Dexter
Member
Hi everyone! I am very happy to be here. I have never owned a bunny before and I have been perusing this website as well as many others for the last few days. I am hoping that the questions I still have can be answered. I can be a bit neurotic at times so please bear with me and I do realize some answers to my questions will be subjective and that's fine.
First, here is a picture of my Dexter
I am not sure what kind of bunny he is, I will post in the right subsection, unless someone can tell me here?
He is 8 months old, and he has never had hay (until my husband and I started feeding it to him). Same with veggies and fruit. Now I know he only needs fruit in small doses. But since he's never had either until now, I have read you should introduce veggies to them slowly. I have been giving him bok choy this week and he LOVES it. Should I keep giving him the same veggie for a week and then change it up? Right now we feed him Kaytee Forti Diet for juvenile bunnies, about a cup of veggies, unlimited Timothy hay and one or two small pieces of papaya every other day. He weighs 2.5 lbs. Is this enough? Too much? We have had him since July 18, 2011. I know he's 8 months old, should we be feeding him alfalfa stuff still or is he old enough to be not eating that anymore?
Also, I know that when they are being held, if their mouth starts to kind of vibrate, they are happy? Is there any other way to know he's happy if I am holding him?
How can I get him used to me? Right now I am sitting by his cage, talking to him, and feeding him pieces of bok choy, should I be doing something else?
He gets to run and play outside of his cage, he doesn't really play, he just runs. I have an untreated wicker basket for him, a bottle with some change in it, a wicker ball, I made a cardboard house for him, baby keys, and still he just doesn't seem to play. I only give him one or two things at once so that he's not overwhelmed. Am I doing the right thing? He has never played before, how can I teach him how to play?
When I don't want him to do something I say "NO" firmly and stomp my foot, am I scaring him or will he be upset with me if I do that?
He likes to be held, but is scared when I pick him up. I try to stay low and pick him up the right way (hand under butt, etc). He comes over to me when he wants attention, but I don't want to scare him, is there anything I can do to make him happier when I pick him up?
He is getting neutered. Until then (in two weeks), should I buy him a little stuffed bunny to help him um...take out his frustrations?
He's not a regular bunny, I was told that when we got him. I will not go into details because I do not want to be graphic, but he was abused. I am being patient and loving with him, I want him to realize that we are a loving home and want the best for him. How can I show him that?
My husband is over the moon with him as well. I work from home so I am here the day with him. I just want a happy and healthy bunny, so any advice would be wonderful, and if you have read this far, thank you so much!
Hope to hear from all of you!
:big wink::big wink:
First, here is a picture of my Dexter
I am not sure what kind of bunny he is, I will post in the right subsection, unless someone can tell me here?
He is 8 months old, and he has never had hay (until my husband and I started feeding it to him). Same with veggies and fruit. Now I know he only needs fruit in small doses. But since he's never had either until now, I have read you should introduce veggies to them slowly. I have been giving him bok choy this week and he LOVES it. Should I keep giving him the same veggie for a week and then change it up? Right now we feed him Kaytee Forti Diet for juvenile bunnies, about a cup of veggies, unlimited Timothy hay and one or two small pieces of papaya every other day. He weighs 2.5 lbs. Is this enough? Too much? We have had him since July 18, 2011. I know he's 8 months old, should we be feeding him alfalfa stuff still or is he old enough to be not eating that anymore?
Also, I know that when they are being held, if their mouth starts to kind of vibrate, they are happy? Is there any other way to know he's happy if I am holding him?
How can I get him used to me? Right now I am sitting by his cage, talking to him, and feeding him pieces of bok choy, should I be doing something else?
He gets to run and play outside of his cage, he doesn't really play, he just runs. I have an untreated wicker basket for him, a bottle with some change in it, a wicker ball, I made a cardboard house for him, baby keys, and still he just doesn't seem to play. I only give him one or two things at once so that he's not overwhelmed. Am I doing the right thing? He has never played before, how can I teach him how to play?
When I don't want him to do something I say "NO" firmly and stomp my foot, am I scaring him or will he be upset with me if I do that?
He likes to be held, but is scared when I pick him up. I try to stay low and pick him up the right way (hand under butt, etc). He comes over to me when he wants attention, but I don't want to scare him, is there anything I can do to make him happier when I pick him up?
He is getting neutered. Until then (in two weeks), should I buy him a little stuffed bunny to help him um...take out his frustrations?
He's not a regular bunny, I was told that when we got him. I will not go into details because I do not want to be graphic, but he was abused. I am being patient and loving with him, I want him to realize that we are a loving home and want the best for him. How can I show him that?
My husband is over the moon with him as well. I work from home so I am here the day with him. I just want a happy and healthy bunny, so any advice would be wonderful, and if you have read this far, thank you so much!
Hope to hear from all of you!
:big wink::big wink: