Looking into rabbits-What am I in for?

[Trinity]

Hi there! I'm Trinity, a teen living at home (And will be for several more years) and currently searching for a pet!
I've always loved birds, and they are my dream pet, having bonded very closely to a parakeet of my own when I was younger and becoming good friends with a friend's cockatiel, but my family members don't want to handle the noise, so I'm stuck with quieter pets until I can move out. Our house is animal free at the moment, which my parents are enjoying, but I'm rather lonely without an animal companion, as I'm homeschooled and usually am only able to meet up with friends once a week or so. I've had dogs, fish, a parakeet, and mice over my lifespan, and animals just give the kind of company a human can't. My parent's don't want any rodents (Think mice, rats, guinea pigs, they aren't opposed to rabbits) or reptiles in the house, and they don't want a dog ruining the freshly-restored lawn. As said before, they can't handle the noise of birds either. I'd be fully responsible for the care of any type of animal, as I have in the past without any problems.

I'm looking into rabbits mostly because they are quiet, can be held and touched (Unlike fish, my otherwise only other option), and can apparently bond very closely with their owners. Time isn't an issue, if anything I have a surplus of it, and our home is free of other animals. I think I'd be able to sell my parents on the idea of a rabbit, but I want to know what I would be getting into first.

One of my friends has a little white mix with black spots, she isn't the most sociable rabbit, pretty shy and flighty, but still quiet, not really aggressive, and overall a great little animal. I'm pretty much completely new to rabbits, and I'd like to know if there's anything really important I should know, and just what entails their care.

It's nice to meet you all!

 

[Blue eyes]

Hi Trinity and welcome to the forum!

While rabbits don't make much noise, they do tend to be active sometimes in the night. Some people here on the forum have had difficulties sleeping if the rabbit is housed in their bedroom.

We keep our rabbits in the main living area of the home. This is where more people are and where the action is. (We homeschooled our kids. More time was spent in the main area of the house each day.) If that is an option, that would be great. It can prevent being awakened in the middle of night to an active bunny.

Rabbits can vary greatly in personality. Just as your friend's rabbit isn't so cuddly, most are not. There is always the exception, just don't get hopes up expecting one to be snuggly. If you do want one with a particular personality, the best way to find one is to meet individual rabbits that have already been fixed (like from a rabbit rescue). Only these rabbits have evident personalities. It is a myth that by starting with a baby you will be able to influence how handle-able he/she is. I explain this further on my website. My site was actually created for people just like you -- ones who would like to know what it is like and what is involved in housing a rabbit indoors. Please feel free to browse around. It may also prove useful in showing (pics & videos) others what indoor rabbit living is like.
http://rabbitsindoors.weebly.com

 

[Trinity]

Thank you for the link to the site, really helpful and well-organized!

I'd certainly be adopting an older rabbit if I can get my parents on board, there are plenty up for adoption on my local Craigslist!

 

[Blue eyes]

You're welcome!

I'd encourage you to check the Colorado House Rabbit Society.
https://coloradohrs.org/category/bunnies/looking-for-home/

They will have rabbits that are vet-checked and already fixed. (On Craigslist people can claim anything about a rabbit's supposed health or age.)

 

[Zelda&Linky]

Hi Trinity! It’s great you’re making a research before “getting” into having a bunny - well done for that!

From the character point of view, all bunnies have their own personality mixed up with their preference for being touched/pet. Some bunnies love cuddles, others aren’t too affectionate but will accept touching, some hate it. It is generally said that lops are most affectionate.
When it comes to temper and character, you can get anything - super sociable buns, full of energy (running on Duracell ), seeking attention, making lots of noise (digging, biting at the cage to get your attention, throwing toys and food bowls around-they can make quite a racket!) and you can get anxious, risk-averse, reserved buns who’d best stay most of the day in one corner.

Generally the bunny temper and interest changes with their age, and they calm down when they reach their maturity (around 1,5 year), but that’s another thing.

In many cases rabbits are somewhere between having dogs and cats IMO. You can leave them for a day, but then they need you to pay a lot of attention to them when you’re home. There’s a myth of a bunny left for days in a hutch in the garden - that kind of attitude gets you no bond with your fluffy fella.

I think it is important to mind the fact that bunnies aren’t mentally/emotions stable like dogs, meaning, they have their bad days (could be due to physical discomfort, such as bloating xD, or “just because”). One of my bunnies is a total diva from time to time and will play “hard to get”. The other fella is very quiet and reserved. They are siblings!

