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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A I want to ask anything about rabbit

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    • DRaven
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        Hi guys. I now have 2 rabbits for the first time, 1 girl (Usagi) 1 boy (Sasuke). 

        I don’t know how to know their age but I guess the Usagi around 5 months 6 months and Sasuke like 8 months. 

        I built them a case a leave them outside, because I can’t afford to let them inside, the case is as large as a chicken case. Like, it’s still have plenty of space for both of them. I also leave them next to a tree so they will not get hot. At night I use a cover to not let them get cold.

        I really don’t know what to feed them and how to feed them without let them overeat. I feed them any kind of vegetable I can find, but mostly carrots, lettuce, mustard greens. Sometimes I let them eat fruit like banana, strawberry. And yeah, pretty much just that.

        I feed them as much as they willing to eat, so basically when I walk outside and see them reaching the case looking for me, I touch them a bit and then I thought they want food so I feed them. Pretty much I feed them 2-3 times a day, but everything just like 2 carrots for each.  And every time like that they ate all of it. (Because I was watching them so I pretty sure they ate all of it)

        But then I really care about them, I feel like if I do something wrong they might dead and I don’t want to, I did some research and bought them Kaytee Timothy Complete Rabbit Food at Petco, and bought them Kaytee Clean and Cozy Bedding Natural. I plan to put it inside the cage.

        I kept them inside the cage 24/7, in the weekend I let them running around a bit like 3 – 4 hours or more than that. And then I have to put them back to the cage. To get Usagi back to the cage was easy, but I have to chase around a bit to catch Sasuke and put him back to case.

        I have them like 2 months for now, but Sasuke still not get any friendlier. I mean I know the way I treat them in the cage like that is not good, but I really feed them and tried to take care of them, around my house there are many dogs and cats they willing to attack them so I don’t want them to get attack you know. 

        So please help me out, let me know anything you guys know about this case. And please give me advise. Thank you very much


      • Mocha
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          You’re a very new rabbit owner, so you have a lot to learn. Don’t take this the wrong way, but most of what you’re doing is completely wrong.
          Your rabbits should be eating unlimited hay (timothy, orchard, oat, or other grass hays but NO ALFALFA), 1/4 cup of plain timothy pellets (I like Oxbow Adult rabbits, my rabbits love them and have never had any health issues.), and 3-4 cups of fresh leafy greens EACH (Romaine lettuce, Parsley, Cilantro, Collard Greens, etc.).
          Carrots should ONLY be treats. I usually give my buns have a baby carrot each a day (this goes with all fruits too.)

          How big is the cage? My rabbits live indoors, in a dog pen.

          Don’t expect your rabbits to get any friendlier living outdoors. I would never keep my rabbits outdoors, especially if there were dogs and cats in the neighborhood. Rabbits can easily get attacked by squirels, racoons, etc. They can also get sick with a numerous amount of disieses, leading to very expensive vet bills. If you want your bunnies to be happy and healthy, keep them indoors.

          Please be aware, that rabbits are very expensive pets (they are considered exotic animals, and the vet will charge you more each visit). Their hay, pellets, and fresh vegetables do add up, so please make sure you can afford to pay a lot of money each year for the sake of your rabbits.


        • Roberta
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            Hi DRaven,

            Firstly a balanced diet is important. They need at least 80% hay… A good oaten horse quality hay is fine if other hay like Timothy etc is not readily available. Daily fresh greens which can include Kale, sweet basil, coriander/cilantro, raddichio, Cos lettuce (NO Iceberg lettuce) parsley, mint, nasturtium leaves, fennel.. If you look on this link on the home page it gives you a good list. https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/tabid/53/CategoryID/2/PID/940/Default.aspx fruit and carrots should be considered a treat and only given in very small amounts, a clean quality pellet with no extra seeds or fruit is also important and should make up about 5% of their diet.
            Inside really is best for your bunnies and they do bond more closely if you are interacting with them more. I don’t know what part of the world you live in but diseases like myxomitosis and calici virus are a big concern as they are deadly, the disease is carried by mosquitoes, fleas and mites… Find a good vet in your area as if your buns do need treatment having a good vet that is acquainted with your rabbits may save you money and allow you to work out a payment plan if you ever have any big health problems.
            As to the cost of bringing them inside… Is it a matter of space or the materials to build an indoor enclosure?… If it is space or cost some of us may be able to come up with some ideas as we are all or have been on tight budgets in the past.. “Necessity is the mother of invention” as they say.


          • LBJ10
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              The Kaytee Timothy Complete is okay to feed. I think it lies a little bit outside of the recommended guidelines set by the HRS, but it is definitely better than those foods that contain all the colored pieces and junk.

