Questions! 1st time bun owner!

[Blue eyes]

Here is a photo of horse pellets or wood pellets found in feed stores or sometimes in hardware stores (but not in pet stores). These cost about $6 per bag. Brands can vary depending on your location.

 

[Blue eyes]

CORRECTION! That bag (I just posted) is the sample of the wrong kind. (It can still be used but isn't nearly as effective.)

I mentioned this before that there are 2 kinds of horse bedding. One looks just like the wood stove pellets or like the pellets pictured above by PoopyPoo. Then there is the more crumbled kind. I just accidentally purchased the crumbled kind --the one above (and below).

Here is what this (wrong) kind looks like (I just now cut open the bag)....

 

[Kristin McCann]

CORRECTION! That bag (I just posted) is the sample of the wrong kind. (It can still be used but isn't nearly as effective.)

I mentioned this before that there are 2 kinds of horse bedding. One looks just like the wood stove pellets or like the pellets pictured above by PoopyPoo. Then there is the more crumbled kind. I just accidentally purchased the crumbled kind --the one above (and below).

Here is what this (wrong) kind looks like (I just now cut open the bag)....
View attachment 40072

Thank you thank you thank you SO much! I’m sorry you bought the wrong kind! I’ve purchased a few items like a cute little corner litter box because he was 2 mos old & tiny, tiny water bottle, etc-waste of $ I'm learning. Now I’m trying to figure out how to make a DIY house instead of buying those plastic EXPENSIVE ones at the pet store! I’m just overwhelmed on what would be best to make for him! Again, thanks so much for taking the time to help me!

 

[Blue eyes]

Now I’m trying to figure out how to make a DIY house instead of buying those plastic EXPENSIVE ones at the pet store! I’m just overwhelmed on what would be best to make for him!

I understand! There really are so many options when it comes to housing. And everyone will have their own preferences. I've gone through a number of different housing set-ups. Some of them are pictured here. I wish I had photos of my earliest housing set-ups but that was before digital cameras so I never thought to "waste" the film on that.

 

[Kristin McCann]

I understand! There really are so many options when it comes to housing. And everyone will have their own preferences. I've gone through a number of different housing set-ups. Some of them are pictured here. I wish I had photos of my earliest housing set-ups but that was before digital cameras so I never thought to "waste" the film on that.

You are so helpful! Thank you so very much! I’m not sure if I can ask questions right here abt glands, sexing & grooming but I need to know! He, if the pet store told me right, is abt 3.5-4 mos old now. I’ve been told to have him fixed at 4 mos & others say 6 mos? How often & how do I groom him? How often & how do I trim his nails & with what do I trim them with (they’re SOO tiny!) does he need his scent glands expressed, if so, when & how? How do I know if he is really a HE? I tried to look at his parts going by a picture on this site but I just can’t tell! Helllppp!!!

 

[Kristin McCann]

Here are a few pics. I can’t tell by comparing the photos that are posted here on this site so if you or anyone can help me out, it’d be greatly appreciated!

 

[Blue eyes]

If you have a rabbit savvy vet (perhaps get references from a rabbit rescue), he/she will be able to let you know how soon they are willing to neuter. It depends on the vet's comfort level as to the size or age they would like the rabbit to be. (Of course the vet can sex your rabbit too.)

I confess I rarely groom my rabbits. If they are in a bad shed/molt, I may comb them or -- more likely -- just use my hand to pet them and end up with lots of loose fur that way.

For a short time I used to have the rabbit rescue volunteers trim bunny nails. They would also do a physical check and clean the scent glands if needed. I might have had 1 rabbit that would need those glands cleaned. Usually they seem to stay clean (or maybe the rabbits clean them?). The rescue only cleaned those scent glands if they were dirty. They used a q-tip and...hmmm... I think it was hydrogen peroxide.

For nail trimming, this video will show you how:

 

[JBun]

In the second picture, he looks to be a male to me. Of course the easiest way to tell is if he has matured enough that his testicles have dropped, then the two pink scrotal sacs are a sure indicator, though they can sometimes suck them up so you may not be able to see them even though they have dropped and are there. Also, a rabbit can't get neutered until the testicles have dropped, regardless of the age.
https://www.rabbitnetwork.org/educa...rabbit-care-articles/how-to-sex-your-rabbits/

 

[Kristin McCann]

If you have a rabbit savvy vet (perhaps get references from a rabbit rescue), he/she will be able to let you know how soon they are willing to neuter. It depends on the vet's comfort level as to the size or age they would like the rabbit to be. (Of course the vet can sex your rabbit too.)

