Hello :)

[nickiya]

Hello,

My name is Nicki and I live in Newcastle upon Tyne with my boyfriend, a couple of our friends, and most importantly, Dexter. Dexter is a white and black lionhead aged around 8-9 weeks, and we're all in love with her!

I had a bunny when I was younger who lived for about 5 or 6 years (the vet said he died because mum gave him too much lettuce ) but I guess I'm kinda new to the bunny owning gang!

Dex seems to be doing well so far, she's living outside in a 2 level hutch, but I bought her a big playpen for indoors and I guess outdoors when it stops raining. She seems happy, lets me groom her (most of the time), she's eating A LOT but I guess that's coz she's growing.

I'm a bit anxious I might do something wrong and she'll die, so you all might have to guide me!

 

[ZRabbits]

Welcome to RO!

Dexter sounds like a sweetie. Have two lionheads myself.

It's was a bit unnerving when I got my first two bunnies at that young age, so understand exactly where you are coming from. Lots of people here who have been in your shoes who will be more than willing to help. I'm one of them!

Sounds like you have an excellent plan to house and exercise and do a lot of bonding with Dexter. My x-pen is great and I use it a lot. I get in there and sit with them and let them approach you, crawl on me. That's how I learned to groom them too.

Build trust. Once you build that trust, it's the most amazing things.

Babies, like your Dexter, are messy. Especially in the house. She can learn the rules of what she can do outside vs what she can do inside. Definitely get a litter box for the play pen. You can put it in the inside and outside set up until she gets to know a litter box. Then as she grows older, eventually she will understand a litter box is only needed inside.

Patience and repetition. Best advise I ever received.

RO Library, I went right to it and started reading. Lots of good info there.

Hope I helped. Look forward to talking bunnies. They are truly AWESOME! And have to say, would love to see a pic of your Dexter!

K

 

[nickiya]

I've finally figured out how to change the little picture, so there she is!

Thanks for your reply, I will most definitely be trawling through for advice and things!

In all honesty, I think we've done a few things wrong already, like she's had carrot, apple and a teeny bit of broccoli after she's let me groom her, and after I've seen her poop in the tray (she even weed in there the other day, it's like a miracle!) but after reading I've found they aren't supposed to have fruit and veg til they're like 6 months + :?

I was in her pen with her before, but I lay on her poop so I got out and decided I should work on my thesis (snore)

 

[ZRabbits]

nickiya wrote:

I've finally figured out how to change the little picture, so there she is!

Thanks for your reply, I will most definitely be trawling through for advice and things!

In all honesty, I think we've done a few things wrong already, like she's had carrot, apple and a teeny bit of broccoli after she's let me groom her, and after I've seen her poop in the tray (she even weed in there the other day, it's like a miracle!) but after reading I've found they aren't supposed to have fruit and veg til they're like 6 months + :?

I was in her pen with her before, but I lay on her poop so I got out and decided I should work on my thesis (snore)

She is beautiful! Love her markings!

Don't worry, I did a few things wrong when I started. My boys lived through it.

If her poop is good, not runny, a little bit didn't harm her. Veggies do cause diarreaha in young bunnies due to their still forming digestive system. So by 6 months, she will definitely be ready to handle them. You did fine giving her small portions and that's what you want to do when she's 6 months. I started fruits at 7 months. I just wanted to make sure my boys weren't having problems with veggies.

And laying in her poop? I've sat in it, stepped in it, leaned in it. With babies, there's a lot of poop all over. Eventually the goal, and it can be done, is getting those poops in a litter box.

BTW, good luck with your thesis!

K

 

[nickiya]

It's a miracle! She's pooped and weed in her tray again, little genius!

She's done a lot of those little squishy poops and hasn't eaten them yet, I'm a little concerned I'm feeding her too many pellets and not enough hay or something :confused2:

She's off to the vet for her vaccinations Tuesday next week though, so I guess they can check her out and make sure she's alright.

I bloody love her :biggrin:

 

[ZRabbits]

nickiya wrote:

It's a miracle! She's pooped and weed in her tray again, little genius!

She's done a lot of those little squishy poops and hasn't eaten them yet, I'm a little concerned I'm feeding her too many pellets and not enough hay or something :confused2:

She's off to the vet for her vaccinations Tuesday next week though, so I guess they can check her out and make sure she's alright.

