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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A What do I need?

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    • BunnyloverBunnyhugger
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        Hello everyone!! Me and my mum are going to save up some money so I can get a bunny for my birthday!! ^w^ We haven’t had one in the house since I was about 6 or 7. I tried to have gerbils as pets, but they weren’t exactly to my likeing. *Sorry if that sounds rude/mean* I’ve come up with a list of things to buy to get me started, and I would like to know if there is anything I should add, take out, or choose differently about. *I also want to keep everything under 200 dollars, if possible.* I don’t know where to get the litter, or what kind.

         

        Bunny Shopping List. YAY. Every penny I recieve will be saved away for this thing.
        * means included in subtotal.
        ~ Counted into “Unsure amount”
        *Cage: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pawhut-Outdoor-Triangular-Wooden-Bunny-Rabbit-Hutch-Guinea-Pig-Cage-House-w-Run-/141038783579?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20d6910c5b $60 Free Shipping.
        ~Food: Will buy in stores. No more then $10 No less then $3
        ~Bedding: Will buy in stores. No more then $15 No less then $5
        Litter:
        *Litter Box: http://www.amazon.com/Lixit-Ferret-Corner-Litter-Pan/dp/B0002Z15UC/ref=sr_1_115?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1377650137&sr=1-115 $5.50 . Shipping: $5
        *Food Dish: http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Pet-Dog-Cat-Kitten-Automatic-Water-Dispenser-Puppy-Rabbit-Food-Dish-Feeder-/390531644410?pt=Dog_Dishes_Feeders_and_Fountains&var=660111847574&hash=item5aed7ffbfa $5 Free Shipping

        *Water Bottle: http://www.ebay.com/itm/32-OUNCE-CAPACITY-BEST-BUY-BOTTLE-DRINKER-RABBIT-GUINEA-PIG-FERRET-WATERER-WATER-/130604707839?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e68a5afff $5.50 . Shipping $3
        ~Toys: Will buy in stores. No more then $20 No less then $5
        *Bunny: $15

        *Hay Rack: http://www.amazon.com/Ware-Manufacturing-Feeder-Free-Salt/dp/B000HG966G/ref=sr_1_6?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1377652067&sr=1-6&keywords=Small+Animal+hay+feeder $4 . Shipping $6.50
        *Hay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-lb-PREMIUM-1st-Cut-Timothy-RABBIT-PET-HAY-/370621470311?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item564ac2d667  $3 . Shipping $7

        “Unsure Amount”*Not added into subtotal*: $13 – $45

        Subtotal: $98
        +
        Total for shipping: $21.50

        Total: $119.50


      • LBJ10
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          Is your bun going to be a house bun? You said you haven’t had one in the house since you were 6, so I assumed the new one would be in the house too. You post a link to an outdoor run though. Something more appropriate might be an exercise pen. Or you can make a NIC condo for cheap.


        • BunnyloverBunnyhugger
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            Yes it’s going to be in the house. I was aware that what I linked was meant for outdoors. I had planned on putting a piece of wood underneath it.


          • BunnyloverBunnyhugger
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              and if I were to make a cage with the NIC cubes, how many would I need to make a 4ft x 2ft x 2ft?


            • Hazel
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                Welcome!

                The enclosure is a little small, I’m not certain of the exact recommended size but I think it needs to be bigger. It seems like it would be a little impractical for cleaning as well. As LBJ said, a NIC condo or x-pen probably wouldn’t be more expensive and much easier to work with.

                What kind of food are you planning on buying? All you need to know about good quality food is in the Bunny Info section above, compare the ingredients listed there to whatever they have at the store. Stay away from the colorful stuff with seeds and corn in it, that’s no good. It should be plain pellets. The price can vary greatly depending on what size bag you buy.

                I’d also stay away from the triangle litter boxes, most bunnies outgrow them quickly. A medium or large rectangle cat litter box should be fine. There needs to be enough room for the bunny to lay down and possibly to put food/water bowls and hay in, as they like to poop where they eat. Or you could hang a hay rack above the box.

                I’ve always used water bottles myself, but a bowl is probably the better choice, it’s a more natural way for them to drink and bottles are much harder to keep clean.

                As far as litter goes, a lot of people use horse stall pellets (not shavings), or wood stove pellets (untreated), they are the same thing. It’s very cheap, you can get a 40lbs bag for $5-$7.

                Where are you getting your bunny from?