I confess I rarely groom my rabbits. If they are in a bad shed/molt, I may comb them or -- more likely -- just use my hand to pet them and end up with lots of loose fur that way.

For a short time I used to have the rabbit rescue volunteers trim bunny nails. They would also do a physical check and clean the scent glands if needed. I might have had 1 rabbit that would need those glands cleaned. Usually they seem to stay clean (or maybe the rabbits clean them?). The rescue only cleaned those scent glands if they were dirty. They used a q-tip and...hmmm... I think it was hydrogen peroxide.

For nail trimming, this video will show you how:

I love this lady, she’s so funny! Thanks so much for the input! Any idea how I might can find a rescue that deals with rabbits in my area? I live in Hershey, Pennsylvania

 

[Kristin McCann]

In the second picture, he looks to be a male to me. Of course the easiest way to tell is if he has matured enough that his testicles have dropped, then the two pink scrotal sacs are a sure indicator, though they can sometimes suck them up so you may not be able to see them even though they have dropped and are there. Also, a rabbit can't get neutered until the testicles have dropped, regardless of the age.
https://www.rabbitnetwork.org/educa...rabbit-care-articles/how-to-sex-your-rabbits/

Awesome! Thank you so very much!

 

[Lauren Kiernan]

If you have a rabbit savvy vet (perhaps get references from a rabbit rescue), he/she will be able to let you know how soon they are willing to neuter. It depends on the vet's comfort level as to the size or age they would like the rabbit to be. (Of course the vet can sex your rabbit too.)

I confess I rarely groom my rabbits. If they are in a bad shed/molt, I may comb them or -- more likely -- just use my hand to pet them and end up with lots of loose fur that way.

For a short time I used to have the rabbit rescue volunteers trim bunny nails. They would also do a physical check and clean the scent glands if needed. I might have had 1 rabbit that would need those glands cleaned. Usually they seem to stay clean (or maybe the rabbits clean them?). The rescue only cleaned those scent glands if they were dirty. They used a q-tip and...hmmm... I think it was hydrogen peroxide.

For nail trimming, this video will show you how:

That's the video I watched. The technique works but I wish my rabbit would behave like the one in the video. He hates it. Have yo use lots of treats and I usually get shunned for the rest of the day after a nail session.

 

[Kristin McCann]

That's the video I watched. The technique works but I wish my rabbit would behave like the one in the video. He hates it. Have yo use lots of treats and I usually get shunned for the rest of the day after a nail session.

Lol awww I’m sorry they sure have some personalities. I just learn by watching him a lot! I’m still learning his ways!

 

[Kristin McCann]

I understand! There really are so many options when it comes to housing. And everyone will have their own preferences. I've gone through a number of different housing set-ups. Some of them are pictured here. I wish I had photos of my earliest housing set-ups but that was before digital cameras so I never thought to "waste" the film on that.

So I’ve read everything on the housing link you sent me, thanks so much again for this! Where would I get the wired panels that connect to made his cage? Thanks so much!

 

[Blue eyes]

So I’ve read everything on the housing link you sent me, thanks so much again for this! Where would I get the wired panels that connect to made his cage? Thanks so much!

-you're welcome!

NIC (Neat Idea Cubes) is sometimes what they are called from a brand that makes them. What stores carry them depends on where you live. I've seen them at Bed, Bath & Beyond, some K-marts, some Targets, some Wal-Marts, and even on Amazon. Ask for "wired cube shelving" or show them this picture:



The grids come stacked in a box. Just be aware that some kits have grid panels with different size openings. The Target ones have a few panels with only 5 openings across. That makes the openings dangerously large for a bunny to get his head stuck. Look for and use only panels with 9 openings across.

You'll need zip ties to hold them together. Forget the useless connectors that come in the box.
I've seen them in black, white, metal gray, or multi-colored.

 

[Kristin McCann]

Thanks so very much for all of your help!

 

[Kale Passfield]

