Help! Soon to be bunny owner.

[Alan]

Hey all, this is going to be a lot to read but please take your time to read and help me! I would really appreciate it!!

My name is Alan and I’m 21 years old, college student! Very unexpectedly – I will be a first time bunny (or a pet for that matter) owner next Monday!

As soon as I found out I was going to be bringing her home next Monday, I started doing some research! But there’s so much information it’s a little overwhelming! Can you guys here help narrow down a few things for a newbie like me?

 Her name is Tulip, I know literally next to nothing about bunnies!  I have no idea what breed she is. She is 8 weeks old!

 

 So here are my questions…

1) How much and how often(3 times a day?) do I feed her? What are the best foods? I’ve been reading some stuff on alfalfa hay, and some pellets with a minimum of 18% fibre content or something.

2) I’ve also read that bunnies need tons of attention since they are social animals. Will my schedule be a problem for her?

I work 1:30PM to 6PM daily, sometimes later (7-8PM) and I have school in the morning. I will give her as much attention as I can when I’m around. But she will be alone for those times (my household disapproves pets, this is why she will be my first one after lots of begging so I will be the only one to give her attention).

3) I will have to buy a cage/pen for her during those times. I have very expensive equipment (my computer) and I wouldn’t want my wires to get chewed on, but when I am around, I will have no problem letting her hop freely in my room.

4) How often do I have to clean her cage/area to keep it from smelling bad? My mom HATES the smell of animals.

5) How well do bunnies cope with temperature changes? My room is the worst room in the house. It gets to 70f at night, and about 80-85F during the day with the computer on. Summer time, it can get pretty toasty but I will probably re-locate the bunny to the basement temporarily if my room gets that hot, or give it a cold bottle to roll around and play on.

6) If I get sick, or she gets sick, do we risk transmitting illnesses to each other? Cause I will be the only one who will be taking care of her. 

7) Will bunnies ever need to be bathed? I know I will need to comb her fur a few times, and trim her nails? Is that right?

8) Any other tips for a first time pet + bunny owner?

 

 

 

[Sarita]

She’s adorable! I love the Dutch bunnies.

1. At her age, you can feed her unlimited pellets – either timothy or alfalfa based is fine – Oxbow makes a good pellet. I would start feeding her grass hay and give her a handful of alfalfa with that. Start her slowly on greens at 12 weeks.

2. They do, but your schedule will not be a problem at all – she will most likely be sleeping when you aren’t there.

3. At her age, you need to confine her when you are not there – she is too small and too young to be allowed to free roam – as small as she is a cage is best, as she grows, I would recommend an exercise pen. Most rabbits aren’t good at being free roam until they are older (about a year minimum), spayed or neutered, and litter box trained (and you need to have your house rabbit proofed).

4. Cleaning the cage is up to you – more is better – I clean my rabbit’s room twice a day, but do litter boxes twice a week.

5. As long as bunny is indoors in a climate controlled area, you don’t need to worry about temperature change. The basement in the heat of summer where it is cooler if you don’t have air conditioning is a perfect idea.

6. There is no risk of transmission of illnesses from rabbits to humans – only wild rabbits (like tulemeria, not our domestics).

7. No, she does not need to be bathed.

Find a good rabbit vet as soon as you can and get established with them and have an initial exam and talk to them about spaying her when the time comes for that.

[Alan]

Thanks a lot Sarita!

That helps a lot!

Few more questions

– will constant noises annoy or be detrimental to my bunny’s health? I sometimes keep my computer on and my motor fan on in my room but I sleep at night.

Also, will video game noises or music scare my bunny? Cause I do play games sometimes and as you can imagine, I play shooting games like Call of Duty so there will be grenades and gun fire. I don’t crank my volume obnoxiously loud, but I still don’t want the bunny to be frightened by random noises coming from my game.

[jerseygirl]

The computer and fan shouldn’t bother her. They do get used to regular noises but she might be a little skittish at first. I’ve been surprised though when mine haven’t reacted to loud noises from tv or video but then they get scared over some noise outside that i would barely hear.

I had written answers to your questions but Sarita has covered the important points. So I’m just adding my edited version of what I had written.

