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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

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    • Lulu_rose
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        Hey everyone! I have been thinking about possibly asking my parents for a bunny, so I’ve been doing some serious research to the point were I’ve combed these forums like a really determined stalker, and I’ve looked at so many health pages of HRS that I could be a terrible vet!
        Anyways, I’d like to hear some of your guys’ first-hand experiences with your bunnies so I can get a better perspective on what I’m in for. Funny stories, panics, frustrations… anything you’d like to share. Have fun!


      • rayray
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          Welcome, Lulu! I just got my 1st bun in Aug 2013. The 1st 2 months were pretty much just me worrying if he was happy and if I was doing the right things for him.
          Like you, I did more than enough research. lol!
          A couple things I learned… It took longer than I expected for Ziggy to be totally comfortable with me. In the beginning he mostly just threw his toys around and ate cardboard. Now, he plays tag with me which is probably the cutest thing I’ve ever seen!! He also binkies a lot more. Of course, once he got comfortable, the spraying started. I just had him neutered a week ago. He’s back to his old self and has only sprayed once (left over hormones i presume).
          Anyways.. that’s my boring story. haha! All the best and can’t wait to see pics once you have your bun!!


        • Hazel
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            One thing I’ve learned is that most new bunny owners buy tons of things that are either unnecessary, inappropriate or even dangerous for a rabbit. I did it, as have many other members here. Rabbit ownership is a learning experience that just keeps on going. I’ve had 4 rabbits over the years, I got my first two in 2000. Still, I learn new things all the time. Unfortunately I didn’t have BinkyBunny as a resource for the majority of my years as a bunny slave, so you already have an edge there.

            What I’m getting at is, if you told us your plans regarding your setup and care for your new bunny, I’m sure a lot of us can weigh in and help you avoid some of the mistakes we made ourselves.


          • Mimzy
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              How exciting! I have a friend who’s also preparing to get her first bunny in a couple months
              As hazel was saying, often new bunny owners don’t start out right! lol. I never planned to have a bunny & actually didn’t care to have one as I thought they were cute but didn’t do anything except sit in a cage all day.

              Boy was I wrong! My girl came from my ex’s little sister who was given to her as an Easter gift. They took horrible care of her & eventually she agreed I could have her. I was to foster her & find her a new home & one website I looked at said to start them off in a small cage & if they misbehave, their cage may be too big. It said that they needed this so they’d be grateful later on. THIS IS SO WRONG.
              I had a playpen I kept her in & to HRS standards, it was not big enough. She was definitely not behaving in a little cage. I finally found BudgetBunny on youtube, 101rabbits, & BinkyBunny & immediately gave her as big a space I possibly could & kept making it bigger the longer I had her.
              Give your bunny as big as space as you possibly can, the bigger the better, & they will be happy! Mine is well behaved now, minus her current territorial behavior since a male bunny is sharing the room too lol.

              My girl now has a 3 story condo & my whole room to run around, I’m so grateful for BinkyBunny & I’m glad you found them too!! I’m crazy for bunnies now, I wasn’t supposed to keep either bunny I have right now but once you really know how to care for them, it’s so rewarding & they steal your heart as you already know Best of luck on your search for your first bunny ^-^


            • Lulu_rose
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                Hey guys, sorry for the late reply.
                @Hazel- Could you tell me some of the common unnecessary things people buy first?
                This is what I was thinking my setup would be like
                A Mid West ex-pen with a door and maybe a roof if s/he is a jumper. I have a small travel dog crate, so I was thinking I could put some super comfy bedding and that could be a nice little sleeping place inside the pen. A sea grass mat, some toys for s/he to destroy and throw around, maybe the “Ton ‘O Fun Bun Run’ or ‘Maze Haven’ from the binky store.. hmm I haven’t thought out the details of my design plan yet. I know I want the litter box with the screen set and the free standing hay rack from the binky store too. I’d probably end up building s/he a small playhouse out of non-toxic wood because I’m pretty handy with making small stuff like that. Anything I should add/take away?


              • Lulu_rose
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                  Hey guys, sorry for the late reply.
                  @Hazel- Could you tell me some of the common unnecessary things people buy at first?
                  This is what I was thinking my setup would be like
                  A Mid West ex-pen with a door and maybe a roof if s/he is a jumper. I have a small travel dog crate, so I was thinking I could put some super comfy bedding and that could be a nice little sleeping place inside the pen. A sea grass mat, some toys for s/he to destroy and throw around, maybe the “Ton ‘O Fun Bun Run’ or ‘Maze Haven’ from the binky store.. hmm I haven’t thought out the details of my design plan yet. I know I want the litter box with the screen set and the free standing hay rack from the binky store too. I’d probably end up building s/he a small playhouse out of non-toxic wood because I’m pretty handy with making small stuff like that. Anything I should add/take away?


