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BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately!  Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES 

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum DIET & CARE First time rabbit owner

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    • MrCuddles
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        Okay so i recently(3 days ago) got my bunny Mr Cuddles, a netherlands dwarf rabbit who’s about 6 and 1/2 weeks old. When i got him i was also given a bag of food that was the same as they had been previously feeding him. It’s that muesli looking rabbit feed. I only just found out that it’s bad for them! Anyway would it be smart to change his food now? Should i purchased some oxbow feed and gradually introduce it to his diet? Also i was wondering if i should take him for a general vet check-up, to see how he’s going? I picked a flea off him, i think. What would be the best product to use on a baby bunny for flea treatment? Also what age would i need to get him de-sexed? And what kind of hay should he be eating? I think the pet store was kind of out of their comfort zone with bunnies, they didn’t feed them hay! I’m scared to just start giving him any, in case he gets an upset tummy but i know it’s an essential part of his diet. How much is a general check up at a vet.? And is it worth it? [MOD EDIT]  i’m pretty broke…


      • CinnabunMom
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          Welcome to life as a bunny slave! Feel free to post pics of your bun over in the welcome section!

          1) I would go ahead and change out that pellet feed because you’re right, it is bad for them. Bunnies should get unlimited hay and pellets at this age, but make sure it’s a good quality pellet, there should be nothing else mixed in. I, personally, would also give the bunny a good hay right off the bat (Timothy hay or other grass hays) but some people do give their buns alfalfa hay when they are so young to get them up to weight.

          2) It’s always good to get a vet checkup when you first get your bun. Make sure you go to a rabbit savvy vet, though, as they can help you understand what your bun needs this early on in life. BB has links for vets in your state. 

          3) No idea about the flea treatment, sorry. But I’d be extra sure it was a flea before using any product on your bun since they tend to groom themselves a lot and could ingest whatever you use.
          4) Depends on the sex of your bun. Males can be done as soon as the testes drop. Girls can be done normally after reaching 5/6 months in age. You’ll know when it’s time because your baby will be all hormonal and territorial.
          5) Timothy hay is the best, IMO. You can mix in other types of grass hay, like oat, but Timothy is the way to go. Remember: unlimited hay is key to a long life! I’d get him on it right away if he hasn’t had any. He’ll probably love it
          6) Depends on the vet. You should shop around for the best prices. For example: my vet is 45.00 for a general checkup.

          One other thing that you didn’t mention but I will: veggies can start to be given around 12 weeks and remember to start slow, one veggie at a time. Keep a list of things they like and don’t like. Fruit should be given in moderation and I’d wait until the bun was a bit older than 12 weeks to start them on fruit. 

          Other than that: welcome to BB! This is a great place for bunnies and their slaves.


        • TH004
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            Welcome! It looks like the previous poster covered everything. My rabbit won’t eat Timothy, but it is the best. If your rabbit refuses hay that is fresh (should be very green and fragrant), then try a different brand or kind of hay. My rabbit is an adult and he loves Oxbow botanical or orchard grass.

            My vet is $35 for a check-up. My vet also likes for me to bring in a few poos in a baggie for her to look at under a microscope for any bad bacteria. I would ask about that when you call. As a new rabbit owner, the vet may be able to show you a few things, like how to clip nails, and give you tips. I have learned that a lot of vets say they treat rabbits, and they do, but not very often. I would ask how experienced the vet is with rabbits, because they are very different than other critters.


          • tanlover14
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              If your bun is so young — I would give him alfalfa hay until he reaches 5 or 6 months. Then he should be put on the timothy, orchard grass, or oat. One of my boys was old enough to neuter at 4 months and my other boy and girl waited until they were 4 1/2 months to be neutered although our vet preferred to wait until they were 5 months old so they can be upper in the weight department.

              Definitely take him to a vet (rabbit-savvy) ASAP and they will be able to help you with any flea treatments and to make sure he’s getting the right diet for his age!


            • Mimzy
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                First of all, congrats on your new one! And welcome to BB. I think everyone covered everything already. I too, suggest alfalfa hay for baby rabbits. Alfalfa pellets are good too, as it helps them grow. But once they are about 5/6 mos, you can switch to timothy or something else. I have mine on timothy since she was 3mos since they dont have alfalfa where I am. Timothy hay is still fine for baby rabbits, my bunny loves it! But I do suggest alfalfa pellets

                I read in another post that revolution can be used on bunnies for fleas, but check with your vet before using anything at all for fleas!


              • Kokaneeandkahlua
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                  Welcome!!!
                  I hope he was mislabled, and is a wee bit older! That’s very young to be seperated from mom. Pet stores often mislabel age and size and breed So here’s hoping he’s closer to 8-9 weeks!!

                  I think you’ve gotten some really good advice so far! I would definitely agree it’s ok to switch to oxbow now rather the junky kibbles; Finding a vet right away for an exam is a good idea-most vets don’t treat rabbits, so finding one who does is a good thing to do as soon as you get a rabbit. Then you’ll be able to inquire about the fleas. it’s not common at all for rabbits to get fleas, so unlike dogs there is no off the shelf treatment you could purchase, it would have to come from a vet.

                  Keep us posted-and we’d love to see pictures!


                • MrCuddles
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                    Six weeks old is the legal selling age for rabbit sin South Australia, so i don’t know..It’s possible his age was mislabelled but he is very small. I’ve noticed that he’s put on a lot of weight recently. I picked him up and his tummy was huge. He seems perfectly healthy in his pooping and eating but he’s getting fat…it must be due to his feed. I can’t buy his new feed till the end of the week, is that all right or is it an emergency? Will anything serious hapen if i keep on his current feed for a little longer?


                  • Toady
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                      Personally I’d be cutting back on that food and giving him more hay, I feed mine oat hay because timothy hay in Oz is super expensive and my bunnies love it! I know I only had a tiny bit of food from my bunnies breeder so had to do a fast change over but always keep an eye on the poo, no poo and you’ve got problems! He should be ok with that food til the end of the week. I found Oxbow quite pricey especially with the amount my girl Ash was eating so I got some Barastoc pellets which are probably one of the better bunny foods we have available here in Australia but careful, right now their pellets were made from lower quality hay so the pellets aren’t as good but try to find a rural supply/feed store as they have what you need compared to pet shops (I know those around here have no bunny stuff) I mix the Barastoc and Oxbow together. The feed stores are usually a bit cheaper too

                      Flea wise I’ve been using Advantage but you can’t use it til they’re 10 weeks old so probably won’t be able to use much on him for a while yet… if there’s only one or two he might be OK but if there’s more you might look into Revolution but I’m not sure about minimal age limit.


                    • Beka27
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                        Welcome. I edited your OP. Minors are not permitted to post their ages. Please read the forum rules and guidelines when you have a chance.


                      • CinnabunMom
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                          If you have to feed him those pellets, at least pick out the junk and just give him the plain pellets.

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                      Forum DIET & CARE First time rabbit owner