First time rabbit owner, advice please.

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 2sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 1 month ago by MK.

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- 03/22/2014 at 12:28 AM
  Brachelle230
  Participant
  1 posts
  Hi everyone, I am new to the site, and am how a first time rabbit owner. I recently rescued two lionhead bunnies from a backyard breeder. They are about a month old. I am housing them inside, and letting them roam free in my bathroom while we finish up their cage. I’m trying to learn as much as I can about them, do any it you have some general information/advice? What exactly is a bonded rabbit? These are most likely siblings, I am not sure of sex yet. Could they bond being siblings? What age do I spay/neuter them? Do I need to be giving them anything as maybe a supplement to mothers milk? (They are eating Timothy hay, a little alfalfa, and pellets limited). Thank you in advance!
- 03/22/2014 at 3:58 AM
  Tessie
  Participant
  1231 posts
  Welcome!
  Good for you for rescuing these bunnies.
  Hopefully someone else with more experience will come and help you soon, but I’ll try my best.
  
  Why were they taken from their mother so young? A month is very young :/
  I believe there are supplements you can give instead of mother’s milk but I don’t know what they are.
  
  They should have unlimited pellets – what kind are you using?
  For more info on diet: https://www.binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/tabid/53/CategoryID/2/PID/940/Default.aspx
  
  Bonded rabbits are two or more spayed/neutered bunnies that have been bonded (ie. had supervised time together, often a series of ‘dates’, in which they have established dominance and made friends).
  
  Yes you can bond siblings, this shouldn’t make it particularly easier or harder.
  For more info on bonding: https://www.binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/tabid/53/CategoryID/9/PID/940/Default.aspx
  
  Once they are about 3 months you’ll need to separate them completely otherwise you risk having loads more bunnies, haha!
  They can be neutered from around 4 months but some vets prefer to wait until around 6 months.
  
  In terms of general advice? Ummmm…. let them explore, give them lots of space, make sure you bunny-proof your house, let them come to you, and avoid picking them up too much.
  
  For more info on bunny-proofing: https://www.binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/tabid/53/CategoryID/8/PID/940/Default.aspx
  For more info on housing: https://www.binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/GreatHabitats/tabid/229/Default.aspx
  
  Congrats on the new bunnies and welcome again!
  p.s. Sorry, not sure why the links aren’t clickable.
- 03/22/2014 at 7:54 AM
  MK
  Participant
  751 posts
  Rescuing is great! At the shelter I volunteer at, they give the babies unlimited pellets. I believe they give them unlimited alfalfa too. Timothy just doesn’t carry as many nutrients, and if they are this young they should be getting as many nutriets as the they can
  
  As general advice to add to Tessie’s:
  1. If you rabbit hasn’t peed or pooped in 12 hours, they need to go to the vet IMMEDIATELY.
  2. Rabbits can be litter-trained.
  3. Rabbits can get hairballs that they can’t cough up, so try to brush them once a week (or more in spring because it is molting time.). Especially lionheads. All that fluff!
  4. Have a blast with your beautiful new bunnies!
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