncing pom pup - it was just a diferent reception i got from her today.

but still caffeine it may be hormones. will be getting her neutered when she's old enough, vet says 6 months. I have a number for rescue rabbits and want to get her a neutered friend once shes done.

oh forgot to ask what size cage am i looking at to house 2 rabbits as she's in a 30 X 17inc (if i remember right) guinea pig cage. how pet shop recieved her not my choice of size!

im trying to get hold of a bigger one but would rather get what i need for two then by bigger again in a few months.

and do they like those 2 tier ones or not to bother? she spend all day free roaming and goes in her cage when i put her to bed for the night. so she's not cooped in that small one.

The bigger the cage /hutch you get the better!!!! Get the biggest that's feesable :) two tier would enhance the living space create some interest but if they are put all day then u will get away with single story. :)

Out not put

great ive seen some 2 tier ones, think it was on zooplus. didnt know if it was a waste of extra space - as in the rabbits wont go up to next tier. but if they do its what seems the best

getting her harness today to take her over the field :)

Please report back on harness and post link if it's any good as I have two mini rexs and am thinking of getting them a harness and leash

hi caffeine

just reporting on the harness....

it fits quite snug, i thought she might fight and struggle but she was great. she liked it over the field, wasnt too sure at first but had a few good hops and she munched on the grass which is great

she loved the breeze and wasnt scared by all the kids running over to see her.
i would definately say get some for yours.

i got mine from pets at home, comes with a leash :)

all the best

Thank you :)

ooo and just to add that she tucked into a little bit of strawberry with leaves left on :) and whilst at pets at home i got her this compressed looking hay thingy??? but she got into that too

nothing exciting but it was a relief to see her eat!

sorry one more thing caffeine...

i carried her to the field and put her down once there. i didnt walk her - i let her lead. i could tell she wouldnt budge if i was to pull her :)

do you think i could use advocate to prevent fleas?

Pets at home are doing a very nice cage on offer for £52 . we got conned into buying a lionhead rabbit at our local farm fete today, so mad dash to get a hutch.

Having said that.... I didnt need much pursuading!

They need a weight to dispense flea treatment :) I spoke to a vet regarding the same thing and she said that they didn't tend to see rabbits with flea problems and that what they have was actually to prevent against hay mites and fly strike but fly strike shouldn't affect healthy young rabbits so much ad they can groom themselves properly it hits older rabbits. I would speak to your vet see what they advise for your rabbit as different ones say different things ;)

We started with our rabbit in the winter so don't think I am joking, but we started getting to know her wearing thick socks, slippers, covered legs and arms so we could pick her up and cuddle her every day.

Also it made me jump at first because she would jump on the sofa with me and dig at my back. Sometimes she even gave a gentle nip. So the layers of clothes were good but I also told her no, if she bit.

She is now about 9 months old and extremely sociable and never bites so I think all that daily handling worked. My DS is 5 and at first I would tell him we have to be really careful not to scare her, now we are more relaxed and he gets her out and brushes her fur. We shut all doors to rooms with beds and wires though and let her scamper round the kitchen and halls.

thats not a bad price, i see one in there priced at £60, maybe it reduced more?

ok will speak to the vet about it. thanks

crunchie i had to re-read that - i read it as rabbit wore socks lol .......its late

she hasnt tried to nop my finger for the rest of the day. it was just this morning for some reason. I give her cuddles lots of times through out the day. she's not very scratchy and doesnt thrash around in my arms, infact she's quite placid. thats why i posted this morning about the nipping?

she has the upstairs to roam as my pom pup is a little bouncy and gets in her face abit too much. when the pup is sleeping i bring her downstairs for a while. hopefully the pups excitement will wear off soon so she can be downstairs all the time.

I hate pet shops, seriously. I daren't even go in them these days because I can't stand to see miserable animals cooped up like your lovely rabbit was.

I got 3 baby rabbits about 5 months ago and they are an absolute joy. We have a massive two tier hutch which is actually a chicken coop but I wanted them to have lots of space to run and sleep and stretch. (It's designed for 8 chickens so that gives you an idea of the size). We got it from ebay, and then have a pen attached so they can run round the garden. It has a little private area for a litter tray.

If they live outside they are happier in pairs or groups. Apparently lack of stimulation kills rabbits faster than anything. Food should be a challenge - ours love a little ball which they have to roll around to get the pellets out.

I love them and we sit outside every night watching them play and skip about.

Toys: we bought loads and they aren't fussed. They LOVE a cardboard box with a ball in, a poster tube - a wide tube or any sort of tube, mine have a polytunnel too. When I bring a box home from work and cut holes in they love to bounce in and out through the windows of it.

Can you tell my 3 are absolutely spoilt rotten

hi gay40

your hutch sounds great, i dont have room for a mahoosive cage :( but i'll get the biggest that fits

she has a tube, cardboard box, paper bag (as some one says they like these) ........nothing no interest. she just seems happy hoping around? and the dog play with her too!

will cut some holes in the box see if that tempts her lol. :)