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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Bunny costs

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    • new1bunny
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        I could not find anywhere else this would fit in so I put it here. I researched my bunny and it says there cost is from $30-$75. So based on this 30 and 75 is a big differ, what is it that make the price go up on them?, The breeder?, the Age?. I don’t know, does anyone here know.


      • Sam and Lady's Human
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          The location most likely. Are you looking to sell your new bun???


        • LizzyBunny
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            Do you mean the cost of the bunny or the necessities that come with a bunny?


          • Monkeybun
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              thats just initial price, total cost over time gets to be quite high. I have spent well over $1000 on my buns in the last year alone. Without emergency vet bills.

              with the initial price, it depends alot on where you get the bunny from. breeders will often have varying prices depending on breed, coloring, age and if its show quality or not. rescues will also have different prices depending on where they are.


            • Sarita
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                Yes, what costs are you referring to? In my opinion, if it’s based on the initial costs, neither of those prices are remotely close to what it really costs for the initial supplies, vet visit, etc…


              • new1bunny
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                  I am speaking of the cost of just the Bunny. No cage, food, vet bill or any of that, just the bunny. It states that they cost around $30-75 for a Rex bunny.
                  so what would be the difference if you paid 40 for 1 and 75 for the other?
                  or better yet same as above, same rabbit, same age. what would be the difference in the one that cost more and the one that cost less?


                • Sarita
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                    I have no idea about how breeders or pet stores put prices on rabbits. Rescues costs vary depending on tons of things as well.

                    I’m not sure anyone can give you a definitive answer about why some rabbits are $5, $10, $15, etc…


                  • Sam and Lady's Human
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                      Oh I didn’t think of that. Yeah, initial costs are at least 250 bucks, I’m pretty sure there’s a pretty accurate article here under Bunny Info


                    • new1bunny
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                        well lets see if we can find it.


                      • Sarita
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                          Yes, take a look new1bunny and let us know what you find, I’d be curious to know.


                        • new1bunny
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                            OK, I found this
                            Please email me if you’re interested. Rates will vary upon quality of litter.

                            on this site
                            http://www.wix.com/cbdevey/centralcoastrexrab#!for-sale

                            I sent a msg to her asking how she prices them, I hope to get an answer by tomorrow.

                            And no, I am not planing to sell Dandela
                            I was just wondering if I got a good deal on her or not.


                          • LoveChaCha
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                              Does it matter if you got a good deal on her?
                              A bunny is a bunny, you can’t put a price tag on the bunny.
                              You can put a price on the costs of bunny’s care.


                            • Sam and Lady's Human
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                                Here-
                                http://www.costhelper.com/cost/pets/pet-rabbit.html
                                Higher priced tend to be unusual colors.


                              • new1bunny
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                                  if your bunny is pedigree does that mean it has papers on it.


                                • LoveChaCha
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                                    I have no idea. That would be something to ask a breeder.


                                  • new1bunny
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                                      Posted By LoveChaCha on 04/26/2011 07:43 PM
                                      Does it matter if you got a good deal on her?
                                      A bunny is a bunny, you can’t put a price tag on the bunny.
                                      You can put a price on the costs of bunny’s care.

                                       

                                      A bunny is not just a bunny. Right now I would not sell Dandela for anything. A bunny is a pet, a member of the family. If something happend to your bunny you would not feel bad or anything? I know I would. so I am disagreeing with you there. A bunny is not just a bunny.


                                    • Sam and Lady's Human
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                                        A pedigree just means there’s a record of the rabbits lineage(family tree). It’s not a guarantee of quality, or worth much.


                                      • BinkyBunny
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                                          Posted By new1bunny on 04/26/2011 08:02 PM

                                          Posted By LoveChaCha on 04/26/2011 07:43 PM
                                          Does it matter if you got a good deal on her?
                                          A bunny is a bunny, you can’t put a price tag on the bunny.
                                          You can put a price on the costs of bunny’s care.

                                           

                                          A bunny is not just a bunny. Right now I would not sell Dandela for anything. A bunny is a pet, a member of the family. If something happend to your bunny you would not feel bad or anything? I know I would. so I am disagreeing with you there. A bunny is not just a bunny.

                                          new1bunny, I think you may have misunderstood LoveChaCha.  I am pretty sure that LoveChaCha was meaning it in a way that you actually mean it.  LoveChaCha didn’t say a bunny is JUST a bunny….what was actually said was  A Bunny is a Bunny;You can’t put a price tag on the bunny.  Which is how you see it too.  That a bunny is a member of the family (you can’t put a price tag on them either).   

                                           


                                        • LoveChaCha
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                                            Thank you for clarifying that for me BB

                                            And yes, I would be very upset I do, after all, owe my rabbit my life because she is a joy to me  Thanks for your concern.