                I’m so glad you’re doing all your research beforehand! The people on this forum are very knowledgeable and will help you as much as they can.


              • BunnyloverBunnyhugger
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                  I’m getting my bunny from a local pet store owner. When I’ve went there for stuff for the gerbils I had, I would always pick up his bunnies and hold them. They are wonderful. He takes great care of them. I was holding one earlier today that I hadn’t seen before, and it was the calmest thing in the world. I’m hoping and praying he’s still there when I get everything ready. Thanks for letting me know what kind of litter to get! That’s the only thing I couldn’t find SOMETHING about. I’ll be sure to look for a different litter box as well. And as for the cage, I already went and found a bunch of the NIC stuff and added it instead. It’ll be easier to use because once I get money I can just buy some more and expand!! And I’m not sure what kind of food to buy. I’ll research it, and once I go to get the bunny itself I’ll find the best kind I can. What kind of bedding should I use too?


                • LBJ10
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                    It depends on the brand (I guess you could say) that you buy. The kind I bought are 14 inches square and the openings are less than 2 inches (I think they are 1.5 inches square). Different brands are packaged differently, so the number of panels can vary. I would definitely shop around. There were 17 panels in a package for the ones I bought, I think.

                    So if you got some similar to mine, then I would think a couple packages would be sufficient. I didn’t use mine to make a condo, they were for bunny-proofing. But most people will buy enough to make more than one level. People use wood to make platforms.


                  • manic_muncher
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                      You could save a little money getting a cat box from a store, for around $4. Also, to help facilitate litterbox training, you -could- hang the hay rack beside the box, OR simply put the hay on in end in the litterpan (mine will not touch the hay in his hayrack.. so that was a complete waste of money for me). I picked up a heavy small ceramic bowl for his food for $1. Homemade toys are great too! Toilet paper rolls stuffed with hay will keep some buns entertained for hours. There are lots of ideas for toys on this forum. Cardboard boxes with holes cut in them are great too. I did buy a couple toys, but most of mine are homemade. Anyway, those are just a few suggestions, I’m on dialup and too sleepy to wait for pages to load to see your pics, but I’m sure others will discuss cage options for you before I wake up and return here.

                      Welcome to BB!


                    • LBJ10
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                        What do you mean by bedding? You bun will need litter for a litter box. You don’t want any bedding because it will confuse them during litter training. Once litter trained, a lot of people use fleece blankets.


                      • BunnyloverBunnyhugger
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                          Thanks for the suggestions! and ohh, I feel stupid. I didn’t know you aren’t meant to use bedding. That will save loads of money, thanks so much! This is a learning process for me, and I’m mostly going off of the few things my mum has told me.


                        • Monkeybun
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                            yep, just put litter in a regular cat litter box No need for it everywhere, it just makes a mess. And an exercise pen, like for dogs, makes for a wonderful home for bunnies. And, its easily moved and cleaned You can often get them on sale in stores too, for about what you were goign to pay for the hutch, or cheaper.


                          • BunnyloverBunnyhugger
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                              Just from everything you guys have helped me with you’ve saved me a buttload of money. Here’s my new list.:

                              Bunny Shopping List. YAY. Every penny I recieve will be saved away for this thing.

                              * means included in subtotal.

                              ~ Counted into “Unsure amount”

                              *Cage: http://www.kmart.com/stor-floor-standing-6-cube-storage-unit/p-010W435219990001P?prdNo=10&blockNo=10&blockType=G10 $20 x2 = $40 . In store pickup.

                              ~Food: Will buy in stores. No more then $10

                              *Litter: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11279854&f=PAD%2FpsNotAvailInUS%2FNo $8 . Shipping: $5

                              ~Litter Box: Pick one up from the store. No more then $8

                              *Water Bottle: http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Pet-Dog-Cat-Kitten-Automatic-Water-Dispenser-Puppy-Rabbit-Food-Dish-Feeder-/390531644410?pt=Dog_Dishes_Feeders_and_Fountains&var=660111847574&hash=item5aed7ffbfa $5 Free Shipping

                              *Food Dish: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752726&clickid=cart Large. $3 Free shipping if bought with the Litter.

