I have a lot of questions but I’ll start here for now. I ended up with a rabbit by chance, my dad has two domestic rabbits and they had babies, I’m 22 so I don’t live there and only visit occasionally. I’m not huge on the way he chooses to care for them he allowed the babies to roam outside of the pen, which ended up getting all of them killed aside one which I’ve swiped for obvious reasons. So now that I have this bunny, I’m not sure how to care for her? I know basics and I’ve got her set up In an x pen, long enough for her to run around stretch out etc, she has a letterbox with hay but I’m not 100% if that’s what I’m supposed to do but that’s why I’m here. As a beginner what should I absolutely know, what’s toxic to them, what do they need, not need, etc. sorry I’m jumping around I’m autistic so I try to give as much into as possible.
by Actual-Journalist-57
7 Comments
thank you for saving that little guy 💔 make sure she has unlimited hay and water and that the ground she walks on isn’t slippery, she might want a little hut to hide in too
Hi & welcome to bunny ownership! I’m no particular order here are some things I’ve learned:
1. Rabbits didn’t generally love being picked up/held. I find some pet stairs at a local thrift shop and my bun climbs that to get into my lap on the couch.
2. Food will buy their love. My rabbit likes to try different types of hay (Timothy/orchard, etc). They should have access to all the hay they want. Some people use it in the litter box. I have a litter box with pine shavings (bought a gargantuan bag at Fleet Farm for $8) and I place a mesh bucket filled with hay next to it so he can nibble and poop at the same time, as they like to do. I give him a handful of greens every morning and evening. You can Google what to give but basically leafy greens. You can get parsley and cilantro for super cheap. Then, at night I give a small handful, like 1/3 cup of pellets. Oxbow is a great brand for rabbits. You can find it on Chewy.com if you don’t have a local store. Treats 1-2 per day. Keep it small, like a small slice of banana rather than a big chunk.
3. They are individuals. I got extremely lucky (so far) and my boy has not chewed out clawed at any furniture or cords. That said, I’m keeping my eye on him.
4. Time and consistency are key. Just keep showing your bun that they are safe around you and once it settles in, it should start showing their personality.
5. If you can find a small animal/exotic pet very, they will be your best source of information. They can also trim the bunnies’ nails and show you how to. They need trimming every month or so.
Have fun and good luck! Your rabbit is adorable.
You may already know some of this, but here’s a few quick first time bunny owner tips, in case you need it. 🙂
Hay is the most important aspect of their diet (80%) and they need unlimited access to it 24/7.
This not only allows them the fiber their gut continuously needs, but the constant chewing and breaking down of the hay also keeps their teeth healthy and in check, as their teeth grow constantly throughout their lives. 👍
Rabbits only need about 1/8 cup of pellets per day, or up to 1/4 cup for larger rabbits. Feeding more than this may make them overweight and may cause them to not be eating enough hay.
Oxbow, Sherwood Forest, and Science Selective are good quality pellets.
They are very fragile. Much more so than a cat or a dog.
They need space to play. A small cage and no playtime outside of it will make them miserable.
Be aware that most bunnies actually don’t like being picked up. They are a prey animal so to them, being picked up means something “bad” is happening so they instinctively fear this..
Obviously sometimes you still have to, but when you can, it’s better to lure them onto the couch or back to their pens or whatever (snacks or pellets help).
We feed ours dinner in their pen after playtime, so we just open up their area and they are usually excited to go back home.
Don’t take advice from pet stores. They are NOT knowledgeable on rabbits, and many things they sell are actually NOT suitable for them either, such as any “cage,” or treats/food containing seeds or corn.
A dog exercise pen (xpen) from Amazon is a much more suitable and cheaper housing option. (around $35, often cheaper)
Get him a regular size cat litter box and use Tractor Supply “Equine Pelleted Bedding” for litter ($6.50 for 40lbs). Dust from regular clay cat litter is bad for their respiratory systems and can cause blockage if they eat it. Put a layer of hay over the litter and a big pile of hay (or a hay rack or bag) in the far end of it so he has to be in it to eat it. They like to munch while they poo, so this will help him pick up his litterbox habits.
Find a rabbit savvy vet now so you know where to take him if you need to. Not all vets are rabbit savvy. Just because one is willing to see a rabbit, doesn’t necessarily make them knowledgeable on them. They are usually classified as “exotic” vets in the US.
If they ever stop eating and/or pooing, it is a rabbit emergency and they need to see a vet immediately, even in the middle of the night. They go downhill quickly and waiting to see how they are in the morning can often be too late. 😥
If they refuse their favorite treat and don’t want to get up, this is a bad sign.
We keep pain meds (meloxicam) on hand for emergencies. It can help in situations where your vet may be unavailable, and is helpful for GI stasis. It is definitely something worth discussing with your vet. Ordering a 10ml vial from Chewy ($14) is significantly cheaper than buying direct from your vet, and Chewy will reach out to your vet after ordering, making the authorization process very easy. Just be sure to discuss with your vet first and discuss the dose ranges that are acceptable for your bun’s weight. 👍
At some point you will need to get them spayed/neutered as this keeps behaviors such as litter box use, being territorial, and being able to bond them with a buddy, in check. This is also NECESSARY because unfixed rabbits have a very high cancer development rate. 🙁
Rabbit.org or HouseRabbit.org are the House Rabbit Society websites and are good sites for general bunny info including bunny safe foods, veggies, and treats.
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Edit to add:
Oh, and I should have noted this list is geared towards adult rabbits.
Give babies “young rabbit” pellets that are alfalfa based, but switch to an adult pellet at about 6 months. Babies can also have unlimited pellets up to about that time, since they are still growing, then gradually reduce at around 6 months.
You can also give babies alfalfa hay since they are growing, but it has way too much protein and calcium for adult rabbits, so switch to Timothy at about the six month mark, too, if you choose to give that.
The calcium content in both alfalfa and alfalfa based pellets together may make the pee leave a lot of white crusty stuff when it dries. It is the excess calcium. I personally stick with just the pellets if that gets excessive with the babies I’ve had. 🐰🐰👍
[https://houserabbit.org/care](https://houserabbit.org/care)
Please check out the above link.
An xpen, a litterbox lined with newspaper and a layer of hay, ceramic water and food bowl and fleece blankets over your carpet/flooring is the best setup. You will also need a hidey box. Something big enough for him and with at least two openings.
everyone else has pretty much covered all you need to know, so i just want to thank you for saving this little cutie!! i can tell that she’s gonna have a good life with you ♥️
Hello fellow Autistic friend! Make sure you read into GI stasis, e cuniculi, headtilt, and ensure you have a rabbit savvy vet. Congrats on your new addition to your family, bunnies are incredibly loving animals xoxox
She’s a baby so alfalfa hay and water and things like seasoned apple sticks and raspberry cane and baby bunny oxbow crunchies. Make sure she has a designated litter box with paper or recycled shavings litter inside of it so she learns where to go to the bathroom. Make sure you cover the bottom of the xpen with cheap grass or cotton rugs. also handle her a lot so she gets used to being picked up and is desensitized to being handled. If you can, join a local Rabbit Rescue Society near you so you can speak to more experienced rabbit owners. Good luck 🍀