                                          • Eepster
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                                              A bunny that more closely fits the breed standard, will cost more than one that doesn’t.


                                            • brittbritt
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                                                I think my Gabby is a mutt of sorts but my pretty mutt.


                                              • Michelle&Lolli
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                                                  It seems to me that rabbits are priced like dogs and cats. Those with a “pedigree” are going to cost more than those without.

                                                  However from looking on craigslist where I live, I have found that prices for bunnies can range from free to $40. I think this depends on the person posting. Those who are responsible pet owners who want to make sure their babies don’t go to just anyone will set a higher price. Those who are just wanting to get rid of them will set a low price or give them away for free. This is true of all pet ads I see on craigslist.

                                                  In the end, does it matter if you got a good deal on her? What matters is that she’s healthy and happy! I know you are just curious about it but most of us don’t really think about that kind of thing. We’re more focused on the health and happiness of our bunnies.


                                                • Elrohwen
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                                                    Honestly, I think the cost varies entirely by where you live. Around here shelters charge $75 – paying for a spay or neuter is over $200 (even with the reduced rate for the shelters) so they need to get some of that money back. Otto came from a breeder and is of relatively decent show quality – he cost $55. I’ve seen bunnies in pet stores for $20. I’m sure in cheaper areas of the country all bunnies are cheaper from the show rabbits to the shelters because the cost to care for them is less.

                                                    In my experience, the cost of the bunny has little to do with the quality or personality, unless you are going to show them and want a rabbit as close as possible to the breed standard (and even then, the price varies considerably)


                                                  • new1bunny
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                                                      I did some more thinking on it, and I think if you have 2 buniies of the same age and breed, but 1 has had a vet exam and the other has not. that the one with an exam will cost more.

                                                      How much do you all think I paid for my Bunny?
                                                      What would you have paid for a Rex Bunny @ 6wks old?
                                                      Let me know, And I will let you know.


                                                    • LizzyBunny
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                                                        I’m just curious as to why you’re going so in depth with this? Curiosity is one thing but testing people to see if they guess the right “price” for your bunny is another. Are you thinking of selling your bunny? Or getting another one?


                                                      • Beka27
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                                                          I have supported rescue organizations when getting my rabbits, so I can’t really speak to what private parties or breeders are selling rabbits for. I don’t think it really matters and it doesn’t change whether or not the rabbit will be “a good house pet”. When you adopt a rabbit thru a rescue or shelter, very often the adoption fee includes a vet exam and the bunny is either already spayed/neutered, will be soon for no extra charge, or you will receive a substantial discount on the surgery. My rabbits’ adoption fees were $50, but because of the benefits from adopting, and the high overhead of rescues, I would feel perfectly comfortable paying $75-100 for an adoption fee.

                                                          Additionally, some rescues will offer a bonded pair for the same cost as a single bunny, or just charge a little bit more.  Maybe $50 for one or $75 for a bonded pair…  Once bonded, a pair has to stay together, so it benefits the rescue and the rabbits to not make the adoption fee of a pair too cost prohibitive.


                                                        • LoveChaCha
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                                                            Some vets will give discounts if people own more than one rabbit.

                                                            As another member posted, they have given you a link to pricing on rabbits.


                                                          • Sam and Lady's Human
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                                                              Posted By new1bunny on 04/27/2011 07:01 AM
                                                              I did some more thinking on it, and I think if you have 2 buniies of the same age and breed, but 1 has had a vet exam and the other has not. that the one with an exam will cost more.

                                                              How much do you all think I paid for my Bunny?
                                                              What would you have paid for a Rex Bunny @ 6wks old?
                                                              Let me know, And I will let you know.

                                                              I wouldn’t pay more for the bunny with the vet visit than the bunny without. Regardless of if he’s had one already, every bunny needs a “Wellbunny” visit, to get a record of a baseline with the vet you’ll have him cared with. So the one whose had one will get another, and the one who hasn’t will get a much needed first.

                                                              As for everything else, it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter if I payed $10 or $100 for my Bun, because he was the one who picked me out  

                                                               


                                                            • mossling
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                                                                why are you so obsessed with whether or not you “got a good deal”? i mean, you paid what you paid without even knowing what breed she was, so you obviously thought she was worth it then. what does it matter what you paid for her? she is a PET, and you love her. however much you paid, she was obviously worth it to you before you knew she was a rex. i can only think of two reasons for this obsession with cost- you want to get rid of her and want to know how much to sell her for, or you are looking to get another, when your first hasn’t even been seen by an actual vet yet and you already have a puppy that you don’t have enough time for.


                                                              • skibunny8503
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                                                                  I really don’t think it matters what you paid for your rabbit. Looking back, I wouldn’t put a price tag on my rabbits. I would pay $100 if I had to. Heck, we’ve paid a little over $1,000 on Gracie (she’s older and has problems) and we’ve only had her for 2 years. And I could care less. I’m taking her to the vet today and the price of her vet bill is the least on my mind, as long as she’s happy and healthy.
                                                                  It depends on where you got the rabbit, maybe what breed they are, if they’re pedigree or not, if they’re fixed or not. There’s too many variables to figure out what’s a good price on a rabbit. But if you ask me, you can’t put a price tag on something you love.


                                                                • new1bunny
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                                                                    Posted By mossling on 04/27/2011 08:52 AM
                                                                    why are you so obsessed with whether or not you “got a good deal”? i mean, you paid what you paid without even knowing what breed she was, so you obviously thought she was worth it then. what does it matter what you paid for her? she is a PET, and you love her. however much you paid, she was obviously worth it to you before you knew she was a rex. i can only think of two reasons for this obsession with cost- you want to get rid of her and want to know how much to sell her for, or you are looking to get another, when your first hasn’t even been seen by an actual vet yet and you already have a puppy that you don’t have enough time for.

                                                                     

                                                                    I would not call it obsession. I am from the south and that is how most people are around here. No I am not getting another one and I am not selling her. If I have spent 1 day with an aniamal. I get an instant and permanent bond with them, And YES I am BUSY, but I make time for everything (including the puppy). I am just curious of cost and pricing things, that’s all. You see I am in school and one of my classes is garden center mgt. In that class we do alot of sales and stuff in the greenhouse and nursery. Because we have sells, we learn how, where, when and how much to sell for. So I guess being in that class has made me like this. I am sorry maybe I should start a better thread.


                                                                  • Sarita
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                                                                      I’m from the south as well and I don’t find people to be that way at all. I don’t think you can compare a pet to a plant either.


                                                                    • LizzieKnittyBun
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                                                                        I’m from the South too… I’m not really sure what that has to do with it.


                                                                      • kralspace
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                                                                          The fair market price for anything (and I hate to include live animals in that but they are) is how much someone else is willing to pay for it. If you think the rabbit is worth $100 for whatever reason, but people will only pay $10 for it, then that’s what the going price is today. Tomorrow something about that rabbit might make people looking to buy willing to pay $200 for the same bunny.

                                                                          The personal value of something is far different. No one could buy my little $5 shelter bunny Toby for ANY amount of money.

                                                                          A lot of us here are from the south.


                                                                        • kralspace
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                                                                            ….and britbrit, Gabby is the MOST adorable’ mutt’ I’ve seen. love his tuxedo.


                                                                          • Dee
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                                                                              New1bunny, I’m glad you found this forum- it’s an amazing place to learn about rabbits. When I found BunBun in my backyard, I knew nothing about rabbits, but once I adopted him I knew I had to learn! There’s nothing wrong with not knowing everything about a new pet. I think rabbits in particular have just recently gotten very popular as house pets and there are still many myths about them- they only eat carrots, they must live outside and can’t be housebroken, you don’t have to neuter or spay them, etc. But they are very smart, sensitive animals with distinct personalities and they need specific foods to stay healthy- and they get sick VERY quickly. That’s why the feeding and enviroment is so important.
                                                                              I don’t want to sound too negative and “scare you off” because it’s great for you and your bunny that you are on this forum. But I do have to say that the price thing rubs people the wrong way because it’s kind of like wondering if your kids are worth all the $$ you spend raising them. Rabbits really do become a part of the family. You mentioned that you have a strong bond with your bunny already and I’m sure you want her to stay healthy. At this point, I think there are some things that are way more important than anything else.
                                                                              Getting your bunny to the vet- a licensed vet- is the 1st step. They have all the special equipment to check out your rabbit properly. And you will want to make plans to get your bunny spayed when she’s old enough- up to 80% of female bunnies who don;t get spayed develop cancer of the reproductive system. So sad and so easily prevented- start saving your $$! The lady that sold her to you may be very nice, but it seems that she forgot to give you some valuable information, such as how important hay is in a rabbit’s diet, how their stomach’s are extremely delicate and any change in diet can cause them to go into GI stasis which can kill them in less than 24 hours, and that rabbits are prey animals and can be very easily frightened by strange people, surrounding and other animals, especially predators. They really need a quiet atmosphere, especially in the first weeks after coming home. Except for a trip to the vet, your bunny should be at home in her own habitat- getting held by different people is not usually fun for rabbits, even if they act OK. In fact, most rabbits don’t like to be picked up at all- mine don’t. Your puppy looks adorable, but as a puppy his impulses are not fully controlled and a split second could mean death for your rabbit. I would not let them have any contact except with a cage between them, and even then very limited. Rabbits can have heart attacks and die just from SEEING a predator, never mind being attacked . I noticed that your bunny’s eyes were bulging with the whites showing in the photo with the dog and that can indicate fear. I know you said she is very relaxed but rabbits tend to “freeze” when they’re scared. They also hide illness a lot- they act fine but can be very sick, which is why we have to be so careful with what we feed them. Speaking of food, my bunny LOVED pellets with stuff in them, but he started to get runny poop, so I switched to Oxbow timothy pellets. That’s what most people here and most vets reccomend. I also heard about ZuPreem pellets which sound good too- I’m gonna try them. And you’re right, alfalfa is good for baby bunnies- as she gets older you will want to add more timothy hay and switch to timothy based pellets. All the labels on pet food and treats say how “wholesome” and “healthy” they are and how they are “specially formulated” for your pet, but remember they are SELLING this product. One of the popular hamster foods (Kaytee) and some others has ethoxyquin in it, which is a preservative and is known to cause cancer in lab animals. They sure don’t say that on their label!
                                                                              I’m not saying these things to make you feel badly and I hope you don’t take them that way. I’m sure that you want your new baby bunny to grow up healthy and safe, and everything you read on here will help ensure that. Rabbits are so fragile, sometimes we do everything we can and still something goes wrong. So we have to try avoid anything that we find out is unsafe for them. This is all a learning experience- there’s still plenty I need to learn about my bunnies and I’ve had them for 3 years. That’s why it’s so nice to be able to ask questions and get real life advice from people who have bunnies, and some are very experienced with them. Even so, nothing takes the place of a vet who can actually look over your bunny. I hope everything goes well with your new bunny and that all this info on here helps .


