Your Bunny Story: How did you get your bunnies?

[Orrin]

It’s amazing that you were able to raise and release a cottontail! Has it ever come back for visits?

I wish I could say for sure. We have cottontails coming and going in our yard and because they all look alike we don't know.

Angel was only the first cottontail rescue. A year later a neighbor lady dropped off a cottontail kit that didn't even have its eyes open, yet. I estimated its age at five days.

Anyhow, we fed and nurtured it and it grew up to be a house bunny; after being imprinted upon humans it would never have survived in the wild. We called it "Miracle" at first; but, then started calling it Pat(ricia).

Pat was fun-loving, lively, curious, smart and loved to tease our domestic buns. She filled up our senses with every kind of happiness.

 

[Moonshadow]

I’m sorry for the loss of your first bunny but i’m glad you were able to get another one. Driving six hours in a snowstorm takes dedication, I hope it wasn’t too hazardous. For Minyeong we drove an about an hour away and were able to pick him up a day early to avoid a snowstorm. We were lucky enough to have that option. Snowflake definitely looks comfortable at home, sleeping, and shredding tissues.

 

[Moonshadow]

I wish I could say for sure. We have cottontails coming and going in our yard and because they all look alike we don't know.

Angel was only the first cottontail rescue. A year later a neighbor lady dropped off a cottontail kit that didn't even have its eyes open, yet. I estimated its age at five days.

Anyhow, we fed and nurtured it and it grew up to be a house bunny; after being imprinted upon humans it would never have survived in the wild. We called it "Miracle" at first; but, then started calling it Pat(ricia).

Pat was fun-loving, lively, curious, smart and loved to tease our domestic buns. She filled up our senses with every kind of happiness.

Your cottontail saga continues! That’s amazing and great that Pat was adopted into your domestic bunny herd. Maybe they viewed her as a distant relative or something.

 

[odyssey~]

Odyssey was brought home during the pandemic.

Let's call my brother B for this.

Sometime in late June of 2020, my dad called my brother and myself upstairs to his office. At first I thought, "Oh no, am I in trouble?" but he said, "Your mom and I have been talking, and we're okay with you getting a bunny if you'd like. Keep in mind you'd have to take care of it, and that it will be your resposiblity. B, I know you wanted a dog but you know your mom is terrified of them so you can play with your sister's bunny. Allyson would you like this?"
I was holding back tears of joy at this point: ever since fourth grade all I wanted was a rabbit. I nodded my head yes multiple times and ran back downstairs to text my friends.
I did some research prior to looking at the adoptable bunnies (mainly 101rabbits and rabbit.org), and then started making a shopping list. We looked through bunnies at multiple shelters within an hour of driving from us, and called about a few, but they were all already spoken for. We bought a (terrible, 8 sq ft) cage, (expensive) walmart hay, bedding and a small serving tray from dollarama as a litterbox.

fast foward to late July.

Then I checked the OSPCA website again, and another picture of the bunny "Odyssey" was added, showcasing her white paws. I knew I wanted her, and I asked my dad to call about her. He first made me write a long email to the OSPCA explaining who I was, why I wanted the rabbit, how I would care for her, and the research that I've done before he would call the shelter. He sent out my email and made me talk on the phone to the shelter and it turned out she was old enough for her spay the next week, so she could go home with us in August. I had that day highlighted on my calendar and couldn't wait. The shelter sent us a pic of her the day after she finished her spay (pic below) and then told us that she can be picked up on the 10th. I had that day highlighted on my calendar and couldn't wait.

On the day we got her, I cried tears of joy. She's always been such a source of happiness, laughter and smiles ever since we got her about a year ago and she's the best friend I will ever have.

First pic is after her spay, second is after bringing her home, third is taken a few weeks ago

 

[Cricketke]

It was nice reading some of your bun stories. Mine started due to my daughter. She had gotten her kids a lop for Easter. She bought the really nice/expensive cage and had all concrete floors so she thought that would be a good gift for kids. She got bored with Sophie and brought her and all her stuff to my house. We had Sophie for like 6 months. Sophie was scared by our dog and then about two hours later died. She didn't have a mark or wet spot on her, just got really scared.

