Found a bunny

[Miyavp]

So me and my friend found some bunnies in a box in a ditch. It was so hot out yesterday the poor little guys were over heating. we brought them into the garage where the cement was cool and laid them there with some wet handtowels on their backs. after that we gave them a little bit of a bath, very little water and not too cold we didnt wanna shock them. They seem to be doing really well today Hopping eating pooping and playing so I think we got to them in time.
I know this is a house bunny forum but I’ll be keeping mine in a sun room porch kinda thing, does that count?
Anyway so far he’s being kept in a large storage bin. I’ve fed him some romaine lettuce and a carrot. He has a small water dish also. He’s pooping and peeing fine. My dads building him a large hut and I took him in my backyard to play and munch on the grass. No fertilizers or anything we dont really manage our yard so theres alot of dandylions but I read that was okay. I think he’s really young though. maybe six seven inches long when he’s not stretched. I just need to know how to take care of him and what he needs.

[Miyavp]

I was worried he wasnt pooping enough because when I cleaned his bin today there wasnt much poop but nope. He just pooped and peed all over my bed lol. Great I get to wash my sheets again. I’m posting photos now so you guys can see him

[Miyavp]

http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff514/miyavp/0806030000_zpsa22b64ce.jpg

http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff514/miyavp/0805032332a_zpsc2c63ff0.jpg

[Roberta]

What a gorgeous little bun.. S/He looks to be about 6 weeks which is good.. Most of us do keep our buns inside, however some don’t and frankly an enclosed porch sounds a lot more luxurious than a box in a ditch. Main thing to ensure is that the area can be proofed against predators (that includes the buzzy flying variety too like mosquitoes and flies) Make sure the area can be kept cool in the hot weather and is not open to the elements when it is cold and wet.
Diet for a little bun is very important and at this age they really need unlimited hay and pellets, greens are OK but avoid iceberg lettuce. There is a diet list on the main page that has really good information. But HAY is vital for their teeth and tummies. I think alfalfa is best for little buns under 6 months old but in a pinch any good horse quality hay will do. All mine have had an Oaten/Barley blend since they were tiny.
I would also recommend a vet check to make sure there is nothing wrong and to give you a baseline to work from if any medical issues do arise in the future. It is a good idea to identify rabbit savvy vets in your area and have a back up in case an emergency happens and your regular vet is not available.
As to a hutch, there is also some pictures of rabbitats on the front page that your dad might like to look at for ideas.
https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/tabid/53/Default.aspx

[Miyavp]

Thanks so much for replying quickly I read that and made sure I had romaine. I’m gonna buy a bag of alfalfa hay from petco when I get the chance. Hopefully within the next few days. Is timothy hay good too?? We have a great vet I used to take my gerbils too lol. I’m sure she’ll know about rabbits. My friends gonna take hers to a vet too. One question, there urine is orangeish. I read that this isnt anything to be concerned with. Is that correct?? Its not red, definetly orangeish.

[Bam]

Their urine can become orange when they eat f ex dandelion greens. It’s not a sign of sth wrong. When they change their diet, the pee turns another colour.

Timothy hay is excellent. Alfaalfa is good for babies though, because it’s rich in protein and growing bunnies need more protein than adult rabbits.

[Miyavp]

Okay thats good I was a little worried but I looked it up and everybody said it was alright. I’ll buy the alfalfa then since its the best I’m excited about this hutch my dads building. Its not huge but its good sized and he’ll have room to grow in it. Maybe later we’ll add a lower level like I see on some of these other ones. I have a question, I dont want him just sitting in the cage but catching him in the yard is a challenge and he pee’s in the house plus our dogs in there so my mom doesnt want him roaming around. We have a huge yard but I dont really have a way of fencing it off for him just yet. So far I’ve been picking up the rugs on our bathroom floor and letting him play in there. Its tile so if he pee’s I can clean it easilly. Can you take your bunny for walks? I’ve seen these harness things do they work? I just dont want him being bored in his hutch all the time

[Bam]

Many people take their bunnies for walks, but there are dangers like loose dogs and other stuff that can scare a rabbit so it runs in panic and maybe hurts itself. It’s rather demanding patience-wise to take a bunny for a walk because they don’t really walk like dogs. I’ve tried it with one of my bunnies, indoors, but he hated it.

Can’t you let him out in your own bedroom for play-time? You could perhaps put cheap ragrugs over the carpet and fleece-blankets (also cheap and easy to wash) and block his access to your bed? And you can start litter-box-training him by putting something he’s peed on and some poop in a litterbox with f ex newspaper in it so he knows where to go. There is excellent advice on litterbox-training here on BB.