Another very important thing - rabbits will take a lot of your space. The cage (a dog play pen would be better) needs to be BIG, mine is 1mx1,8 m. Otherwise the bunny might get unhappy and you’ll get a frustrated little terrorist xD. Actually, there are so many ways to frustrate a bunny, especially ignoring it and not giving it physical and mental stimulation.... So yeah, bunnies can be challenging!

They can also be super smart! One of my buns is a real mischief maker and a handful. She learned to run up and down the stairs, and is really good with puzzles for dogs. She knows when she’s on camera (she hates it and gets embarrassed) and she’s aware when she’s being naughty (she once got hold off unattended treats, but left them and jumped away acting innocent when she heard me walking back to the room). I’m beginning to teach her tricks, just to stimulate her and keep the boredom levels (hers, not mine!) down.

When it comes to expenses, buns are a lot of costs at the beginning (huge cage, fittings, toys, vet check up, spaying/neutering, vaccines, transporter cage). Going forward it comes down to yearly vaccinations and food. When it comes to food, you will mostly be needing huge supplies of hay, which constitutes around 70% of the diet. You’re meant to give only small amounts of pellets, so that’s not really that expensive in total. Then there are also veggies (these require a lot of reading to know what and how much to serve).

I’ve had two hamsters, two rats and a degu before I had bunnies (5 so far), and though I love rodents in general, bunnies are THE THING! Most probably because they are a challenge and it’s so rewarding to see them act smart, uncover their personality and grow a bond with them )

 

[Blue eyes]

Going forward it comes down to yearly vaccinations and food.

Rabbits in the US don't get vaccinations.

 

[Zelda&Linky]

Rabbits in the US don't get vaccinations.

Oooh, didn’t know, thanks
My buns get vaccinated annually against two deadly diseases. Costs me €50 per bun here in Ireland

 

[Trinity]

Thank you a bunch! Money isn't a problem, my dad has a stable job and my parents have had no problems with paying for needed care in the past, and I also have quite a bit of my own saved up. The more I read and hear about buns the more I'm liking them!

A couple of questions, though, now that I know what to ask.

1. How would you recommend storing a hay bale? We don't have a shed, but we do have a laundry room with a solid 1 meter by 2-meter storage space that's not currently being used, or we also have a patio covered by a deck. We live in Colorado, it's pretty dry but can get humid in the summer.

2. What age do you recommend for adopting rabbits at? I'd want a bun past hormones but before old age sets in.

3. Do rabbits trigger allergies in people who are allergic to cats? My mother and sister both have a cat allergy, but hay won't be a problem as their allergy isn't respiratory, moreso just when they have contact with a cat. All of my family are pretty hardy health-wise, it's just cats.

4. With any pet, my parents are most concerned over what we will do with it when we go on vacation. Luckily our neighbors (Good friends of the family, as well!) love rabbits and all things cute and cuddly and are responsible enough to be taught to give the rabbit care (They have no pets aside from a labradoodle). How might I acclimate a bunny to them so that it's as stress-free as possible when we have to leave it with them? (We don't go on vacation often, we're usually away for maximum one month out of the year.) The family has two working parents, and four kids, ranging from ages 9 to 15.

 

[Blue eyes]

1.Storing hay means keeping it out of direct sun and being sure there's enough airflow. Someone on here once spoke about a bag made specifically to store hay and allow airflow. Otherwise, a large tarp with holes could work.

2. Most rabbits from rescues (did you see photos at the link I posted?) are already fixed (so past hormones). Rabbits are considered adults at 6-7 months of age. They can live over 10 years. That gives you a big window for age possibilities.

3. I'm allergic to cats but not to rabbits.

4. We also have a family that pet sits all our pets whenever we are gone. She knows the routine well now. The first time I explained about giving bunny exercise and about diet (linked her to my website since I know she's a reader). I always leave a care sheet that is purposely super simple. It will be listed out on a full page, but only says " morning: fill water, add hay dinnertime: give greens before bed: scoop of pellets, add hay, fill water" and then I'll have a side note about treats if we ae going to be gone a week or more. If we are going away just a few days, I don't have them give treats.