I was upset about her loss. I grew up on a farm and always had farm pets, pigs, horses, cows, rabbits, goats. Of those, my favorite was goats. My daughter in law called Sophie my indoor goat! She found Genevieve, a four year old Silver fox. Her owner had to move and couldn't take her with him. She had never been around anyone but him, no girlfriends, or females at all. Genny(as we nicknamed her) was very reluctant to take to me. She loved my husband, and son. Eventually my husband showed me his trick to getting Genny to come up to his lap. He was sharing his Cap'n Crunch with her! She is already a big girl and I was reluctant to start this habit. However, he was an over the road truck driver who had been off for shoulder surgery. When he returned to work, she was lonely. I eventually caved and gave her some cereal pieces. She then decided that she would love me too! She is quite the personality. She will beg for her treats and bring me toys in exchange for treats. She didn't really jump around or do binkies, and didn't like hay much at all.

Fast forward an year later. My son and his wife that got me Genny, separated. We were dropping my granddtr off at her Mom's home, at an apartment complex in a very centralized city area. Tons of traffic, a nearby walking trail with lots of wild animals, especially wild dogs, nearby. As we are leaving the complex, my son says, "Look Mom, there is a white rabbit!" I thought he was nuts. Then as I was getting ready to pull out and did one quick look to make sure traffic was clear, I saw it, the white rabbit! So I pulled out, turned around, and headed right back in the complex lot.

This bunny was very scared and small. This was June and was probably an Easter gift that someone got tired of. That bunny could run, though! As my son, another granddtr and I chased her around trying to catch her and corner her somewhere. A guy in the first building, said he had seen the bunnies for the last 2 weeks and been documenting their escapades on twitter. "Wait, TWO bunnies?" Yes, two! Then the second one came out of hiding. We spent 2 hours chasing these bunnies under cars, behind ac units, around bushes. Finally, we wore them down and caught them. My plan was to give them to a shelter.

I got home with them and was setting up a crate for them with food and water. My husband came out to see what I was doing. I put the all white one in the cage and went back to the car for the black and white one. I come back into the garage, and my husband is holding the white one. I kept them both in the cage outside in garage all night and when I got up next morning, my husband had moved the cage inside and Genny was checking them out through the grate. She was growling at them and I was worried she would hurt them. She had never been around other buns and was not very social. Then my husband decided to put the buns in Genny's cage and the enclosed run. Genny was really not happy. She jumped over the run fence and got in with them. She established she was boss immediately, but soon became bonded with both of them. They all love each other so much now. We named the B&W one Cookies and the white one Cream.

A year later and they all get along fine. My husband took the Xpen I bought to keep them in and fenced off our kitchen for the buns. They have the entire kitchen area and no cords or hazards. They did have to learn to stay off the table and few other rules. Every morning when I clean up their mess, they all 3 come for Cap'n Crunch treats!

 

[Moonshadow]

Odyssey was brought home during the pandemic.

Let's call my brother B for this.

Sometime in late June of 2020, my dad called my brother and myself upstairs to his office. At first I thought, "Oh no, am I in trouble?" but he said, "Your mom and I have been talking, and we're okay with you getting a bunny if you'd like. Keep in mind you'd have to take care of it, and that it will be your resposiblity. B, I know you wanted a dog but you know your mom is terrified of them so you can play with your sister's bunny. Allyson would you like this?"
I was holding back tears of joy at this point: ever since fourth grade all I wanted was a rabbit. I nodded my head yes multiple times and ran back downstairs to text my friends.
I did some research prior to looking at the adoptable bunnies (mainly 101rabbits and rabbit.org), and then started making a shopping list. We looked through bunnies at multiple shelters within an hour of driving from us, and called about a few, but they were all already spoken for. We bought a (terrible, 8 sq ft) cage, (expensive) walmart hay, bedding and a small serving tray from dollarama as a litterbox.

fast foward to late July.

Then I checked the OSPCA website again, and another picture of the bunny "Odyssey" was added, showcasing her white paws. I knew I wanted her, and I asked my dad to call about her. He first made me write a long email to the OSPCA explaining who I was, why I wanted the rabbit, how I would care for her, and the research that I've done before he would call the shelter. He sent out my email and made me talk on the phone to the shelter and it turned out she was old enough for her spay the next week, so she could go home with us in August. I had that day highlighted on my calendar and couldn't wait. The shelter sent us a pic of her the day after she finished her spay (pic below) and then told us that she can be picked up on the 10th. I had that day highlighted on my calendar and couldn't wait.

