Supplies:

There are varied opinions on wether to use a water bottle or just a heavy ceramic bowl. What do you use or suggest?

The supplies I am planning on getting are: A cat litter box, toys, hay, pellets, treats, and a few extra blankets.

What can I use as a hidey house? My parents think hidey houses are expensive.

Water bottles are fairly inexpensive so I would try both initially and see what your buns prefer.
What about a cardboard box as a hidey house?

Chews:

We have several willow trees in my back yard. Ive heard bunnies love willow, but is it safe to give them willow that been OUTSIDE? It seems kinda iffy to me…

If they haven’t been sprayed with anything, then they are okay. A lot of people recommend drying them in the oven to get rid of pests and whatnot.

First 2 weeks home:

I will be home mostly during the the first few days. Other than school, and play practice I should be home. My concern was, I am in a huge play and there is a week, tech week, where I have to be there 4:45-6:45 Monday thru Friday. I usually get home around 3:45-3:55 depending on when I am picked up. So, I do have time to change my clothes and feed the rabbits. When I get home, I’ll have to eat dinner and then the rest of the night will be for the bunnies (I have a study hall class to get school work done) I was just a little worried about this. Whats your opinion? The first week in March will be a extremely busy week for me with tech week and 4 play showings at our city theatre. I already have to be at play practice 2-3 days a week, but I am not to worried about that. Since they will already have been home for about 2 weeks by the time tech week comes around, they’ll hopefully be somewhat used to their home.

Since this is a short and temporary thing, I think they will survive.

Cages:

The last thing I have a question about is the cage. I am using NIC grids. My plan is to build a 3 grid width 4 grid length 4 grid height cage. For 2 believed to be “Netherland Drawf” 4 pound rabbits. It will have a second level. I am pretty sure this is big enough right? Grids are 14′ inches. I have heard that the NIC grids come with different sized squares? Many people suggested using the smaller squares on the bottom and bigger on top. Since I will have 2 levels, the first set of grid on each level will have the smaller squares and we will try to use as many small squares as possible. Since we do have cats, a top is a must. Can that be build out of wood or even the larger squared NIC grids? I’ve seen videos with the NIC tops and they look flimsy. I just need advice on this. XPen is really not something we want to do or even consider.

The concern with the bigger square kind is that they can fit their head through the holes. You would probably be alright using them for a lid though. Overall size sounds okay as long as there is a second level. Will they have free-roam of your room during play time?

Yes, I think 3 high is just fine.

to answer this question:
“For some reason this is pretty scary to me. Its not like a cat were all you give them is cat food. They have a varied diet that I am kinda nervous about. For veggies, I have carrots, spinach, cabbage, broccoli, and celery. Is that about right for veggies? How far does a bag of hay go for 2 rabbits on average? ”

I find it daunting as well! I always have a list with me when I go to the store lol. I am at the point with my bunny (who I got in september) that I know his likes and dislikes. I had no clue rabbits could be so finicky. My go to is romaine lettuce, he has it every day. it’s fairly inexpensive, and he will always eat it. He will also always eat green leaf lettuce, but you can’t give those at the same time. He also adores cilantro, he’s addicted actually lol. But won’t touch parsley! Not sure why. And I have tried: kale, collard greens, endive, escarole, mint, basil, dill…. he will eat mint and dill but absolutely refuses kale or collard greens, oh wait he also refuses spinach! i knew I was forgetting one. i got endive the last time I went, and he sometimes eats it, and is ehh about the escarole as well. I can tell he doesn’t prefer it.
another favorite of his is radicchio, omg he LOVES it.

I do not think they can have cabbage.

always keep this list handy
http://www.myhouserabbit.com/tip_food.php

it helps me when choosing. and it informs you of how to introduce new foods. find out what they are feeding the buns so you keep consistency for at least a week or so, until they settle in, then try a new veggie, wait a couple days, try another. and so on.

as for hay, my one bunny is not a big hay eater, but my new one devours it and I need to replenish his often. I now buy a bigger bag but they last me quite a while, over a week or more honestly. but that was with one.

Sounds like you are going to be ready for your two new friends. It’s great you are doing so much research ahead of time.

With regards to your veggie list, I had a couple of comments.