Hi all! I have been apart of this forum maybe a few weeks now? A friend bought a 2 mo old male Lionhead bun for me as a gift. Sweet to think of me & her heart was in the right place but this wasn’t well thought out on her part. Regardless, I am absolutely attached to my bun! His name’s Chewbaca aka Chewy & he’s now I’m guessing around 3.5-4 mos old. I’ve been told on here I’ll need to have him neutered around 4 mos of age because of hormones & to keep him from spraying urine. He hasn’t, to my knowledge, sprayed as of yet so I’m not sure what to look out for? Also, I want to make sure & find the right vet to care for him. Went to a site & put in my state, nothing here came up for PA . Also, I’ve been told to not ever bathe him but he now has lil yellow-stained feet & Im hoping someone knows of a way I can clean him wo bathing him? This is all stuff I’ve been told on here & I’ve done SO much research online & there’s just alot of conflicting info out there especially for an inexperienced bun owner! I take him out daily & play w him, let him run around, he is litter-trained, knows his name, knows the word no & come here & he listens well. I had him on my chest last night & we both fell asleep & I only woke up because I felt him nestling into my hair! I freaked out! I could’ve smushed/smothered him! I just couldn’t believe we BOTH passed out! Never happened before & won’t happen again. I was so scared thinking he was hurt but he was totally fine. He was not happy not one bit when I put him back in his pen! Any way, any help with my questions would be greatly appreciated! Oh yea, what kind of toys can he play with? He loves to chew on his lil cardboard hidey-hole’s I make him & he loves to toss his little metal pellet bowl around. So Im assuming he would like some toys I just don’t know what to get or make for him? Thanks so much!

Since hes litter trained. Fix him at 6 months and free roam. Itll be the best for him. Bond with you better and he will be fine. Ours cuddle with us in bed.

 

[Blue eyes]

Any idea how I might can find a rescue that deals with rabbits in my area? I live in Hershey, Pennsylvania

http://thebunnypeople.org/

 

[LacyH1011]

4 months is the very soonest you can get him neutered, but since hormones are helpful for bone development and other beneficial things, since you don't have a second bunny you'd need to worry about accidental breeding, it's good to wait until 6 months. Then the vet can tell you definitively male or female. Our vet had incorrectly guessed one female and two males for the last three kits we hadn't found a home for, and I rushed all 3 in to get fixed at 4 months to avoid a problem, and they all 3 turned out to be boys lol.

When we first fostered our bunny Coco (who gave birth 3 days later, thus the above reference to kits) her feet were terribly dirty. We stoppered the sink and ran warm water just shallowly, and let her sit in there so only her feet got wet, then toweled off her feet. That helped. Now we use the same wood stove pellets others recommended and all 3 have clean feet. Also we have a bench seat in our shower, and sometimes in summer we'll let one of the buns sit on the bench seat and get some mist from the shower, followed by a toweling off. The two rescue buns who were dumped by their prior owner onto a river parkway and lived in the wild for 6 months really enjoy the mist, I think it reminds them of rain.

We use kitty brushes to groom the buns, but very gently, and not very often. Our three are also lionheads, and we only brush their short hair , because the long wispy hair comes off so easily and we don't want them to lose more than they already do. When it's nail trimming time, my son holds the bun wearing ski gloves, and I trim the nails.

 

[Kristin McCann]

4 months is the very soonest you can get him neutered, but since hormones are helpful for bone development and other beneficial things, since you don't have a second bunny you'd need to worry about accidental breeding, it's good to wait until 6 months. Then the vet can tell you definitively male or female. Our vet had incorrectly guessed one female and two males for the last three kits we hadn't found a home for, and I rushed all 3 in to get fixed at 4 months to avoid a problem, and they all 3 turned out to be boys lol.

When we first fostered our bunny Coco (who gave birth 3 days later, thus the above reference to kits) her feet were terribly dirty. We stoppered the sink and ran warm water just shallowly, and let her sit in there so only her feet got wet, then toweled off her feet. That helped. Now we use the same wood stove pellets others recommended and all 3 have clean feet. Also we have a bench seat in our shower, and sometimes in summer we'll let one of the buns sit on the bench seat and get some mist from the shower, followed by a toweling off. The two rescue buns who were dumped by their prior owner onto a river parkway and lived in the wild for 6 months really enjoy the mist, I think it reminds them of rain.

We use kitty brushes to groom the buns, but very gently, and not very often. Our three are also lionheads, and we only brush their short hair , because the long wispy hair comes off so easily and we don't want them to lose more than they already do. When it's nail trimming time, my son holds the bun wearing ski gloves, and I trim the nails.

Thank you so much! When is it nail trimming time? He’s either 3.5-4 mos old now. All of his nails are white so I can see the quick. I also trim our g
Dogs nails myself, huge, thick brown nails, so I’m sure I can do Chewy’s nails myself. I’ve watched video’s on YouTube I’m just not sure when to give him his 1st trimming?

 

[A & B]

I will check my buns nails every weekend. When he's eating his pellets, I will come and feel his nails. If they feel and look long, I will trim them. Every bunny's nails grow at different speed. I don't want to cut off too much, so I will trim off a tiny bit. Because I check/trim if needed often they never get too long.