On the day we got her, I cried tears of joy. She's always been such a source of happiness, laughter and smiles ever since we got her about a year ago and she's the best friend I will ever have.

First pic is after her spay, second is after bringing her home, third is taken a few weeks ago

Your dad certainly made sure you were taking full responsibility since he had you do an essay email and personally call the shelter. It must have made you really nervous to do that, but definitely worth it in the end! Does your brother enjoy interacting with Odyssey too (since the puppy wasn’t an option)?

 

[Moonshadow]

It was nice reading some of your bun stories. Mine started due to my daughter. She had gotten her kids a lop for Easter. She bought the really nice/expensive cage and had all concrete floors so she thought that would be a good gift for kids. She got bored with Sophie and brought her and all her stuff to my house. We had Sophie for like 6 months. Sophie was scared by our dog and then about two hours later died. She didn't have a mark or wet spot on her, just got really scared.

I was upset about her loss. I grew up on a farm and always had farm pets, pigs, horses, cows, rabbits, goats. Of those, my favorite was goats. My daughter in law called Sophie my indoor goat! She found Genevieve, a four year old Silver fox. Her owner had to move and couldn't take her with him. She had never been around anyone but him, no girlfriends, or females at all. Genny(as we nicknamed her) was very reluctant to take to me. She loved my husband, and son. Eventually my husband showed me his trick to getting Genny to come up to his lap. He was sharing his Cap'n Crunch with her! She is already a big girl and I was reluctant to start this habit. However, he was an over the road truck driver who had been off for shoulder surgery. When he returned to work, she was lonely. I eventually caved and gave her some cereal pieces. She then decided that she would love me too! She is quite the personality. She will beg for her treats and bring me toys in exchange for treats. She didn't really jump around or do binkies, and didn't like hay much at all.

Fast forward an year later. My son and his wife that got me Genny, separated. We were dropping my granddtr off at her Mom's home, at an apartment complex in a very centralized city area. Tons of traffic, a nearby walking trail with lots of wild animals, especially wild dogs, nearby. As we are leaving the complex, my son says, "Look Mom, there is a white rabbit!" I thought he was nuts. Then as I was getting ready to pull out and did one quick look to make sure traffic was clear, I saw it, the white rabbit! So I pulled out, turned around, and headed right back in the complex lot.

This bunny was very scared and small. This was June and was probably an Easter gift that someone got tired of. That bunny could run, though! As my son, another granddtr and I chased her around trying to catch her and corner her somewhere. A guy in the first building, said he had seen the bunnies for the last 2 weeks and been documenting their escapades on twitter. "Wait, TWO bunnies?" Yes, two! Then the second one came out of hiding. We spent 2 hours chasing these bunnies under cars, behind ac units, around bushes. Finally, we wore them down and caught them. My plan was to give them to a shelter.

I got home with them and was setting up a crate for them with food and water. My husband came out to see what I was doing. I put the all white one in the cage and went back to the car for the black and white one. I come back into the garage, and my husband is holding the white one. I kept them both in the cage outside in garage all night and when I got up next morning, my husband had moved the cage inside and Genny was checking them out through the grate. She was growling at them and I was worried she would hurt them. She had never been around other buns and was not very social. Then my husband decided to put the buns in Genny's cage and the enclosed run. Genny was really not happy. She jumped over the run fence and got in with them. She established she was boss immediately, but soon became bonded with both of them. They all love each other so much now. We named the B&W one Cookies and the white one Cream.

A year later and they all get along fine. My husband took the Xpen I bought to keep them in and fenced off our kitchen for the buns. They have the entire kitchen area and no cords or hazards. They did have to learn to stay off the table and few other rules. Every morning when I clean up their mess, they all 3 come for Cap'n Crunch treats!

Won over by Cap’n Crunch, I guess that’s one way to start a bond . Minyeong likes crunchy things so we give him one tortilla chip per week.

You guys definitely saved Cookies and Cream! I’m surprised they survived for two weeks by themselves without getting preyed on or hit by traffic. Apparently the people in the apartments were too busy documenting on Twitter to think about that.

It’s terrific that the three bunnies were able to bond with each other! They must have a great time in their kitchen area space!

 

[odyssey~]

Your dad certainly made sure you were taking full responsibility since he had you do an essay email and personally call the shelter. It must have made you really nervous to do that, but definitely worth it in the end! Does your brother enjoy interacting with Odyssey too (since the puppy wasn’t an option)?

