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Forum DIET & CARE Multi-Bun Care tips (and pep talk!) needed…

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    • T-Bun
      Participant
      52 posts Send Private Message

        Hello all,

        I’m the proud new bun-parent to three buns…they’re a bonded trio who I got from the local shelter…they went right from their previous owner to me in the same day.  I’ve only ever had one bun before, and I’m hoping to get some tips from other multi-bun households on how to manage things like food (mostly making sure everybody gets their fair share!) and anything else you can think of.  This is their first night home, and I haven’t had a bun for a few months (my beloved Crystal passed away in August) and I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed.  I just want them to be happy in their new home.

        Thanks!


      • RabbitPam
        Moderator
        11002 posts Send Private Message

          Hi, T-Bun, welcome! (To all of you)

          I understand your need for logistic help with three bunnies, though the fact that they are bonded will make things much easier, thank goodness.
          First, I would research throughout the binkybunny site using the drop down menu at the top of this page as well as the links from the home page for info. and suggestions on diet, habitat setups, etc. Particularly check out the photos and videos for any images of spaces used by multiple bunny owners. It’s going to be sporadic and interspersed, but you still may get some good suggestions for larger arrangements that will be good for a trio.

          Next, I would go to the Bonding forum, possibly doing a keyword search for trio. Also, try that keyword in the Q&A, Diet and Habitat forums. This will bring up posts that have discussed trios of bunnies in some way. Often you will find more in the forums that don’t deal with bonding because they, like you, are looking for set up ideas post-bond. You just never know what posts you will find. They should be revealing in their subject lines, so just open what seems interesting and scan the post for helpful tips.
          Please remember, however, that we don’t make replies to any posts that are ‘older’, ie. more than about 3-4 weeks old. This is because it alerts the owner and often situations may change.


        • Sarita
          Participant
          18851 posts Send Private Message

            Welcome and congratulations on your new trio – smart to get them already bonded :~)

            I don’t think you need to worry about feeding them separately – usually they will be able to manage to get what they need – it’s part of their dynamic as a trio.

            I have multi-rabbits who are not bonded – they were at one time though their mates have all passed on and now they are seniors (10 years old) and singles.

            I think it will be inevitable that you are going to have to clean at least twice a day – I clean morning and night – vacuum, change water in water bowls and just general tidy up of the individual rabbit areas. My seniors have no reverted back to adolescence in the sense that they aren’t as good at managing their litter boxes any longer but even before I always felt the need to keep their areas clean (for my sake mainly).

            I imagine you will need to change litter boxes more often too – maybe invest in 2 so that you have a clean one ready to go and then can clean the dirty one as the back up. I don’t do that know but I used to in the past and it helped me alot.


          • T-Bun
            Participant
            52 posts Send Private Message

              Hi gang, thanks for the replies so far. I was feeling a bit overwhelmed last night (their first night home), and will make use of your suggestions and the forum for more info. From 1 to 3 is quite a leap! Cleaning is definitely ramped up, and it’ll take awhile to figure out how much supplies of…well, everything…I need to keep on hand. Litter pans…I have 3 so far, and am thinking 4 will be the magic number. They like to hang out in them and eat hay even if they’re not really using them, so it’s nice to have a surplus. I was lucky enough to be able to schedule my time off around their arrival, so I’ll have a solid week off from work to keep up with everything and develop a new routine. I just want to give them a good home, since they’ve been uprooted and all. They seem to be settling in fine so far. One thing I’m totally inexperienced in is inter-bunny social behavior. That’s a whole new frontier, and amusing to say the least. Thanks again.


            • LittlePuffyTail
              Moderator
              18092 posts Send Private Message

                Hi, T-Bun! Congrats on your new family of bunnies!

                I can understand how 3 would be overwhelming at all once. They will be a lot of work but you will get so much joy from them, I’m sure.

                I had 3 buns for several years, although unbonded. You will definitely go through litter, hay and veggies much faster with 3, obviously and 3 bunnies, whether living together or not, can sure make messes! I wouldn’t be surprised if your buns do some marking with poos in their new home for a bit.

                How old are the bunnies? Would love to see pics.


              • tanlover14
                Participant
                3617 posts Send Private Message

                  Hey there! Welcome to BB!

                  I have a bonded trio and will definitely help you out in any way possible!

                  Regarding feeding, my buns all get their fair share without any separation. We have three separate feeding bowls for pellets (but they all tend to just crowd around one and share) and two big bowls for salads (which they also crowd around and share). I’m guessing since they have come as a bonded pair you probably won’t have any problems with their feedings.

