Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Small pets

Mumsnet does not check the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you're worried about the health of your pet, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Ex just bought 6yr old DD two bunnies

178 replies

Birkenshock · 25/06/2020 16:56

It's her birthday tomorrow - he has bought her two 8 week old bunnies as a present (to live here Angry)

What do I need to know? He bought them off gumtree, doesn't even know their genders or if they have been vaccinated or even what type of rabbits they are. Hugely irresponsible, I know - but I know nothing about rabbits, and now I'm about to be the owner of two - what do I need to know?

OP posts:
ThickFast · 25/06/2020 16:59

This is an obvious question but...why at yours not his? Can you say no? Rabbits are quite hard work with all the cleaning out etc. And their cages can be quite expensive so hopefully he bought all that stuff too. You’ll need to know genders ASAP so you don’t end up with a family

fantasmasgoria1 · 25/06/2020 17:03

Well do you want them to be indoor or outdoor rabbits? I have a Netherlands dwarf rabbit and she is an indoor rabbit because it seems no matter how secure you make things outside foxes will still get them. You should probably go to pets at home who will be able to advise you on what you need. Once you know though some pets at home stuff is expensive and can be bought more cheaply. I buy sawdust from home bargains for £1.99. They need wood pellet litter which I get for £5.99 from pah. Speak to your vet too. They would need a check up fairly quickly too. Plenty of wooden chew toys to keep their teeth short.

Morgan12 · 25/06/2020 17:03

Why isn't he keeping them?
I'd say no. They can stay at his. His present, his house.

okiedokieme · 25/06/2020 17:04

They need a secure fox proof hutch and run, correct food (look online for brands my knowledge is out of date), vaccinating once a year and the male needs castrating immediately, they are fertile young! Even if you re housing them insist he sets up a care plan (vets for pets do a bunny one) and a subscription for the food etc off amazon through subscribe and save. Insurance is an option but not as necessary as dogs (who need third party cover).

xmummy2princesx · 25/06/2020 17:04

Why aren’t they stayin at him??

Myneighboursnorlax · 25/06/2020 17:04

Tell him no, today, before he gives them to her tomorrow and you feel guilted into it. They can live it his if he wants her to have them.

gamerchick · 25/06/2020 17:05

Why at yours?

I'd do the bad guy thing and say not a chance. Nobody has the right to foist that much work on someone else without their say so.

ScottishStottie · 25/06/2020 17:05

Just tell him no... They can stay at his or he can take them back where he got them.

Original poster
Birkenshock · 25/06/2020 17:09

He lives in a studio flat in a high rise - definitely no space. And he has the kids once a fortnight, if that, so she'd never see her "present". He fully intends to hand them over tomorrow on her birthday and then I'm the bad guy if I don't agree.

I'm leaning towards taking them and agreeing, he's already bought a two floor hutch off Facebook, and has apparently bought all the food/hay etc. Once I know what they cost to keep (food/hay), I'll tell him his maintenance is increasing by this amount. I'm not bearing the cost of this.

I live in a small two bed house with three kids under 6 as it is, they will definitely have to be outside rabbits, no space for indoor. I can put the hutch right by the back door, and I have a sensor light which might (??!) deter foxes. Any fox deterring tips?!

Do I need pet insurance? Or is not recommended for "small" animals? Ok will try and sort a vet trip ASAP. If I have a male/female mix, I assume the vet can do some sort of sterilisation/castration? Is this expensive?

OP posts:
Ninkanink · 25/06/2020 17:10

If he’s the type to do this then the rabbits really should not stay at his. He won’t look after them properly.

Perro · 25/06/2020 17:10

Tell him they have to live at his home or be returned to the seller/sold on. No way should you take on responsibility for 2 rabbits, and your dd is too young to look after them fully herself. What happens when you want to go away for the weekend or longer? Who pays the vets bills? Food and hay? Who buys the hutch?
A straightforward no to them living at your house imo.

lorisparkle · 25/06/2020 17:11

We have had lots of different animals and I have to say rabbits were the hardest work and not really recommended for children. I would look at the rabbitwelfare.co.uk/ website for more information.

Perro · 25/06/2020 17:11

Just seen your update. Money and hassle for you. Has your dd been told about them? If not, just tell him a straight no.