                • Bam
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                    I know one thing that’s not unnecessary, and that’s cable-covers. I’d had Bam for more than 6 months free range in the apt, when he suddenly made the decision to chew off the Internet-cable. Then he cut the cords to a loudspeaker and the phone.

                    It happened in one day and he’d never shown any interest in cables before.

                    After that I took good care to bunny-proof all cords – or so I thought until yesterday when I put the laptop on the coffea-table. The next intstant, Yohio stuck up his little furry head and cut the cord between the fan and the laptop. It was done in less than a split second. He looked SO surprised when I scolded him that I immediately stopped being angry. They do rely on their looks a lot, rabbits =)

                    Low-voltage cords are not dangerous, but it’s still a nuisance to have to replace or mend them.


                  • Hazel
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                      An x-pen will be great! Getting a roof for it might be a good idea too, although I’ve never had this setup so I’m not sure if the roof would be a hassle to deal with when you go in to clean etc. Which height were you going to get? If you go with a 42″ x-pen, chances are the bun won’t jump over. Of course there are always some bunnies that are more talented at escaping . I like the dog crate too, it could be a nice little burrow-ish hangout for your bun. Some rabbits like soft things to lay on, many actually prefer hard flooring though. Sometimes the softness will also make them want to pee there. Won’t hurt to try it though, he/she might love it! If there’s a pee accident, you can always try again after the bun is altered, that might change things concerning the blanket.

                      Is the hay rack you were talking about the willow one? That will work just fine, although it will probably get destroyed after a while. It would be a great chew toy of course and if you don’t mind replacing it every now and then it would be a good option. I made a hay rack out of a NIC grid but since you are getting the x-pen I don’t know if you’re planning to get any grids. They are still good for bunny proofing around the house. Many people just put the hay down in the litter box, too.

                      The most common things people buy are pet store cages and those tiny triangle litter boxes but you have already made better plans. Other things are harnesses/leashes (very dangerous), pet store treats (most of them are unhealthy), rabbit junk food (it has corn and a bunch of colorful stuff mixed into it, you want a plain pellet) and cedar or pine shavings for litter (there are chemicals in them that can cause respiratory issues). Aspen shavings are save, although still dusty. I would recommend horse stall pellets or wood stove pellets (without accelerant). They are both the same thing, made from pine sawdust and pressed into pellets. The pine in this case is safe because the harmful chemicals are eliminated during the production process. You could also use a paper based litter like Yesterday’s News, although they are much more expensive than the horse stall or wood stove pellets, which cost about $6 for a 40lbs bag. Pet store litter will cost two or three times as much. Also, some people use clay cat litter, that’s a big no no as well. The clumping litter can cause blockages if ingested and the clay is also quite dusty.

                      Lastly, water bottles. They are very hard to clean and can malfunction without you realizing it and the bun could go without water until you figure it out. Water bowls work better, they are easy to clean and offer a much more natural way for the bunny to drink. Drinking from a bottle causes them to swallow a lot of air which can cause tummy problems. I’d get something heavy like a ceramic crock because bunnies like to try and flip them over, making a huge mess.

                      That’s all I can think of right now. I’m sure you know a bunch of this already though, you seem well prepared.


                    • Lulu_rose
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                        I’ll definitely get those cord covers! Cords can be pretty expensive so that will be essential.

                        Yes, the willow one is the one I was talking about… replacing it might be a nuisance, so I’ll just save the money from that to buy extra toys.
                        We actually buy those horse stall pellets along with shavings for our horses (it helps for absorbency and odor) so I’m all set for litter!

                        I didn’t actually know that about the water bottles so thanks for telling me that, I think you saved me a lot of hassle. I was hoping to get away with a 36 inch ex pen without a lid because I’m not sure how easily the lid comes on and off for cleaning, so I guess we’ll just he to see for that one.
                        Thanks so much for all the advice, how much do you guys think you spent on start up costs?


                      • Ktiernan
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                          So exciting! I did a lot of research but wish I would have had a post like this for advice before I got my bun!