                  As for litter boxes, my vet suggests 4 litter boxes for 3 buns. Although my buns tend to all crowd into the same box. *rolls eyes, such goofballs*

                  Three buns can DEFINITELY be overwhelming but lucky you, they came bonded already! This will help it be quite a bit less overwhelming I’m sure. How old are they and what breed are they? All three of mine came from the same litter and weigh about 4.5 lbs apiece. They all get a little under 1/4 cup of pellets a day and about 3-4 cups of veggies apiece. I have two big water bottles in my set-up also. And mine typically go through about 1 lb. a hay a day, maybe a tiny bit less. We just started buying the big Oxbow 50 lb. bag of Orchard Grass which has lasted us almost a month so far (we are still on the first bag) but it’s much cheaper than the usual bags.

                  Inter-bunny social behavior. One of the most amusing things EVER. My buns behaviors are hysterical to watch. If you have any questions about any behaviors they have to each other or you, I’d definitely be willing to put in any input I can provide! I know my three little hellions are crazy but they are just wonderful to watch together and having three of them makes play time much more interesting!

                  Pictures are also a must!


                • T-Bun
                  Participant
                  52 posts Send Private Message

                     

                    Hi again, thanks to all. I’m really interested in the specifics of what kind of veggies and or fruits, and the method you use, for feeding them the veggies/fruit. I think I’ve got a handle on the pellets. Hay is easiest of coure, all they can eat!

                    2 Mini-Lops, a male (7 yrs) and female (6 years), and one female Holland Lop (2 years)… all in the 3.5 to 5 lb range.

                     

                     


                  • tanlover14
                    Participant
                    3617 posts Send Private Message

                      Your buns are absolutely adorable! And look like they’re definitely happily bonded!

                      As for veggies, mine were getting a mix between kale, collard greens, and turnip greens… but they were shunning the collard greens so we just decided to switch to kale, turnip greens, and a baby spring mix blend. I meant to say between 1-1/2 cups of veggies per day, per bun! I tend to split up my daily salad feedings into two sessions, half in the morning and then half at night with pellet feedings. Whenever we’re feeling extra nice, we give them a mix of basil and cilantro along with everything else or other herbs. We have a garden filled with basil, lemon basil, thyme, cilantro, parsley, and oregano, and mint… all of which buns can eat. Ours LOVE the basils and cilantro. I’m guessing because they are extra fragrant.

                      Also, if you look in the Info sections of the site they have a list of acceptable fruits and vegetables and the portions you can give them a day. Certain veggies should be fed in moderation and a lot of fruits are simply treats. I use Craisins (dried cranberries) as treats and my buns go absolutely bonkers over them. On the website for the House Rabbit Society they also have a more in depth list with explanations for why they can only be fed so much of some things! I would suggest looking through both and going from there with your buns!


                    • Samantha1357
                      Participant
                      89 posts Send Private Message

                        I went from never having bunnies to having four baby buns, definitely a challenge at first and they werent bonded either. I have 3 large litter boxes which i change everyday as that many bunnies really dirty a litterbox fast. They all share the same pellet bowls, i have one in each litter box because the only place we were having accidents was where the food bowl was (once it was in the litter box POOF no more accidents). At night after their room gets cleaned I give them a large bowl of veggies (romaine, cilantro, dill, basil, watercress, carrot tops, dandelion greens, fennel (only the tops but they can eat the bottom too mine just dont like it), mint, and different types of kale they dont seem to fight over it and everyone gets their fair share. Then after veggies i hand feed them a piece of fruit, like a blueberry a piece or a strawberry cut in 1/4’s. Once you have them for awhile youll get into a routine with them. Good luck with your buns, theyre adorable!


                      • Elrohwen
                        Participant
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                          How cute! I have a pair of lops – I’m a sucker for the lops 🙂

                          I really don’t think you’ll have much difficulty with the food. Sometimes one bunny will chase another away from the food, so I try to set up the veggie bowls relatively far apart. That way, if one bunny is chased away, he can go to the other bowl. For veggie selection, choose the way you would with a single bun – pick things that are safe, not too expensive, and well liked. I’ve found that a picky bun can become less picky by seeing other bunnies eating something new. For my lop pair, I provide about 5 cups of veggies a day – they get two bowls full at each feeding, separated in case Hannah is grumpy. The pellets I feed in one bowl, but sometimes when Hannah is being extra bossy I will dump some on the floor by Otto so he doesn’t have to eat next to her. They share 1/4c pellets per day, broken into two feedings.

                          I’m lazy and don’t clean as much as some, but mine are pretty good about using their litter boxes. It really seems to depend on the bun for how much mess they make – when Otto was alone he was very neat, but Hannah likes to shred paper and pull hay from the racks to throw everywhere, so she makes things messier. I only do litter boxes once per week (fresh hay is piled on top every day and they don’t smell) and their room is vacuumed and cleaned up every couple of weeks. In between, I just pick up what I can and make sure they haven’t peed anywhere outside the litter boxes.

                          Congrats on your trio. Watching bunnies interact together is really so rewarding. I’ve had two dogs at a time, and seen horses together, but I’ve never seen a species that is so completely bonded and attached to their partner the way bunnies are. It’s really great to see.

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                      Forum DIET & CARE Multi-Bun Care tips (and pep talk!) needed…