Ninkanink · 25/06/2020 17:13

Definitely need insurance. And be prepared to spend a lot of time with them. Rabbits are intelligent little things and very social and they need lots of care. They’re not very good pets for young children as they’re easily frightened, so you’ll need to do most if not all of the handling, and directly supervise when they are with your children.

Lindy2 · 25/06/2020 17:13

Has he bought all the equipment they need?

  • hutch £100+
  • garden run as they need access to grass/ outdoor space £50+
  • food, straw, hay, bedding £20+ per month
  • vaccinations?
  • neutering?

Rabbits are a big commitment. It's very important they are kept cool and clean in this very hot weather or they will die. Your ex sounds like a complete idiot to be honest.

Unless you are prepared to care for these animals properly please give them to a rehoming centre. They don't deserve to suffer because of other people's stupid decisions.

Dozer · 25/06/2020 17:15

DD is unaware?

If so, then why go along with this bullshit?

Tell him you will not be having them at yours or paying for them. They are his responsibility.

Ninkanink · 25/06/2020 17:15

I would also say absolutely not, tbh.

He absolutely should have asked your permission first, and he will have to sort out this mess.

(But if you decide to keep them, they do make great little pets. They just need a lot more time and effort and care than people tend to think, and are a very big commitment.)

LochJessMonster · 25/06/2020 17:16

So they need an outside run aswell as their hutch.
They will also live for 10years, are you ready for that?
They also don’t like being handled too much and are not keen on children so will most likely run away from her.
They will need spaying or neutering no matter what mix (just cost me £104 for one rabbit). And hopefully you can get them down within the next month or you’ll have another 5 or so baby bunnies to look after.
2 intact males will fight. 2 intact females will horrifically fight. 1 Male/1female will continuously mate.

Great present.

Say no. Or tell her they are just for her to pet on her birthday and then give them to a rescue centre.

These are living breathing feeling animals. Sickening.

Veterinari · 25/06/2020 17:17

How old is your DD? Rabbits are not good pets. They're skittish and dislike being handled and are easily injured.

They need neutering, annual vaccines and good quality hay plus pellet food. Vet bills can be costly. They need regular exercise, enrichment etc. See this website for care advice
rabbitwelfare.co.uk

They can live over 10 years so are a high maintenance long term pet.

I'd refuse. It's a dick move on his part - tell him no - he doesn't get to dictate shay animals you keep

Herja · 25/06/2020 17:17

Read up on rabbits and kids. They're not recommended for young children for a reason. You could end up with a traumatised set of rabbits and an attacked child if you're not careful. Rabbits will take on and beat cats at times (I've seen it)... they could definitely hurt a child when afraid and young children can easily freak them out.

I would take the hit on being the bad guy and say no. Maybe read about them with your DD? My DS desperately wanted a pet rabbit - once we'd researched them, he understood why it wasn't possible.

Apileofballyhoo · 25/06/2020 17:19

I can see why he's your ex.

brightbluegentian · 25/06/2020 17:19

No fucking way! ( and I love small furry pets!) Rabbits are nearly always too big and strong for young children to handle. Without careful handling they get panicky and can give a really nasty kick (even if they dont bite.)

You don’t have to be the bad guy. How old is your DD. She needs to learn about responsible pet ownership. And clearly your ex has not demonstrated this.Explain to her thst sometimes adults don’t think things through and make mistakes.

Alternatively can your ex take back the rabbits ( unless they are dwarfs they will grow huge..) and get some guinea pigs? - not that I would condone acpting animals as gifts...

Newwayofthinking · 25/06/2020 17:20

Just say no
Is he always so controlling, is that why he is an ex

Veterinari · 25/06/2020 17:20

Also 8weeks is very young to rehome rabbits Sad

Prettyprettyplease · 25/06/2020 17:21

Oh wow. We got rabbits last year and they are lovely but you have to be committed to them. They need loads of space and lots of care. I think unless you're really committed to looking after them yourself (clearing litter trays daily, clearing out at least weekly, providing them with space, toys, vaccines etc,) for the next 10 plus years then you need to be clear that you're not accepting them. Your ex has obviously put you in a really difficult position Sad

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.