Never had a bunny, but I do now!

[Ocipura]

Hello all. I joined because I want to get to know other bunny-owners and learn as much as I can as well as get support as a new bunny-owner (or slave).

I have a cat named Tumbles. I've wanted a bunny before, but just never had one. Then, yesterday, I got an email from a friend. She and her husband had gotten a bunny over the weekend, but she decided it wasn't working out and wanted to find a good home for her. I talked it over with my husband, who is currently in Iraq, and we decided we would really really like to have this bunny! I got to bring her home last night!

She doesn't have a name yet.

Last night, after the stress of a couple car rides and moving, I just let her stay quietly in our guest room, and I didn't let the cat come in and sniff around until this morning. They are getting used to seeing and smelling each other with the cage in between. She is about 4 months old and not yet fully litter-box trained.

From what I've read about bunnies, I was not expecting her to be as friendly as she is. She already loves to be stroked and petted. I am trying to get to know her body language and such and bond with her at her own pace. Last night she did give me a gentle bite on my finger - I think she was saying quit sticking your hand in my face. I've been unsure if bunnies, like dogs and cats, like to sniff your hands... she doesn't seem interested. So after a couple times, she nudged me (and again, I wasn't sure if this was a nudge like my cat, which is usually a friendly thing, or a nudge like "get away!"), and then when I didn't move she bit me, but not at all hard. So I backed off and gave her some more space.

Does anyone know what type of bunny she might be?

 

[MarleyLove]

Welcome! Your new little bundle of joy is so adorable! It looks like a standard rex rabbit. It has such beautiful fur and coloring. You should name it Pumpkin! Hahaha. Hope everything works out!

 

[Ocipura]

Pumpkin! What a GREAT name idea! Others I thought about: Cottontail (her tail is very cottony!), Alice (my husband's dad's idea), Babs, Bunlop (or some variant)... But Pumpkin..hmm...

I've not yet gotten a chance to talk to my husband about names, though! Here's another couple pics..

 

[Must_Love_Pets]

My flemish Giant Thor nudges me for pets and attention. My Mini Rex "Smooch" and Lionhead "Kramer" don't nudge at all. Smooch just flattens himself on the floor next to me for head scratches, I guess he doesn't feel the need to nudge, he knows I'm his slave already. Kramer on the otherhand does his own thing. He will come to you when he wants which is not very often but he is certainly not afraid of anything. Smooch does come when he is called becasue he knows he will get a load of love. So Thor is my big nudger. No matter where I am he will be right there at my feet nudging away.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

Looks just like our Commander Bun-Bun. We stole the name from the Drew Carey Show. She used to come up and nudge our feet or arms when she wanted that particular space. Welcome to RO.

 

[Ocipura]

Thanks!

 

[Kipcha]

She's definitely a harlequin

She's adorable, cannot wait to see more!

 

[Wabbitdad12]

I would like to welcome you to Rabbits Online, my name is Dave and I am a moderator on the forum. So if I can be of any help please let me know. This is a terrific website for rabbits and their slaves, not only is it very active but also friendly. I am so glad you’re here and I know you will enjoy it.

Many bunnies’ recommend their slaves to this site so we may learn of others methods to keeping our furry masters happy.

If you everhave a sick bunny, please post in The Infirmary and include your rabbit's age, breed and health history as well diet and output details leading up to the problem.

Here are somelinks I thought you might find interesting:

*For reference the Library section

*To brag or tell everyone about the antics of your bunny or just to talk about your day here is where to start a Bunny Blog, you can also look back at it later and remember when you had a life before your bunny.

*Now all the bunny’s like talk to each other when we mere slaves aren’t around in the Bunny Chat is the spot to be.

*The House Rabbit Society has a lot of good information on what veggies are safe for bunny’s, etc.

*Here is a link to learn what your furry master is trying to say to you How to Understand Your Bunny's Language

*Rabbits Online also has regional forums , this a good way to find a vet in your area that has experience with rabbits and to find out from other nearby of good sources of rabbit supplies.

The Let Your Hare Down section is for anything non-bunny related.

Here is a link tothat will help you and your bunny to connect, How to Bond with Your Bunny.

Now every forum has rules and ours can be found with this link Rabbits Online Forum Rules. This gives guidelines on what is acceptable, what is not and how we hope everyone will treat each other.

Everyone on this forum loves to see pictures of each other’s bunnies. So if you would like to post a picture this link will help you do that, Upload Photo's to Photo Gallery. Then in the post, you click on the "G" in the tool bar to insert your photo. Many people also use Photobucket. You just copy the img file and paste it into the post.

Don’t hesitate to ask questions and I am glad you have joined rabbits online; I look forward to seeing you around.

 

[katlyn-n-thumper]

I'm new here too, and just recently got my bunny as well. I'm looking forward to learning as much as possible here on the fourm

 

[Ashleighh]

She is precious! I was also thinking shes a harlequin with that pretty colouring!

Good luck with your new bunny and I think pumpkin is an awesome name!

 

[Ocipura]

Thanks! I agreed to take her before I ever saw her, but I just fell in love with her coloring when we met. I think she's so beautiful!

 

[MiniLopHop]

Very beautiful bunny. Welcome to slavehood

I highly recommend a page called The Language of Lagomorphs http://language.rabbitspeak.com/

It will help you to interpret the body language and how to better communicate with Pumpkin.

Rabbits have a social hierarchy and grooming order is very important to their culture. When two rabbits, or a rabbit and human, meet one of them will drop their head and demand grooming. If both do it leads to a fight about who is the boss. By putting your hand out for the bunny to sniff they probably interpreted it as a demand for grooming, which is very rude. You should first scratch the bunny's forehead since you are the surf in their bunny kingdom. The nip was basically intended to "put you in your place". LOL Bunnies can be a bit emotional about certain things and can be offended easily if you don't know their culture. Once you know what things mean to them it's easy to communicate

Welcome to the journey, Pumpkin will teach you something new every day if you stop and listen

 

[Ocipura]

I actually found and read that website over the last couple days! It was very helpful. I've been confused, though, since pumpkin doesn't really ever drop her head for me to pet her. If I pet her anyway, while she's in her cage, she will then go into that position they described and stay that way even after I stop petting, as if she never wants me to stop. But she hasn't yet "requested" grooming as far as I've seen. I'm keeping an eye out, though..

 

[MiniLopHop]

LOL she probably doesn't want you to stop. My Becky is a cuddle bunn. The only time I ever really get tumped is when I stop petting her, even if we have cuddled for a couple hours.

 

[Ocipura]

Yup! So far when she's out of her cage, she's not interested in cuddling or petting, though. Probably because the thrill of exploring is so fresh! I'm thinking it'll come in time. Or with age.