 

[Zelda&Linky]

3. My fiancé is allergic to cats and dogs, but not to rabbits. Mind now, he’s ALLERGIC TO HAY! He’s only fine cos he doesn’t get near it and I do all the job around it. Your family might wanna get tested for these two before you decide.

4. We’re very lucky to have my wonderful future sister-in-law to mind the bunnies when we’re away. Thanks to this they get their daily time out of cage and human attention. Otherwise, one of them goes mental. Don’t know about other bunnies, but my female gets super frustrated if she’s left days without any human contact and time out of the cage, so for us it’s important to have someone in every day we’re away.

 

[jess24rose]

You need to make sure your parents understand all the responsibilities and needs of a bunny and that they're ok with them being inside. My dads girlfriend got my bun and she has no idea I've been doing all I can and I don't want to give her away but parents can be very hard with with there judgements. Also I recommend getting a pair of bonded bunnies they can keep each other distracted if you need to do something else

 

[A & B]

I just want to share my experience of getting a bun off of Craigslist. I got my bun from a seller on Craigslist, and honestly I do think that if I were to do the whole thing over again, I would go with a rescue/shelter. The whole process of picking him up was easy, but he was only 8 weeks old. Being that I am a first time rabbit owner, I had no idea about introducing veggies, litter box train, etc. I did years worth of research, but I learned that it is very different for each bun. On top of that, I had to pay for his neuter. There wasn't any bunnies at my local shelter, so I had to go with the Craigslist route. If you can get a bun from a shelter, I recommend doing so. The first month or so of my buns life with us was very stressful on all of us, and although I hate to admit this, it's the truth. There were days when I regretted getting him. Like days when he chewed the cage bars because he wanted out, or wouldn't use the litter box. Now that him and I understand each other, its a very fun experience. You have to be very careful on Craigslist. The people aren't always as they seem. My mom and sisters are looking to get two more puppies and so they looked on Craigslist for them. Turns out, it was a scam. There are legit people that want to find a good home for their pets, but there are people that just want your money. Good luck

 

[Orrin]

If you ever hope to let a bunny free roam, keep in mind that some of them can be very destructive. Some like to chew on electrical cords; so, computer cables, phone charging cables, lamp cords, ear buds and the like must be bunny-proofed or put out of reach. Many folks advocate using clear plastic tubing, split down the side to allow insertion of the wire. My preference is for spiral wrapped protectors because they are cheaper and more flexible.

https://www.cabletiesandmore.com/am...MIxLCX2cTP3wIVCLjACh2IgwvpEAQYAyABEgLz9vD_BwE

Besides chewing, bunnies dig. Instinctively. A favorite place for one of mine is the edge of a carpet, next to a wall. They can ruin an expensive carpet in a hurry. Much depends upon the rabbit. We have two that are diggers and chewers and four that are perfect little angels.

So, right away there are two big things that can get your parents upset with your rabbit. It will be up to you to either confine it to keep it away from carpets and cords; or, if you let it free roam do some bunny-proofing in advance. Child gates work well in keeping bunnies in safe areas. Just be sure the buns can jump over or crawl through them.

Dog exercise pens are fairly inexpensive and can be connected end-to-end to make a customized enclosure for your needs. Just make sure you select a height that's right for your bun. We have two that jump onto 32-inch high desks and tables with ease.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=exercise+pen&ref=nb_sb_noss

Storage cubes are another inexpensive and very flexible bunny cage/bunny proof material.

https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics...storage+cubes&qid=1551624751&s=gateway&sr=8-6

1. Storing hay. Our Les Schwab tire dealers use large plastic bags to protect their customers' rigs from dirt if it is necessary for them to haul wheels/tires. Those bags are almost long enough to hold a bale of hay. I'm sure your friendly tire dealer would gladly give you one. I also got lucky and was given a lightweight barrel that a bale fits, perfectly. Sometimes, one can find fiber (cardboard) barrels; however, you'd be more likely to find a cardboard box at an appliance dealer that will be just right.

2. Age? We got lucky and got one at eight weeks and two at eight months. All three were well behaved at that age. They didn't cause us any problems, at all. On the other hand, we kept two from a litter at birth and at five months they are like Energizer Bunnies, very active. I strongly recommend adopting from a shelter, being wary of potential health problems. Vet bills can be brutal.

Good luck and enjoy your bunny/bunnies. Be patient and give it/them time to bond with you. You'll soon become very attached. They are my favorite pet.

 

[Bunny_Mommy]

Welcome to the forum, Trinity!