                                                                            • LizzieKnittyBun
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                                                                                Dee gets a gold star!


                                                                              • new1bunny
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                                                                                  well it is the town I am in really. I was raised here and all. Been here all my life and I know how the people around here are.
                                                                                  Where I am. Most people who get any kind of mutt Mixed breed, feel the need that since it is mixed or they got for free, that they can just feed it scraps instead of the proper diet, and that since it is mixed, it can now be used for show or anything, so they feel there is no need to get shots and all that at a vet. They may get walmart dewormer, and puppy shots from the feed store, but that is about it. Most people around here in my area are very cruel to animals, even the pure breeds.
                                                                                  I am so glad my bunny came from a breeder that was out of town.


                                                                                • Sam and Lady's Human
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                                                                                    Posted By new1bunny on 04/27/2011 04:01 PM
                                                                                    well it is the town I am in really. I was raised here and all. Been here all my life and I know how the people around here are.
                                                                                    Where I am. Most people who get any kind of mutt Mixed breed, feel the need that since it is mixed or they got for free, that they can just feed it scraps instead of the proper diet, and that since it is mixed, it can now be used for show or anything, so they feel there is no need to get shots and all that at a vet. They may get walmart dewormer, and puppy shots from the feed store, but that is about it. Most people around here in my area are very cruel to animals, even the pure breeds.
                                                                                    I am so glad my bunny came from a breeder that was out of town.

                                                                                    So you feel because your townies mistreat their animals, it’s ok to do to yours? I’m a bit confused as to how that is supposed to tie in….

                                                                                    ETA that sounds harsher than I meant it, I’m just curious because in your diet thread, you aren’t feeding your rabbit the proper diet, so I’m not sure if you think you are above your fellow townsfolk or that you are like that because they are…


                                                                                  • peppypoo
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                                                                                      I don’t think new1bunny is justifying mistreating her animals; it is pretty apparent that she loves and is trying to care for her bunny and puppy to the best of her abilities, and she is contrasting her care for her animals to the perceived cruelty to others. However, as a result of our environments, we all have different standards, different access to information, and an unfair distribution of resources. The information that people give on this board may seem completely obvious and easy to some people, but may be impractical or out of reach to others. And at the end of the day, some people just take advice better than others, and no amount of repeating things on the internet will help.

                                                                                      Not that this is a justification to what has been going on, but I think we’re being a little hostile in the face of a situation that probably is not going to change. And if it is, the change will be catalyzed by encouragement, not hostility.