Yup, it was!
Yeah, he does but if I ask him to help me with changing the water or something when I'm busy he'll refuse :/

 

[Cricketke]

Won over by Cap’n Crunch, I guess that’s one way to start a bond . Minyeong likes crunchy things so we give him one tortilla chip per week.

You guys definitely saved Cookies and Cream! I’m surprised they survived for two weeks by themselves without getting preyed on or hit by traffic. Apparently the people in the apartments were too busy documenting on Twitter to think about that.

It’s terrific that the three bunnies were able to bond with each other! They must have a great time in their kitchen area space!

They really do. I was appalled that anyone would let them out and not worry about them. I really would like to think they moved away. I can't imagine if they still lived there, had kids, and would traipse right past the bunnies to get in their apartment! And can't imagine saying, "See kids, we told you they would be fine. Bunnies belong outside." Breaks my heart that people do that to dogs and cats, let alone bunnies. At least dogs and cats have some defense mechanisms. Bunnies have running and kicking. Genny has such a better disposition on everything and acts as Mama to the other two.

 

[Preitler]

Well. Long story.

When I grow up every third house had either chickens or rabbits for meat, so did my grandparents and my parents (although only for a short time). It was what got on the table Sundays. Affordable meat.
That's what I remembered when I had some psychological problems, I reckoned I needed something living to care for around me to keep going, I'm still not confident enough top get a dog. So it was rabbits, after "harvesting"(=poaching) some wild ones I decided it was worth a try.
Went to a market, got a doe (Fury) and a buck, but they were too young to produce that year, so I got another already pregnant Checkered Giant doe. 12 lively kits, everything just looked fine. Went to the US to visit my sister, came back to sick rabbits. Didn't know what it was at that time, but as soon as I found out it was Myxo I tried to quarantine the survivers from each other, but only Fury, housed in my kitchen, survived. It was autum by then, she didn't have a chance to grow winter fur, so I had to keep her in through winter. In spring I bought another "doe", was happy how well they got along, guess what, and soon after Fury had her first litter in my kitchen.

By then, Fury almost had succeded in killing me twice, pretty much wrecked the appartment, and put the neighbours cat and dog into their place.

Then I bought my own house, and since I learned a lot about rabbits I let them free roam during daytime. My buck died of shock due to an fox attack (wasn't hurt, I was close and scared the fox off, caught it some time later), and the next buck ventured into my house frequently and behaved perfect, so Herr Hase became my house bunny. He looked lonely at times, so I kept one of his daughters, Dotty, as his cuddlebun. They are free roam, only have to stay inside the house in the night.
Unfortunatly, Herr Hase now has Athrosis in his hip, quite likely due to injury from a fall (***** climbed everywhere). *sigh* . Lots of pee "accidents" (doesn't smell nice here), and I have to bath his rear frequently, give medication twice per day, but well, that's part of what I took responibility of. Need to call a neighbour this weekend to help trim his nails and fur.

I'm still breeding rabbits for meat, with two active does, Chantal and Ruth, one litter each per year. If they don't outsmart me, last year they managed to have 6 litters. Fury, 9yo , my first rabbit and my favorite, with a mindset that would suit a huge Rottweiler, and her daughter Red (7yo), are retired and live a happy outdoor life, digging a lot. Red accidentially got pregnant this spring, not able to deliver and had an emergency spay this spring. I can't praise my vet enough, first for even picking up the phone on a weekend and second for performing the surgery even with very bad odds. He didn't think she would survive, but my rabbits are tough, fit, healthy critters.

I treat my rabbits more like goats, having them graze outside on the meadow, no fence, and training them to return to their hutch on command. I haven't yet met anyone who keeps rabbits the way I do, but I guess I'm not average. Pretty much a hermit, apart from work, and with a lot of confidence about the abilities of others, rabbits, humans, I'm quite optimistic most times. And rabbits proved to be capable of much more than most would think.

 

[Moonshadow]

They really do. I was appalled that anyone would let them out and not worry about them. I really would like to think they moved away. I can't imagine if they still lived there, had kids, and would traipse right past the bunnies to get in their apartment! And can't imagine saying, "See kids, we told you they would be fine. Bunnies belong outside." Breaks my heart that people do that to dogs and cats, let alone bunnies. At least dogs and cats have some defense mechanisms. Bunnies have running and kicking. Genny has such a better disposition on everything and acts as Mama to the other two.