Although others already provided wonderful advice, I just wanted to further encourage you that bunnies are a wonderful pet Like you, I was also homeschooled and had bunnies growing up.

Although I did get my four bunnies off Craigslist, only because none of the bunnies at the shelter fit my preferences at the time, I would recommend getting a rescue bunny, because they are usually neutered ans it saves the bunny's life, as they are the 3rd most abandoned pet despite being around the 5th or so most common.

As others have said, especially if the bunny is not fixed, please be aware that they will destroy your carpet, boxes, SHOES, cords and other things. They will also try to beg and eat up your snacks, haha. Sadly, many human foods are toxic to bunnies, so they need to be watched.

That being said, bunnies are perfect pets because they are quiet, very, very clean (their fur smells sweet!), can easily be litter box trained, do not require shots, can live to be over 10 years old, are super entertaining, and most of all, soooo cute! You might want to adopt a bonded pair or get your bunny a friend Not required but very common.

This forum will be with you every step of the way... Everyone is very friendly and loves all bunnies. Good luck.

 

[Jenny Durling]

Welcome to the forum, Trinity!

can live to be over 10 years old, are super entertaining, and most of all, soooo cute! You might want to adopt a bonded pair or get your bunny a friend Not required but very common.

I wholeheartedly agree with this suggestion. My first bunny came from a 'free bunny' ad on Neighborhood.com. He was three years old, not fixed and looked like he hadn't had his nails trimmed in years. Poor bunny! Well, my 'free' bunny has cost a fortune in vet bills as he hadn't been fed the correct diet and now has to have his teeth trimmed every few months or they get spurs that cause mouth injuries. He also got a dental abscess due to too many pellets and not enough hay ( we are guessing) and has been on all kinds of medications to cure him as much as possible. That said, he's a great pet and we love him dearly.

We had Rocky for about a year before we got him a companion. Before that, I was his bonded mate. LOL! I made sure I was up and interacting with him dawn and dusk. I couldn't get him neutered until he was not sneezing any relatively healthy. A couple of weeks after that, we took him 'speed dating' at the animal shelter. Yes, it's best to let your bunny pick his own mate! So we came home with Natasha. She was spayed and 8 months old. Bonding bunnies is not easy. It took 2.5 weeks, which I hear is fast for some rabbits! As you can see in my profile pictures, the bond definitely took.

In hind sight, I would get a pair from an animal shelter that was already fixed and bonded. That would save alot of time and energy. I wouldn't give these two up for the world now. The are fabulous pets and I had the time and money to invest in making everything work out right. Rocky was happy as a solo bunny, but I can see that he is much happier now that he has his wifey I would highly recommend having 2 rabbits. They are social animals and will be much happier together so if you are able to adopt a pair that is already bonded, that would be the easiest way to to it!

 

[Mariam+Theo]

Welcome to the forum!

1. I store my hay in a trash bag with the top open so that it can get air.

2. When I first fell in love with rabbits I knew I wanted a baby. We looked on Craigslist and found a local breeder in Memphis. I had looked into several rescues and none of them had the right one for me. I understand that you don't want to deal with the rabbits terrible teen years, but in my opinion his terrible teen years weren't even that bad.

3. My rabbit is outside because my dad is allergic to cats and rabbits. Also my mom is completely opposed to inside animals (i have no idea why).

4. We have a family that we get to take care of our many animals when we go on vacation (now I want to go on Vacation!) and they are good, though of course I still worry about my rabbit, Theo.

 

[Orrin]

Trinity, I hope our telling about the negatives of rabbit behavior have not turned your thoughts away from them. Being raised on a farm with a wide variety of animals and spending a lifetime with many different kinds of pets, I have to say that rabbits are my favorite. They are sweet, clean, odorless, entertaining and lovable. Sometimes the "lovable" needs to be done admiringly at a distance; but, when they become comfortable with petting and/or sitting on your lap, it makes it everything worthwhile.

A bunny might need patience, lots of it. If they chew up your diary or your phone charging cord it does no good to get upset with them. That wouldn't fix anything; so, don't get upset. Bunnies are bunnies. They do what they do instinctively. Repeating this mantra helps me when they've been doing their thing: "Bunnies can do no wrong." From their perspective they are acting naturally. A rabbit person needs to respect that and accept them as they are.

Rabbits make my day bright and happy. I hope they will do the same for you.