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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Looking to get a Flemish Giant

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    • steven
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        I am 19 and have been living on my own for a while now. I’m not very outgoing so I was hoping to find a small companion to bring home. I’m allergic to dogs and cats and have always wanted a Flemish giant anyway so I figured I’d really look into it now. I have my own apartment in which I could give him free roam. Maybe leave him in my bedroom while I’m at eork, but let him out when I’m home? I guess I’m here to find out if it would be a suitable way for a rabbit to live and if it would be suitable for my budget. I make around $1100 a month and spend 510 on rent, $50 on internet, $50 on my phone, and probably only $50 a month on food, with another $90 for electricity. I’m not in school yet so I have a decent amount of time on my hands. I work from 5:30 am to around 2:00 pm five days a week. My other concern is how they are towards people. I’m sure they enjoy company, but are they affectionate? Are they ever excited to see you or are they more like lazy cats? Anyway, thanks for taking the time to read. if there are any grammatical errors it’s because I’m on my phone and this website isn’t very mobile friendly.


      • Flopsie
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          i’m really not one to discouraged someone from doing what they want because I feel like the heart wants what the heart wants.

          That being said, I think that when you are looking to be responsible for someone else (either human or animal), you have to consider budget and costs, especially if you are looking to bring an additional person into the family.

          The first thing I would caution is if you are living paycheck to paycheck. The concern is if something comes up, such as the need to see the vet, then you would have a difficult time for that.

          Which leads me to the second thing. The vet is expensive. As you know rabbits are considered exotic animals and along with that comes a higher price tag. Many times you’ll see, including myself, that cost is a major factor in decision making.

          Also, you have to consider what your schedule will be like when you do go back to school. I’m not trying to discourage or encourage one way or the other, just bringing up some points to think about or consider


        • Sarita
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            Below is a link that the BinkyBunny site put together that will help with some costs:

            https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/tabid/53/CategoryID/4/PID/940/Default.aspx

            The mostly costly expense is spay/neuter and unexpected vet bills – do you have the money for that? I’ve seen many people who run into the unexpected vet bill and just don’t have the money to take their rabbit to the vet and that’s not good.

            Every rabbit is different – most rabbits are very affectionate when they are young – as they age they can become more independent. Rabbits definitely are not like dogs in that they usually seek you out for affection…..some do. But in general, they are a bit more independent. They are in between a cat and a dog as far as behavior. That is all a generalization though because each rabbit is different and you won’t usually know their true personality until they reach maturity.


          • Sarita
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              Also, a Flemish Giant is not really a small companion :~) They are large rabbits and need alot of space.


            • Travis
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                I just added a young Flemish Giant to my household.  Despite already owning another large breed rabbit, I am surprised by how much the young Flemish Giant eats!  lol

                 As others have mentioned, don’t underestimate vet costs.  Last year, my English Lop developed an ear infection that led to four surgeries, an MRI, and weeks of critical care.  Needless to say, the result was a four figure vet bill.

                 Aside from emergency funds, Flemish Giants can go through a tremendous amount of food.

                 

                With all that said, I think rabbits are amazing house pets!  Mine seem to have the personality of calm dogs and convenience of clean cats.  Just make sure you can bunny-proof a large enough space for them to run/play.  If space is a concern, consider a small or medium size breed.


              • JackRabbit
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                  I could be wrong, but I would imagine veggies for a flemmie could run your grocery bill way up. Things are pretty expensive where I live, but I end up spending more than your current grocery amount on my 3 bunnies. I may be the exception, but between pellets, litter, veggies, and toys, my bunnies are way more expensive than my large dog was and she was even on prescription dog food ($80/month).

                  Bunny vet bills can really sting, so I would suggest an emergency bunny savings account (before you get a bunny) plus pet insurance.

                  Don’t mean to sound so negative, but It’s heartbreaking when someone’s bunny needs medical treatment and it all boils down to money.


                • BunnyBrigade
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                    Having a rabbit is an amazing thing! However, there are some thing you should consider. Costs add up quickly. And if you’re living paycheck to paycheck (like me) you do tend to worry about bills more than you probably should. Here are some things to consider though.

                    With hay and veggies your bills will go way up. There are ways that you can cut down on those costs. Buy your hay in big batches. I spend close to $100 for 50lbs of hay, with four rabbits it lasts us about two and a half months. (The reason why our hay is so expensive is because we get from California. I just don’t trust the feed store hay near me.) Now for one rabbit, that should last you a good four to six months. You may be able to cut down on veggie costs by buying them from local farmers markets, buying in bulk, or growing them yourself.

                    Vet bills can really rack up. So it’s important to put money aside for emergencies. If you find that what you have saved up is not enough, there is a credit company called CareCredit that will allow you to throw vet costs onto and pay it off.

                    So just be prepared for the cost of owning a rabbit to be more than you expect. =p

                    That all being said. Rabbits are amazing pets to have. I have four rabbits and two cats, don’t tell the cats, but I enjoying owning rabbits way more. ;] I highly suggest that instead of narrowing yourself to wanting to own a Flemmie I would visit your local rabbit rescue. The local rabbit rescues will allow you to visit with different buns and really get a feel for their personality. Some buns are more cuddly than others and more affectionate than others. So you’ll get the experience of seeing a range of different personalities. Also, if you get a bun through a local rescue you won’t have to deal with spaying/neutering. TRUST ME. You don’t want to have to go through the hassle of it. It’s a lot of money (Cost me close to $300 for one bun and $200 for another) not to mention really stressful if you’re a massive worrywart like me. I hope this helped in any way.


                  • Sarita
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                      I have to say that at your age it’s very unlikely that you will get Care Credit as it is a Credit Card…another member had a problem qualifying for this due to no credit and she was your age, so don’t count on this….


                    • BunnyBrigade
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                        Sarita, really? I got CareCredit when I was 19. That may have been because I did have credit established through my car payments.


                      • Brandywine
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                          Hey Steven,

                          I just got two flemish giants, something I’ve wanted for years and years. They are adorable bunnies.

                          If you are allergic to cats and dogs, check to see if you are allergic to rabbits – they are actually more allergenic than cats and dogs. So go cuddle some bunnies at a rescue or something!!!!!!

                          Your plan of keeping the bun in your room and letting it out when you are home is a good one. Buns like having a ‘home base’ they spend most of their ‘sleepy time’ in, and a bigger area to explore and go crazy in during their ‘active time’ – dawn and dusk.

                          But please be aware that flemmies seem to eat and poop their own weight in food every day! Gosh they are unbelievable!!!!! If your budget is tight, I’d consider a smaller rabbit.

                          Rabbits personalities really differ, some crave human company and cuddles like a puppy, others are more like aloof cats.

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                      Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Looking to get a Flemish Giant