                              ~Toys: Will buy in stores. No more then $10

                              *Bunny: $15

                              *Hay Rack: http://www.amazon.com/Ware-Manufacturing-Feeder-Free-Salt/dp/B000HG966G/ref=sr_1_6?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1377652067&sr=1-6&keywords=Small+Animal+hay+feeder $4 . Shipping $6.50

                              *Hay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-lb-PREMIUM-1st-Cut-Timothy-RABBIT-PET-HAY-/370621470311?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item564ac2d667 $3 . Shipping $7

                              “Unsure Amount”*Not added to subtotal*: $38 and less

                              Subtotal: $78
                              +
                              Total for shipping: $18.50

                              Total: $96.50
                              Total + Max Unsure Amounts = 124.50


                            • LongEaredLions
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                                Instead of buying a hay rack, you can just bend an NIC grid into a v shape and zip tie it to the cage. It holds a lot of hay and is cheap too! Also you might want to consider using a water bowl instead of a bottle as many bunnies prefer that. And lastly, you might want to to look at oxbow rabbit food. It is a bit more on the pricey side but a 10lb bag should last 4-8 months depending on how much you feed. It sounds like you are doing a great job preparing for your new long eared friend!


                              • Monkeybun
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                                  I do recommend a bowl instead of a bottle for water… those bottles tend to leak a lot, and are noisy as heck. Bowls are a more natural way for them to drink anyway, even if you do need to clean it more often.


                                • BunnyloverBunnyhugger
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                                    What I have picked out for the water bottle is actually a water bottle attached to a bowl, so it pours into the bowl, I figured that way, it would be cleaner, and have more water. and I may try that idea with bending the NIC cubes! I’ll hold off on getting the hay rack till I get the them, to see if I have any extra, if I do then yay, if not then oh well.


                                  • MoveDiagonally
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                                      I hope you don’t mind… But I did find some ways to make things even cheaper for you:

                                       
                                      KMART – In store pick up
                                      Cage: Grids X 2 = $40
                                       
                                       
                                      Amazon: All with free AmazonPrime shipping (Which I think you can try out and cancel if you don’t have it already).
                                       
                                      Litter – Feline Pine : $23.65 for 40lbs. This comes out to 60 cents a lb. The litter you have chosen is about 80 cents a lb + shipping.
                                       
                                      This is cheaper than the litter you have currently chosen BUT  I get horse stall pellets locally for $4-5 for 40-50lbs. Horse stall pellets, feline pine, equine pine, untreated wood stove pellets, dry den etc… Are all the same product.  
                                       
                                      Food Bowl: $4.60
                                       
                                      Water Bowl: $4.99 (1 quart, med, blueberry color. I specify color because the other colors are more expensive)
                                       
                                      Hay: $19.99 for 10lbs. This comes out to $2 dollars a lb the one you have selected now is $3/lb + shipping so really $7/lb. 
                                       
                                      Bunny: $15
                                       
                                      I don’t think Hay racks are necessary as you can stack hay in their litter box.
                                       
                                      Subtotal: $108.23 BUT you are getting 30lbs more litter and 9lbs more hay and not paying for shipping. With how much more of those two items that you are getting coupled with not paying for shipping you saving $27.02 overall. You might be able to save more on hay and litter if you look locally for it too. Or by shopping around on amazon prime items because of free shipping. 
                                       
                                      All that’s left is Food, Litter box, Toys, and whatever you need to put together the condo. 


                                    • MoveDiagonally
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                                        For an example of how shopping locally for hay and litter can help you save:

                                        If I were to order what I linked to you but shopped for hay and litter at a local feed store. My total for everything would be: $85.59 and I would be getting 10lbs more litter and 20-30lbs more hay. I know every area is different but it’s worth looking in to. If you find a local source for litter and hay I wouldn’t order anything form amazon at all really. You could probably find something compariable or cheaper locally. For example: A dog water bowl and even a cheap human plate or bowl could be used to serve up pellets. 


                                      • BunnyloverBunnyhugger
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                                          Wow, thanks so much!! This is really helpful. and thanks for taking the time to do this for me. ^-^


                                        • BunnyloverBunnyhugger
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                                            That would be kinda cute to watch a little bunny eat from a plate. xD And where I live it’s really hard to find most things. The last time I was up at my Petsmart they had maybe 4-5 small pets. Small towns are kinda blah. Not to mention, everything is stupidly charged. Where I’m getting my bunny from, he was selling 48in x 19incages for 140 bucks. And 6 liters of carefresh for 8 I’ll most certainly look into it though. There has got to be some place to get cheap, good stuff.