1)  The best thing to do is try get some of the pellet feed she currently eats.  I would avoid the grain mix that is in the picture though. You can then slowly start her on a new pellet if you dont like the one she has. If she is eating some greens already, it is ok to keep giving this but only in small amounts. It’s better to start feeding vegetables when she’s a little older. (as Sarita said – from 12 weeks)

3) A pen or cage is best for a young rabbit. It will help her feel safer and helps in litter training.

4) cleaning depends on how well she uses the litter box and what type of litter you use. Some litters are so good and you only need change it once a week. If you give her a cat size litter box and put her hay on the litter, she will most probably start using her box very quickly. It makes cleaning up easy. There is no need for animal bedding material on the base of the cage since she’ll be indoors.

8) I would read the Rabbit 101 tips on the House Rabbit Society website.  Its a great resource for rabbit owner. So is Binky Bunny!

         http://rabbit.org/category/house-rabbits-101/

She is very cute!  She has very defined Dutch markings. Other breeds can be dutch marked but I wouldn’t be surprised if little Tulip is a Dutch rabbit. They grow to be about 5lbs.

[Sarita]

It really depends on the rabbit – the white noise of the computer and fan will for sure not bother her.

I think she can become accustomed to the video game noises too – lots of our members play video games (I don’t) so I imagine their rabbits get used to the noises once they figure out it’s just noise.

[Sarita]

Is she already eating greens though? If that is the case, then it should not be a problem to continue feeding them to her as long as she is eating them with no problems…usually you would start rabbits at 12 weeks – the idea behind this is that you want to closely mimic what Mom is eating and the conventional thinking is that Mom is usually just on pellets (but that is not always the case) – but most rabbits who come from pet stores or breeders are most likely just eating pellets.

[Alan]

Thanks a lot for all the advice everyone! I seriously appreciate it. Less stressful!! I will have to talk to her current owner about her current diet cause I don’t really know much about little Tulip right now. She came from a local Jack’s Aquarium though.

I would like to get her started on the most proper and best diet for her. Stuff that will keep her healthy and not be harmful to her. How can I tell good quality food vs cheap stuff? And when you guys say unlimited – you guys mean unlimited amounts…?

Should I take away the veggies completely from her when I get her, or just give her smaller amounts?

How large of a cage should I buy for her? I also want to get her a comfy little bed and place something nice down on the bottom of the cage for her to sit and walk around on. Which litter will absorb even the strongest odors? I’m trying to keep my room as animal-smell free as possible. I know this is going to be impossible, but I would like to keep it down to a minimum.

So I just put down lots of hay for her bedding? I would also like to get her some toys since I will be gone a lot of the day, so she won’t be completely bored out of her mind.

Sorry if some of these sound like dumb questions…but she will be my first pet and I really don’t want to be “that” owner that hasn’t researched and end up neglecting their pets.

[Baxter n Boos Mom]

If your room gets warm – you should fill an empty bottle (water bottle/soda bottle) with water and freeze it….and put it in her cage. She can cuddle with it to cool down. We have a few in the freezer during the summer, and just keep rotating them.

We bought our buns a little bed for them to lay in – but I’ve never seen them relax in it. They do LOVE their little blankets though. They’re constantly working on getting the blanket just right – and lie on them to sleep.

My bunnies like chew toys of willow branch, cardboard boxes, the cardboard tube found in paper towels or toilet paper and stuffed animals. She might also like an igloo – as rabbits feel safe when they have head covering.

I like the paper litters for bunnies – but am interested in hearing what other say about which types cover odor better. I also found that you can find the same paper based rabbit litter made for cats – and it’s a lot cheaper than the one marketed for rabbits.

[Baxter n Boos Mom]

Oh yeah – my buns live in the man cave…where my husband has his computer set up. And he’s a huge gamer – so don’t worry about the noises, she’ll get used to it. And I agree – I think Tulip is a Dutch. Mine are both Dutches…and probably 3-4 lbs each.

[jerseygirl]

And when you guys say unlimited – you guys mean unlimited amounts…?

Yes, unlimited amounts. You can fill up the food bowl. You’ll get to know how much she eats of it and eventually just put that amount out each day. I doubt she’ll eat more the 3/4 cup. If she’s not eating any hay, then it’s a good idea to cut back on pellets to encourage her to eat hay.

For cost and odour control, wood pellets are great. Many people use wood stove pellets (with no accelerant) or horse stall bedding. Pretty much the same thing.
You don’t need to use much, just a layer on base of litter tray. They do have a woody smell so if you don’t like that, paper litter like yesterday’s news or carefresh might suit better.

