Where do you get advice on rabbits

[BunniesLoveBananas]

Where do you go for advice on rabbits?

I find there is a lack of knowledge and conflicting advice.

A lot of the Facebook groups seem to be run by breeders who have a different outlook.

I was on a group yesterday and the admin wouldn't allow advice they didn't agree with (not from me, from someone else).

I ended up starting a new Facebook with the that other woman but obviously it needs members.

I just find that everyone I know has dogs or cats, Pets@Home give rubbish advice and even my vet surgery is not great.

what sort of information are you looking for

myhouserabbit.com/rabbit-care/care-pet-rabbit/

www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/rabbits

rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-care-advice/ownership/think-you-want-a-rabbit/

From the rabbits United forum

I follow Wood Green animal rescue on Instagram and they often post things about rabbits so perhaps their website. Am not a bunny owner myself.

Depends what info you're after but the Rabbits United forum help me with my two and all the pickles they get into

I know there are sites saying what to feed rabbits and general advice on bonding but it is more when I want advice about a specific situation that I find I don't know who to turn to.

I had problems with my first two rabbits fighting and there was no one who could advise beyond what I could have worked out myself.

One of those rabbits died and I recently got two more. I was looking for advice on whether to get a girl and bond with him in his cage or only keep separate, that sort of thing, but no one to ask.

Some of the forums are quite useful but I find them not very user friendly and somehow got locked out of the one I was using.

I will try Rabbits United

Rabbits united forum is awesome. I was a long time member but no longer have rabbits so only dip in and out now.

It does feel very slow in comparison to sites like Mumsnet but has some very knowledgeable members.

Rabbits United is great. However feel free to ask here as well. Rabbits need to live in bonded pairs at the very least. Boys and girls tend to work better together rather than same sex. Both need to be neutered/spayed. You say cage, how much space do your rabbits have permanent access to? They need an absolute minimum of 32sq feet, as per RWAF guidelines.

There may be a rabbit rescue near you that has a suitable neutered female to go with your rabbit, some even do a bonding service for you.

But yes the best bonds will form between Mal/female neutered rabbits, although other combinations can work and lots of space is necessary

Facebook - rabbit support group UK

The Rabbit Welfare Association is very good [[https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/
here]]

Their "A hutch is not enough" campaign has been really effective in changing attitudes about how they should be housed. Their advice leaflets are really excellent too.

Information on pairing up here

And on companionship generally here

Rabbit Welfare Association 100%
rabbitwelfare.co.uk/

For individual situations, FB groups can be the worst because there's a million different ways to do things and it definitely varies country to country as well.

I used to be on RU forum all the time but I haven't been over there for a while, oops!

I've got two female rabbits now and they have plenty of space.

It was more a general question as when I need advice the vet has limited knowledge and Pets @ Home annoy me for the rubbish advice I give

I have found some Facebook pages that are quite useful

Also I know a fair bit already about rabbits and even bonding. I had my two for four years until we lost one and we went through a lot with them. Maybe that's part of it.

It's more "My rabbit is doing this with the new arrivals... has anyone else experienced this?"

Definitely rabbits United forum

Hi everyone,

This is my first post on Mumsnet! Just wondered if anyone could give me some advice. We had arranged to buy two rabbits from a local breeder, once they were old enough. Now she says we can only have one, to 'settle in' for six weeks, before we receive the other one. We're just quite surprised about it - is this usual?

I could be wrong but that sounds quite unusual to me Becsr. It's usually possible to buy a bonded pair for example. And I would imagine it would be harder, not easier, to settle the second rabbit once the first had settled so not sure about the point of that? Welcome to Mumsnet btw!

@becsr
Probably best to start your own thread, but I'd say that it sounds very strange to me. If the buns are together with a breeder you'd have to rebond them and you'll have far more stress than if they'd just come home together. Stress can cause fatal gut stasis in rabbits...
If they can't explain their reasoning (or even if they can) I'd go elsewhere. There are some great rabbit rescues out there and bunnies (old and young) that are desperate for love.

Thank you for the advice - I didn't know about gut stasis. I wasn't sure if this was usual procedure so I will ask the breeder why she's suggesting it.

The house rabbit people have a great website, and we've found the folk on the bunny rabbit galore FB group really friendly and helpful too OP.

My sister lost one to stasis unexpectedly despite doing everything right. Strangely it was the healthiest of her pair rather than the one with a history of funny tummy episodes...
Read up on bonding rabbits. Go to the breeder armed with info

I agree that sounds odd @becsr You should be keeping them together so I would be questioning this breeder tbh