Keeping Rabbits Advice

[Moody123]

I want to get a bunny for my 2YO for Christmas, I've always wanted a bunny and I know it's will actually be for me 😂
So I have looked into it but would like some help with a few things.
I'm going to get 2 bunnies , and would like to keep them indoors over night , so will get something like this:
http://www.therabbithutchcompany.co.uk/rabbit-hutches/the-coach-house-6ft-rabbit-hutch-127.html
But what to do during the day? I know they need a lot of space to run around.
So do I put a run outside like this one through the day (7-6) as we are at work

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/122488262139?chn=ps&ulref=https%253A%252F%252Frover.ebay.com%252Frover%252F1%252F710-134428-41853-0%252F2%253Fmpre%253Dhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.ebay.co.uk%25252Fi%25252F122488262139%25253Fchn%25253Dps%2526itemid%253D122488262139%2526targetid%253D489915688034%2526device%253Dm%2526adtype%253Dpla%2526googleloc%253D9046334%2526poi%253D%2526campaignid%253D1458126932%2526adgroupid%253D55146917885%2526rlsatarget%253Dpla-489915688034%2526abcId%253D1139086%2526merchantid%253D114944012%2526gclid%253DEAIaIQobChMIiajsnPjX3QIVqp3tCh0e5AmrEAQYDiABEgJzzfDBwE%2526srcrot%253D710-134428-41853-0%2526rvrrid%253D1681904806454%2526rvr_ts%253D145ce71f1660a9c4b3c4e789fffaee19
Or is that too small for all day? Obviously I will put loads of toys ect in.
And what do I do in winter as if it's cold outside and I bring them in to our warm house I heard they could get shock? I can't leave them in the indoor cage all day in winter can I?
Sorry for all the questions but I want to make sure I know absolutely everything before I get two.

If someone could link me what they have that would be helpful

That hutch is too small, as is the run.

There's some information about why here.

When you say you want to keep them indoors overnight, do you mean in the house?

They need to be either indoors most of the time or outdoors. Not chopping and changing too much between the two. Especially during the winter. If they're living outdoors they will develop a lovely thick winter coat, so then they can overheat indoors. It's perfectly safe for them to stay outdoors all winter.

Rabbits need a lot of space. The Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund is a good place to start. That booklet covers the basics. And there's more information in the different sections of their website.

My rabbits live in a shed from Manor Pet Housing connected to tunnels and a big run from Runaround. You can get rabbit sheds from other suppliers too, or you can buy a normal shed and adapt it yourself. The tunnels are brilliant as they can decide when they want to go outside. It's lovely watching them scamper about.

Then get them for you, and don’t let the toddler pick them up. Awful, awful pets for children. They have complex needs and are not just cute and squishy.

Blimey, I missed that bit. You definitely shouldn't get them for your toddler, nor as a Christmas present rabbits are not suitable pets for children as MsOliphant says. They can be injured if they are mishandled. And some will bite and scratch.

Where are you planning to get the rabbits from? It's best to get them from a rescue centre where you can get a bonded pair.

My old pair absolutely hated small children. They were rescues I got at 4 years old and I don't have children. They've bitten a few visiting ones though. I only have one of the original pair and her new husbun now. Her husbun is quite a spooky scatty boy who was picked up by his ears as a baby, he's getting used to adults now but I really don't think he'll make much of small children either.

They may be cute and fluffy but they have strong minds of their own and won't put up with being grabbed, poked or pulled at. They have sharp teeth and claws they're not afraid to use!

I personally wouldn't recommend them as pets for the under 10's. My next door neighbour is 8 and he's sensibly wary of them. My 7 year old nephew is very patient with them but they do give him a wide berth, his 3 year old brother is far too grabby and is kept well away from them.

If you're able to manage the toddler versus bunny situation - forget the traditional hutch and run. Hutches are old fashioned and don't allow you to socialise with the rabbits beyond sticking your hands in their faces (where there are sharp bitey bits).

For outdoors a shed and aviary set up is far more human-friendly (no crawling into the run on your hands and knees and bonking your head). You can DIY a shed or buy custom made ones. Indoors mine are entirely free range, but a large pen like the ones by Manor Pet Housing are another good option. www.manorpethousing.co.uk/enclosures

You're all being a bit hard on OP... She's asking for advice because she wants to do the right thing!

The info about rabbit housing is great - the bigger the better, secure from bunnies digging out/predators getting in and either indoors or outdoors. Standard pet shop cages and runs are certainly not good enough.

But. Rabbits can make wonderful family pets, and it does them a huge disservice to suggest that they don't mix with children. We've had rabbits since before our children came along so our DC have always been around rabbits. They know to treat them with respect and care. Our rabbits dash up to our DC in the garden for fuss and are happy to be picked up and carried by them. Our younger rabbit will freely hop over 'jumps' that my DD sets up for her. My DC get so much from them.

My 6yo DD still cries at night sometimes because she misses our old bunny who died aged 12 over a year ago. They had a strong bond.

Bunnies can make great pets OP, but they do needs loads of space and you need to spend loads of time with them if you want them to be tame.

They need to be kept in pairs, neutered and vaccinated. Ideally get a pair from a rescue centre not a breeder or pet shop, although this isn't always easy.

Thank you, this has seriously given me some thought.
I always had pets when I was little and growing up, and I learned to take care of them.
We work all day so we need an animal which doesn't require lots of attention during the day, but will love the cuddles at night (I'm allergic to cats)
The shed is such a good idea, I have never seen those!
To be fair the rabbit is for me and my LO won't really be interested in it, and I'll bring them in to play after he is in bed
But I will think about it again and maybe do some research into other animals.
We would get a pair from a rescue x

spooky scatty boy who was picked up by his ears as a baby

Ohh that made me and at the same time.
Why anyone would pick a fragile (or even not so fragile) animal up by his ears !

I know, it was so sad when I heard it. It has taken him some time to get used to men as well. He arrived in rescue about 12-14 weeks old with his dad and three sisters and spent a whole year there before I adopted him - all because he's got red albino eyes :(

Rabbits don’t like being picked up and they can live up to 12 years. So you are right in thinking you will be taking on a couple of rabbits for yourself. This happened to me when I got rabbits for my 7 year old ! They can be very interactive and rewarding with the correct care and attention though. On the minus side, can be quite smelly / messy.
Have since found out that rats are far easier to care for, cleaner and behave like mini dogs !( ... I know some people just don’t like them though)

If you have a secure garden and you are able to keep an eye, free-ranging in your garden may be an option and a shed with large run for the rest of the time.( with lots of distractions and toys.)
Or living indoors and toilet training / rabbit proofing wires could be another option.

Pet insurance would be advisable as they can run up quite large vet bills if you encounter any issues( teeth , gut , eye problems.)

Good luck though !

We have 3 bunnies in an outdoor pen which is 13ft by 13ft and in there we have a double storey hutch which is 6ft long. They also have mini hutches dotted about if they want somewhere extra cozy to cuddle up. They have free run of the pen and the main hutch as well as the “pods”. We put chicken wire on the grass and pegged it down so they can’t dig but they can still have fresh grass. It’s worked for us for the past 6 months and the pen has a mesh roof which we’re going to tarp over when it starts getting really awful weather. We found the pen and the double storey hutch on ebay.