If you cannot find wood stove pellets, Feline Pine & Aspen Supreme are some other pelleted wood litters.

If you keep the hay on the litter or in a rack over the litterbox, this will help litter train her. Having bedding and hay elsewhere will make the cage seem like one big litterbox so she’ll toilet all over.

Many new rabbit owners find they react to the rabbits hay. Timothy hay is the most common sold for rabbits and commonly causes allergies. Its not the only type they can have, there are lots of alternatives that are better for people with allergies.

If you don’t have other pets at home, getting her a pen could work straight away. They are more useful in the long run then a cage. However, if the family prefers she is contained in a cage, look for something that will suit her full grown size. You want something she can stretch out in, the bigger the better. Or you could look at making a custom cage with “Neat idea Cubes”. You can see pictures of these in the habitats photo gallery on this site.

I hope you bring her home soon. It looks like she is currently in an aquarium which really is not ideal.

[Alan]

So I have compiled a little “things to get” list…let me know what you all think.

Since I will be getting alfalfa pellets, should I get her timothy hay? ALSO, how do I keep the pellets + hay from spoiling and how will I be able to tell if it’s spoiled? I will be keeping her on her current diet and will slowly transition her to her new food.

Pellets – http://www.amazon.com/Oxbow-Bunny-Basics-Alfalfa-Based/dp/B00494HWUE/ref=sr_1_4?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1363796364&sr=1-4&keywords=oxbow+pellets+bunny

Hay – http://www.amazon.com/Kaytee-Timothy-Mini-Bales-24-Ounce/dp/B000256606/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1363796327&sr=1-1&keywords=timothy+hay+for+rabbits

I will get a little food bowl and mix some pellets and hay together, and I’ve got a small water bowl ready.

I still haven’t decided on a cage/playpen to get for her yet.

I have an old litterbox that I bought back when I rescued a bunch of kittens, so I’ll be using that for her bathroom, need to go get some litter – http://www.amazon.com/Purina-Yesterdays-News-Paper-Based-Litter/dp/B001F97FCG/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1363796754&sr=1-3-fkmr0&keywords=yesterdays+news+bunny+litter

Will that be okay? Or should I really get bunny litter?

Is there anything else I should get for her? I plan on using some home made toys for now. I want to give her a nice warm welcome. Also, any way to keep her not so stressed when I transport her to my house and show her her new home (the drive is literally going to be a minute or two back to my house)? She’s already gone from the store to my friend’s house and now my friend’s house to mine. I’d imagine she’s going to be pretty stressed out and confused.

[Alan]

I just visited little Tulip yesterday! I can’t wait to take her home! She is adorable! It didn’t take her long to get used to me.

She is one fast little booger! I still managed to get a decent picture of her while she was exploring.

 

[bullrider76543]

there is 2 recommendations I would love to share:
go to http://www.rabbit.org
TONS of infor there from the House Rabbit Society
and I recommend the book: The Bunny Lover’s Complete Guide to House Rabbits by the bunny guy!!!!
It is an awesome book written in plain english for everyone to understand!!!!
Good luck with your new bunny!!

[Deleted User]

It sounds like you’re doing your research! Tulip is such a little doll by the way! =]

As for the Yesterday’s News litter. It’s totally safe. I had actually used it when I first got my bun but after trying several different types of litters because buying YN got really expensive I settled on Feline Pine. I like Feline Pine because it’s much cheaper than YN if I buy it at Target vs. buying it a grocery store. Also, it’s a lot easier to tell where the buns have used the restroom. I was literally throwing away a 10lbs bag a week of YN because I couldn’t tell what was used litter and what wasn’t. So I ended up throwing out most of the litter.

As for the Kaytee hay. It should be fine. But I noticed that the Kaytee hay was stale and very fresh. So I actually buy my hay online. It is a lot fresher and my buns love it. Not to mention I just find it a cheaper option because of how much hay my buns go through. Some great places to get hay is from BB, Sierra Valley, KMS Hayloft, and SmallPetSelect. You may, also, find that your bun is a picky hay eater. There are some buns on here (mine included) that will only eat a certain brand and type of hay. But if you introduce hay at a young age you should be fine and Tulip should love it.

There was a brilliant link to an article on how to tell if hay is good that someone posted on here like months ago. I read it once and committed to memory then was never able to find the link again. I’ll ask around to see if I can find it.

