Help for a friend

[BunBun]

Hello! My friend just got a 10 weeks old bunny. She is trying very hard to take good care of him but I really want to help her as I really love animals. I do not nor have never owned a bunny but in my spare time I research pet care so I know my fair share. So I will tell you what she is doing for him and if you could tell me anything that could use changing that would be great! She says he can fit in the palms of both her hands and he is a miniature Rex. She is feeding Oxbow bunny pellets (One small handful a day) And a few leaves of Romain lettuce a day. Along with a papaya tablet which she says helps with digestion. This is all done in the morning. She says she feeds alfalfa but no timothy hay. For now. She says when he gets older he will get timothy. He gets some dried banana as a treat sometimes. Now I do not know the exact measurements of the cage but I would guess its roughly 2.5 ft long 1.5 ft wide and 2 ft tall. He does not have any hay rack, she just places it on the ground. He has some DIY card board toys but she wants to get him some good toys soon. He gets to graze sometimes too. I think that’s all. I hope to hear back from all of you guys soon!

And hope you have a very hoppy day! (See what I did there? eh eh eh!)

[Q8bunny]

I see it! I see it!

Well, it’s lovely that your friend is trying to do things right, and that you’re trying to help. Our Bunny Info tab at the top of the page is a wonderful bunny care resource, as is the House Rabbit Society website.

The only thing I’m going to comment on is his age as it correlates to his diet. Buns below 12 weeks old should only be getting pellets and hay. Fresh veg / fruit and supplements like papaya tablets should be i troduced only very gradually after 12 weeks. Their gut flora is still developing before that age, and it’s not wise to bomb it with all sorts of strange new foods. LOL

I’m sure others will chime in eventually.

[kurottabun]

Apart from what Q8 said, that cage size isn’t really big enough for a bunny to live in long term. A pen or condo would be good – your friend can try using grids to make a condo or attach a pen to the cage and then leave the cage door open all the time

[Asriel and Bombur]

I agree with Q8 and K. but want to chime in about hay placement. If he has a litter box, have her put the hay in there instead. Putting on the ground will eventually teach him that he can just go to the bathroom wherever. If it’s in his litter box he has a really good shot at learning to use it.

[Author]

Messages