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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 Hello-plus a few questions

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    • Banī
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        I am new to BinkyBunny, so first of all Hello!

        Registered today but I’ve been a lurker for all my bunny questions. I have a few though that I was wondering about.

        I just got a cute lop eared rabbit, I think he is male but haven’t been able to really check. I’m not sure how old he is either? He isn’t tiny but he isn’t huge.  I know you can’t really guess the age, I think he still looks pretty young though.  First off, I have to say that I love him so much. He is such a perfect bunny, and very, very smart! I’ve had him not even a week, and he basically toilet trained himself after I got him here. He hasn’t once peed the floor. He’s doing great getting to know and trust us. He seems to scratch a lot to me though, so he has an appointment Tuesday to check for mites and I’ll get them to tell me the gender.  So my questions are these: – I mostly leave his cage open unless I am gone, sleeping, or in the shower/unable to really keep an eye on him, but he still spends a LOT of time in his cage with the door open. Does that mean he likes it? He goes there to potty, eat, drink, nap, and runs in and out to have fun sometimes.

        -How do I make sure he doesn’t get bored? He runs and hops around a little, but seems to love squeezing into tight spaces that I really don’t want him in (cords and such) so I had to block that stuff off. He likes going behind and under things, and he has a toy and I lay down blankets for him to play in which he likes, but I still get worried he is bored.

        -His pee doesn’t really stink. (I know, not really a problem lol but I just wonder why not?)  I’m very sensitive to smells and don’t notice an odor any time I clean out his litter box (every day) but I figured the pee that was in there would smell at least a little bit? Is it because he may still be fairly young?

         -When he reaches sexual maturity (i don’t think he has yet) will he start peeing on everything? How can I tell when he is old enough to neuter?

         

        I think that is all of the questions I can think of for now, so thank you to anyone who can answer them. <3

        Also enjoy a picture of my sweet love, Snoopy. He has made me so happy the past week and really has at least temporarily brought me out of my depression. I love him so much. <3

         (sorry about the clothes basket lol)


      • tobyluv
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          Hello and welcome to Binky Bunny! Snoopy sure is cute!

          Since he has only been at your house a few days, it’s understandable that he might spend a lot of time in his cage even though the door is open. He probably feels safe there, plus the cage is something that he feels belongs to him – it is his home. Rabbits like to have a home base to go to, or some special place(s) in your house where they feel comfortable. The fact that his food, water and litter box are in the cage might make him hang around there more too.

          You can buy toys for rabbits, but not all rabbits find them that interesting. You can use cardboard tubes from paper towel rolls (ones that don’t have visible glue on them) and either leave them plain or stuff them with hay. They like to toss those around and chew on them. A cardboard box is usually fun for a rabbit. If you turn one over and cut out archways on either end, it is something for them to run through and to jump on. Old phonebooks can be fun to rip up too.

          Some rabbits are bad sprayers when they reach sexual maturity and some rarely spray, but it is still important to get them neutered. They are usually ready around 4 or 5 months old, or whenever their testicles have fully descended.

          Depending on what type of litter you are using (some are better than others at controlling odors) you might not smell anything.  

          Rabbits do love carrots, but they have a high level of sugar, so be careful not to give him too much.


        • Banī
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            Thanks for your answers!
            I gotta say, his cuteness is making me all giddy. Pretty sure bunny back/side flops and kissies are the cutest things on earth. <3
            I figured its his safe spot, I’m just happy he has a spot he can go. He is doing so well, already climbing on me for treats. (I don’t give many lol, he loves his pellets and will climb all over you for some of those)

            The hay in the tube is a good idea I’ll try it. I have a box down but no holes cut in it, i’ll cut some in it. Phone book is a good idea, I never use mine. Leave it open or leave it closed?

            I hope he doesn’t spray bad, I can’t tell if he’s 4 months old yet or not.
            I’m using aspen as the litter, topped with hay. I don’t see any obvious testicles so either he’s a she or just isn’t very old yet.

            Don’t worry, its the first carrot he’s had. I told my son not to give any more due to the sugar levels. What are the best greens that you would recommend?


          • tobyluv
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              With my phone books, I take off the outer cover but leave the book closed. My rabbits enjoy ripping the pages off.

              When you are first starting out with greens, go slow and introduce one at a time. Some rabbits may have a sensitivity to certain greens/veggies, which could result in a stomach upset. . Some good ones are romaine lettuce, green or red leaf lettuce, parsley, cilantro, carrot tops, dandelion greens, kale, beet tops, radicchio, bok choy, mint leaves, swiss chard. There are others too. If you click on the Bunny Info link at the top of the page, one of the categories is diet, including good veggies.


            • gingerg
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                Welcome, Bani! Your little one is so adorable. I can see why you went with Snoopy!

                My rabbits get a ton of free time out of their cage every evening and all day on the weekends, but they still spend a lot of time hanging out in their cage. They go in to nibble the hay in their litterbox, nap (espcially on their little pillow), and occasionally they run in and out playing some kind of game I don’t quite understand. Whey they’re out of the cage, but still tired, they spend a lot of time under my arm chair or in one of their wicker hidey-places, catching z’s. I think rabbits enjoy being in their cage/in a hidey because it feels like a burrow.

                Regarding neutering, the safest thing to do is probably to wait three months before you have him neutered (since you don’t know his age, but he seems to be at least 1-2 months old). My vet also has a size criteria–she likes her rabbits to be at least two pounds/a kilo before she performs any surgery (because the rabbits handle the anestisia better once they reach that weight). I can’t tell how big your guy is from the picture, but waiting until he is at least 2 lbs is probably a good idea.


              • Banī
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                  Thanks for all the answers guys. <3
                  Vet appointment was today for a check up, turns out my little guy is a little girl lol.  She checked everything and everything seemed alright with her, except she said that my bunny was a little on the thin side. What can I do to help her gain weight or will she do this anyways since she is with me instead of at the pet store? (I checked around for breeders and checked at shelters but none were close enough for me to make a trip with my 4 year old autistic son that would keep us all sane lol) 

                  Ugh I gotta say I was hoping for a male because neutering is cheaper and a less serious surgery.  

                  But I lubs her, need a new name though, Snoopy just isn’t a good name for a lady.

                  Had her for a week and already so in love, can’t imagine what I would do without her now .  <3

                  I’ll go to the store and get some romaine lettuce and try to find some kale and other things as well.  She seems to not care for brocolli leaves. She does love cucumber.

                   Her new favorite thing is the bed lol, she has discovered it and spends a lot of time on it now. Catches all her Zzz’s on there most the time now. Luckily no pee on there yet *crosses fingers* but have had poops.


                • Bunnaylover26
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                    I love the name Snoopy for her you shouldn’t change it!


                  • Banī
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                      You think? Lol it just sounds so boyish to me! Since the Snoopy I know is a boy!
                      I am open to suggestions though!


                    • gingerg
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                        Since you asked what you can do to help her gain weight, what is your feeding routine right now. You mentioned pellets: are they timothy pellets or alfalfa pellets? What kind of hay?


                      • Kyrkogrimr
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                          Snoopy is a beautiful girl, and I think she could totally pull off the name Of course, if you do decide to rename her, I’m sure everyone here would be delighted to help come up with suggestions… Just don’t be surprised if a few get very enthusiastic

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                      Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Hello-plus a few questions