Recent content by Orrin

I believe this would be a difficult question to answer because each case can be different have have different causes. One of our buns would go into stress-related stasis and she could snap out of it in a day. On the other hand, our Flemish Giant chewed on a cardboard carton and didn't know...

One of our six rabbits has a tendency to develop poopy "dangles" on its butt. By switching from alfalfa-based pellets to timothy-based the problem isn't quite as bad. I also use a sharp barber scissors to trim the bum hair as much as I can. I check this rabbit's bottom as often as I can and...

We have two rabbits that tended to get dirty bums. I suspected soft cecotropes and read everything I could about them. The best advice for us was to switch from alfalfa-based pellets to timothy pellets. That did the trick. Those two still tend to get a bit dirty; so, every time I brush...

Thank you for chiming in with your charming anecdotes. I feel that the cottontails in our yard are a priceless gift. I never fail to be thrilled to see them peacefully grazing on our lawn; and, they are out there almost every morning and evening. They seem to feel especially secure when our...

I've observed different levels of intelligence in our rabbits. By far the smartest was a newborn cottontail that was brought to us to save. (Dog dragged it from goodness knows where to a neighbor's door.) The picture, below, tells me that cottontails can think, plan and even be artistic...

We give a pinch of rolled oats as a treat to a couple of our rabbits; but, not to another pair. The two that cannot get them will develop soft cecotropes and experience poopy butt when they get rolled oats. It's a shame they cannot have them because all our buns are wild about them. If you...

I give our rabbits Science Selective Meadow Loops, purchased from Pet Mountain, on line. The Pet Mountain price is half, or less, than what you'll find in local pet stores. I also forage for dandelions, willow leaves, radish greens and more from the garden. As JBun mentioned, dried willow...

If you are thinking of getting rabbits and want to keep them outside in an enclosure, my question would be "If that is the case, why do you want a rabbit?" If you are inside and they are outside, how do you expect to interact with them? If you get busy it will be altogether too easy to...

One of our rabbits was having a problem because we were feeding alfalfa-based pellets. So, we found a source of timothy-based and gradually switched over to them. (In our experience we've learned that rabbits do not like changes of any kind.) At first, the problem girl did not like the...

Here is what I have for cottontail rescue. First off, however, with cottontails it is important to keep them warm, about 104°; however, I don't know if this applies to hares because they are born with fur coats, already. Cottontail rescue...

I once considered taking my most mellow and calm bunny out into the public; but,,,,,,, I eventually realized I was thinking more of myself and my own ego than of my bunny. I've decided to never do it, for the rabbit's sake. I'd dearly love to have folks see and make a fuss over my rabbits...

A veterinarian suggested "spritzing" hay with apple juice. It worked for us. A Flemish Giant who had been more interested in pellets than in hay is now eating hay every day.

It would be wise to follow the above splinting advice. I'm no veterinary; but, I watch every vet show on television. I've seen successful outcomes when a splay-legged animal is splinted while the bones are young and formative. Splay can be fixed if done in time. That is why it breaks my...

We use wood pellets in the bottom of our litter boxes and cover them with a layer of kiln-dried wood shavings. Each day we cover the fresh bunny-berries with more shavings. For some of the rabbits we cover the pellets with hay; however, urine-soaked hay generates its own stink and we need to...

Yes, we waited. First off the buck needed to grow a little before his neutering. Then, the hormones needed to wear off. Then, the doe was mysteriously infected with mites and the treatment for them took a while longer. (Where they came from we will never know. We've had rabbits for years...