New Here

[caviesnbuns]

Hey everyone. I am new here and I am new to bunnies. I currently do not own a bunny, but hopefully will by next February or March. I just have some questions about these wonderful little guys.

1. About how much per month does it cost for a single rabbit?

2. What are the best ways to bond with your new furry friend?

3. How much food would I feed per day to a holland or mini lop?

4. Best ways to bunnyproof?? Ideas?

5. Best brands of food, hay, and treats?

6. How can I clip their nails without having the bun freak out?

7. What are your bunnies favorite vegetables and how much of that vegetable do you feed them?

Answers to these questions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

 

[Stickerbunny]

1. About how much per month does it cost for a single rabbit?

I spend about $100 a month on my two rabbits, but when I had one it wasn’t much cheaper – salad and hay lasted a little longer. Depends on how much you can buy hay / veggies for really, the litter isn’t that expensive and toys are pretty cheap if you get creative. If there is a local farm that sells hay near you, or farmers market with cheap vegs, can help on costs.

2. What are the best ways to bond with your new furry friend?

They are prey animals, so best to just lay in their room with them and let them come to you. Some like being pet, some are more hands off, some are cuddly, some aren’t… just learn what yours likes.

3. How much food would I feed per day to a holland or mini lop?

Depends on weight, age, etc. http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/diet.html House rabbit society’s diet page is a good place to start

4. Best ways to bunnyproof?? Ideas?

NIC panels, lots of them. They are great for blocking off any area you don’t want a bun to get into. Plastic wire coverings, they come in different styles for your home.

5. Best brands of food, hay, and treats?

Oxbow is a good brand for all of the above.

6. How can I clip their nails without having the bun freak out?

Bunny burrito! Again though it is learning what works for the rabbit you own. Mine prefer to be held against my chest. They are going to be scared no matter what, they don’t like being held down and messed with.

7. What are your bunnies favorite vegetables and how much of that vegetable do you feed them?

Carrots and broccoli and not too much – broccoli causes gas and carrots are high in sugar, so every few days they get some. Romaine they like too though and they can have a lot of that. They really like the stuff they shouldn’t eat a lot though!

[caviesnbuns]

Thank you so much for replying. That information is very helpful. I am really excited about getting a bunny and I want to make sure I am doing everything right. Thanks again!

[Beka27]

Welcome. I’m guessing from your screen name that you already have guinea pigs, so you probably have a good source for bulk hay. The most expensive part of your monthly cost will be veggies. With two buns, I spend between $60-80 a month on veggies. With one bun, I would expect to spend $10 a week on veggies. Hay and litter is cheap for me b/c I buy it in bulk and use alternative options. I don’t purchase anything in petstores b/c the costs are far too high.

Stickerbunny gave a very brief overview, but for more details answers, I’d recommend you just hang out on the site and read current and previous threads on these topics. You can also check out rabbit.org for articles about all of these subjects and more.

[Stickerbunny]

Just make sure you don’t rush into it and do the research. Buns can be destructive, especially when young, so if you want a more calm bunny try a rescue for an adult. And make sure you give them plenty of exercise space in their cage/xpen.

[caviesnbuns]

Ok. Thank you everyone for your comments. I have found a shelter near me and they currently have 11 bunnies up for adoption. Even though I can’t get one quite yet, I am hoping to visit the shelther this weekend to check out the buns.

[LoveChaCha]

1. About how much per month does it cost for a single rabbit?
It varies. I spend about $4 a week on veggies. I use wood stove pellets for litter, and that runs $5 a bag for 40 lbs. I have 4 bags stored away and it has taken me 4 months to go through one bag for one rabbit. Definitely handy and very cheap. Just make sure there are no additives! I buy my hay online, which can be pricey with shipping, but I have a picky rabbit so it brings the cost up a bit..

2. What are the best ways to bond with your new furry friend?

Lay down on the ground, read a book, ignore ignore ignore. They will come to you. Rabbits are super curious by nature

3. How much food would I feed per day to a holland or mini lop?

It would vary by how old they are and if they are chubby or not, etc. many factors! The pellets that you choose will tell you how much is needed.

4. Best ways to bunnyproof?? Ideas?

NIC grids + zip ties are the most cheapest way and most effective in my opinion.

5. Best brands of food, hay, and treats?

I’m currently switching to American Pet Diner. My rabbit gets unlimited Orchard Hay and Timothy Gold by APD. She gets a raisin a day or Oxbow Cranberry and Rosemary mix.

6. How can I clip their nails without having the bun freak out?

You can either take them to the vet to get it done, or learn with a friend. Or the bunny burrito. I do it myself..

7. What are your bunnies favorite vegetables and how much of that vegetable do you feed them?
My rabbit prefers greens. She dislikes carrots and wants nothing to do with them. She likes romaine, cilantro, italian parsley and wheat grass.