– All of those veggies are bunny safe, so that is great, but you should find out from whoever is taking care of them now what types of veggies they’ve had already. That way you’ll know what they like and if any of them made them have tummy troubles. You can even have some of those veggies ready for them when they get to your place. It might help make them feel comfortable.
– You’ll need to introduce new veggies slowly, one at a time to make sure no one has a bad reaction to the new veggies.
– The vast majority of the veggies they should get should be leafy greens. Spinach is one but there are a lot of others, like lettuce (but not iceburg), kale, greens, and herbs.
-Veggies like celery, cabbage and broccoli should be a smaller portion of their daily veggies. They should only get a couple of tablespoons of these.
-Carrots are really like candy for bunnies. They have lots of sugar and should only be given as small treats, just like fruits like banana and apple.
-Spinach is definitely bunny safe but it is something that shouldn’t be feed exclusively and should be rotated in an out of their diet. It has something called oxalic acid. While oxalic acid is safe in small amounts you don’t want to feed too many veggies that have it, especially at the same time.

This article is really great at providing more info. on bunny safe veggies. It’s even introduced me to veggies I didn’t know about.

http://rabbit.org/suggested-vegetables-and-fruits-for-a-rabbit-diet/

Hope this information helps!

You definitely want to start off slow, I think they were saying at 3 months you can start. Romaine seems to be the starter of choice. After a week, you can add another new one and see how it goes (poops normal, active bunny). You want to only add a new veg one at a time, in case it doesn’t agree with their tummies.

I really liked this list, showing which are safe to give all the time, and which you should give less of, and which to avoid altogether. I printed it out and stuck it on the fridge. LOL

https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/VeggieList/tabid/144/Default.aspx

I started Bumpy with romaine (yum), tried basil (he turned his nose up at that), tried cilantro (no go), parsley (YAY), tried basil again by leaving the growing plant in his pen (ok this is pretty good, nomnom), left the cilantro plant (sigh, the basil is all gone, might as well eat this).  Then he met kale (oh Kale! Where have you BEEN all my LIFE!) KALE IS THE ONE for him.  When the grocery store ran out, I was terrified to bring him home collard greens (what is this floppy crap?).  He was NOT happy… but he grudgingly ate it, and I got lots of bunny butt for that one.  He did finally acquire a taste for collards eventually.  He likes bok choy, but since its the green leafy part that’s the best, and bok choy’s leaves are small compared to the entire stalk, I don’t get that very often.  Besides KALE is his GOD.

I think what I learned the most over the last couple months is… if he doesn’t like something, not to completely write it off.  They do change their minds.  Whether it’s a young bun who doesn’t appreciate good food (like a a kid who doesn’t want to eat their broccoli) or whether that actually are more picky some days more than others, I don’t know.  But I DO know that I need to figure out how to get kale all-year round! 

Whoops, did I skip over the diet question? LOL

I totally agree with what the others said.

Hey BRM – exciting!!!!!!! With the water bottle/bowl – try both. I am a bottle girl for my boy but after reading that bun’s prefer a bowl, I tried it. My boy is a constant moulter (bunny fluff/fur everywhere) so decided against it after seeing within minutes a layer of fluff floating on top – yuck! A lot say the bottle is unhygienic cause it’s hard to clean? I bought a baby bottle cleaning brush and give it a good scrub (fortnightly) with lots of suds and I just make sure I over rinse it (like 10 x’s) and it’s always good to go again. (Ahhh, now I know why my water bill is so high!).
With the veggies – I do buy Henry his each few days/week – for example, KALE (another bunny vote for kale – I’d never heard of it till BB), parsley, butter/red lettuce – but I also give him whatever I am using for cooking (always check that it isn’t on the NO NO list – I still check it when I buy something knew to try) like cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, etc., and keep in mind not all bunnies love every veg – mine hates zucchini and though I cook it most nights, I don’t even bother to put it in his dish anymore. Oh another goody is sweet potato (not white) and pumpkin (no seeds). It helps to keep the cost down (and easier) to give the scraps to your guys. And don’t let your guys fool you – carrots are high in sugar and should be treated as such (yes, Henry tricked me into thinking it was a staple, naughty boy!)
I can’t comment on the housing, because Henry is free range and his set up is based on the fact he spends more time everywhere else other than his house. But!!!!! Don’t overspend, go crazy on the toy’s (just yet anyway) – Henry doesn’t play with one toy I bought for him ($) his toys are everything and anything cardboard. I’m not saying ‘not to’ just don’t go overboard till you can see if your guys will appreciate them. If they do – go for it!
He he he – I am just imagining your bunny built up excitement in your tummy, enjoy! and I hope it is everything you want it to be! Cheers BRM.