Bunnies

[Aspen and Misty]

I'm planning on getting a Bunny. I think I am going to keep it in a 20 or 30 gallon tank till I have it trained. THen it will be aloud to roam my room. Exept at night when it will have to be in a cage or something. But I do plan on getting it something better to live in. What kind of treats do they like and how do you litter train? What kind of bedding and food do you recondmend? Things like that. O how do you Bunny proof a room? Well, anything else ya'll wanna tell me, some pictures owuld be nice :D

Ash

[RockyRoad]

Well indoor care for a bunny is my weak point. Though Fluffy was inside when he was alive and we used one of those ordinary cages that you can buy at like PetSmart or something. You know, with the metal bars and the plastic bottom, looks like an oversized hammie cage, etc etc. We never let him run around, but probably get all sharp objects and anything small enough for him/her to swallow out of reach. Also don't have any creams or hair gel or anything like that. Make sure you put away jewlery and anything really valuable because bunny babies loove to chew! Hope this helps!:)

[Karen]

I think an aquarium is a bad idea. Not enough air circulation in there! I have never seen a bunny in one. There is plenty of information at http://rabbit.org on everything from housing, bedding, and especially how to rabbit-proof your room! (Hide all electrical cords, or they WILL get chewed through. Those big rabbit teeth can snip a print cable faster than you can say "No!")

Read up on that website, then I'd be happy to answer any specific questions.

[Aspen and Misty]

I just talked to my dad and he said that once the bunny is house trained He or She can have free roam of the guest bedroom expet for when a guest is here and if s/he gets along with Chewy they can roam around the house. We are getting a baby gate to go inbetween the kitchen and the hallway so one can be in all the bedrooms and stuff while the other is in the licing room and kitchen. I might use Chewy's crate as s/he home for a little. Chewy is aloud to roam free in my room now so it all will work out. All I want is digital camra and Prophesional photo's for x-mas so My dad said Only one more Big gift, and that will be my bunny cage. The reson why I am considering a bunny is, I have wanted one since I was I think 10. And have done so much research on them. I bunny sat my neighbors bunny's and I just feel in love with both of them. my sister and her boyfriend went to the pet store earlyer and fell in love with a bunny. They said it was the sweetest thing in the world. I want a pet who is kinda independent but still wants attention and who doesn't need to be in its cage all the time. And something who is smart. We will see what happens. Thank you for the website. It gave me alot of information and I really enjoyed learning more about BUnnies.

Ash

ps: I just rembered, there is a cage sale at the pet store! There is a nice sie bunny cage for I think 30 dollars.

[zippy-kat]

Originally posted by Karen
Those big rabbit teeth can snip a print cable faster than you can say "No!")

....and the mouse cord and the keyboard and the NEW mouse cord..... :rolleyes: :D

[Aspen and Misty]

Originally posted by zippy-kat


....and the mouse cord and the keyboard and the NEW mouse cord..... :rolleyes: :D

LOL. Luckily, my room only has two cords in it. My electric blanket cord and the cord to my clock My clock takes batteries and I will just have to rember to unplug my blanket. My dad said he thinks he can srounge up enough money to but the rabbit a nice cage. Hee hee. I have him wrapped around my finger, but shhh, don't tell him that :D . I hope nothing goes wrong and they still have bunnies if they don't they wont have more for another month or so :( They said they wont be getting another bunch of them for awile and the other pet store doesn't sell Bunnies. So lets hope they have them :D .

Ash

[Aspen and Misty]

The petstore no longer had any bunnies so I am going to have to wait till Janurary unless someone drops off a litter. I can't wait, this gives me more time to set everything up. I just hope my dad doesn't change his mind. Its kinda a bummer, but we are getting a new puppy!

Ash

[Karen]

Have you looked for rescue rabbits? Try http://rabbit.org - maybe there is a bunny who needs a home RIGHT NOW in your area!

[Aspen and Misty]

No I didn't see the adoption page! O I'm heading there right now! Thanx Karen!

Ash

[Aspen and Misty]

We are considering adopting Tyler(http://www.njhrs.com/adoptboys.htm) He is the fist bunny. He sounds super sweet. I love the coloring of the one below him though. I have to talk to my dad and see if he would drive me out there to pick him up. It is somewhere in Nj. Lets hope!

Ash

[Heather Wallace]

I hope that you get the bunny you want and yes Karen is right a rescue rabbit would be a much better idea.

Good luck!

[Desert Arabian]

Originally posted by Karen
I think an aquarium is a bad idea. Not enough air circulation in there! I have never seen a bunny in one. There is plenty of information at http://rabbit.org on everything from housing, bedding, and especially how to rabbit-proof your room! (Hide all electrical cords, or they WILL get chewed through. Those big rabbit teeth can snip a print cable faster than you can say "No!")

Read up on that website, then I'd be happy to answer any specific questions.

