Advice needed, choosing a rabbit, or two?

[Italiangreyhound]

It looks like the rabbits have won! DD is very keen to have rabbits and I only have the energy for one species!

Any advice on the best breed and any other important stuff, please?

Thank you

Those hutches with runs under are awful the rabbit loses half their hutch space to the gap for the run

Boyles Pet Housing have some good options too, but I think he has a bit of a waiting time:

www.boylespethousing.co.uk/rabbit-housing.html

shouldiworryornothelp I don't disagree, but I don't like hutches at all for rabbits really. That said, the hutch is really just a shelter from the elements if there is 24/7 access to a run and if the top of the run is covered and maybe some of the sides in winter/bad weather, then the run space can be utilised more.

We had a male/female bonded pair.

They had an enormous, safe and interesting run and a big hutch. They never used the hutch (other than for sitting on its roof) though because they dug a massive burrow and lived very happily in there. We put them in the (emptied) greenhouse over winter for warmth, and again, they dug themselves a cosy burrow to sleep in.

They were very friendly and happy but absolutely would not tolerate being picked up, although they were very happy to be stroked and their run was big enough for the dcs to be able to go into and sit with them (we had tree stumps in there for gnawing/seats).

We have a huge dog kennel, which the maker adapted to have a shelf all the way round so it's two tier. They have room to "periscope" (sit on their hind legs) and it doubles their area. They have a sleep room which is dark and a "run" area with windows. The kennel or converted shed is the best thing IMO.

They have free run of our garden when we are in. They've never dug (too flipping pampered where they are!) but they RUIN the garden and, although they don't know it yet, are about to have their free run curtailed somewhat.

Buns are lovely pets, much like puppies or cats IMO. They run up to greet us, are very food motivated ;) and really enjoy human company.

ShouldIworryornothelp thank you so much. Can I be extra dumb and ask how the rabbits get from hutch to run, is there a kind of cat flap?

Oh dear those things all look super expensive. I think I am going to have to try and convince DD to go for a kitten or cat after all!

It certainly makes more sense than the regular hutches but £300 seems a lot.

I have heard someone talking about converting a play house for rabbits.

Can I ask if it is OK to buy second hand or is it not hygienic (diseases etc)?

Thanks one and all.

Oh and are these on grass? How do you stop them burrowing out? Please?

Is this one any good?

nice?

It says "This hutch size meets the RWAF retail charter guidelines"

This looks nice... www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/shedconversion.htm

I've got a tunnel from www.runaround.co.uk/ so mine can go from the hutch to the run and I can move the run to avoid tunnels and dead grass. He has trashed the lawn though.

Italian, I'm not 100% (it is early but I think the above link is for the run only, no hutch. However, a friend has the above run and hutch that goes with it and it's a decent size, but a bit of a pain to clean out apparently. She covers the roof of the run with plastic to keep most of the weather out. She has also added an extra layer of mesh to make it more fox proof. I have to admit, I'm not overly convinced it would keep a determined fox out though, but I'm a bit paranoid about foxes.

Any run would need to be on paving slabs really to keep predators out (nod of my bunnies have ever tried to dig out) or you can use mesh and turf on top of it as mesh hurts the bunnies feet if not covered by grass.

Second hand is fine, you can clean and sanitise it pretty well. Would making a run yourself be an option too? That would be cheaper.

Sheds or playhouses are great. I've had both and sheds are a bit easier for adults to get in and clean, but both are fine for bunnies. You'd still need an attached run though and to do something to stop the shed or playhouse getting too hot in summer.

I feel like I am going round in circles here with what I would need to keep a rabbit happy! When you first look at it it all looks so simply but now I just feel utterly overwhelmed by it all!

Added to this I am worried my child will get bored! That is not exactly fair because we had a hamster from age 6 to 8 for her and she was pretty good with him (I had hamsters as a child) and then we had a cat from age 8 to10 (we had cats when I was a child too). So I feel a little out of my depth with rabbits! I guess I also worry that in the garden they will be happy playing in the outside but ultimately we will not really get the interaction with them.

Some friends were talking today about chinchillas and what lovely pets they make and it has started my brain whirring again!

Also I am wondering what the deal is with house bunnies, do they genuinely go everywhere. I am going to start Googling around reading up on them!

Thanks again.

Rabbits are a HUGE commitment. They can live for 10-15 years with proper care. They also cost a lot do money in terms of initial set up and vets feed or insurance. They aren't a cheap pet at all.

Lots of people do keep them successfully as house pets, but I wouldn't personally have them indoors permanently again, unless I could make a whole room theirs, as they are too destructive and no matter how careful you are, hay gets everywhere.

nooo! not a chinchilla unless you plan on looking after it for around 20 years. you need rats

Sorry snip I am a massive animal lover but rats are a no no for me!

Leaving the hutch door open into the run does it. We prop it open with a brick or two

Thanks all, we are still debating but it has been so useful to get advice here.