              I agree with the others, bring them indoors if you can. You can build them a NIC condo pretty cheap. Or you can use an xpen.


            • tobyluv
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                You’ve gotten some good advice. The Bunny Info link should be very helpful to you.

                You didn’t say if your rabbits are spayed and/or neutered, and if they are sharing the pen. If neither one of them has been spayed or neutered and they have been together for 2 months already, the female would almost certainly be pregnant by now, but you need to go ahead and separate them now and schedule their surgeries.

                If you have any questions that aren’t answered by the information given on the Bunny Info page, feel free to post the questions here. There are a lot of helpful members in these forums.


              • Roberta
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                  Well spotted Tobyluv both have just reached that age when a bunnies mind turns to thoughts of baby bunnies… I would be getting the little boy in for neutering ASAP and you will need to keep him away for at least 4 weeks or until your girl is spayed. If you have them done at the same time you will only need to separate them for about a week whilst the little girl recovers as spaying is more invasive…


                • Megabunny
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                    I’m wondering where you live. Rabbits are sensitive to heat and I can’t imagine leaving them outdoors all winter if you are in a cold area. Maybe a garage with a bit of heat? Lots of things to think about with rabbits, aren’t there?


                  • Mocha
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                      Yes, what is the temperature of where you live? Rabbit’s have trouble with temperatures over 75 fahrenheit I believe.


                    • DRaven
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                        Sorry for coming back here too late.

                        I have read all of you guys comments really clearly and it makes me really nervous.
                        I’m getting a condo and bring them inside this weekend.
                        Also I will try to get then healthier.
                        And I live in Oakland, its really hot right now, I always bring enough water for them both.
                        And thank you guys very much. You guys help me so much.
                        I will try my best to bring them inside and live better.
                        Also if my baby pregnant now, what should I do ?


                      • DRaven
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                          I live inOakland


                        • DRaven
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                            Sorry for replying too late.
                            I’ve read all of you guys comment and I feel very nervous. Also scared if something wrong with my rabbit.
                            I plan to bring my rabbits in side this weekend, let them living in condo ( I’ve watched some clips on youtube about how to build 1)
                            Also I will get hays and other stuff as you guys recommended up there.

                            And I live in Oakland, it’s pretty hot right now. The weather here is really crazy too. Cold from morning and then really hot at evening and night is cold again.

                            If my rabbit pregnant what should I do? Should I just separate them like you guys said up there for 4 weeks?
                            Last time I let them running around, I saw some blood near where they poops. And I really don’t know what is it?
                            Please help me out


                          • Roberta
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                              Hi DRaven, If your bunny is pregnant there isn’t much you can do… If she is only just pregnant you can still get her spayed, I don’t know if the vets in your area would perform the surgery if she was advanced. Book your boy in for his neuter and take them both in for a vet check up, the vet will be able to tell you if she is pregnant…
                              OK.. The blood. Is the area where you found the blood inside or outside their enclosure ? Do they have access to a place to burrow there or any other hidey holes ? At any stage prior to finding the blood did you see Usagi pulling fur and carrying it in her mouth and grass in her mouth and going repeatedly to a particular spot ?


                            • Flopsie
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                                Edit. Double post


                              • Flopsie
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                                  You live in Oakland, California? If so I live around the area and we have access to a few bunny savvy vets around the area


                                • DRaven
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                                    Hi Roberta.
                                    About the pregnant so yes I will do what you told. And about the blood. Not at all, it’s like, I just saw a blood where she poops, she didn’t carry grass or pulling fur or anything. It’s like she poops out blood.

                                    Hi Flopsie
                                    Yes I live in Oakland, CA. Is there any vet you recommended?

                                    Also, this is really sad.
                                    My family really doesn’t allow me bringing my rabbits inside. My mom said, we can have a bigger cage and house stuff for them to get warm during winter and leave them somewhere fresh for hot days but she doesn’t agree bring them inside.
                                    It’s very sad. She doesn’t understand. And she is so stubborn.
                                    Now all I can do it’s try to get them everything they need to be able leaving outdoor.
                                    Please help me some advice to let them leave outside with condo, I can go to petco and get them a house and hay.
                                    Also some toy and stuff.
                                    Also, now if Usagi is pregnant, I will separate her for 4 weeks right? But if after 4 weeks she doesn’t have babies, can I bring her back with Sasuke?


                                  • tobyluv
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                                      Your rabbits should be separated now, and should not be put back together in the same pen until they have been spayed and neutered. If Usagi is not already pregnant, then she will be soon, and you will have an unplanned litter to deal with. Rabbits can get pregnant right after giving birth, so you could also end up with a second litter before you know it.