I agree too with the tank situation. I would never keep an animal in a tank, unless it was water dwelling, obviously, or a reptile. Fred and Oscar are in a tank right now, only to be quarenteed (sp?). But, after December 3rd- they shall never look through glass walls again. :D

[Aspen and Misty]

Thanx we would get it a wire cage. My rats are getting a new cage at the end of next week or the begining of the week after tat. Depends on when it arrives. Right now they are living in a tank and my older girls haev sine they were babies and are now almost 1 year old.

Ash

[Daisylover]

Yup, rescued bunnies are the best!

THe other problem with an aquarium is that the bunny would end up sitting in his pee, which can cause a serious condition called sore hocks. Also the cage and the size of the bunny - it needs to be very roomy....I think it was the House Rabbit Society that said the minimum size should be 4 times the length the bunny measures from the tip of his nose to the very end of his rear feet when the bunny is stretched out on his belly and his legs are extended out behind him. Exercise is very important for bunnies and they should be let out of a cage at least twice a day for 2-3 hours each. It is not natural for them to be confined like that. Actually, HRS not longer recommends using cages for bunnies but using a portable puppy pens instead, also sold in pet stores. A cage that is too small would be terrible for your bunny. The pen allows him to have a lot of exercise while still being confined.

And the important thing to remember is that baby buns are not litter trainable.....that comes naturally to them when they get older. Neutering a bunny is essential as buns tend to get reproductive cancers, it will also make a bunny less aggressive and helps them calm down and be more affectionate. It also makes the smell of his/her urine less strong. You must have a bunny-specialist vet do the surgery as buns are fragile when it comes to amount of anesthesia used.

Keep checking the HRS website, it is full of great info. or post a question here...there are several of use who have had years of bunny caring experience and will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Good luck!

[zippy-kat]

Originally posted by Daisylover
Actually, HRS not longer recommends using cages for bunnies but using a portable puppy pens instead, also sold in pet stores.
I didn't know that!

I agree but disagree. If you live in a multi-pet household, sometimes a cage is the best way to go! And in addition to the buns' 'every-day' cage, I think it's important to have a cage small enough for over-night vet stays... those small can cages come in handy! (but should only be used when ya have to ;)

[Daisylover]

I have not heard of having to take your own cage to the vet for an overnight stay.

As you know Zippy, but what I forgot to mention, is that the wire mesh floor that most cages have are very hard on little bunny feet. So a cage with a wire floor needs a towel, carpet scrap or a piece of lineoleum or wood or something put down in half of it so the bun doesn't end up with sore hocks. If you have ever felt a bunny's foot there really is just fur and skin there and the weight of the bun presses the foot bones down into the mesh and causes sores. Sore hocks can be very difficult to heal...

Velvet had a case of sore hocks last spring, not from a wire cage floor but from sitting in his pee, the dummy, and as a result he had open wounds on the bottom of his feet...which were hidden by the FUR, and they were oozing puss....it was awful and I felt so guilty. My bunny vet liberally applied a triple antibiotic and then heavy wrapped the back feet in gauze. Are you ready? THEN the vet put plastic baggies over the gauze and taped the heck out of them...this all had to stay on for three days.
After that I was instructed to take the wrappings off and apply a triple antibiotic once a day every day for two weeks and rewrap the feet in 2-3 pair of thick cotton baby socks. Velvet, oddly enough didn't seem to mind the vet's wrappings and never once tried to chew off the plastic baggies. However when I took over, he managed to chew the socks off his feet several diff. times. The only kind of amusing part to this whole episode was that when he had the plastic baggies on his feet I could hear him (rustle,rustle, rustle....) and know where he was and if he was getting into mischief. I would not want anyone else to have to go through this.

As far as the portable puppy pens I guess it depends on what other animals are in the home but most are very stable and difficult to get in or out of....otherwise they wouldn't sell them. The most important point however is that they allow the bunny about 6 feet of room to exercise in instead of being confined to a cage.

Ok, OK, enough sermonizing from me!!!!!! :D

[zippy-kat]

:) Preach it girl! lol

Actually, I never liked the wire bottom cages. I'll stick to my 'solid bottoms' even if it means changing the cage everyday or every other day! It does get old, but you know as well as I do, that they're worth every ounce of trouble! ;)

Towels in the cage? I never liked to do that since I saw the emergency vets episode where the bun ate the whole dish towel! :eek: Better safe than sorry with these little guys!

LOL I can pictured that poor bun with baggies on his feet! LOL Funny how he liked the baggies but not the socks! Maybe it's because the baggies made noise. What?! rabbits are suppose to be quiet? WHEN??? Sophie never taught me that! lol (In fact, her favorite toy was a jingle-ball.... which, on the first night she had it and every night thereafter that I forgot to put it up, repeatedly threw against the wall at 4 IN THE MORNING!! :D :D

I don't think a doggie pen would work in our household... frisky kitties and a rambunctious pup! (and to think that one small bun had run of them all... :D ) Man, I miss my bunster!

(and yes, I did have to take Soph's small cage for over night vet stays! I was kinda glad... it was the cage I had for her when she was small so she familiar with it!)

[Daisylover]

Yes, Zippy, after I sent that prev email I thought it must have been a comfort for Soph to have her cage with her....