                                                                                    • new1bunny
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                                                                                        Posted By Dee on 04/27/2011 03:28 PM
                                                                                        New1bunny, I’m glad you found this forum- it’s an amazing place to learn about rabbits. When I found BunBun in my backyard, I knew nothing about rabbits, but once I adopted him I knew I had to learn! There’s nothing wrong with not knowing everything about a new pet. I think rabbits in particular have just recently gotten very popular as house pets and there are still many myths about them- they only eat carrots, they must live outside and can’t be housebroken, you don’t have to neuter or spay them, etc. But they are very smart, sensitive animals with distinct personalities and they need specific foods to stay healthy- and they get sick VERY quickly. That’s why the feeding and enviroment is so important.
                                                                                        I don’t want to sound too negative and “scare you off” because it’s great for you and your bunny that you are on this forum. But I do have to say that the price thing rubs people the wrong way because it’s kind of like wondering if your kids are worth all the $$ you spend raising them. Rabbits really do become a part of the family. You mentioned that you have a strong bond with your bunny already and I’m sure you want her to stay healthy. At this point, I think there are some things that are way more important than anything else.
                                                                                        Getting your bunny to the vet- a licensed vet- is the 1st step. They have all the special equipment to check out your rabbit properly. And you will want to make plans to get your bunny spayed when she’s old enough- up to 80% of female bunnies who don;t get spayed develop cancer of the reproductive system. So sad and so easily prevented- start saving your $$! The lady that sold her to you may be very nice, but it seems that she forgot to give you some valuable information, such as how important hay is in a rabbit’s diet, how their stomach’s are extremely delicate and any change in diet can cause them to go into GI stasis which can kill them in less than 24 hours, and that rabbits are prey animals and can be very easily frightened by strange people, surrounding and other animals, especially predators. They really need a quiet atmosphere, especially in the first weeks after coming home. Except for a trip to the vet, your bunny should be at home in her own habitat- getting held by different people is not usually fun for rabbits, even if they act OK. In fact, most rabbits don’t like to be picked up at all- mine don’t. Your puppy looks adorable, but as a puppy his impulses are not fully controlled and a split second could mean death for your rabbit. I would not let them have any contact except with a cage between them, and even then very limited. Rabbits can have heart attacks and die just from SEEING a predator, never mind being attacked . I noticed that your bunny’s eyes were bulging with the whites showing in the photo with the dog and that can indicate fear. I know you said she is very relaxed but rabbits tend to “freeze” when they’re scared. They also hide illness a lot- they act fine but can be very sick, which is why we have to be so careful with what we feed them. Speaking of food, my bunny LOVED pellets with stuff in them, but he started to get runny poop, so I switched to Oxbow timothy pellets. That’s what most people here and most vets reccomend. I also heard about ZuPreem pellets which sound good too- I’m gonna try them. And you’re right, alfalfa is good for baby bunnies- as she gets older you will want to add more timothy hay and switch to timothy based pellets. All the labels on pet food and treats say how “wholesome” and “healthy” they are and how they are “specially formulated” for your pet, but remember they are SELLING this product. One of the popular hamster foods (Kaytee) and some others has ethoxyquin in it, which is a preservative and is known to cause cancer in lab animals. They sure don’t say that on their label!
                                                                                        I’m not saying these things to make you feel badly and I hope you don’t take them that way. I’m sure that you want your new baby bunny to grow up healthy and safe, and everything you read on here will help ensure that. Rabbits are so fragile, sometimes we do everything we can and still something goes wrong. So we have to try avoid anything that we find out is unsafe for them. This is all a learning experience- there’s still plenty I need to learn about my bunnies and I’ve had them for 3 years. That’s why it’s so nice to be able to ask questions and get real life advice from people who have bunnies, and some are very experienced with them. Even so, nothing takes the place of a vet who can actually look over your bunny. I hope everything goes well with your new bunny and that all this info on here helps .

                                                                                        I am not upset at all with you, thanks for the info. I have worked with ferrets before and I know that once they get sick, that is it. They don’t get better.

                                                                                        I have also worked with horses, that has to do with the skidish thing. Horses are very skidish, even after being broke. If you are out riding and a deer comes out, you better hold on, also the snap and flash on camera’s spoke them unless you break them of that. I know from personal experience.

                                                                                        oh and there are many breeds of dogs that will run off when they get sick so when they pass, it’s away from you.

                                                                                        I have worked with many animals, and was a newbie to some, but learned fast how, what, and to do and when to do it.

                                                                                        I was told that getting my bunny fixed was not a good idea because they are tiny and many bunnies have problems with that being done, if they surive. Is that TRUE.

                                                                                        OH and they were out of towners, young kids selling for their dad (the Breeder), so that is why they did not inform me of all that. all they knew was that they had to sell them for their dad. I guess their dad could not make it or something.

                                                                                        They did tell me they were eating pellets good. and that was about it.

                                                                                         


                                                                                      • LoveChaCha
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                                                                                          If your bunny is fixed by a qualified veternarian, you will have no issues.
                                                                                          The risks of not having your rabbit spayed is:
                                                                                          False Pregnanies
                                                                                          Lunging, Growling
                                                                                          Aggressiveness
                                                                                          Bad Litter Habits
                                                                                          Reproductive Cancer – I believe this number is 80-90% if a rabbit is not spayed

                                                                                           

                                                                                          A member on here has a rabbit that is 1.5 pounds and is spayed. She did fine.