I found that keeping anything that she has previously had helps. If she’s not a chewer having a stuffed friend really helps. My skittish little guy Hugo gets freaked out really easily. Especially when he’s out during play time. He’s become bonded to this stuffed bun that we gave him and he’s a lot calmer when its around. He’s, also, more likely to try new things and climb into the carrier when his stuffed friend is in there with him.

She should be fine on the short little drive. When I was bringing home my two rescue buns I had my bf drive while I had my hand in the carrier with the bun. Having the human contact really helped and it actually strengthened our bond.

[Beka27]

That’s a gorgeous picture! Very artistic and “vintage-looking” with the old grate! I suggest a cropped version of that for your avatar!

[Alan]

Alright guys!! Thank you all so much for your help! Now is the waiting game.

I didn’t even seen that BB had a store. I will be buying some Timothy hay from the store, and a few treats and toys to spoil little Tulip!
I’ll be getting some Aspen Wood bedding from Amazon for her litterbox, alfalfa pellets,

This 24 x 36 cage for her – http://www.amazon.com/Midwest-Stages-Double-Door-Folding-Inches/dp/B0002AT3M4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363919428&sr=8-1&keywords=24+x+36+pet+cage

and I will be storing the hay in the cat litterbox I have…along with a layer of aspen shavings for her, and a pellet bowl near the water bottle in a separate area.

She definitely needs to be litter trained…she was pooping all over the wooden shavings she was sitting in…(wooden shavings, I know! yikes! can’t wait to move her to aspen for her own health)

Still working on closing off certain areas of my room so I can give her some exercise space…I hope she doesn’t chew through cardboard cause that’s all I’m going to have..any idea what I should cover my carpet with? in-case she decides to pee during out of cage time..

Thank you all again for your advice! I am very excited to pick her up. It will be either Sunday night or Monday night after work!

[Beka27]

That cage is too small. Rabbits require a cage at least 2×4 feet, but bigger is better. A litter box takes up a large portion of the cage, not to mention food dishes, hidey houses, and toys, and they still need room to hop several times in open space. Have you considered a dog xpen or building your own condo?

[Alan]

Posted By Beka27 on 03/21/2013 08:16 PM

That cage is too small. Rabbits require a cage at least 2×4 feet, but bigger is better. A litter box takes up a large portion of the cage, not to mention food dishes, hidey houses, and toys, and they still need room to hop several times in open space. Have you considered a dog xpen or building your own condo?

Is it?? I was going to keep the hay in the litter box since I’ve been reading bunnies like to munch while they poo…

I have, I’ve looked at several pens but none of them come with a decent floor mat. I need it cause it will be on carpet, and something that will stay locked and secure. I can’t risk having Tulip getting loose in my room, I have a computer in here and I wouldn’t want her chewing on the cords.

 I would go to a pet store but I have a feeling those guys probably don’t know much either…

[Svandis]

I personally have a NIC cage and its great for my bun. You can extend and modify it as you want and if you buy some extra grids you can use them to build a pen around the cage for extra space for when you’re not around, and you can use some of the grids to make a “fence” around your computer. That is what we have done. I’d love to share pictures but I’m on the iPad. There are loads of pics from members on here who have these types of cages.

[Svandis]

Here’s how i made our cage: https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/122052/Default.aspx
For Easter I’m doing a big upgrade on it though, yay.

We actually started out with a store bought cage with a pen around it. that was fine while my buns (I used to have two) were little.

Tulip is absolutely adorable

[Monkeybun]

All of my rabbits live in dog exercise pens on the carpet, and they work just fine. Just get one nice and tall so she can’t bounce over the top. So easy to clean too!

[Beka27]

Posted By Alan on 03/21/2013 08:31 PM

Posted By Beka27 on 03/21/2013 08:16 PM

That cage is too small. Rabbits require a cage at least 2×4 feet, but bigger is better. A litter box takes up a large portion of the cage, not to mention food dishes, hidey houses, and toys, and they still need room to hop several times in open space. Have you considered a dog xpen or building your own condo?

Is it?? I was going to keep the hay in the litter box since I’ve been reading bunnies like to munch while they poo…

I have, I’ve looked at several pens but none of them come with a decent floor mat. I need it cause it will be on carpet, and something that will stay locked and secure. I can’t risk having Tulip getting loose in my room, I have a computer in here and I wouldn’t want her chewing on the cords.