I bloody love her :biggrin:

Mine did that too when they were younger. Definitely try getting her to eat more hay. Plus their age too. Some catch on to that disgusting but needed habit faster than others and you will see it once in a while. But as they get older and you see it, definitely needs cutting back on pellets and more hay.

Glad to hear about the Vet visit. My suggestion is make a list. If you get a good Vet, they LOVE to answer questions. Thankfully Dr. Joe does. We both learn I guess.

Let us know how it goes!

K

 

[Nancy McClelland]

Til she's six months she should have unlimited alfalfa--higher protein and calcium for growing bunnies. After that, unlimited Timothy or Orchard grass--we use Orchard as it's cleaner. Our vet said we can start veggies at 4 months. Poop!, a fact of life with bunnies and why we have a large Shop-Vac.

 

[nickiya]

Nancy McClelland wrote:

Til she's six months she should have unlimited alfalfa--higher protein and calcium for growing bunnies. After that, unlimited Timothy or Orchard grass--we use Orchard as it's cleaner. Our vet said we can start veggies at 4 months. Poop!, a fact of life with bunnies and why we have a large Shop-Vac.

Alfalfa rather than hay? I dunno what my local pet shop will have, it's quite small, but I think a visit there tomorrow would be good!

 

[ZRabbits]

nickiya wrote:

Nancy McClelland wrote:

Til she's six months she should have unlimited alfalfa--higher protein and calcium for growing bunnies. After that, unlimited Timothy or Orchard grass--we use Orchard as it's cleaner. Our vet said we can start veggies at 4 months. Poop!, a fact of life with bunnies and why we have a large Shop-Vac.

Alfalfa rather than hay? I dunno what my local pet shop will have, it's quite small, but I think a visit there tomorrow would be good!

Never had any of my bunnies on both alfalfa pellets and alfalfa hay.

Dobby and Kreacher I had on a Timothy based pellet and alfalfa hay.

I have Neville and Luna on Oxbow for Young Rabbits which is an alfalfa based pellet. They have Timothy Hay and once in a while orchard grass.

I like the Timothy hay for the "teeth" maintenance factor. Much harder than orchard. Timothy is dusty at times, but shaking it out (not around the bunnies) seems to work. Have to say, they are still messy with both. lol I get mine at the Local Pet Store in bags. Also, I've never had any of my bunnies on both alfalfa

I can understand 4 months to start veggies. Maybe I'm being a "Nervous Nellie". Neville and Luna still get a bit of "home grown" wheat grass and they have been handling it. I guess "real" veggies make me nervous and I want to go slow. Make sure my bunnies' system is more mature.

Good luck at the Pet Store.

K

 

[melbaby80]

My bun is 9 weeks old and double maned lionhead. She gets Alfalfa pellet and a constant supply of timothy grass. She also has timothy pellets and alfalfa blocks. I find the alfalfa blocks are better on my allergies then the hay.

 

[nickiya]

I thought I'd add a few little picture updates from Dex (she is so beautiful!)







We didn't go very far on the bike, about a foot and then I was too worried she'd jump out!

 

[grasspack]

She is so cute...Love the basket on the front of your bike. My little bun would eat the baskey if left in there too long

Alice

 

[agnesthelion]

She is just gorgeous! I also have a Lionhead, Agnes, she is a total sweetheartn

 

[cwolfec]

I had to control myself from squealing too loudly with that first picture of her!!! What an ADORABLE disapproving bunny face! Man.

I have lionhead boy too. I love his messy "morning hair!"

 

[Blue eyes]

nickiya wrote:

I thought I'd add a few little picture updates from Dex (she is so beautiful!)


We didn't go very far on the bike, about a foot and then I was too worried she'd jump out!

She is beautiful! As soon as I saw the photo in the basket I was going to ask if she ever jumps out, then I saw what you wrote about that.

I believe minilophop takes her buns around in baskets... nothing cuter than a bunny in a basket!

 

[nickiya]

I wish I could take her out in the basket, but if she jumped and I ran her over or something I'd hate myself forever!

That grumpy picture of her is my fave - she looks like she should be called Geoff or something!

 

[HEM]

Welcome to RO
She is so cute

 

[mrszen5]

D'aaw, so darn cute! I love a lionhead bunbun and Dexter is adorable!
Welcome, by the way - I am new too!