Genny acts like the mama of the other two? That’s great and pretty funny! Do they act differently around her?

My cat (17-18 years old at this point) acts like an older sister/grandmother to our bunny (9 months now). She tolerates his antics of zooming everywhere and following her around but if he starts to annoy her she’ll bop him on the head (claws not extended) or put her arm on top of him. He calms down immediately like he knows he went too far. She’s the queen.

 

[Moonshadow]

Well. Long story.

When I grow up every third house had either chickens or rabbits for meat, so did my grandparents and my parents (although only for a short time). It was what got on the table Sundays. Affordable meat.
That's what I remembered when I had some psychological problems, I reckoned I needed something living to care for around me to keep going, I'm still not confident enough top get a dog. So it was rabbits, after "harvesting"(=poaching) some wild ones I decided it was worth a try.
Went to a market, got a doe (Fury) and a buck, but they were too young to produce that year, so I got another already pregnant Checkered Giant doe. 12 lively kits, everything just looked fine. Went to the US to visit my sister, came back to sick rabbits. Didn't know what it was at that time, but as soon as I found out it was Myxo I tried to quarantine the survivers from each other, but only Fury, housed in my kitchen, survived. It was autum by then, she didn't have a chance to grow winter fur, so I had to keep her in through winter. In spring I bought another "doe", was happy how well they got along, guess what, and soon after Fury had her first litter in my kitchen.

By then, Fury almost had succeded in killing me twice, pretty much wrecked the appartment, and put the neighbours cat and dog into their place.

Then I bought my own house, and since I learned a lot about rabbits I let them free roam during daytime. My buck died of shock due to an fox attack (wasn't hurt, I was close and scared the fox off, caught it some time later), and the next buck ventured into my house frequently and behaved perfect, so Herr Hase became my house bunny. He looked lonely at times, so I kept one of his daughters, Dotty, as his cuddlebun. They are free roam, only have to stay inside the house in the night.
Unfortunatly, Herr Hase now has Athrosis in his hip, quite likely due to injury from a fall (***** climbed everywhere). *sigh* . Lots of pee "accidents" (doesn't smell nice here), and I have to bath his rear frequently, give medication twice per day, but well, that's part of what I took responibility of. Need to call a neighbour this weekend to help trim his nails and fur.

I'm still breeding rabbits for meat, with two active does, Chantal and Ruth, one litter each per year. If they don't outsmart me, last year they managed to have 6 litters. Fury, 9yo , my first rabbit and my favorite, with a mindset that would suit a huge Rottweiler, and her daughter Red (7yo), are retired and live a happy outdoor life, digging a lot. Red accidentially got pregnant this spring, not able to deliver and had an emergency spay this spring. I can't praise my vet enough, first for even picking up the phone on a weekend and second for performing the surgery even with very bad odds. He didn't think she would survive, but my rabbits are tough, fit, healthy critters.

I treat my rabbits more like goats, having them graze outside on the meadow, no fence, and training them to return to their hutch on command. I haven't yet met anyone who keeps rabbits the way I do, but I guess I'm not average. Pretty much a hermit, apart from work, and with a lot of confidence about the abilities of others, rabbits, humans, I'm quite optimistic most times. And rabbits proved to be capable of much more than most would think.

Thank goodness you have a good, competent vet! I’m sure Fury and Red are having the time of their lives in retirement!! Did it take a while to train them to go to their hutch on demand?

 

[NYAngela]

I’m sorry for the loss of your first bunny but i’m glad you were able to get another one. Driving six hours in a snowstorm takes dedication, I hope it wasn’t too hazardous. For Minyeong we drove an about an hour away and were able to pick him up a day early to avoid a snowstorm. We were lucky enough to have that option. Snowflake definitely looks comfortable at home, sleeping, and shredding tissues.

We stayed over night in a hotel room so we could break the trip in half. We snuck him in and I used the ironing board as a little barrier to keep him in the bathroom while we slept

 

[CrazyChickenGirl]

We stayed over night in a hotel room so we could break the trip in half. We snuck him in and I used the ironing board as a little barrier to keep him in the bathroom while we slept

We did that with my guinea pig once when I was little!!