 I would go to a pet store but I have a feeling those guys probably don’t know much either…

You make a valid point.  An easier, more resilient, and cheaper option would be to get a linoleum remnant (about 4.5 x 4.5 feet square) from the hardware/home improvement store.  Not only will this protect your carpet from spills/chewing, but it’s super easy to sweep, and once a week you can wipe it down real quick.

Remember, she’s small now, but dutch rabbits are medium size bunnies, so she could be anywhere from 5-8 pounds approximately.  You don’t want to waste money on something that fits for now, but will have to be replaced in 6 months.

The xpens are very sturdy and secure.  They are designed to contain large dogs, so they can keep in a bunny, as long as they are tall ennough.  Minimum xpen height for a rabbit is 36 inches, although some people go taller to 42 inches.  Look for xpens with a walk-through door so you can go inside to clean, feed, or interact with the bunny.

[Beka27]

This is the pen I have (although I have two linked together because we have two bunnies)… http://www.amazon.com/Midwest-Zinc-Indoor-Outdoor-Exercise/dp/B0002AT2IE/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1363956337&sr=8-4&keywords=xpen

It’s hard to picture a bunny in there in the main picture, but if you look through all of the pics, they show a couple pens with rabbits.

Less than $60 and it ships free. Can’t beat that. I paid $75 for each pen at the pet store, and I still had to get the thing home!

[Deleted User]

I have two of my buns in an x-pen like set up that I made out of NIC cubes and another bun is in a condo set up with an attached pen. To take care of spills and issues like that. I put a plastic mat/runner like this: http://i.ebayimg.com/t/NEW-CLEAR-CARPET-PROTECTOR-PLASTIC-RUNNER-150X68-CM-/00/$(KGrHqJ,!iQE1NFm81wBBNgUQtyRq!~~_35.JPG under the pens then placed a fluffy comforter I bought from a second hand store for like $6 over it so the buns couldn’t chew on it. The runners cost me about $10 from Target and I have two of them side-by-side that completely covers the span of their habitat.

I did want to point out that it’s not great to use wood shavings of any kind with buns. I know that some people say Aspen shavings are okay but there is some debate over it. As long as you used compressed wood shavings then you’re okay. Something about the firing process to create the pellets kills off a chemical within the wood that can potentially make your bun sick. If you’re looking for cheaper options of things. Some members on here use compressed untreated wood pellets that they get from a hard wood store or Equine Pine. Which is literally the same thing as Feline Pine but just marketed for horses.

[Alan]

I went ahead and bought the cage you have Beka, except with the 36H recommendation. Skipper, I also took your recommendation and bought carefresh celluose bedding/litter. I think I’m all set for now…I need to run out to the department store and get me a piece of linoleum for the pen flooring.

I still need to block off the underside of my bed so she can get exercise outside of the playpen. Ahhh! I’m so excited to bring her home!

[Beka27]

Glad to hear it, Alan. You won’t be disappointed. I always feel bad for people when they come on the site and say, “I just got this, this, and that for my new bunny!” and we have to break the bad news that they probably weren’t the best choices and they have pretty much wasted money. So many things are sold “for bunnies/small animals” and they’re either not adequate for long-term use, or worse… they’re entirely unsafe! I commend you for doing the research BEFORE!

did you say you’re bringing her home this weekend? I hope we’ll get new pics! She really is gorgeous. I love dutches, and her caramel coloring is lovely.

[Alan]

Posted By Beka27 on 03/22/2013 12:45 PM

Glad to hear it, Alan. You won’t be disappointed. I always feel bad for people when they come on the site and say, “I just got this, this, and that for my new bunny!” and we have to break the bad news that they probably weren’t the best choices and they have pretty much wasted money. So many things are sold “for bunnies/small animals” and they’re either not adequate for long-term use, or worse… they’re entirely unsafe! I commend you for doing the research BEFORE!

did you say you’re bringing her home this weekend? I hope we’ll get new pics! She really is gorgeous. I love dutches, and her caramel coloring is lovely.

I try to research everything before I jump in anything!! Doing things in the dark will lead to soooooo many problems. I learned that the hard way (when I was young, all of my pet goldfish I got died in like 3 days…and now I know why).