How are you doing? It sounds like you have a houseful and that must be comforting. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have my bunnies...but you see I am very allergic to dogs and cats (but not to buns?!?!?!?!!!!!).... so I don't really have an option of bringing in others, as cute as they are.

My Casey is not doing well. I don't think it's going to be long now unless she has a miraculous recovery like she did the last time...but how many times can I count on that? My heart is breaking.....

[zippy-kat]

Poor Casey, girl! Give the sweetie a snuggle for me. How is her eye doing?

Annndddd.. I've been meanin' to ask ya about Marie and Sammy! I remember hearing about all your buns but these two.

Are they from the sanctuary?
details, details, details! ;)

Tyler is an absolute sweetie !!! Hope you get him !!

[Daisylover]

Thanks, Zippy, for asking about Marie and Sammy Wam....

Yes they are also from the sanctuary (all the bunnies look at me and see SUCKER written on my forehead). I have been doing some nursing and hospice care for our ill or older buns in my home since earl summer...you haven't lived until you have a kiddie wading pool in your living room! :D But that's a story in itself...

Marie came down with pnemonia in August, of all months, when the sanctuary director was out of town, had to be rushed to the vet, etc. I took her home so she would be sure to get her meds, but she turned out to be such a great little bunny I kept her! She now lives very happily with Mr. Daisy on the second floor...she is a sweetheart and a testimony that bunnies can change from living in a group with minimal human interaction to a sociable, affectionate people bunny.

Sammy Wam...well, he had a minor ear infection that turned in to head tilt, which has gotten worse in the past 2-3 weeks. The vet does not think he has pasturella and no longer has the ear infection, but as you know once that main nerve in the inner ear is damaged, it does not regenerate, so now he has head tilt. He is absolutely gorgeous...soft, soft white fur with golden brown patches and a very sweet personaltiy. He too lived in one of the yards with other buns and had very little interaction with humans...now he is a snuggler.....we often will lay down on the sofa and cover up with an afghan and doze a bit....he is great!
Velvet, who hung out with Chocolate, Robbie, and Miss Emma visited Sammy and decided he likes Sammy better and moved in with him, so now Sammy has a friend to hang with. Eventually I hope to move them back in with Chocolate etc.

I had some photos taken at Pet Suuplies Plus a few weeks ago and they should be here any day. Hopefully I can get someone to post them for me (I don't have a scanner)...

So, as you can image, there is always something going on at my house....usually chaos but I wouldn't have it any other way. ;)

[zippy-kat]

Awwww can't wait to see the pics! If you need someone to scan them, I'm available! Just PM/email me for my address, I'll scan them and send 'em back to ya. ;)

What is the name of the sanctuary again? Do they have a website?

Sure sounds like those buns have a GREAT home!! And a wading pool in the house? Ok, you gotta tell us that story! ;)


Ash, Tyler sounds like a cutie! Any word on whether or not you're gonna get him?

[Daisylover]

the sanctuary website is www.pighoppers.org or www.vegsource.com/pighoppers. we also have a "bunnies for adoption" page on petfinders.com...it was uptodate as of 2 wks ago.....however we have new buns coming in so there will be more we need to add. Yes, I shamed the director in to changing her mind and accepting more buns...I had to promise to do an adoption event at our local Petco on 12/21 though...... You know me, I just want to keep them all!!!! After all, LOL!!!!, NO ONE will take as good care of them as I will!!!! :D

The kiddie wading pool story....Cloud is a 6 yr spayed female we rescued about 1 year and a half ago. We are not sure what set her off but she suddenly started having a wet butt and back feet during early summer even though she was living outside in a huge grass covered yard. We were worried about fly strike so we gave her a bath and discovered some urine scalding....so we put her in the hospital. Until recently the floor of the pens in the hospital (about 9 ft x 8 ft each) were covered with newspapers. Her raw skin got better but her fur didn't grow back and she continued to sit in her pee, the newspapers not absorbent enough .... The vet, bless her heart, suggested we confine Cloud to a wading pool with several inches of CareFresh.... And you know how expensive CareFresh is, that was just out of the question. By this time it was August and the director was going out of town for a week, so I took Cloud and a kiddie pool home. (same time I brough Marie and Casey home). I figured if I put down some litter and then a thick layer of shredded paper on top of that that the urine would drain down to the litter and the shred paper would be minimally damp. And it worked! I surrounded the pool with puppy pen fencing, gave her a litter box (which she slept in!) and cleaned the pool every darn day. She ended up doing quite well in those circumstances....AND, the best part is, that her fur grew back!!! However I lost a good part of my living room and had to move some furniture out....then Chocolate, Robbie and Emma were very jealous and would try to attack her through the fencing. She would be a great bun in a one bun house...she didn't like the other buns either! As sweet as she was with me, I just couldn't keep her so she is now back at PH in the hospital but she still has her wading pool. She is doing ok there but her circumstances could still be a bit better. :rolleyes:

This is not a funny story, like Velvet with baggies on his feet, but still it worked. One thing about being a nearly broke, nonprofit sanctuary we do get real creative with our problem solving.

Thanks for asking!