New to bunnies and forum

[mvr168]

Hello,

I will be getting two seven week old bunnies this week and will likely be asking for a lot of advice. I owned a mini rex back when I was a kid but its now been over 20 yrs since I have owned a rabbit. My new babies are a holland lop and a mini rex. My daughter and I are quite excited to bring them home. Any tips are most definitely welcome. I am planning to house them together inside but also want them to bond with us. I am looking to have a large setup with linoleum as the flooring and a exercise pen that is about 8′ x 4′ as the enclosure. I am wondering how high it needs to be so they can not jump out? 

[Shadow13]

My 4 month old Netherland dwarf can jump 2 feet easily. I would say make it at least 3 feet. Some rabbits will even jump that so then you would have to make it 4 feet. Some rabbits aren’t interested in jumping so they may not jump the pen but others just always what to escape and get into trouble.

[Luna]

Hi! Do you have names for them yet? 3 feet high seems to be standard.

[mvr168]

No names yet. Open to name suggestions . The mini rex is white with black spots and the holland is a light cream colour with a grey face. I was looking at pens that are 2 ft high. Should I just put a top on it? Or is it best to find one that is higher. The rest of the house is not bunny proof and my toddler may leave things around so I do not want them getting into trouble when I’m at work.

[Wick & Fable]

A ceiling would work if that’s something you can put on the pen. Some have those.

Make sure your toddler doesn’t try to interact with the rabbit too much until you have established a bond with the rabbit and have learned it’s personality as it concerns petting and such. I know some children get very grabby with soft cute bunnies, but many bunnies don’t enjoy it and it makes them scared!

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[DanaNM]

Congrats on the babies and welcome! So exciting!

I have a 36″ high pen and it works well. 2 ft is too low. If you opt for even higher, you’ll be able to add some hide-boxes and things for them to climb on with less fear about them jumping out.

You may already know this, but if you plan to have them live together you’ll need to spay/neuter both and properly bond them after they are altered. 

You didn’t mention the sexes, but buns can get pregnant very early, and if the same sex, they may suddenly start fighting when their hormones kick in. I don’t know the exact age off the top of my head, but you should plan to have separate housing for them once they hit puberty and while they are recovering from their surgeries, and during bonding, etc. This can even be dividing up the pen, so long as they cannot nip each other through the bars. 

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[mvr168]

I think I will add the ceiling and my daughter has been told to let them come to her. 

They are both females. The breeder said only males fight is that not true? I hadn’t planned to spay them since they are both females and I do not intend to get a male. Silly question but I am a total newbie so do they need to be spayed?

As a kid our mini rex ingested something at a year old and needed surgery and ended up dying post-op so i am very worried about any operation that is not necessary since they seem so fragile.

[tobyluv]

Yes, they both need to be spayed. That breeder is totally wrong. They should be spayed for health reasons (due to a high incidence of uterine cancer) and for behavioral reasons, and the first step in bonding is always for both rabbits, no matter what sex, to be spayed or neutered. They should be separated before they are 12 weeks of age. When puberty hits, there can be aggression and territorial feelings, which can lead to fighting. When rabbits fight, they can severely injure each other. Any fighting can also make any future bonding hard to accomplish. Their cages or pens can be in the same room, but they shouldn’t be together at all, not even for play and exercise time. They will have to take turns with that. After they are spayed, and about a month has elapsed, you can start on the permanent bonding. You can keep them together for a few more weeks, then they will have to be separated.

[mvr168]

Thanks tobyluv. I am thankful for the information. I must say I am feeling quite unprepared now that much of the things I had been told by the breeder are not true. I will have to really think if I should get both or not. I wanted them to have company. I was not prepared to need two cages and I was told they do not need to be spayed so this has thrown me for a bit of a loop here. I did read up after your comment and the uterine cancer incidence rate was shockingly high . I will definitely spay them whether I get one or two. I think I’ll have a chat with the breeder and go from there. One bunny might be a better option with my lack of experience.

[Boston's Mama]

Name suggestions:

Black and white girl
Minnie Mouse
Domino
Or name after back n white photographers

Cream (girl)
Willow
Brûlée

[Jumpy's mom]

Jumpy’s pen is 2 feet high and he does’t try to jump it unless his house or his step stool is right next to the the walls of the x pen.

[DanaNM]

Posted By mvr168 on 7/19/2017 9:57 PM

Thanks tobyluv. I am thankful for the information. I must say I am feeling quite unprepared now that much of the things I had been told by the breeder are not true. I will have to really think if I should get both or not. I wanted them to have company. I was not prepared to need two cages and I was told they do not need to be spayed so this has thrown me for a bit of a loop here. I did read up after your comment and the uterine cancer incidence rate was shockingly high . I will definitely spay them whether I get one or two. I think I’ll have a chat with the breeder and go from there. One bunny might be a better option with my lack of experience.

So sorry the breeder gave you the wrong info! But I’m so glad you sought help while there was still time to plan accordingly!  

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, your intuition to start with only one makes sense and might be the least stressful way to go. Then you can get her spayed (for medical reasons anyway), and then if you are up for bonding later you can adopt another. 

Not sure if there are any rescues in your area, but they often have already bonded pairs in need of homes, and any rabbits they adopt out will already be spayed/neutered. They will also often let you bring your bunny on “dates” so they can choose their own friend.  

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

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