[mocha200]

 

 

1. About how much per month does it cost for a single rabbit?

Like every one said before it varies. With two rabbits I spend about $40 on veggies, $5 on litter. I use horse stall pellets comes in a 40lb bag and last me 1-2 months, I also buy pellets which are $9 for 10lbs but it takes them 2-3 months to go through one bag, then what ever else I need such as toys, blankets, treats ect. So I would say I spend about $55 a month altogether with 2 buns.

2. What are the best ways to bond with your new furry friend?

Like others have said, sit on the floor and wait for the bunny to come up to you, If they like to be pet you can then pet them. If not you could offer them healthy treats.

3. How much food would I feed per day to a holland or mini lop?

It depends on the age and weight of your rabbit.

4. Best ways to bunnyproof?? Ideas?

NIC cubes are good for blocking off areas you don’t want them in like others have said, But I use a dog exercise pen to block off my bed and cords.

5. Best brands of food, hay, and treats?

I like Oxbow as well for pellets and treats. For hay I get mine at a local farm. I get 1 bale for $3 and they go through 5- 6 bales a year.

6. How can I clip their nails without having the bun freak out?

every bunny is different. One of my bunnies likes it better when I have her on a table and lift one paw up at a time and clip them. My other bun does better on my lap.

7. What are your bunnies favorite vegetables and how much of that vegetable do you feed them?

My bunnies LOVE Parsley and Romain lettuce. They get it every week and it never gets old to them. I feed my two bunnies 4-5 cups of veggies a day.

 

 

[Sam and Lady's Human]

I only have 1bun
. About how much per month does it cost for a single rabbit?
The first year bunnies basically eat all you can eat pellets, so that goes pretty quick, I’d say a bag at $10 every 6 weeks? Then I buy in “bulk” at the local BJ’s, Romaine lettuce, Kale, Parsley or another veg every 2 weeks, about $7 max, then a bag of baby carrots lasts about a month. I also give the occasional treat of craisens and banana, and then a $10 bag of timothy hay lasts me awhile, maybe 2-3 months. And I’ll usually buy Orchard grass to add to the mix so thats another $7 for about 3-4 months worth. And last I use Cellsorb for the litterbox, a huge $25 bag lasts about 6 months. And a “little known secret” to me anyway is that rabbits aren’t meant for cages, they need to be able to run and stretch their legs, much like a cat or a dog. A exercise pen (xpen) works great as “home base” for bunny, alot here use NIC pens too.

2. What are the best ways to bond with your new furry friend? IME, Handle often as a baby, not holding as much as getting them used to you clipping nails and brushing them. Leave a slept in shirt with your scent in the pen, and don’t take them out of their cage/pen, open the door and let them explore you (or go in and ignore them, read a book etc, let your bunny approach you.

3. How much food would I feed per day to a holland or mini lop? There’s some great articles on the top of the window that have all the feeding guidelines

4. Best ways to bunnyproof?? Ideas? I have aquarium tubing on all my cords and Fooey spray on all the wood. Our latest battle is Samson digging up the carpet so I’m trying to figure out how to stop that.

5. Best brands of food, hay, and treats? Oxbow here, I don’t buy treats though, she’ll just get a little fruit or something on occasion. No more than a thumbful I believe is the guideline.

6. How can I clip their nails without having the bun freak out? Take them to the vet I hate clipping samsons, she freaks out. I have to roll her in a towel and then work fast. There are youtube videos I think.

7. What are your bunnies favorite vegetables and how much of that vegetable do you feed them? I’m still cycling through the veggie list from this website, so far Kale is a big hit, romaine she always likes, she also likes parsley, kinda likes mint, and really eats just about everything. I aim for 2-3 cups of veggies but I really have no idea how much that is. But she eats it all, and doesn’t look fat…

If you do get a bunny, also research your spay/neuter fee’s, there are a lot more pros than cons to getting them fixed but it can really add to the cost.

[caviesnbuns]

Thank you all. The shelter closest to me offers neutering service for $60 and spaying services for $80. They also have rabbits that have already been fixed. I will definitely be adopting from there.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Welcome!!

1. About how much per month does it cost for a single rabbit? Your major costs in the first year will be your pre-spay/neuter exam and the surgery itself. Major costs will always be vet exams, but a yearly annual physical is about 50-100$ Here’s a breakdown of costs, about midway down the page is your monthly expenses https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/CostofHavingaBunny/tabid/145/Default.aspx

2. What are the best ways to bond with your new furry friend? Keep interactions quick, bunnies don’t want to be held for hours, and sometimes not even minutes. Read up here how to ‘read’ your bunnies body language http://language.rabbitspeak.com/

3. How much food would I feed per day to a holland or mini lop? rule of thumb is 1/4 to 1/2 cup per six lbs of rabbit. As a young bunny you’ll feed more http://rabbit.org/faq/sections/diet.html#babies https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/Diet/tabid/60/Default.aspx

