Very New to Bunnies - need advice

[Loppy]

Hi all, I'm Loppy because my favorite breeds are Holland Lops. I don't have any buns... yet. But soon (sadly not as soon as I want it to be) I will get bunnies.
I need information and I don't know where to start.
I know that indoor rabbits are better but if possible could I make my shed into a heated/cooled safe area?
What would be good outdoor rabbits?
Can you bring your bunny inside to play?
What is a good cuddle bunny or a known tame bunny? I know you have to work with them to get them affectionate to you but I was just wondering generally.
Food?
Toys?
Hutch?
My mom is a big yarn fantic, she wants Angora rabbits but I don't. It probably sounds stupid, but can you have two different breeds in the same hutch?
I really don't know much about rabbits so this is why I need to know now.
Thanks and SUPER sorry for all the questions! I don't know where to start with my research!
More info and advice will be welcomed :biggrin2:
Thanks
~Loppy

 

[woahlookitsme]

Other people have better ideas than me but I can help a little. Outdoor housing is fine for rabbits and there are a select few on here with outdoor pets. If you choose to convert your shed just make sure you have proper ventilation set up. I know most breeders who use sheds clean weekly and sometimes multiple times in a week to keep the smell Down. Some also set up ac in their sheds and have great luck with that also. It really depends on where you live and what are your normal temps outside.

Two unfixed bunnies can not stay in the same cage together but if they are fixed two rabbits can be bonded. Another thing is you could look for a pair of rabbits from shelters that are already bonded and fixed. If you are set for getting a holland and angora or wooled breed then two different breeds can get along. Many members have two different breed of rabbits that are bonded. Other rabbits that you could look into besides an angora are jersey wooly and American fuzzy lops. They are smaller but their wool can also be used for spinning. Welcome to RO and good luck!

Also you can utilize the search button to find answers to many of your questions. We have had whole threads dedicated to different kinds of toys for buns. Just click on the search button and type in keywords for the topic you are looking for. Who knows you might get your question answered and also get much more info that way.

 

[Loppy]

Thanks for the answer!

 

[Nelsons_Mom]

Most of us keep our bunnies indoors because we think if them as family members. I also just think It's a pain in the butt to go outside all the time to check on them. Imo, it's just easier to have indoor rabbits.

And keep in mind that having a wool producing bun is a ton of work! I'm speaking from experience. Daily brushing and I take her to the vet to have her shaved twice a year (they put her under for it).

For 1st time owners, I recommend getting an older bun (1-3 yrs) that's already fixed. Babies are rough

 

[Loppy]

Okay, so I've decided to keep them inside for the reasons above. I have a few more questions then.
How badly do they smell? Thats the reason my parents want them outside. I have rats at the moment that I have to admit REALLY SMELL.
I have heard of rabbits getting so bonded that they get the whole house to themselves.
How long and how hard is litter box training?
I've read that very good artical on here about trust training.
What cage/hutch do you have for the rabbit?

This is the only pet I want, I have rats and gerbils and my parents said that after they die I'll probably get rabbits.
Is it better for rabbits to be in pairs or be single?
Thanks again, these are the only questions I need answered, I'll look up the rest on this helpful forum.

 

[MiserySmith]

I'll try to answer all this.

Outside housing definitely depends on your areas temperatures, and whether you keep them in a heated/cooled shed or just out in a hutch. They handle cold better than heat, but sometimes it's just too cold.

The can definitely still come inside to play or visit with you if they're outdoor rabbits.
Rabbits can only live together if both are spayed or neutered. And like Sarah said, you can often get already bonded/fixed pairs at rescues.

Any bunny can be good at snuggling, or very tame. It all depends on their personality(and sometimes background) not so much the breed.

I feed Martins Little Friends rabbit food, but I know many people feed Oxbow.
I feed Oxbow hay.

They love cardboard, newspaper, phone books, baby keys, paper bags, box forts, dirt, tunnels, stuffed toys, etc. They're very fun to watch play.


Woops: For inside housing look into dog crates or NIC cages. they're very fun to make and fit into all kinds of spaces. Litter training depends on all rabbits, but some really need to be neutered or spayed to prevent accidents.

I personally don't find my rabbit or my rats smell at all. As long as you find the right kind of bedding. I use paper pellets.

