Dwarf Rabbits and Measurements...

[Bonsai]

As some of you may know, I am eagerly anticipating the arrival of my Netherland Dwarf baby in a couple of weeks. Right now, I am scanning through supplies such as bowls, etc. He's set on food for a month, we just got a new straw bale, and everything else is ready for him but there's a few things I'm wondering about.

I know dwarves need a wide bowl but I don't want to get a bowl that is TOO big for him. These are the bowls I'd like to get him, but I'm not sure what measurement to get for him?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BJBAVBC/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005P8LT1Q/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

I feel 7in might be too big but I feel 4in is too small. So what sort of measurement do I need to get for him that isn't too difficult for a 10wk old Nethie dwarf to get to and is wide enough for him?

There's another thing I am curious about, too! I'm thinking of harness training him and I found the more humiliating - I mean adorable - harness I possibly could for him! However, I'm not sure if it is "bunny-safe". So many things I read say "no, never this type of harness" then something else contradicts what I read. This is the harness:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C368N5I/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Anyone have thoughts on it? It looks sorta like the Peter Rabbit Walking Harness I see all the time - I've heard that's the safest but I'm honestly not sure...

As you can tell, his color is gonna be blue.

For your patience, here's the latest picture from the breeder:

 

[majorv]

He's a cutie! The small size should be fine for pellets. As an adult he probably won't need more than 1/4 cup of pellets per day. As a youngster he'll eat more, but it still should be plenty big for him. You want one heavy enough that he can't throw it around when he gets older but shallow enough he can reach the bottom of the bowl.

 

[missyscove]

This is the harness I have for my rabbits. I use one for both my 3 lb and 5 lb buns and it can definitely get smaller. I like this style as I've found they can't get out of it on their own. The vest style harnesses I've had trouble with rabbits getting out of.


http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0042AMNQ8/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[Bonsai]

Thank you guys for your replies!

I'll get the next-to smallest bowl for him since I like to see whether my bunny will eat from a hayrack or a bowl better. And trust me, I know about the throwing thing LOL. Heidi used to throw her bowl at me when the pellets ran out until I got her a heavy ceramic bowl.

Those harnesses are cute as sin, Christina! I was worried about him getting out of the vest, too, as I'd heard they did that quite a bit. But I was also worried it about it hurting the little guy. ): The designs on those harnesses are really cute, though I wish so many weren't cat/dog themed. Hard to find bunny-oriented harnesses, haha.

 

[missyscove]

Watson has the rubber duckies and Cricket has the red bandana pattern.

Are you talking about putting hay in a bowl?
I use a wire rack that's supposed to hold spice packets that I got at Home Depot and I hang their hay over their litter box so they will poop while eating their hay and the extra hay just lands in the box.

 

[Bville]

Watson has the rubber duckies and Cricket has the red bandana pattern.

Are you talking about putting hay in a bowl?
I use a wire rack that's supposed to hold spice packets that I got at Home Depot and I hang their hay over their litter box so they will poop while eating their hay and the extra hay just lands in the box.

I'm so glad to hear that you do this. I have only had my bunnies for two days so I am figuring out a lot of things, like litter training. I noticed that they poop when they eat so I was thinking of putting the hay over the litter box, but I wasn't sure if that was okay because most things I have read say to separate the food from the litter box.

 

[RabbitGirl101]

Are you sure he is a blue? He looks like he will shed out into chocolate or Siamese Sable

 

[missyscove]

I've found they're good at only eating the clean hay. Some folks just pile the hay in the litterbox which is fine if you're able to get hay at a cheap price.

 

[kmaben]

He is the grumpiest little thing I've ever seen! To be that young and on disapproving rabbits! Girl you are crackin me up with all of this. I almost fell over and died when I saw that little harness. It has wings on it! Did you see the wings?! lol! Glad someone is doing their research before hand. It's makes everything SO much easier.