                                          • MoveDiagonally
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                                              My husband is watching something boring on tv so I’m reading bunny forums and online window shopping for rabbit stuff

                                              What a tiny cage for so much money! Building a NIC Condo will definitely save you money while giving your bunny so much more space. It sucks not to be able to find things at a good price locally. I know I envy the Californians on this board for their cheap farmer’s market produce. Just don’t tell any other Oregonians I said that (Monkeybun look away!)


                                            • BunnyloverBunnyhugger
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                                                HAHA! Yeah, where I live,it kinda seems like we would have cheap, all natural kind of stuff, but we don’t. I live in WV.

                                                I’ve been doing this since probably 4 or 5 pm today. Because my mum said I could finally get a bunny. And right now it’s 3 am. Online shopping and list making sucks the time away. LOL


                                              • MoveDiagonally
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                                                  Online shopping is a time thief. In my hunt for bunny items last night I think I found some better deals for you!  

                                                  http://www.drsfostersmith.com/ is a nice site and if you spend $49 or more shipping is free. 

                                                  Basic Carefresh Bedding – 30L for $4.49 on Summer Sale. I might even get two.  
                                                   
                                                  8 oz low profile for pellets – $2.99
                                                   
                                                  40oz – $5.49
                                                   
                                                  $2.99 – I know these weren’t on your original list but you’ll need them. 
                                                   
                                                  128oz (8lbs) – $9.79
                                                   
                                                  $5.99, this is pretty big and the sides are tall. I’m not sure how big of a rabbit you are getting but if they are smaller you might have to cut an entrance into the side. You might also find something cheaper locally. 
                                                   
                                                  Zupreem Nature’s Promise, 10lbs for $13.99 (Locally Kaytee Timothy Complete or Kaytee Forti Diet might be cheaper. Just make sure it’s a plain pellet). 
                                                   
                                                  Subtotal: $45.73 if you spent $3.27 more that would bring you up to $49 and get you the free shipping. 
                                                   
                                                   
                                                  $49 + $15 for bunny + $40 for grids = $104
                                                   
                                                  What else is needed: 
                                                  Zip ties to put together cage (Estimate $5-8)
                                                  Something to put under the cage, maybe a cheap plastic shower curtain? (Estimate $5-8)
                                                  Toys ($10)
                                                   
                                                  Esitmated Total:  Approx $130
                                                   
                                                  Some other things to consider:
                                                  Carrier – You could probably make one out of your spare grids if you don’t want to buy one right away or don’t have one. 
                                                  Brush – I groomed my rabbit with my hands for a long time before I got a brush.
                                                  Bunny Proofing Stuff:
                                                   
                                                  Anyway, that’s my second set of suggestions. Definintely shop around to see if you can find some better deals (online and local). If you’re going to be ordering hay, litter, and food online consistantly I think it’ll be easier and cheaper to get it all in one place. 


                                                • Beka27
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                                                    Wow! Everyone has given you awesome suggestions!

                                                    I hate wasting money on anything. I buy a lot of things online, but I pretty much refuse to pay shipping charges. With a little research, there are usually always alternative websites that either have coupon codes for free shipping, or ship for free over a certain dollar amount. You were given great options using both Amazon and Drs. Foster & Smith.

                                                    I don’t recall who said this on the first page, but I agree with buying larger quantities of litter, hay, and dry food (pellets). Don’t look at the total cost of the bag/box, look at the cost per ounce or pound.

                                                    Don’t get a hay rack or a fancy automatic water dispenser. Keep everything very simple. You can always get more things later on.

                                                    You’ve listed the basics… but I just have to make sure you’re also prepared for the other costs that are coming in the next couple months. New bunnies need a vet exam to make sure they are healthy. Once he/she reaches puberty, you will need to spay/neuter your bunny.

                                                    And rabbits require fresh veggies daily, not just pellets and hay. Veggies are the BIG cost in terms of food. Expect to spend a minimum of $10 per week on veggies.


                                                  • Beka27
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                                                      What kind of hardware stores do you have local (or within about 15-20 minutes of you)? Do you have Lowes, Home Depot, Tractor Supply Co.? Check at any of those locations for woodstove pellets, or horse stall bedding at Tractor Supply. Maybe call the location first before taking the drive.


                                                    • BunnyloverBunnyhugger
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                                                        I don’t have any hardware stores close to me at all. The closest Home Depot and Lowes*they are next to one another* is probably a 45-1 hour drive.