                                    • Flopsie
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                                        this is from the House Rabbit Society website

                                        http://rabbit.org/rabbit-center/local-rabbit-veterinarians/

                                        Dr. Carolynn Harvey
                                        Chabot Veterinary Clinic
                                        20877 Foothill Blvd., Hayward, CA 94541
                                        510-538-2330
                                        Note: Dr. Harvey is not currently accepting new clients.

                                        Dr. Harvey is apparently very good, but as the note says shes not taking new clients, but it couldnt hurt to ask.

                                        Dr. Bynum, Dr. Juliana Sorem, Dr. Arntz, Dr. Michele Kim, Dr. LaMont, and Dr. Karen Kaplan
                                        VCA Bay Area Animal Hospital
                                        4501 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, CA
                                        510-654-8375
                                        Note: VCA treats rabbits from HRS National Shelter

                                        I went to VCA Bay area Animal hospital when I had concerns post spay. Just to let you know they were okay, but I felt like they wanted to push me to do more test and pay for more things. They didn’t force my hand but they seemed to make things seem morbid. So I wasn’t thrilled with that. However, I mentioned I got referred to them by the House Rabbit Society and they gave me a free first time check up.

                                        Check out the list, these are all again off of the House Rabbit Website.


                                      • Megabunny
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                                          Help me out here folks, but in looking at the avg. temps in Oakland, I’m thinking that coldness isn’t a problem, especially with two of them to snuggle, but seeing that it gets well over100 I’m super concerned. While there are things you can do (there’s a section on this website with great ideas) to keep them cool, well, prolonged temperatures that high sounds scary. Sorry to be a downer, and I’m not as opposed to outdoor rabbits as most on this forum are, but that’s extreme.


                                        • Flopsie
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                                            Although the Bay Area is much cooler than Southern California it still can get hot. I live in union city which is about 30 min away from Oakland. It gets hot here and the only thing that is more ideal is that I’m near the water so the breeze makes it much better. That said I think Oakland can get rough. Also winter is coming and it gets really cold. Even if two are together if there is a draft or cold wind I can be bad. Sorry not to be the bearer or bad news but it just isn’t ideal


                                          • Flopsie
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                                              Trying to help problem solve here but where are your bunnies now in the house? Is there a way to put them in an area where your mom isn’t so she can be further away and maybe not packed by allergies.


                                            • LBJ10
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                                                Some people put their buns in the basement as a compromise for “no bunnies in the house”.


                                              • Megabunny
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                                                  Absolutely would want them out of the bulk of harsh winter weather…maybe a garage, possible slightly heated by a space heater though you obviously have to be really cautious with that. Do they have basements in California? If so, that’s DEFINITELY the way to go in your situation


                                                • Flopsie
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                                                    No basements in California.

                                                    Problem with garages is that there is no insulation. In the summer it’s waaay to hot and in the winter it’s super cold. Granted it’s better than outdoors but you can’t just assume that being in the garage is okay.

                                                    For the sake of argument lets say garage is an option. Obviously pros are no risk of predators or other animals. Also no need to worry about wind or rain.

                                                    However the temperature is an issue. It gets cold In the Bay Area during winters and summers can be bad In the garage so temperature control is a must. Just my two cents


                                                  • Megabunny
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                                                      Yup. While it is possible to take the chill off the garage in winter, the summers are likely a whole different story but I don’t know what the temperatures typically get up to. I’ve tried to look it up but not sure what the reality is.

                                                      And have you gotten them hay? This is critical for many reasons. They need food available at all times, and timothy hay is the way to go. Keep reading about rabbit care and be sure these are the right pets for you. We all understand the desire to have rabbits so keep us posted. We want to help.


                                                    • Roberta
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                                                        Back to the blood, that’s a bit more worrying right now. In the interim some frozen water bottles, tiles or even a clay brick will give them something cool to lie against. Rabbit urine comes in many colours, a brickish red is one of them. Blood would be streaked through the urine or there would be clots, urine would be consistent in colour and texture. I really think you need to schedule a vet appointment for both. Get your boy desexed, your girl checked out and if well also desexed. (let us know when that happens and we will talk you through post neuter/spay care and needs) Once your boy is neutered you need to wait the four weeks before reuniting as he will still have sperm until then and can make more babies if Usagi is not spayed. If you get them both desexed at the same time it will be better as you will only need to separate them for a week to ten days to allow Usagi to completely recover from her surgery. Get the hay, it is vital to their diet and dental health.
                                                        Can you describe the area they are currently in. East or North facing, direct sun, shade trees, close to forest or woods, does your house have a deck area with space underneath that may be cooler in the Summer and protected in the Winter ?

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                                                    Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A I want to ask anything about rabbit