Advice needed

[Arose]

I just got this rabbit a few weeks ago and she was just weaned when i did so remember she’s really young. I think she’s a cross of a rex and cinnamon, I named her Q.T. she’s sweet and she’ll come to me when i scratch my nails on the carpet. Anyway i’m not sure i’m doing this right. The only things i’ve raised are cats and dogs. Here’s what’s going on. I’ve got her in my room in a large dog crate that would fit a large dog I but down cloth so the floor is soft and a soda box so she has something to hide in. She’s got water and food, also i but in a small box for her to use as a litter box and put some of that pine cat litter in it, but she won’t use it, at all. i’ve tried giving her some toys and things but she’s just happy to hop around on the floor when i let her out she doesn’t really want to play, though my dog would love her to. My dog treats her like she did her own pups, there’s no agression at all. Any advice would help alot. i’m not sure what to do.

 

[Tate]

No pine!!!!!
Rabbits are not like dogs. Most of them do not want to play. They very much do their own thing.

[peppypoo]

Congrats on your new bunny! 

About the litter training – you said she doesn’t go in the box you gave her, but have you noticed that she mostly goes in one corner? When you litter train a bunny, you pretty much have to let them pick where they want their potty to be. If you see them doing their business mostly in one corner, just move the litter box over.   Pine litter is okay as long as it is pine pellets like Feline Pine, but make sure it’s not pine shavings.

As for playing, remember that cats and dogs are predators in the wild, so their “playing” usually involves chasing, tracking, and catching and batting at things…behaviors that are useful for hunting. On the other hand, rabbits are prey animals, so you won’t see a lot of what you might be used to when you think of “playing”. Rabbits usually enjoy anything they can rip apart or things involving food…a lot of them like to deconstruct cardboard boxes or toilet paper rolls. This doesn’t mean that you can’t really play with them…you can easily teach them to do tricks etc. 

What kind of food are you giving your bunny, and how much? Make sure that she also has an unlimited supply of hay 24/7…hay is the most important part of a rabbit’s diet.

Feel free to stick around and ask questions if you need more help, or…*hint hint* to post some pictures of your little girl

[Jenna, Chubs & Comet]

Yes pictures

[Arose]

ok i was giving her some hay but only a little so i guess i’ll start giving her more. and i’ve got some basic bunny chow i pretty much just keep her dish full, i’m mixing it with some vitamin pellets that the place i got her from sold me. as for potty she pretty much does it anyplace all over her cage or wherever she hops to, witch is better then when she was only going in her food bowl.

[Sam and Lady's Human]

I really suggest reading the articles in the Bunny Info link above, at her age she should have unlimited hay, and make sure her food has the basic nutrition of whats listed in the Diet section

 

[Tate]

Do you know what kind of pellets? What brand? Most of the one’s sold at pet stores can actually be quite harmful to rabbits. You want to look for something timothy based and NO seeds/colorful bits. Oxbow is probably the most trusted food. Also, do you know how old she is? She can have unlimited pellets, but in a few months, you will need to start cutting back.. I think about an 1/8 of a cup per day is standard?
I’m assuming she isn’t spayed yet, just because she’s young. You can wait a few months, but make sure that you see a vet and talk about when the appropriate timing to do so is. Try putting some hay in her litter box as well. You can either put it right on the floor or you can get a hay rack. This will encourage her to that area. When she does go potty in her litter box, and you see it, make sure to praise her! This was the most important thing that I did for my bun and he wasn’t potty trained for a few months after I got him! Worked like a charm though!
You may want to read this article called Language of Lagomorphs… even just keep it in your favorites for reference! http://language.rabbitspeak.com/

[Arose]

i’ve no clue what brand of hay i think it is a timothy though.

[Tate]

What brand of pellets? Timothy is the right type of hay for her, always stay away from alfalfa (unless directed by a vet) but feel free to try oat hay, blue grass hay, orchard grass.. anything on this site would be good for her.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Sounds like your doing really well. And sounds like your dog is very suited to share a home with a bunny! Just keep an eye that your bunny isn’t scared of the dog and dog doesn’t try to rough play with her and you’ll do very well (like rolling, too aggressive with licking-mine can get very crazy with the licks and I’ve then got a slobbered on slightly miffed bun ).

Hay should be the staple and very impoirtant to get them used to hay when they are young. Bunnies who don’t get used to it will often be picky later and it’s so important-for their digestive health and for the health of their teeth! So awesome if you can get her eating tons now !

though ‘free feeding’ pellets when young is fine. There are great articles on here about diet and you can learn a lot. They can’t eat just any veggies and can’t have too much fruit (a very small amount per day as a treat) This is what most of us feed as treats-store bought treats are junky and often not even something a bunny should have-for example yogurt drops! Fruit is a great natural treat in small quantities. There is a list of suggested veggies-some of us print that and keep in our purses as ..well I’ve been in the store going ‘….hmmmm can they eat this or not?” so I would totally recommend printing it and keeping it in your purse!

Sounds like your doing very well already!! Welcome! And we’d love to see some pictures

[Sam and Lady's Human]

Alfalfa is actually fine for the first year-http://rabbit.org/faq/sections/diet.html#babies

[Arose]

i was wondering about grass and dandalions she loves those but how much is ok. She’s still really young i can still hold her in one hand just fine.

[Sam and Lady's Human]

I wouldn’t give her any dandelions, but all the hay and orchard grass she can eat is fine.

[LoveChaCha]

Rabbits should not get vegetables until they are about 12 weeks old.

[jerseygirl]

Welcome here : )

I hope you’re finding the info on this site useful. I wont add to the advice on diet and littertraining, everyones covered it great. I am wondering if you’ve added some extra wiring to the dog crate she’s in? Can she fit through the bars at all? Pretty much if they can fit their head thru, they can fit right thru.

From your profile picture she seems very, very young. Some places say rabbits are weaned when they begin eating solid food but rabbit can continue to feed still even when eating solids. Also, it’s important they stay with the mother for at least 8 weeks to get the best start in life.  If you feel you little bun is younger then this, I recommend you get her checked out by a rabbit vet. It’s a good idea anyway to do that when they’re new, regardless of age.

Ditto the call for more pictures! Those little ears remind me of netherland dwarf rabbits.

[Author]

Messages