 And that’s exactly why before I emptied my wallet for Tulip, I got on here! To talk to people who know what they’re doing 

I only want the best for her. Which is why I’m going to ditch the wood chips and probably the food she is on now.

By the way, how do I slowly start her on the new pellets/hay I bought her? Do I just mix 50/50 old food/new food and see how she does? and then slowly replace it to 75/25 mix, then 100% of the new stuff? She’s also on veggies but I was thinking about removing that from her diet for now…

 So what kind of flooring would be best for little Tulip? Linoleum? Puzzle mats? Something preferable easy to cleancause she’s definitely gonna need some potty training. I’m probably just gonna buy some tarp for the rest of the room when she’s out of her pen, hopefully she won’t chew up the cardboard walls I’ll be putting up.

 I’ll probably end up delaying on getting her till Tuesday, I want to get everything set up before I take her to her new house.I will definitely be providing more pictures of her and probably a video once she gets here!

[Beka27]

New hay can be given to her right away.

Your pellet schedule sounds good. You want to make the transition over the course of 3 weeks.
Week 1: 25% new/ 75% old
Week 2: 50/50
Week 3: 75% new/ 25% old
After that… only the new food.

Since she’s young, she’s on “unlimited” pellets until 7 months approximately. Are you planning on transitioning her to alfalfa and then transitioning her to timothy, or will you be doing timothy pellets from the get-go and providing alfalfa hay instead?

If she’s on veggies I would keep her on veggies, but stick with one type. Ask what she’s getting now and give that to her for a few weeks while she gets used to the new home. It’s a myth that rabbits can’t have veggies until 3 months. That’s ONLY if they were not already getting it very young. Bunnies should be eating whatever mama bun is eating, so if mom gets veggies, babies should too. This means that her gut is already developed enough to handle the veggies.

I would look for a linoleum remnant like I said, at least 4.5 x 4.5 feet square. Eventually, you can get inexpensive rag rugs or fleece blankets that can be thrown in the wash, but the lino is nice because it’s water proof, both against urine and the occasional spilled water bowl or leaky water bottle.

Many bunnies chew the puzzle mats, these can lead to an intestinal blockage, so they aren’t really recommended.

[Alan]

Posted By Beka27 on 03/23/2013 05:45 AM

New hay can be given to her right away.

Your pellet schedule sounds good. You want to make the transition over the course of 3 weeks.
Week 1: 25% new/ 75% old
Week 2: 50/50
Week 3: 75% new/ 25% old
After that… only the new food.

Since she’s young, she’s on “unlimited” pellets until 7 months approximately. Are you planning on transitioning her to alfalfa and then transitioning her to timothy, or will you be doing timothy pellets from the get-go and providing alfalfa hay instead?

If she’s on veggies I would keep her on veggies, but stick with one type. Ask what she’s getting now and give that to her for a few weeks while she gets used to the new home. It’s a myth that rabbits can’t have veggies until 3 months. That’s ONLY if they were not already getting it very young. Bunnies should be eating whatever mama bun is eating, so if mom gets veggies, babies should too. This means that her gut is already developed enough to handle the veggies.

Sounds good!! Thank you for all the information! I guess I bought the wrong things…I bought the exact reverse. I bought alfalfa pellets and timothy hay. Will this be a problem?
I’ll report back once I figure out what kind of veggies she’s currently on. I have no clue what the mom bunny was eating, she got the bunny from jacks aquarium not too long ago.

[jerseygirl]

The alfalfa pellets and Timothy hay sounds right. Especially if she is currently eating alfalfa based pellets.

I use Lino/vinyl flooring under pens and it works well.
Look for something textured that will give her some traction.

If using linoleum over carpet, I do suggest using an old bed sheet between the carpet and the lino remnant if possible. Sometimes Lino or vinyl can cause yellowing of the carpet. It happens with the backings of carpet mats too.

[Alan]

Posted By jerseygirl on 03/23/2013 09:38 AM

The alfalfa pellets and Timothy hay sounds right. Especially if she is currently eating alfalfa based pellets.

I use Lino/vinyl flooring under pens and it works well.
Look for something textured that will give her some traction.

If using linoleum over carpet, I do suggest using an old bed sheet between the carpet and the lino remnant if possible. Sometimes Lino or vinyl can cause yellowing of the carpet. It happens with the backings of carpet mats too.

I have no idea what pellets she’s currently on. I will try to get that information tonight.

