New 5-week-old bunnies, need some help!

[MarybellexJamie]

So today, April 1st, me, my dad, my sister, her friend and two of my friends, went to a farm-market place. We went to the auction section where all animals were. My sister saw 2 baby rabbits in a cage and begged my dad for them. I wanted them but at the same time I didn’t because I also wanted a hamster. I knew if she got the rabbits, I wouldn’t get my hamster. Well we ended up buying them anyway, don’t get me wrong, I really love them but my mom is the problem. She said yes then when we came home with them, for some reason she was complaining about them, which makes no sense. Also, which really sucks, they’re 1 male and 1 female (probably, according to most of the people we asked). And I really don’t want to completely separate them from each other because they’re siblings. What makes matters even worse, my mom put them in the basement. In fact, this is what the thread is mainly about, I really need someone to answer my question. So, the basement is cold, dark and I’m paranoid of rats being there, attacking the bunnies if they are. But the thing is, the basement has a slightly toxic scent, caused by the laundry room. I could fix the rest of the problems with the basement but I’m mostly concerned about the smell from it. Please, please tell me if that smell could harm the little bunnies? I’m very worried if they’ll get a lung infection or something. Also, my mom put them in there because they have a slight odor and kinda stink up the room they’re in. I don’t smell anything but she does. Is there a way to get rid of that odor or is that how they just naturally are? So yeah basically, the most important thing that I’m asking is:

WILL THE SLIGHTLY TOXIC SMELL FROM THE BASEMENT HARM THE BUNNIES IN ANYWAY??

My mother will not listen. She even went as far as to say that she doesn’t care if they’ll die! I think it’s just ridiculous that she said that! She said yes to them, she should have been prepared for the responsibilities of owning them! 

[BanditCamp]

In regards to the question of your mother uses ammonia (bleach) it could possibly hurt them. As for the other dangers being in a cold dark basement is no place for a indoor bunny. The rabbits do not smell in fact the only thing my bunny smells about is IF I clean his litter box.

I’m also unsure on how your keeping the rabbits in regards to a habitat as this would give me some place to start. With no information to go off i can only offer you this advice:

– owning a rabbit is a huge responsibility, they are not like other pets and require immense care.

– owning a rabbit is a possible 10 year commitment as the average lifespan of a rabbit varies from 6 to 10 years on good care and spaying and neutering rabbits.

– knowing the age of the rabbit is important as this will prevent accidental litters. If you think the rabbits are more than 12 weeks old I would suggest separating them (play time is ok) but if you see them mounting and rolling off the boy is trying to impregnate the girl.

– rabbits need unlimited hay, especially alfalfa if they are babies, this is very important as this is a main stable of their diet. Pellets are also good as well especially oxbow pellets (get the right kind for the correct age group)

– if your rabbits are caged ensure that they have the minimum ABRA space for bunnies. For one rabbit at lease 8sqFt (2x4ft)is reccomened so for two it would be at least 16sqFt (2ftx8ft or 4ftx4ft) with at least 24 inches high for dwarf rabbits or 36 inches for larger breeds.

– always have fresh water daily for your rabbit, personally I use a bowl as bandit drinks at least a full American waterbottle a day.

– taking your rabbits to a veterinarian is very important. You must call and ensure that the vet is comfortable and qualified for rabbits and ask how many rabbits he sees a year. And if he does the spaying or neutering and how much it costs. He can also sex your rabbits to ensure their actual gender and if their old enough from their nails for the first time.

I can go in depth all night long but the easiest way to explain what you have gotten into is to watch this playlist from 101rabbits as it helped me.

– Before Getting A Rabbit: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtSKeXdJV84mdsqUFYvJ1z8Bkhqd7LQB-

If you need help trying to build a cage from nic shelves I have a pdf in my habitat folder that can give you a basic start (click image in my signature)

Remember to play with your rabbits during their active times at sunrise and sunset and ensure that you let the rabbit become comfortable with you. Try not to approach them or pick them up cause most rabbits don’t like that and after a good while they will let you pet them. At this point they are scared and not used to anyone or anything, loud noises will scare them and they need support.

The biggest concern I have is make sure that they are being kept between 60-80 degrees ferienheight as I fear with your basement it will get too cold or hot in summer. Put fleeces and other things like soft towels in boxes where they can hide in case they get scared and can stay warm.

