House Rabbit Community and Store
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Hi, welcome to BB. It’s great that you will be helping a bun find a new forever home. I’m new to my first house bun (not counting the one i had 20 yrs ago before I knew anything about them) and really found lots of the old posts really helpful. I wish I had read more of them before buying some things. What I ended up doing habitat-wise, was getting one of those wire dog crates, and my bunny loves his… so much so that he won’t come out. lol My home is tiny and he’s set up in the living room with me. Initially, I wasn’t too worried about the size of the cage (3’x2’x2′) because I intended to have him free roam nearly all of the time. I have, however, convinced my husband that he’d like a larger penned area to explore and maybe feel more safe to come out, so I ordered an exercise pen to add to the crate. I wish I had just gotten the x-pen in the beginning, I could have saved a few bucks. I was initially going to expand using some of those mini-wire grids, but decided I’d get more bang for my buck getting the x-pen, since I could get that with free shipping and the mini-grids would have cost me more with shipping and cover less area.
Only one thing I feel like i actually “wasted” money on (so far lol) and that was my hay rack. I know tons of people use them and their buns love them.. but mine will not touch his, he knows it’s there, I’ve seen him climbing up on it, seen him grab at hay but not bother trying to pull it out. And with wanting to litterbox train him, I ended up just putting the hay at one end of his litterbox, which he’s super happy about.
A couple things you might run across (but may easily miss) don’t waste your money on a harness or on a corner litterbox. The harness can be dangerous and while the corner box seems like a great idea, most buns grow out of it and appreciate more space to do their business. A simple catbox will do the trick, leaving plenty of room for hay to munch on, which will encourage litterbox training.
Anyway, welcome again! Pam pointed you in the right direction, read, read, read!
You will love it here! -
Here are my bunny money saving tips!
1. Use untreated Wood Stove Pellets(WSP) as litter. I buy horse stall pellets (same thing as WSP) and get 40-50 lbs for $4-5 dollars. But I know other members also use FelinePine, Equine Pine, Dry Den, ect… You can also look for WSP at hardware stores just make sure they’re untreated.2. Buy local hay. I purchase my hay a bale at a time for about $14-16 dollars at a local feed store. Feed stores will usually sell it in smaller amounts too if you don’t have room/or want to store a bale. Mine sells a flake for $2 which is more expensive than if I purchase a bale but still less expensive then purchasing brand name hays.3. Veggies. This can get expensive but shop sales. Introduce new veggies in small amounts (as always) but sometimes you can get really good deals if you look for sales. I think some members also get really great deals at farmer’s markets.4. Toys. DIY, DIY, DIY! Check out the Habitat and Toy section for DIY toy options. Dig boxes, toilet paper rolls stuffed with hay, etc… There are a lot of neat ideas/options to be found there.5. Don’t buy a rabbit adopt a rabbit. While rabbit adoption can be more expensive than buying one or getting it for free of of something like craigslist when you adopt the rabbit usually comes spayed/neutered. Spays and Neuters can cost $100-400 dollars depending on what area you are in so adopting a rabbit that’s already had the surgery can really save you a lot of money.On to habitats. Definitely check out the habit section already mentioned:For a medium to small rabbit the recommended minimum habitat size is 4′ X 2′. For large – giant rabbits I wouldn’t go smaller than 4′ X 4′.The usual suspects are -Dog Crate – these are usually expensive but you might be able to find a good deal on craigslist (or something like that). Just make sure it’s big enough, 4′ X 2′.X-Pens – These are a favorite because you can move them easily and change their size if you need too. Most pens when fully extended are 4′ X 4′ but you don’t have to leave them fully extended. You can make them 4′ X 2′ while you’re using the room and extend them out when you’re not. This can really help you make the most of your space. You just want to make sure they’re at least 36″ tall. You can usually get one for $30-60 dollars.NIC Condo – These can be a really awesome option. You can customize them to fit your space and build up to give even more room. Just remember that levels aren’t a substitute for floor space. You still want to make sure the minimum is 4′ X 2′ which translates into 3 grids X 2 grids. I bought a bunch for dirt cheap on craigslist but if you shop around you might be able to find a good price.Hope some of that was helpful! Welcome to BB!
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Welcome RexBun!
Food:
A good money saving tip if you have a yard and depending on where you live is to incorporate bunny-safe wild greens into their veggie diet. It shouldn’t make up all of their greens, but rabbits love variety. I include dandylion greens, large mature blackberry leaves (the new, young leaves are poisonous), and the odd clover in my buns diets. There are tons of websites that list bunny-safe wild plants. But it is important to know that this is only an option if you are familiar with the plant (no guessing based on pics from the internet) and you do not use chemicals in your yard.
This could also be a way to incorporate your daughter into the care of the rabbit as she grows. My dad used to take me scavenging for bunny food in our backyard when I was a child and I cherish those memories today (I was 3 when he got me my first bunny). He would show me what plants where safe and which were poisonous and let me put the good ones into my little basket. He would also tell me old family knowledge passed down through the generations like that blackberry leaves were medicinal for bunnies (I have never seen this scientifically examined, but as a kid I loved thinking that I was giving my bunny medicine lol). Of course I was never allowed to scavenge without him there until I was old enough to know the differences so it would be a family activity for your 2 year old. You could also plant a little garden of bunny safe greens (dandylion, kale, lettuce, or whatever grows well in your area) and you and your daughter can tend it together. Even if you only have room for a little pot or window box that doesn’t grow enough to completely sustain your bunny, it is a fun parent/child activity that involves your bunny and gets you outside.Toys:
Never underestimate the almighty toilet paper roll! Most bunnies will even enjoy playing with one that has nothing done to it, but stuffing it with hay or veggies is always fun.
Watch the clearance section of your local pet store for clearance or on sale hard plastic cat toys. My buns love these:
It is important to choose ones made out of thick, sturdy plastic. You don’t want to buy ones that you think they can break apart. Just to be on the safe side, I always avoid the balls with the thin plastic skeletons like these:
Many buns also like cat tunnels.Habitat:
Make sure to get something that fits your life as well as your rabbit’s minimum space and light requirements. Everyone loves X-pens, but you may want to have it secured to a base or wall so that your two year old doesn’t accidently knock it over or move it. You might also get one of those rare bunny that loves to jump and is amazing at it (I had a mini rex that would jump over 50 inches easily and loved to do it) so you would have the extra expense of buying a cover for the x-pen. I prefer the large condo option because I feel better having them in a fully contained, secure place when I have to leave them alone so that I don’t worry about them escaping and getting hurt or eating something they shouldn’t (I also have cats and although they all love each other, I would still never leave them unattended).
My advice would be to watch Craigslist, Kijiji, garage sales, etc for used ones (just thoroughly sanitize any you buy). Although many people ask new prices for used undersized cages, there are still a lot of good deals that pop up and you are at the advantage of not being in a hurry. I see a lot of very nice sized homemade ones for free or cheap as well. Just if you get one with a wire bottom, you will have to put some wood or other flooring over it. Don’t forget to check the Farm/Garden section of CL; in my area a lot of people have moved to posting pet stuff there instead of the pet section to avoid trolls. Plus bunnies also have a farm history and even house bunny supplies are still posted there.
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