                                                                                        • LBJ10
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                                                                                            I think I understand what new1bunny means when she said that sometimes people don’t care about animals that are free. I see it a lot, actually. An animal was free or cheap, so it is basically a “throw away” pet. No need to spend a lot of money on it. If it dies, you can just get another one. But if you paid a lot of money for an animal, then you better take proper care of it because you might not want to get another one if this one dies. Am I understanding that correctly?

                                                                                            It is extremely sad that some people think this way. But it is a reality and I think people like us (who love our animals like they were our children) don’t even want to think about it. Situations like that are terribly cruel, but we also have to realize that a lot of this has to do with a person’s upbringing. It sort of becomes a mindset that can affect an entire area as long as people in that area have similar beliefs and ways of thinking about the world. I believe that new1bunny realizes this too and she doesn’t want to be like the people who surround her. So I think this whole “how much a rabbit is worth” thing is probably her way of justifying how much she wants to take care of her bunny to the people around her.

                                                                                            If this is true, new1bunny, then I am sorry for your situation. I imagine that it is frustrating. At some point though, you can’t care what other people think. You just do what you know in your heart is the right thing to do and then do it to the best of your ability.


                                                                                          • LizzieKnittyBun
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                                                                                              The smallness of an animal is not what makes spaying and neutering risky… it’s actually the age. Vets can neuter squirrels and mice, and they’re much smaller than bunnies. It’s neutering too young that makes it risky.

                                                                                              I highly recommend you have your bunny fixed after approximately four months, and as your exotic animal vet recommends. The risk of cancer is ludicrously high for unfixed rabbits, and from what I’ve read you love your bun too much to run that risk.


                                                                                            • Sam and Lady's Human
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                                                                                                Ah LB, that makes sense! That is a terrible way to think :/ I never even thought of that, I knew that people on craigslist get free animals for dog fights and stuff down south though (Thanks to Michael Vicks ordeal).
                                                                                                My vet recommended 3 months for a boy and 4 for a girl.


                                                                                              • Michelle&Lolli
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                                                                                                  Like LB110 said, if you’re asking due to where you live and the mentality of those around you, I understand that. My dad grew up on a farm of sorts. His family raised a few cattle and pigs for their meat source. He was not raised with a “take the pets to a vet” mentality. He took my dog and cat to the vet every year and was ok with that. But he completely does NOT understand why I would spend so much money on my rabbit. Paying $4.50 for a huge tub of organic lettuce just for the bunny is completely illogical to him. But my rabbit’s well being and health is important to me, so I ignore him. lol You just have to do that sometimes when other people don’t get why you would spend hundreds on dollars on your pet, regardless of the breed.

                                                                                                  And again like others have stated – spaying or neutering your bunny will help her so much. She will be a better house rabbit because she will not be obsessed with procreating. She will litter train easier and be healthier. If you need help finding a rabbit/exotic vet, rabbit.org has a list of some on their website. It’s very important you take her to a vet who is trained in treating rabbits.


                                                                                                • new1bunny
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                                                                                                    That is about it. I have depression, anxiety, and chronic fatigue. I see a psychiatrist and all. Animals help with my depression, anxiety and panic attacks. I feel that a lot of things are not right. Spaying and all that is not natural, it’s man made in a way, and sad that god made bunnies get cancer if not fixed. I guess he did that to keep the population down. I look at things in ways that no one else can or does. It’s a gift or a curse. one of the 2. I was brought up on deer meat and all. But I will not hunt. I was also raised to believe that if you always expect the worse then you will never be surprised when it happens. But hey could you imagine thinking that way all the time. I read somewhere and it was proven true, that your parents or who ever does bring you up and all, but that does not make you who you are. You decide that yourself. If you knew my family, what they have done, and what they expect out of me you would understand a lot better. All of my friends agree that I am nothing like them, 1 of a kind, and wondering how I grew up the way I did with a family like that. It’s so hard to explain.

                                                                                                    I was also raised that if a pet is needs a vet and you can’t get them there, then go on and put them out of their misery. But that is not how I am. I always find a way to get animals to the vet. I am not the person I was raised to be, I am what I want out of life and what I know is right and wrong. sometimes it is a good idea to listen to that little voice you have.

                                                                                                    I think you all need to get to know me better before we have chats like the previous ones.
                                                                                                    so fire away with your ?’s and I will be happy to answer.


                                                                                                  • LoveChaCha
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                                                                                                      Uhm, please do not get started on the Indian lands and such.

                                                                                                       

                                                                                                      Life is not fair. We lose people, but we better ourselves.


                                                                                                    • Sam and Lady's Human
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                                                                                                        God didn’t make rabbits get cancer, man and all their radiowaves and deforestation are much more likely culprits than God.

                                                                                                        Keeping animals isn’t really natural either. Cavemen ate their “pets”. But since we do like to keep animals, its then our responsibility (not God’s) to keep them to the best of our ability, including spay/neuter.