[Azerane]

I suspect the smell of the rabbits could possibly be from urine staining in the fur. With young rabbits in a cage with each other, sometimes they get peed on, or lay in another bunnies pee and the smell stays in the fur for a little while. However with good litter box hygiene the smell will go away in a couple of weeks. In terms of their gender and separating them. If they are truly 5 weeks old I would be keeping them together for now, especially if the basement is cold just so that they can snuggle with one another. But you’ll want to separate them by about 10 weeks so that they can’t become sexually mature or hormonal and start to fight etc.

The smell from your laundry being toxic really depends on what is being used. If your basement is a decent size, keeping them at the far opposite end should keep them well away from it. It’s concerning that your mum does not care about them after bringing them home. It becomes very difficult when you rely on your parents for the money for things, to care properly for a pet without parents support of that pet.

[sarahthegemini]

Wow, your Mum sounds lovely 

Owning rabbits is a huge responsibility. They are not the type of animal you just get on a whim. I encourage you and your family to do some proper research. Leaving them in a cold dark basement, where there is a possibility of rats and toxic fumes is absolutely disgusting. I’m sorry but this makes me really angry. And you must separate them when they are old enough. It doesn’t matter if they’re siblings. And it doesn’t matter if you ‘don’t want to separate them’ They will mate.

[MarybellexJamie]

@BanditCamp 

Thanks for the information I was kind of freaking out yesterday and exaggerating a bit. The basement usually isn’t that cold at all, there are no signs of rats whatsoever and the toxic smell has kind of faded away since them and their cage has been there. Me and my friend (she was with me when we bought them yesterday and slept over) cleaned the cage, gave them fresh water, asked my mom to go buy hay (which she did) and my mother has gotten used to them a little bit and don’t mind them as much.

[MarybellexJamie]

@Azerane

Thanks for the info And yes, I am planning on separating them when they are older but what I meant by, ”I don’t want to COMPLETELY separate them” is I don’t want to give one away. And I’m planning on spaying/neutering them. Also I literally just joined this website last night, I hope I’m doing the replying thing right lol

[MarybellexJamie]

@sarahthegemini

Yes, I know owning rabbits is a big responsibility, which is why I’m doing everything I can to care for them. And yes, I know they are not the type of animal that you can get out of the blue. You should tell my sister that, she was the one who begged my dad for them and I had nothing to do with it, yet I’m the one doing all the work. And as I said previously, I was exaggerating because I was freaking out. The basement is usually a warm temperature, there are absolutely NO signs of rats and I highly doubt there ever will be and the ”toxic fumes” has faded out, even though it didn’t really smell as toxic to begin with. And you misunderstood what I meant by, ”I don’t want to COMPLETELY separate them”. What I meant by that was, I don’t want to give one away because I love both of them equally and my dad was planning on spaying/neutering them but even if we didn’t, I would have obviously kept them in separate cages. I’m not an idiot, I know they would mate. 

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By MarybellexJamie on 4/02/2017 3:30 PM

@sarahthegemini

Yes, I know owning rabbits is a big responsibility, which is why I’m doing everything I can to care for them. And yes, I know they are not the type of animal that you can get out of the blue. You should tell my sister that, she was the one who begged my dad for them and I had nothing to do with it, yet I’m the one doing all the work. And as I said previously, I was exaggerating because I was freaking out. The basement is usually a warm temperature, there are absolutely NO signs of rats and I highly doubt there ever will be and the ”toxic fumes” has faded out, even though it didn’t really smell as toxic to begin with. And you misunderstood what I meant by, ”I don’t want to COMPLETELY separate them”. What I meant by that was, I don’t want to give one away because I love both of them equally and my dad was planning on spaying/neutering them but even if we didn’t, I would have obviously kept them in separate cages. I’m not an idiot, I know they would mate. 

Well, I was shocked at the thought of the bunnies living in such terrible conditions – how was I supposed to know you were exaggerating?  

You don’t need to give one away but you do need to completely separate them so they can’t touch one another.  

[Deleted User]

OMG…I am glad things were not as bad as it seemed.
Good Luck to you and your new buns!

[tobyluv]

Welcome to Binky Bunny! Since you are new to having rabbits, you might need some care tips. Click on the BUNNY INFO link at the top of the page here and you will find a lot of good information on all of the basics of rabbit care.

[BanditCamp]

Also you don’t have to separate them if they are super young. However when they get about 10-12 weeks they can make babies so for now it’s ok but remember that when they get older you need to bond them properly

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