You can give him some twigs f ex willow and apple, if you can get some, because they like to chew, it’s like dogs when they chew a bone, it’s an activity as well as eating. Plus it’s very good for their teeth.

 

PS: He’s super-cute! Are you sure he’s a boy?

[Roberta]

Bam is right… S/He will litter train. Most bunnies figure it out pretty quickly, however they may loose those good habits temporarily when they start to mature. Neutering or Spaying will help them regain their good habits and really is the best thing for them as females can develope cancer from two years of age and boys and girls can get aggressive and territorial if not desexed. Your vet is probably rabbit savvy if they treat guinea pigs.
Bunny pee can come in a rainbow of colours from white through to a deep rusty brown. It is usually diet related. Just watch if it becomes thick and gluey as that can be a sign of sludge which needs to be treated.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Thank you for rescuing these bunnies. Poor little bubs. Who could just discard little baby bunnies?

Just curious, how many babies were there? And where did the other buns go?

[jerseygirl]

Ditto. Thank you for giving the bun a home.
The pictures made me unexpectantly tear up. He’s the colour of my bunny that passed in January. Very sweet little baby you have there.
I hope the info you find here helps you keep a happy and healthy bunny for a long time.

[Miyavp]

The other female went to my friend. There were only two but they were crammed into a box that they barely fit into. And I will hopefully be able to let him play in my bedroom eventually but not right now. Its a GIANT mess. My lifes been a huge rollarcoaster lately. I just graduated hs and I’m trying to get my life in order still lol. I’m think he’s a boy. Thats what my friends dad said so I just assumed. Do you guys think he’s a netherland dwarf?? My dad brought photos of him to work and a lady who used to show rabbits said that.

[Miyavp]

I looked at lots of photos and videos of netherland dwarfs and they do look uncanny. Very very similar. But I havent looked at alot of bunnys lol. So what do you guys think??

[Miyavp]

My friend has this extra large washable puppy training pads. I’m gonna sew some together to make a pad for my floor. I think that’ll work really well

[tobyluv]

Thank you for rescuing the bunnies and for you and your friend giving them a home. Even if you had a fenced in yard, it can be unsafe for rabbits outside, even if you are out there with them. They can dig under fences, predators can also dig under or jump over fences, and hawks can swoop down in an instant. There are also parasites to deal with outside such as fleas and ticks. Rabbits can pick up worms if they eat vegetation where other animals have gone to the bathroom. There is also the possibility of fly strike if a rabbit is outside.

If you have a room or rooms inside (other than where the dog stays) where he can get exercise and playtime during the day, that would be good. If you keep him to a schedule, letting him out at about the same times every day, he would likely be happy and content with that.

He’s very cute!

[Dwarf Sparrow]

Too cute!

You could also get an exercise pen for him to hop around in, and if needed you could lay down an old bed sheet with a shower curtain underneath it. That way if he pees outside of a litter box, you just have to wash the sheet and not worry about the carpet or flooring. Though you’d want to keep an eye on him in case he decides to try and dig up/ chew the sheet or shower curtain. You could also use the X-pen to keep him contained while hanging out in the yard. (As fas as leashes, aside from the dangers that bam mentioned, some rabbits don’t seem to mind walks on a leash too much, and other absolutely freak out when you try to put the harness on- so that’s something to keep in mind, too.)

If he looks close to a Netherland dwarf, also look up Polish rabbits. The two breeds look very similar, but the head shape is a little different and I think Polish rabbits are slightly larger than Netherlands.

Good luck with your new little bunny!

[Rufus]

I used to walk my bunny on a harness every day. He loved it! He’d tear around like crazy and binky all over the place. The key is to make sure the harness fits properly and to be ready to run after him because when you walk a bunny, he is definitely the one in control! I just used to walk him in my backyard which is fenced off and would keep out any dogs or anything but not rabbit proof so I wouldn’t let him run around out there on his own.