Good idea! I wouldn’t want Tulip sliding all over the place in her playpen, that wouldn’t be such a good way to start our friendship would it

 

How should I clean and disinfect the lino mat? Wouldn’t bleach hurt her? Will a scented electric room air freshener hurt her? I have an electrical glade air freshener that uses gel pads and heats it up to freshen up the room. 

 

I know I keep coming up with random questions but seriously I really really appreciate everyone that’s helped me! I just want to make sure her life is not short lived because of something as simple and silly as an air freshener that’s toxic to her. 

[Deleted User]

I use a 50/50 mix of water and vinegar to clean anything that is near the buns. And I have to seriously commend you. Most people just jump into getting a pet. There needs to be more responsible pet owners in this world like you!

[Alan]

Posted By Skipper’s Mama on 03/23/2013 11:11 AM

I use a 50/50 mix of water and vinegar to clean anything that is near the buns. And I have to seriously commend you. Most people just jump into getting a pet. There needs to be more responsible pet owners in this world like you!

Thank you! I’m just trying to do my best for her!

Does vinegar really kill all the harmful bacteria and disinfect though? 😮

 Also, she has been eating salad (not sure what this consists of…), carrots, and radishes…are these bad or good for her?  I’ve been reading that radishes need to be rotated due to their…oxalic acid? or something like that.

 The owner informed me I could pick her up today but my room is just not quite ready…need to vacuum and re-arrange a few things and figure out how i’m going to block stuff off for her. I need to buy a tarp for the carpet during her time out of the play pen.

 

[Svandis]

Not to be a NIC/cube/grids pusher, but they work GREAT for blocking off areas and they can be short or tall, depending on how you need it to be. Rabbits tend to chew anything cardboard but its perfectly fine inthe beginning. I bought my grids off amazon cause we can’t get them in Norway, but I’ve heard they have it at Bed, bath and beyond (I think it’s called). The ones at target come in different sizes in the same package, where some of the grids have holes that are too big so the buns can get their little heads stuck. Other than that, you seem to be doing great! Can’t wait to see pics of it all

[Deleted User]

The vinegar really kills the bacteria. =] If you don’t like the straight vinegar smell you can put slices of lime in the vinegar and let it soak for about a week in the sun. It’ll give it more of a lemon-y smell. =p

Here is the bunny Bible for food: http://rabbit.org/suggested-vegetables-and-fruits-for-a-rabbit-diet/ It’s easiest to find a cheap staple that your bun likes and build on from that to create your bun salad.

[Silly Sungura]

Hi, Alan. If you need to disinfect her area you can safely use diluted bleach – a 1:10 solution – and let it air dry. Diluted vinegar is great for general, daily cleaning. That’s what most of here use. I’d avoid the air freshener; when I have taken my bunny to the vet they always ask me about her environment, and specifically about whether I ever use any air fresheners around her. I’m not sure about the ones you use, what chemicals might be in there, so just to be cautious… For additional clean-up and odor control you can use Nature’s Miracle and have a box of baking soda (up out of her reach, of course) in the room where she’ll be spending most of her time.

 

She’s a cute little bun, and so lucky to have you!!! 

[Alan]

Yes! I have all those websites bookmarked and I read it when I can! Thanks again for chiming in everyone…never had a message board that was so informative and helpful!!!

I will be avoiding the air freshener. I think the litter bedding I picked out should be strong enough, I hope. I will look for some non-chemical deodorizers.
She’ll be in my bedroom and I KNOW my mom is going to say “that stupid bunny is stinking up your room and I can’t stand it”

I’m just trying to take every measure I can so I can say see! bunnies don’t stink. I just need to litter train her first.

I’m having trouble finding room for the pen in my tiny room. (D’oh! I know, facepalm! I should’ve checked first..)

But so far I’ve found a configuration of 2 feet length by 4 feet width right next to my bed would work. I’m trying to get a 4 x 4 configuration going but it’s tough in my tiny room!

On a side note, I will definitely be getting her Tuesday as soon as I can get my pen + flooring setup…the hay / carefresh litter should be here Monday and the pellets + pen by Tuesday I’ve got a little cardboard upside down box for her so she can get some bunny time…and a few home made toys for her till I can get some other things! I’m excited for her.

[jerseygirl]

Posted By Alan on 03/23/2013 09:04 PM
Yes! I have all those websites bookmarked and I read it when I can! Thanks again for chiming in everyone…never had a message board that was so informative and helpful!!!