 

[Imbrium]

inside, my bunn's area DOES have a definite smell due to the bale of coastal hay nearby, but they don't smell *bad* as long as you don't go too long between litter box cleanings.

speaking of hay, if storing an entire bale is in any way an option, I highly recommend it. 6 lbs of timothy from a pet store is like $15-16. a 50-80 lb bale from a feed store (ie horse supplies) is like $9-15.

most rabbits practically litter box train themselves, especially if they're already fixed. mind you, the definition of "trained" is that all the pee is always in the box - rabbits produce like 500 poops a day, so there are inevitably some strays. mine get like 90% of the poops in the box now that they're fixed, though (was maybe 60-70% before). as for the stray poops (and the hay that you'll get used to finding in the strangest places, including in your underwear and socks), a cheap shop vac is your friend.

my favorite pellet food for rabbits is sherwood forest, as it's all natural and doesn't have any added sugars or molasses like most rabbit pellets - http://www.naturalrabbitfood.com/sherwood-forest-natural-rabbit-food/ (it's also made fresh no more than a few days before you order it)

great sites for rabbit info:
http://www.rabbit.org/index.html
http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/diet.html#babies
http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/spay-neuter.html
http://www.3bunnies.org/feeding.htm
http://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/tabid/53/Default.aspx
http://language.rabbitspeak.com/
http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=75235&forum_id=48 - first aid kit info
http://rabbitsonline.net/view_forum.php?id=9 - rabbit savvy vet listings
http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=53690&forum_id=93 - great litter box system; I highly recommend the grid even if you don't want to build the whole thing (check 1/3 of the way down the first page)

most (but not all) rabbits are happiest if they have another rabbit to bond with.

great sites on bonding if you get two rabbits:
http://www.cottontails-rescue.org.uk/matchups.asp
http://www.rabbitnetwork.org/articles/bond.shtml

cage info:
http://breyfamily.net/bunnycage.html
http://www.guineapigcages.com/cubes.htm
best deal on grids for the cages: http://www.sears.com/stor-floor-standing-6-cube-storage-unit/p-00913332000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

here's my condo:

this thread has lots of great cage ideas: http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=70176&forum_id=93

you can also use one or more playpens instead of the cage, in addition to the cage (ie ziptied to the condo to create a run space if they're not trusted to roam the house most of the time) and/or to take them to play outside (they'll need to be closely supervised if outdoors in playpens). the best deal I know of on the pens is http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000H8YTJI/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00 (if the price is higher than $34 when you go to order it, check back in a few days - it goes up sometimes but always comes back down... also, the shipping is free). if you want a playpen higher than 30'' (I have 48'' tall ones for my bunnies' indoor run (ie my entire living room) so that I can give them cardboard box castles without them climbing on top and jumping out of the pen), then I recommend http://www.petco.com/product/5874/Precision-Pet-Eight-Panel-Wire-Pens.aspx (it's a good bit more expensive, though)

 

[Nancy McClelland]

Can't really add much except hello! Ours are all indoors.

 

[1357bunnylover]

My bunnies are outside in 6x4 sheds and large runs. I don't know how hot it gets in minnesota in summer or how cold in winter. If i lived in the USA my bunnies would probably live indoors just because of how hot it gets over there. I think bunnies are happier if kept in pairs or groups, but if you can spend LOADS of time with your bunny everyday then that shouldn't be a problem, but nothing will match seeing bunnies snuggling together, but keep in mind it can take AGES to bond bunnies (they both have to be neutered). I think it would probably be easier just to get 2 already bonded bunnies from the shelter because you won't have the hassle of bonding them, neutering them, ect. My bunnies prefer toys like cardboard boxes with 2 holes in them so they can run through them and jump on top, loo rolls stuffed with hay and some treats, shoe boxes stuffed with hay and treats, paper bags, paper just scrunched in ball, hard baby rattles that you can get for really cheap from car boot sales, wicker baskets, cardboard egg boxes stuffed with hay, and shop bought wooden parrot/bird toys If you are going to have your bunnies outside make sure you spend as much time as possible, i go out and do my assignments and home work in the shed which takes hours, i'll bring my iPad out in the shed and watch some TV programmes with them, so deffinetly get a shed not a hutch, so you can spend more time with them in bad weather, and when there is bad weather they still have a large space to run around, hutches just get chewed and rot really easily, none of my hutches have lasted a year, one of my bunnies Bella is in a hutch now because she is being bonded with my other bunny Buckley, i've only had it for a few months and it looks awful it has to be covered in tarp.

Bunnies main food is hay, they should be fed unlimited hay, and only a small handful of pellets a day, and veg fed everyday too.

Sorry for the long post!!