                                                                                                        Hunting is the natural way, and whileI don’t do it, there is nothing wrong with doing it as a source of food and not being needlessly wasteful.

                                                                                                        I don’t really understand how your parents or upbringing come into play at all, I might be missing something there.

                                                                                                         

                                                                                                         


                                                                                                      • LizzieKnittyBun
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                                                                                                          It is horribly sad about the cancer rate of rabbits when they are not spayed and neutered. I understand that some people feel that it is wrong or unnatural to have the operation done, but at the end of the day the statistics show us that our bunnies can live up to three times longer if they’re fixed.

                                                                                                          None of us really lives “naturally” anymore. We have indoor plumbing, disinfectants, air conditioning, and countless other luxuries our ancestors could not have imagined. Try not to think of spaying as “unnatural” so much as an “improvement” on what was natural. It has fixed a problem that was, perhaps, meant to keep the population of rabbits down to a reasonable level. But we don’t need to worry about population control with our rabbits, because ours are domesticated and very different from their wild cousins.

                                                                                                          Please consider spaying your rabbit, if for her health and life alone, not to mention the many other benefits it would provide for both her and you.


                                                                                                        • peppypoo
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                                                                                                            In the wild, it is not natural at all for rabbits to be spayed and neutered.

                                                                                                            However, it is not natural to keep animals as pets either, so in the unnatural environment we provide for our animals, it is best to have them spayed and neutered.


                                                                                                          • new1bunny
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                                                                                                              Not the year of the car but just the little tag you have to get every year, on your birthday by the way. That just blows.

                                                                                                              Man may have increased cancer rates and ways, but the sun has always been here. Remember that.

                                                                                                              God gave us animals for food a beauty, but not to go out and kill something just to hang on the wall (while your fridge is full). besides hunting has become so expensive that it would be better to just go to the market and get a steak.

                                                                                                              Someone here mentioned that you are, how your were raised, I was just stating that was not the case with me.

                                                                                                              yes I know my history, that is why I said everything is all messed up, really. I mean take a second and look around.

                                                                                                              I never said I was not going to, or could not afford to get my bunny fixed. I was just making an opinion. Fixing her sounds good, I just asked because of that danger thing someone mentioned to me before, (Not on this site).

                                                                                                              I just care for her health and what is best for her.

                                                                                                              and really I have to say this, My Gov. is really messed up. United. yeah right, every county,city and state has different laws. so how is that united.

                                                                                                              And the English language has so many mistakes in grammar that it is not even funny, Just down right embarrassing.

                                                                                                              I believe that you only get to live once, so you should enjoy every second of it. If you smoke, smoke if it makes you happy because if that don’t kill ya then something else will. Someone can break in your house in the middle of the night and just go crazy on you. see what I am trying to say.
                                                                                                              there is even a saying that goes “there are so many ways to die, thank god we only die once” ever heard it.

                                                                                                              here is the deal, do what makes you happy and what is right and you will have the time of your life.

                                                                                                              Just wondering, there is a plant called Rabbit Weed has anyone ever heard of it? they call it that cause rabbit like to chew on it in the wild. I am not sure if it is healthy for them though.


                                                                                                            • LBJ10
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                                                                                                                If you are referring to what I said, I didn’t say that how you are how you were raised. I simply said that sometimes people will develop common mindsets in an area if they are brought up in a community with said mindsets. I said that I understand that the people around you have a particular mindset and that you are frustrated because they don’t understand your views on the matter because you see animals differently than they do. And I thought perhaps you were trying to find a way to justify your love for your animals to them by arguing it in terms that they would understand. So, guess you could say I was defending you.


                                                                                                              • BB Administrator
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                                                                                                                  Rule: Section 2 –F:  Debates: Let’s keep this board light!  Light discussions and differing opinions about rabbit welfare is fine, but please refrain from getting into serious debates about God, Government, Animal Rights in general (eg. like anti-vivisection aka: for science/medicine, rabbits as food, and about controversial highly charged subjects and groups).

                                                                                                                  So to reiterate – Debates about serious issues are not allowed on BB as we focus on the care of bunnies, not about government, religious/spiritual beliefs, etc.   And comments that have been made regarding American Indian rights will be deleted.  This is not the appropriate place for that kind of discussion.

                                                                                                                  Bottomline:   If ya know better, ya do better. And that’s what we are all here for.  To help educate..and learn.  We never stop learning.  There is alot of great advice about diet. vet care and housing throughout this site and forum.  It’s a good place to  learn how to do better.  Everyone has the option to take the advice and learn from it or reject it for their own reasons.  I do urge you though, New1Bun, to really just take in what members are advising and learn all you can. 

