New to bunny ownership and looking for advice.

[Flyingpenguin28]

I have never owned rabbits, but these little guys were abandoned by my house when it was about 12 degrees outside so I brought them in, posted information around the neighborhood and no one claimed them. So I decided to keep the cuties!
The only problem is, I’m not sure how to care for them? I’ve been Googling but everything seems to have different information lol.
I did take them to the local vet and found out that one is a male (brown) and one is a female (black). Would anyone be able to tell me what kind they are?
I bought them pellets and hay, but what about fresh veggies? Some places say 1-2 cups a day, some say a handful. I’ve been letting them free-roam the house but don’t know how much space they need for a cage?
Any help/tips are appreciated.
Edit to add that the male is going to the vet Friday to get neutered.

 

[WhiteBunnyEcho]

It sounds like you’re off to an excellent start! As for the cage size, at least 4 x 4‘. I highly recommend buying dog exercise pens and attaching them with clips to make a large “homebase” for them. Pellets should be a small portion of the diet, about a fourth a cup for each of them along with their veggies. Veggies are weight dependent I believe it is 1 Cup for rabbits under 5 pounds and 2 cups for adult rabbits over 5 pounds. Of course you need to add veggies in gradually because you don’t know what they are used to I don’t want to upset their stomach. I’m sure you know hay must always be fresh and available at all times along with water in a water bowl, not water bottle.

Also, great job getting the male neutered, that will help with litter training a ton! However, if you found them together it’s likely the female is already pregnant. If so you have about 30-32 days until she has Kits, maybe sooner. So if she starts pulling hair you know it’s almost time. I would just do some research on that to be prepared.

 

[Flyingpenguin28]

Thank you for the reply! I did know about always having fresh water, I didn’t know they weren’t supposed to use a bottle. That explains more why they didn’t want to use it. I switched to bowls just because they didn’t seem to like the bottle.
I will start researching just in case she’s pregnant. Thank you again for the info and help!

 

[WhiteBunnyEcho]

No problem! Water bowls are just more natural for them. Rabbits should be drinking about as much as a dog in a day. Good luck with your bunnies!!

 

[Duval]

I have never owned rabbits, but these little guys were abandoned by my house when it was about 12 degrees outside so I brought them in, posted information around the neighborhood and no one claimed them. So I decided to keep the cuties!
The only problem is, I’m not sure how to care for them? I’ve been Googling but everything seems to have different information lol.
I did take them to the local vet and found out that one is a male (brown) and one is a female (black). Would anyone be able to tell me what kind they are?
I bought them pellets and hay, but what about fresh veggies? Some places say 1-2 cups a day, some say a handful. I’ve been letting them free-roam the house but don’t know how much space they need for a cage?
Any help/

i know one of them is a rex or a mini rex because i have one

 

[NorthernNevadaHollandLops]

Congrats on your bunnies and thank you for taking them in! Did your vet give you an idea of what breed or how old they are? Whitebunnyecho is right about the raw veggies, you'll want to introduce one new veg at a time and just a small amount. You can find lists of safe vegetables online, as I'm sure you have found the sweeter/starchy veggies and fruits (carrots) are only for treats in small amounts. Have plenty of hay for them. If your females ends up pregnant, she will likely want a little more food than the male.

 

[Flyingpenguin28]

Congrats on your bunnies and thank you for taking them in! Did your vet give you an idea of what breed or how old they are? Whitebunnyecho is right about the raw veggies, you'll want to introduce one new veg at a time and just a small amount. You can find lists of safe vegetables online, as I'm sure you have found the sweeter/starchy veggies and fruits (carrots) are only for treats in small amounts. Have plenty of hay for them. If your females ends up pregnant, she will likely want a little more food than the male.

He didn’t say on breed. In the moment I didn’t even think to ask him lol, but I’m going to ask when I take the boy back on Friday! He said they were no older than 1-2 years old.
I did see that online and had no idea until I read it! I thought they ate carrots all the time. I also saw conflicting information about kale? Some say never ever, some say they can have it so I’ve just been avoiding it just in case.

 

[NorthernNevadaHollandLops]

My bunnies eat kale with zero issues, but I only give them a little bit and no more than a couple times a week. You'll want to watch their poop after you try a new food. If they produce more cecotropes than they eat (those are the blackberry looking, softer poops, they usually eat as they come out so you won't usually notice them) or if it's runny or stringy, don't give them that food, and encourage more hay eating. Sometimes even just a fresh pile of hay (or fluffing hay that is already there) will do the trick. They will be curious about new things added to their area.

 

[Diane R]

Very cute bunnies! I hope you have separated them and can get the female spayed soon and she isn't pregnant already. All info you need on housing, diet, health, etc. is on this excellent, up-to-date site: New to Rabbits

 

[TreasuredFriend]

rabbit.org

myhouserabbit.com

https://rabbitsindoors.weebly.com/

 

[TreasuredFriend]

https://rabbit.org/hrs-howcast-videos/

 

[TreasuredFriend]

Thank you for seeking a rabbit-savvy DVM. Thank you for saving them after a homo sapiens likely abandoned them.

In the past 18 years as a rescue advocate/and bunny parent, and belonging to a network that includes rescuers all over the country, I continually hear of rabbits with and without tattoos in their ears being dumped outdoors. Many praises for stepping up to intercede and help!

Please know that certain veggies like cucumber, kale, broccoli, spinach, sprouts, cauliflower can create gas. GI stasis can be fatal if not addressed; your bun will sit in a hunched position and refuse all intake.

https://rabbitadvocates.org/gi-stasis
https://myhouserabbit.com/

https://rabbit.org/tag/bunny-care-basics/

 

[TreasuredFriend]

@Flyingpenguin28 -- list of safe veggies to give is at the bottom of below link. Helpful info in all the links that might clear up questions.

If you have a Facebook account, you can also connect with rabbit rescue groups and resources in your area. @Blue eyes rabbitsindoorsweebly is an excellent edu' page.

https://rabbitadvocates.org/diet

 

[TreasuredFriend]

On the matter of safe veggies and fruits, GI stasis can come on quickly. Our sanctuary crew and rescues have recovered from a mild upset attack by admin'ing simethicone infant gas drop and meloxidyl or meloxicam (available from your DVM).

Important things to be aware of if your boy/s or boy/girl, or girls suddenly show zero interest in eating.

RO has a handy search function, too, up at the top.