Bunny's first day home

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 11sd replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 5 months ago by Lindsayjgunn.

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- 09/18/2011 at 11:19 PM
  Adernaners
  Participant
  5 posts
  Hello, I was interested in what everyone’s suggestions with a bunny’s first day in your home after adoption as a baby (8-9 weeks) were.
  
  What is the best way to introduce the little guy to his new home and new cage and us in general?
  
  Are there red flags to look for and also what is just new bunny nervousness?
  
  I know all rabbits are who they are but what were you experiences?
  
  also, importantly, what did you do differently with your later buns after the first or what do you wish you would have done if you still have your first?
  
  I’m very interested in your responses
- 09/18/2011 at 11:26 PM
  LoveChaCha
  Participant
  6634 posts
  Welcome to BB
  
  I would just put him in his cage and let him get used to it for a bit. What kind of housing have you chosen for him?
  
  Also, have you filled the cage with bedding? If so, I would take that out. Bunnies only need bedding in their litter boxes. A bit of hay in the litter box is great! Litter box training can be started – just watch which corner he goes poo and put the box there and put stray poops into the litter box. He is just a baby and it will take time to catch on.
  
  Baby rabbits are VERY skiddish. It is quite normal- they are babies afterall. I got my bunny at 7-8 weeks and she didn’t want anything to do with me! HAHA. Now, almost 2 years later, she butt nudges me, thumps at me, wakes me up for her morning breakfast. Their personality takes a while to develop – it normally takes about a year.
  
  Have you looked into a rabbit savvy vet? You will have to get your little guy neutered at 4 months old
  
  What kind of food is he getting? I recommend a heavy bowl for water. Not all rabbits really enjoy water bottles, and listening/watching a rabbit drink from a water bowl is so cute
  
  Does he get unlimited hay at all?
- 09/19/2011 at 12:09 AM
  Adernaners
  Participant
  5 posts
  Thank you very much!
  For the time being it’s a cage but once it gets a bit older I am planning on an NIC enclosure with one or two of my walls(protected) acting as part of the home. I have a large litter box for him with bedding and hay and also some pellets at the bottom of the hay pile. That’s the only place with bedding too. I have a recommended vet and I am prepared to neuter once the time comes as well. As for food it’s a 1/2 cup pellets with unlimited timothy hay and no treats/veggies. I have a water bottle now but I’ll monitor that as well.
- 09/19/2011 at 1:59 AM
  TaraMichele
  Participant
  285 posts
  sounds like you were prepared . I know with my brats I tried using water bowls but it was extremely unsucessful, my boy cady believes all dishes are meant to be thrown, so I have no choice to use water bottles but both of mine took well to them, they even chose amongst themselves which they wanted! chacha is totally right about the personality, its very difficult to tell….I thought cady was going to be a calm sweet little guy…well he can be sweet but everything changed after he became comfortable…prepared to be a slave to his every want!
- 09/19/2011 at 2:00 AM
  TaraMichele
  Participant
  285 posts
  oh forgot… do we get to see any pictures of the little one???
- 09/19/2011 at 4:43 AM
  Beka27
  Participant
  16016 posts
  You can start to introduce veggies in a very limited amount at this point. By limited I mean maybe half of a leaf of romaine each day. Then you can try a little bit of parsley. Just enough for him to taste and get used to. Getting him accustomed to greens now will help when you start offering larger amounts in a few weeks.
  
  Good for you for already being prepared with a vet. That is a sign of responsible bunny ownership! Give the vet a call this week and set him up with a baseline exam including a fecal check.
- 09/19/2011 at 4:57 AM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  I think it’s very important to put the new bunny in a quiet room where there is not much people traffic. You want him to just relax and get used to his new cage. Spend some one on one time with him in his room but leave him in his cage and pick him up as little as possible for the first few days.
- 09/19/2011 at 8:15 AM
  Elrohwen
  Participant
  7318 posts
  When I got Otto at 8 weeks, I just let him be for a day. I did worry that he wouldn’t leave his litter box, but then I realized he was just afraid of the slippery floor so I put down some blankets and he was fine. A big red flag would be not eating or pooping in the first 24 hours, so keep an eye on this. Make sure you have some of the pellets he was being fed before so you can transition him slowly – baby bunnies have sensitive tummies.
  
  When I got Hannah she was already 3 years old and had living in a house, so she was much more confident and ready to come out and play. I just opened up her cage and let her run around for short periods of time while I could keep an eye on her.
- 09/19/2011 at 3:30 PM
  bunnyfriend
  Participant
  2368 posts
  Welcome (: I brought Wilbur home at an estimated 8-10 weeks old. Usually shelters advise you to make the bunny feel secure and get used to their home by leaving them in their cages, rooms, ect. for a couple days, and you can occasionally introduce yourself to them and give them a couple pets. You should expect them to be shy and wary. However this was not the case with my Wilbur. She licked me on the way home, crawled all over me, and when I put her her in kennel she basically demanded to be let out after like 15 minutes. Whenever I would open her door she’d start exploring not cautious at all, I had bunny proofed a couple rooms but expected her to be too scared but lo and behold I’d see a tiny ball of fur hopping by out of the corner of my eye chinning everything in sight, I could just picture her thinking “MINE” every time she saw something new. Anyways, I realize this behavior is not true for all rabbits, I’d be scared if I was in their position too, but also the first rabbit I brought home who was an adult instantly wanted me to pet him and to explore. The kennel was right across from my bed and at night he’d stand by the door STARING at me! What a creeper bunny! ;P Putting a blanket over part of the cage can help make a bunny feel safe.
- 09/20/2011 at 9:29 AM
  Adernaners
  Participant
  5 posts
  I’d like to thank everyone for their advice and input, this forum in general is a really great place, and also to report that I proudly have a happy, healthy bunny. She(?) is an explorer for sure and hasn’t been shy with my roommate or me at all. She loves to tear up her timothy tunnel and might just be the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. Pics are coming
- 09/22/2011 at 4:37 AM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  Congrats to you! Can’t wait to see pics.
- 10/25/2015 at 10:25 PM
  Lindsayjgunn
  Participant
  24 posts
  Hi everyone,
  I am a new holland lop owner as well and was hoping you could answer a few questions please. I brought home Mowgli last Saturday at 9 weeks old. I have been following the guidelines of letting him be and not picking him up, bringing him out of the cage, etc. It has been a week and he still hasn’t left the cage. His cage is an oversized dog crate and there is has a two inch lip on the base. I was wondering if he can’t physically get over the lip and this is why he hasn’t left his cage? Or if he needs more time?
  He seems to be very shy and a little skittish. He has been eating pellets out of my hand when I lay on the ground though. Let me know your thoughts and I appreciate any feedback you guys have.
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