                                                                                                                  You said you feel different than those locally. It sounds like you are saying you have a different values than many others in your community; that you care about animals…and ya know what? That means you may have more in common with us than you think…because we also care very much about our animals, and like you mentioned, they are part of the family.  So you have come to right place to learn a different way than what you are used to with your community.   Just let us help you.  

                                                                                                                  I do understand feeling a bit defensive but I think that  the reason you may feeling a more critical environment is because when you first began posting and asking questions, it seemed as if you disregarded answers and were a bit contradictory.  (Don’t know if the tone just came off wrong in writing or  if it was all a miscommunication )   So that can be a bit frustrating for members and make it harder for people to connect to you.  Sort of a rough start.   So I think if we can ALL be a bit sensitive to how we are coming off and try to approach each other in a kinder way (even when you get frustrated) that it may help prevent a stormy environment.   

                                                                                                                  And for members — You can offer advice.  The person can choose to take it or leave it, and you can make your points about why it is a mistake if they don’t agree, but  don’t  spend too much energy spinning in circles with someone who may not want it  nor be able to receive it.   It’s just an energy zapper.   Move on and help someone else that is more open.  And also know that the advice given may not be heard right away due to defensiveness or they are just in a different mindset right now, but that you still may have done some good if later the person is able to take it in. 

                                                                                                                  Helloworld!!


                                                                                                                • Beka27
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                                                                                                                    I am very sorry to hear about the mentality of where you are from New1Bunny. Unfortunately, that attitude is probably more widespread than you think. I can almost guarantee that every one of us here has heard at least one comment about throwing our buns in a backyard hutch because “that’s where they belong”, or feeding them more to “fatten them up for supper”, or encouraging us to breed them despite the number of homeless rabbits around the country. In general, people don’t understand rabbit care, housing, diet, and the necessity of vet care. The “House Rabbit Phenomenon” is still relatively new, within the past 10-20 years, so very often people come on this site to learn about what to do. I am thankful you are here and we are able to have these discussions and we can educate you. It is up to you whether or not you will be receptive to what we have to say, but I hope you will be. It is obvious that you are passionate about your animals and education.

                                                                                                                    As far as the remark about spay/neuter not being natural, you are right. It is not natural. Even for humans, women may need to have a hysterectomy or mastectomy to remove cancer or eliminate the risk. Before these surgeries were an option, these women just passed away, sometimes as young as their 30s.

                                                                                                                    Now regarding rabbits and cancer… in the wild, rabbits did not die from cancer at 3-5 years old. They died under 1 years of age from natural predators, insufficient vegetation, man, accidental death due to traffic… By taking our rabbits in the house, we are protecting them from all of these causes of death… but because of that, they are living longer lives, making them susceptible to diseases later on. Vet medicine has come a long way and spay/neuter is a wonderful gift we can give our rabbits to ensure they live long, healthy, happy lives.

                                                                                                                    I am actually pretty excited that you have a background in horticulture. Many members have tried starting bunny gardens, either indoors or out, to grow veggies or grasses for their rabbits in summertime. I bet if you could start a thread on tips to accomplish this, everyone would be very appreciative!


                                                                                                                  • kralspace
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                                                                                                                      I would love to find a better grass cover for the bunny playground I’m working on. Problem is, it’s pretty much in constant shade. I tried clover and timothy but it didn’t do very well here, or I didn’t care for it properly.


                                                                                                                    • Sarita
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                                                                                                                        I am going to be locking this thread.

                                                                                                                        Sarita


                                                                                                                      • BinkyBunny
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                                                                                                                          I am confirming this locked post due the environment of this thread continuing on a negative path – (Posts have been deleted)

                                                                                                                          Moving forward with other posts please follow these guidelines: 

                                                                                                                          1. If you believe a person to be a troll, then do not engage any further.  You can report it by alerting us via the alert button if you feel we are not aware. 
                                                                                                                          2. If a member makes you extremely angry, then settle down first before responding (or don’t respond at all). Don’t use the forum to go off on them. That may relieve your frustration, but may be less effective for educating.
                                                                                                                          3. Even if you are frustrated with differing opinions, beliefs and how someone currently cares for their rabbit,  be careful not to shame a member into learning
                                                                                                                          4. Please reread the section to members in the Admin post above.

                                                                                                                          Please understand that we are extremely appreciative of how much everyone cares.  We want the very best for animals because they cannot speak for themselves, and so it is understandable the amount of frustration and anger that can arise, but we also have to be aware of the type of environment we create in order to get our points across.  Some members may not have the social etiquette down and may be stubborn or challenging which can really trigger tempers.  But no animals will be served if a person is scared away.

                                                                                                                          And sometimes there is just  nothing more we can do..  We can just give information and move on. I know that even that can be extremely difficult, but to maintain a positive learning environment…and to keep blood pressures at a normal level, it is necessary. 

                                                                                                                           

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                                                                                                                      Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Bunny costs