Haha! We are a tad bunny obsessed here. We’ll take any opportunity to talk about them.

I agree with suggestion of vinegar water mix OR 10% bleach solution for cleaning. Just never both together.
Another use for vinegar is that it can absorb odours. So placing some bowls of it around in the room would help. Plus it’s so cheap.

With a pen, if space is tight, you could leave the pen smaller and add a level to it later when she’s a bit older. So she’ll be able to jump up and check out what’s going on. No doubt she’ll be doing that on top of her cardboard hidey house before too long.

[Alan]

Alright everyone…I have some unfortunate news…

So all the stuff arrived for little Tulip today, but the more I thought about it, the less it worked out. I’ve decided it was best for someone who has more time for her to take her. I should’ve thought about it a little more before I jumped in. I hardly have any room in my room, and I’m gone most of the day so I don’t want her to be lonely.

As I said, my mom hates animals in the house, and no one else in my household would be capable to take care of her if I go on vacation or have to leave the house for an extended time. I’m a college student, and a student pilot and money is tight. That being said, I may be transferring colleges away from home…so that would leave another problem and I would have to give her away, as it would be difficult to fit her and everything else in my tiny car.

I wouldn’t want to give her away after we bond, it would be like saying hey I’ll be your best friend for a year and then say bye forever. I want someone that would be there for her in the long run. I really didn’t want to make this decision but it’s the only option I have. Although I really do wish I could take little Tulip home.

Thank you again everyone who chimed in on this to help me out…I really appreciate everyone’s time and efforts. You guys have been very helpful, more than what I could have asked for. In the long run, I now know what to expect before getting a bunny, and I definitely will be getting one in the future, so this thread will be saved for future references. So expect me to come floating back around here in a few years

[Beka27]

I’m sorry, Alan. I really am. That’s a hard decision to make, but I’m sure you’ve thought it out. When the time is right you will be a fantastic bunny owner.

Good luck with your schooling. I hope to see you around soon.

[Sarita]

Alan, I totally agree with Beka – tough decision but the right one for you at this time. You are definitely going to be a fabulous bunny owner someday when the time is right for you.

[jerseygirl]

I agree, a rabbit in the future will be lucky if you adopt it.

It must have been hard but it’s a mature decision.

Will Tulip stay with your friend?

[Alan]

I’m not really sure what’s going to happen with Tulip. My friend’s mom wants to keep her, but someone else is also interested in her so she’s not really sure what to do yet. I’m hoping the next owner plans on taking just as good as care of her as I was.

I visited Tulip the other day, and I had the urge to change my mind and bring her home anyways…and she’s already getting bigger!

[jerseygirl]

If you have some time to spare, you could put together a care sheet for her with what you’ve learnt. I think the new owner could benefit from it and it might make you feel happier too. Of course, you’re not her carer and are in no way obliged to do this. It’s just a suggestion. : )

[iluvbunbun]

You’ll be ok:-) having a new bunny is a change for everyone but I think it’s a great change once he gets used to everything and everybody. I think building trust is very important. Bunnies like quiet and not a lot of commotion. They love to be petted and talked to. You can fill a bowl with pellets and hay plus fresh water at all times should be available to him. Be careful of wires and things. Brushing and grooming him are important as well as keeping his nails trimmed. He should see a vet once a year for a checkup and its good to get him checked out when you first get him. You should leave a few wooden chew toys around for him to chew on because they’re teeth are always growing. They like to find a safe spot to lay and stuff like under a chair or something. Some bunnies like to be held and some don’t and some bunnies play with balls and stuff. My bunny likes to take walks and naw on the grass outside and bunnies like to dig little holes everywhere. I give my bunny yogurt drops and granola bars for bunnies that they sell at the pet store. I hand feed him those and some veggies sometimes like carrots and such. A good rabbit care book would be good to read and you’ll have to choose whether or not to get him fixed and whether or not you’ll potty train him. Bunnies like a clean cage and a lot of attention and love. I think bunnies make the best pets:-) good luck with everything and I hope you enjoy having him.

[Beka27]

iluvbunbun: This thread has ended already. This member has decided that he will NOT be getting a rabbit at this time. Please do not respond to old and/or resolved threads.

I am going to lock this now to prevent any further posts.

[Author]

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