Welcome : )

The trouble with netherland dwarfs is they can look like baby rabbits their whole life! If he was purchased from a pet store, chance are he is a young rabbit. One thing pet stores often do is sell a rabbit as a “dwarf” when they are actually just young rabbits of a larger breed or mix of breeds.
Are you able to upload a picture of your rabbit? Maybe people here can have a guess about his age.

The main part of any rabbits diet should be grass hay. Are you able to get that where you live? Regarding the pellets, it may be that he is just finding the other foods you offer more appealing so he’s only going for the pellets last. Are the pellets in a mix of other grains and seeds or just plain pellets?

Welcome and congratulations on your new bunny! We love new bunny photos! Also, we might be able to help you with his age from a photo.

If he’s active then he’s probably eating and pooping enough! You’ll get used to knowing what’s normal for him soon. As Jerseygirl said, hay should make up most of a bunny’s diet, so it’s important to get some good quality (green, dry, should smell fragrant) hay, that he can access at all times.

You can certainly brush him once a day if he likes it, but most netherland dwarves probably don’t need brushing that much unless they’re moulting. It’s a good habit to get into though, so if he likes it, keep going!

Fresh veggies should be mostly leafy greens, like most lettuces (not iceberg, but Romaine, red leaf etc are good), any herbs, rocket, spring greens, bok choy, kale. Cabbage can give some bunnies gas, but if he seems to be doing ok with it then that’s good. Carrots are actually pretty sugary, so most people like to save them for a treat

When I get a new bunny, I tend to take it for a check up – the vet can help you with age, sex (its very hard to sex young bunnies), and check his teeth, eyes and coat. They can also advise if you need vaccinations in your country Normally a first check up is pretty cheap – its £35 at my vet. It’s also useful to find and get to know a specialist rabbit vet – these are normally known as Exotic vets. Often regular vets don’t know much about the special care that bunnies need.

He sounds like a happy and lucky bunny!

He/She looks…. very young. Extremely young, to an extent that I wonder health wise how he is. Wick is a Netherland Dwarf runt, 1/2 the size of his litter mates, and he was still bigger at 8 weeks old, which is typically the youngest one can sell a rabbit at. It could be maybe he/she is that old, but he/she seems so small!

I recommend setting an appointment with an exotic vet when possible to get a general check-up and reading on your rabbit’s health. You cannot go to a regular dog/cat vet; you need an exotic vet/vet experienced with rabbits (which are typically only exotic vets).

He/she is very cute though. It’s great you’re doing research and learning about rabbit care. Stay vigilant in learning, because there’s a lot to take in, haha

His ears look almost lop like. My boys were that thin at like 5 weeks old, and they are also dwarf bunnies. He really is so tiny, I’d put his age around 5-6 weeks, which far to young to be away from his mother, so you should watch him carefully with his diet. I agree with Wick he should be checked out by a vet.

As for veggies, don’t feed him any until he’s at least 4 months old. You want him to develop the proper gut flora first. Fruit shouldn’t be given until he’s at least 6 months. If he’s actually a lot younger than the normal 8 weeks, he should definitely not be given anything but hay and pellets. If he’s leaving cecals behind it’s because his diet is too rich.

Alfalfa would be fine as a veggie, but hay is absolutely essential. It should be the majority of their diet. Hay promotes good dental health, and as a Nethie, he is probably prone to dental issues (as Wick can attest to). You’ll want him on Alfalfa hay at this young age to promote growth, as well as a good quality alfalfa pellet.

He is extremely cute, but I agree, very young. Bunnies don’t tend to do that adorable flipping on their back thing like he is in the second picture once they’re 8 weeks in my experience. I would guess 6 at most. Also agree he has mini lop not nethie features. Extremely extremely cute either way.

This means his diet is extremely important. Can you get him alfalfa hay?

As for veggies, don’t feed him any until he’s at least 4 months old. You want him to develop the proper gut flora first … he should definitely not be given anything but hay and pellets. If he’s leaving cecals behind it’s because his diet is too rich.

Needed to see this. Sam is 3 months and gets 3 mini servings of organic veggies a day (different kinds) & I have noticed him leaving cecals behind occasionally. I will cut down to one small serving a day just to get him some nutrients since he’s still not keen on his new Oxbow pellets (I’m persevering!). Weird, I mentioned to the vet on Monday how much veg I’m giving him and he didn’t flag any issues with it. Have read some conflicting advice too.

One other thought – can you get him a stuffed animal to snuggle? He might like that since he’s so young, single bunnies often do especially since he’s sleeping on his brush <3

That’s great that you have exotic vets near you

That’s awesome that you got him alfalfa hay and there’s an exotic vet! Good luck at the vets. It can be such a scary experience for them their first time, so if he seems distant for a day or so, don’t be too alarmed.

While you’re at the vet, definitely ask about age and potential breed. He looks very much like my holland lop boys, and not a nethie. Knowing the breed can help you be aware of potential problems that might occur with your bun in the future. For example, nethies are prone to dental issues, but lops are prone too ear issues due to the fact that they can’t clean them well. Knowing the breed will also help you gauge how much weight he’ll possibly end up at, so you can make sure he’s growing properly. Lastly, ask about vaccinations and at what age you can do those. In the US we don’t need vaccines, but in the UK and many other places buns do need them.