                                                      • Beka27
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                                                          Okay. So you really are in the middle of nowhere… lol!

                                                          I would get what you need to get for now then, but I would call Home Depot and/or Lowe’s in the late fall or early winter. Wood stove pellets are used in wood-burning stoves (pretty obvious from the name, I guess!) and most places ONLY carry them during colder seasons.

                                                          I buy wood stove pellets ONCE PER YEAR and I store the bags. My store carries the 40 lb bags for about $6 each. I buy 6-7 bags at once, spend $40-45 with tax… but I have bunny litter for THE ENTIRE YEAR!!! And that was when we had two bunnies (our lop passed away recently in June), so I will be buying fewer bags this winter.

                                                          If you only have one rabbit, you should be able to buy 4 bags for less than $30 with tax. That would come out to less than $2.50 per month for litter. If you are serious about wanting to keep costs as low as possible, this is the best way to do it.

                                                          When you do the math, it is worth driving an hour away once a year, so I would not rule that out as an option!!!


                                                        • Hazel
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                                                            Posted By BunnyloverBunnyhugger on 08/27/2013 10:24 PM
                                                            I’m getting my bunny from a local pet store owner. When I’ve went there for stuff for the gerbils I had, I would always pick up his bunnies and hold them. They are wonderful. He takes great care of them. I was holding one earlier today that I hadn’t seen before, and it was the calmest thing in the world. I’m hoping and praying he’s still there when I get everything ready.

                                                            Have you considered adopting from a shelter? There are so many bunnies that need a good home. A lot of the shelter bunnies are already spayed/neutered, so that’s something to consider as well when estimating your expenses.

                                                            Also, I agree with Beka about driving out to a hardware store and buying wood pellets in bulk, a few of those bags will last you a long time.


                                                          • BunnyloverBunnyhugger
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                                                              The only issue I would have with getting a bunny from a shelter is that I’ve no idea what kind of situation it lived in or how the bunny is, etc. The guy I’m getting mine from is a breeder and takes wonderful care of his animals. I’ve held the majority of animals he keeps and they are all wonderful and tamed. I would never get an animal from a place like petsmart or petco, because they don’t take good care of their animals, and if I did it’s encouraging breeding.


                                                            • Monkeybun
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                                                                Ha, I know Move, thats why I can’t wait to get a house with a decent yard so I can grow my own veggies


                                                              • Hazel
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                                                                  Posted By BunnyloverBunnyhugger on 08/28/2013 03:06 PM
                                                                  The only issue I would have with getting a bunny from a shelter is that I’ve no idea what kind of situation it lived in or how the bunny is, etc. The guy I’m getting mine from is a breeder and takes wonderful care of his animals. I’ve held the majority of animals he keeps and they are all wonderful and tamed. I would never get an animal from a place like petsmart or petco, because they don’t take good care of their animals, and if I did it’s encouraging breeding.

                                                                  Well, you’d be encouraging breeding either way. I believe you when you say he seems to take good care of his animals, but he’s still intentionally breeding for profit and giving him your money will allow him to continue. If you were to adopt a bun from a shelter however, your adoption fee would go towards saving animals in need.

                                                                  I understand your concern about not knowing the background of shelter buns, but you can always go and just take a look, if you don’t find a friendly one then at least you know you tried. Most shelters have a lot of homeless rabbits though, so I think there’s a good chance that you might find a wonderful bunny there.


                                                                • LoveMyMoMo
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                                                                    Most shelters allow you time to visit with the rabbits so you can get a feel for their personalities.
                                                                    When I wanted to adopt my rabbit, the rescue actually brought 4 rabbits over to my house so I could see each of them, their personalities, how they would fit into my home, etc.

                                                                    My bunny had a terrible start to life, normally once they’re in good care at the rescue shelter, they start to trust again, and are just as tame as breeder buns.

                                                                    Most shelters also usually do a health check vet visit to make sure they’re healthy before going to a new home! =) (Yet another bill saved.)


                                                                  • BunnyloverBunnyhugger
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                                                                      Okay, I’ve never honestly went and considered getting shelter pets, so I had no idea I could spend time with them! Thanks a lot. I will most certainly be heading to the shelter first just to see. :3 You guys have been a HUGE help, and I owe everyone a thank you. ^-^

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                                                                  Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A What do I need?