4. Best ways to bunnyproof?? Ideas? https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/BunnyProofingYourHome/tabid/61/Default.aspx

5. Best brands of food, hay, and treats? I like Oxbow for food, hay I’ll buy anything that looks good, just had a great bag of Zupreem. Treats I go with fruit and dried fruit, or oxbow papaya tabs

6. How can I clip their nails without having the bun freak out? Get your bunny really used to being handled. And have the vet help you the first time

7. What are your bunnies favorite vegetables and how much of that vegetable do you feed them? The amounts are covered in the link on diet I posted. I usually bring in a full dinner plate of veggies with a small amount of fruit on top-that’s for my two bunnies and one is almost ten lbs My bunnies love romaine, parsley, cilantro, kale and raddichio but will eat almost anything

Can’t wait to see pictures when you get your bunny Great that you are doing your research well ahead of time

[caviesnbuns]

Thank you everyone. I am very excited about the new addition and will for sure post pics when I get one. I have been wanting a bunny for some time now and my dad told me if I did well in school and got a job, I could get a rabbit. A friend of mine got a rabbit on impulse because he was “so cute.” I tried to tell her that he would be a handful and would need training but she didn’t believe me. She didn’t have the willpower or patience to train him and now the poor fella lives in little petsmart cage, in the garage, with little human contact. He freaks whenever someone touches him and hates to be taken out of his cage. I have been doing all the research I can so this will not happen with me and my future bun. I wish she would give him to the shelter so that a nice family could adopt him. Sorry for the long story but I really needed to vent Thanks again everybody!

[Monkeybun]

Keep in mind that with school AND a job, you may not have much time with bunny. You’re young still, and will want a social life too. Then what happens with college? Will you be able to have a bunny with you in a dorm? They live long lives, 10+ years. Take this into consideration as well. You may want one now, but what happens later on, when you have to pay rent and a pet deposit, then repairs for any bunny damages, etc.

Think it through

[Beka27]

Would your friend be willing to give you her bunny? Sounds like he could use a new place.

And Monkey makes important point about the future. Since rabbits can live 10+ years, and colleges typically DO NOT allow animals, you would need to make arrangements for any pets you had when that time comes. Are your parents going to be the primary caretakers if you go away for school?

[bunnyfriend]

Everyone here is given good information (: I’ll say my rabbit costs though because it does vary.

Random time expenses: Regular vet checkup $66. Emergency and other things like procedures, tests, medicine, etc. way more.
Oxbow Papaya Fruit Plus tablets $7, new bottle about every 3 months. Petromalt for molting/emergencies $8 yearly (I barely use it but I don’t want it to get old). Styptic powder $10, however I’ve never had to use it but it is necessary to keep in case you hit a quick. The first initial time when you buy all your rabbit supplies (water/food dishes, litter box, ect..) will cost quite a bit but a lot of those purchases you won’t have to make again, BinkyBunny has a great page on that that breaks down the costs for you.

Monthly/weekly: Litter $8 weekly, although there are much cheaper options. Food pellets $9 about every month (she’s still a baby so she gets to eat a lot more). Hay $30 for a 25 pound bale Oxbow. Veggies/fruits hard to tell because my family and I eat them too and we have a guinea pig. I also have to buy toys and other random stuff too.

Your state’s chapter of the House Rabbit Society might have hay pick-ups like my state’s does, it’s good quality and about $7 for a bale. Very good deal! And it’s great that that shelter is doing spays for $80! I have to get Wilbur spayed in the next few months and it’s going to cost $400+.

A big thing is time though. Be prepared to wake up earlier in the morning (before work or school) so you can clean litter box, feed, change water, clean up messes, and give some attention. And they do need a lot of attention. Bunnies can get lonely easily. Consider adopting a bonded pair or going “bunny dating” at your shelter to find your bun a friend. Oh and I would definitely reccomend adopting an adult, especially if it’s your first bunny, I know from experience (: And I’m really glad your adopting from a shelter, there are so many great bunnies patiently waiting for good homes!

[caviesnbuns]

Thank you for your concern. My parents would most likely be the primart caretakers if I couldn’t take the bunny to college with me. My dad is as excited about getting a rabbit as I am. I am going to apply for a job at a nursery/livestock feed store and I can choose my own hours. If I get the job(crossing fingers), I will work 1-2 hours after school and 4-6 on saturdays. I already wake up at 5 am even though school starts at 8. I am prepared to get up earlier if needed to care for my future bun. @beka27 I highly doubt my friend would give me her bun. She says she loves him yet she uses cat litter in his litterbox and cleans it out MAYBE once a week. She also complains he eats too much and hates having to feed him everyday. She says the same thing about her cat too. Another problem is that I just moved out of state.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Hmmmm maybe your friend will be even more tired of her bunny when you are ready to get one! That would be great-you’d get a bunny and be rescuing one!

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