Ex just bought 6yr old DD two bunnies

[Birkenshock]

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

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?

No, no and no.

He doesn't know the genders. Rabbits breed constantly. You could be overrun!

God, what an idiot. Honestly, I'd tell him no if there's any way you can. Rabbits are NOT great pets for kids by and large: they don't like being picked up and have a reasonably serious bite/scratch if angry; they have relatively high care needs (e.g. their teeth often need 'grinding down' as they don't wear them down enough; they are prey animals so prone to hiding illness and then being very poorly; they have to eat constantly - if they are unwell and stop eating, their systems seize up very fast etc etc) We had a house rabbit prior to kids and it was a lovely, lovely creature but lots of work (& nowadays, I would probably not consider a solitary animal for welfare reasons) - it cost us a bloody fortune: honestly we reckoned we could have plastered our house with rabbit skins for the cost that one rabbit added up to ;-)

I assume your garden has a good amount of grass and you have a large (shaded) run where they can graze? Bear in mind that (unlike guinea pigs for example) rabbits burrow fast so can't be left in outdoor runs without supervision.

Try and persuade him to swop the rabbits for guineas - SO much better as a children's pet...

Yes to pet insurance. We didn't bother and then landed up with the bun with a congenital tooth defect that necessitared very expensive operations every six months.

Well bear in mind it's a shit time or year to get outside rabbits. You'll have to be on it so they don't overheat.

I'd still do the bad guy thing tbh.

Oh and kits are ready to breed early (they breed like ....) - so if not sexed you may have baby rabbits very soon: they have no issues with mating with siblings so that won't save you...

I had a house bunny for ten years, she was an absolute joy and such a lovely little spirit.

I would still not get children bunnies. They are really hard work in that they need to have a close eye on them as they can get very ill very quickly, they are super clever so need lots of stimulation and entertainment BUT they don't tend to like too much handling and definitely not from children who aren't as careful as grown ups.

Ours loved cuddles and snuggling up with us but that was luck, definitely not the norm.

You would need to get insurance and you will be surprised how much it will still cost you to have bunnies. If they go in for gut stasis you will have special feed and potentially they need such close careful care they go in overnight Ramping up the cost to a good few hundred.

They also need vaccinations and for their teeth and nails to be checked and clipped regularly.

Very hold and very cold weather can be a killer quickly, another reason I had indoor bun so I could basically always know how she was doing. She had run of the flat (bunny proofed), lots of toys and stimulation and a lovely little life because I was devoted to her and diligent in my care.

Honestly, unless a parent has experience with rabbits and is willing to devote lots of time to them it's an irresponsible pet choice IMO.

The fact he doesn't know their sex and hasn't considered the logistics of getting them spayed or neutered is appalling.

There is no way you should go ahead with this just because your ex has put you on the spot, it would be unfair on the bunnies really.

I'd be fuming and say no!! That's a 10 year commitment and a lot of work.

Be the bad guy what an irresponsible dick.

Please use your common sense and tell him NO immediately. Who cares about being the bad guy? You will massively regret it if you keep them. Loads of hard work and they absolutely stink, never mind that they are not an appropriate pet for a young child.

He has shot himself in the foot though . They won't want to leave your house now...

NO!

I would be the bad guy better that than an injured child and looking after it for the next 10 years. Okay she will be upset because he will be a twat anyway and bring it up but as parents we have to be the bad guy sometimes
Only way I would even consider it would be if he paid 10 years of up front costs

Refuse to take them. Just refuse. Tell him they have to stay at his.

Only take them if he's prepared to hand over £££ upfront to cover the cost of equipment/food/vet for the next year. Otherwise just leave them.

Don't let them in the house. You'll never get them out.

I can't for the life of me think why you'd be such a pushover unless you really want rabbits? I have guinea pigs which I believe are simliar in terms of upkeep and they're a fucking expensive smelly nightmare and way more work than cats or dogs or anything that actually loves you back and they haven't got fuck off massiv clawed feet to kick your kid in the face.

Also if you don't know the sex they could well be pregnant already.

Breeding like rabbits is a phrase for a reason.

Any hutch he's brought is not going to be big enough. None of the ones available from most traditional pet shops are.
They need to be able to hop around inside.
Look at the rabbit welfare sire that has been linked by a op.
Best bet for two is a 4x4x4 ft kids playhouse. But they will need a 4x8 run as well.
Tell him that as they are his present then he pays for
Neutering, vaccines, insurance and he can set up a paid for delivery of hay and bedding every month.

I’ve had rabbits ..it’s amazing how quick kids get fed up.
He’s an arse ,just say no
You would be mad to agree ,so she’s upset ,she will get over it ,tell him no now ,before tomorrow

Just say no to the rabbits, you're enabling his reckless behaviour. Utter insanity. You're allowed to be the bad guy once in a while, it's part of being a parent.

More injuries from rabbit bites at hospital than dogs ,I read somewhere

All of the advice has been amazing we have one rabbit left from many many years of owning multiple rabbits and Guinea pigs, she's very sweet and very well looked after currently munching and burrowing her way through our garden.

But the living for 10 years is why I'm resisting the urge to get her company, they live longer than some dogs, she's about 6 now and the other all passed about 2 years ago.

So she's potentially got 4-5 years alone, and if you only have a small hutch and god forbid one dies you have a very very lonely bunny on your hands.

Absolutely no way would I accept this. You do not give an animal as a gift without asking the person who will be caring for it. Not a bloody chance. Rabbits are not a great choice for kids, they're delicate and can be quite skittish. Guinea pigs are a better option.

Well as they're only 8 weeks they won't be pregnant already.

But it's not cheap to have them neutered. Is your ex prepared to cover the cost of that if they are one of each?

I wouldn't have rabbits because they're not meant to live in a hutch- they started being put on hitches to keep near the kitchen door for easy access for when it was their time for the pot. I think rabbits are a lot of faff for the return they give (a bit like goldfish). I'd be less cross if an ex forced kittens on me.

But anyway, you seem to quite want the rabbits so yes to insurance and yes to your ex covering the costs.

Absolutely not. Rabbits are really hard work. Their hutches stink and need mucking out really often which you'll end up doing if your children are small. Rabbits also chew through everything. If your dc bring them into the house there will be no wires left for your electricals.

I'd be saying not here, find some where else for them. His house, his parents house etc.

They WILL bite her. And they WILL scratch her.
Please don’t get stuck with them. She will not have any interest in them within a month or two. If you have to be the bad guy, can you just say that Daddy made a mistake? He thought bunnies would be cuddly but you have checked and they bite and scratch. They are not friendly pets.