[Miyavp]

I went to my local farm supply store and purchased him alfalfa, a litter box, a soft bunny harness, a hay carrier, a water bottle, and a twig tunnel for him to play and chew on. The hutch is pretty much complete except for the stand part. He doesnt seem to mind the harness if I’m not hanging onto the leash. If I am he runs crazy and pulls one of his paws out the top and then just lays there. Then I have to come fix it. I think I’m just gonna have it sit next to me while I’m in the yard. The whole point was so I would’nt have to chase him down we have a very large yard so it works for that purpose. I dont want him not getting any excersize or anything. Eventually I’ll look for a play pen. I can also easilly pick up the bathroom rugs and move the things on the bottom shelf and let him run around in there. Our sunroom isnt very well insulated but our weather is so dull. 50-70’s pretty much year round. It rarely freezes or even snows and I plan to bring him into the main part of the house during any bad weather. I’m keeping his temp pen in my bedroom but unfortunately I cant fit his hutch in there. Three fish tanks already…. Do you think it’d be a good idea to bring him in during the night?? Just let him spend the day in his hutch?

[Miyavp]

P.s he is a boy. I did my research and checked. Btw I read wire flooring can be hard on bunny feet so I covered it with news paper. Is that okay??

[Miyavp]

They werent kidding when they said bunnies are fast learners. I kept telling cappy no to chewing on the towel and then I’d praise him when he chewed on his toy. Now he’s not even interested in the towel.i s it safe for him to eat wood though? It did say edible twig tunnel for rabbits and rodents. Sorry for all the questions

[Roberta]

If its a toy for rats, guinea pigs or even parrots it should be safe for bunnies. Mine love the wooden parrot toys with the bells.

[Bam]

Never feel sorry for asking questions! It’s a pleasure to be able to help with a little rabbit, it’s so good of you to have rescued him!
As Roberta says, toys for rat, gps and parrots would be non-toxic and good for rabbits. Chewing wood is good for their teeth, they need constant wear because they grow all the bunny’s life.

[Miyavp]

I felt bad leaving him there in the sunroom/porch all night so I brought him in with me when I went to bed. He’s really enjoying that toy of his I’m glad I got it for him I read that neutoring your bunny is recommended. But he doesnt have his testies yet I dont belive, that means I’d need to wait longer right? Does anybody have male bunnies who live happilly without having this done? I’m not sure how much its gonna cost =\

[Roberta]

I am glad you brought him in… Buns love to be inside where they can be part of everything. Normal age for neutering is 6 months but it can vary from bun to bun. There is of course the possibility its a girl… Even the most experienced people have got it wrong at a young age. Boy buns can live happily without being fixed but you may not be able to live happily with him. So many buns are dumped between 6-12 months because they started to become hormonal and stopped being nice… The cost can vary considerably from vet to vet but males do tend to be cheaper. Use the time to ring around and see what the cost is. See if there are any shelters near you that can direct you to a vet that may do the procedure at a lesser rate.

[Beka27]

Neutering is going to be money well-spent. Keep doing research and hanging around on BB and you’ll see what some of the “annoying” behaviors are with unfixed rabbits! Neutering males is optional healthwise, but unwanted behaviors will make you want to neuter. Spaying females is NOT optional due to their incredibly high cancer risk when unfixed.

Either of these bunnies could be a male or female, so I would also talk to your friend about how important it is that they see a vet and that they are spayed or neutered when they are old enough.

Here is a short, simple article that explains the highlights… http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/spay.html

[Miyavp]

I might call steamboat island vet and ask them how much they charge. I dont want him getting all mean he’s such a sweet loving bunny.

[Bam]

They don’t get mean exactly from not being neutered, at least not male bunnies. But they do tend to lose their litterbox-habits when they start to sexually mature. They can adopt the not so nice habit of spraying urine on stuff like walls (they can pee a meter (3 ft) high, easy). They may fall in love with other pets like dogs, cats – or your feet, and tirelessly court the objects of their fascination.

But then again there are unneutered males who never display any “bad” behaviour. They don’t need to be neutered for health-reasons. Females need to be spayed because of the risk of uterine cancer though.

[Miyavp]

I think my parents want to anyway. That way if we go somewhere and he needs to go stay with my friend who has the female bunny we wont have to worry about it. I dont think her dads going to spay her bunny so I think this would be easier.

[Bam]

It’s probably the wisest choice, just wanted to give you the whole picture or sth in the way of. So you can make a well-informed choice for you and your pet. Both my bunny-boys are neutered.

[Beka27]

If he’s going to be around an unspayed female, it’s definitely wise to neuter.

If you need anymore help, just ask!

[Miyavp]

So since he doesnt really play in the yard, he justsits and eats grass and clover. I spent all day yesterday cleaning and partially bunny proofing my bedroom for him to play in. Where do you buy those cube things at?? I need to keep him out of my closet and out from undermy bed

[Roberta]

Sounds like your little bunny is going to have a wonderful loving home. Have you decided on a name yet ?

[Author]

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