                          I think I spent a good $200 initially between adoption fees, food, litter, food bowls, little toys etc. I also got a carrier for her which cost a bit. I didn’t have to buy a cage initially but did finally buy a nice oak tv cabinet I hollowed out as a hutch for her that was about $40.

                          If your bun will have any access to your bedroom make sure to section off underneath your bed. I had a panic attack when my bun didn’t just go under the bed but made a hole and hopped into my box frame. This is apparently not uncommon as box springs a re ideal burrows, but definitely not safe. It took me more than a week to get her to stop even trying to go under there even after boxing it off.

                          Also don’t worry about putting any sort of paper bedding down. I’m not the only one I know who did this and regretted it. It just makes a giant mess and they couldn’t care less about it. A little comfy bed or something is fine though!

                          Good luck!

                          Don’t spend too much on toys. My buns favorite toys are by far basic cardboard boxes and tubes which you. Can essentially have for free by recycling stuff.


                        • BunnyLady1989
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                            I found that you learn a lot as you go along too. I find that the bedding that a lot of people use for insides cages is worthless. At least this is with my experience. It was harder to litter train with that stuff also in the cage and Lulu would just kick it out of her way anyway to lay on the hard floor. I eventually upgraded to a playpen and it is arrange to close off a corner, allowing for more room. I don’t need a top since Lulu is a Holland Lop (one of the smaller breeds), but I’ve heard some larger bunns can jump over them. Thank goodness you are set with litter! I learned the hard way with that too and started with clay based litter, but then switched to the paper litter. You are very lucky to have everyone on this site to ask questions and research! As for toys cardboard definitely is one of the best things, but it wouldn’t hurt to have a few other toys too so the bunny doesn’t get too bored, and to switch them out every once in a while. Lulu has one particular stuffed animal ( the abominable snowman Bumble from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer) and she has to have him with her. It’s so precious how she will cart that thing around with her and snuggle with it


                          • Lulu_rose
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                              I’m so lucky to have this site to hear everyone’s opinions based on years of experience with different bunnies, it’s really helpful and it’s making me feel a lot more confident about getting one
                              I have a tempurpedic bed so I’ll definitely be sectioning off the bed so s/he doesn’t go under and eat my bed, this is of she’ll have access to my room. I feel so bad hearing that story, how did you even get her(or him) out from underneath your bed? I actually was thinking to make some toys with cardboard things, and get a set of plastic keys for her to throw around, and a small willow toy. ill this be enough to satisfy chewing needs?
                              Also, I’m going to boarding school next year (if I get in). It has a big small animal room that will easily fit the ex pen, and I’ll have a lot of hours after school to spend with the bunny and have time for other activities too since I’ll be there full time. Also there aren’t any ferrets, mainly guinea pigs hamsters and a couple bunnies. Will this be okay if I set the cage up to be stimulating enough for him/her? I have friends that can drive me in emergencies, and by the time I get there I’ll have a lot saved up from doing summer jobs and an allowance, so I’ll have money for monthlies and surprise vet trips. Is this okay?


                            • BunnyLady1989
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                                Lol oh yeah I know full too well the importance of blocking the bottom of a bed. About two years ago Lulu chewed a hole and jumped into the box spring! Oh was I ticked with her but it was pretty funny so I couldn’t really scold her thru my laughter at her craziness. She enjoyed herself though! Luckily we had to just put a large piece of plywood on the bottom to fix that. It sounds like you have a decent grasp on everything. But to answer one of your questions- chewing needs are never satisfied! Especially around cords so be very careful with that. But yes cardboard will be incredibly beneficial for that.

                                I’m a little confused about the set up for boarding school though. There is a seperate room strictly for the animals? As in they are not kept in your room? I don’t think I can offer advice on that part. My only concern would be the other animals and owners possibly messing with your pet.


                              • Lulu_rose
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                                  Yep! It’s separate from the dorms. There are different dorm buildings for every grade level, and the small animal room is in the school part of the facility.

                                  Lol, I’ve actually thought of a good cure for that issue. I’m going to put a sign up on the cage that says “DO NOT PET: BUNNY BITES AND KICKS”


                                • NewBunnyOwner123
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                                    I have a tempurpedic bed and be very careful when allowing your bunny up for cuddles. Some bunnies canNOT help but pee on the bed (so soft and comfy) And those tempurpedic beds are VERY good at soaking up moisture and not letting it go like ever and you’ll forever have bunny pee on the mattress lol although, if you wanted to go with that whole 20 year gaurantee thing then it’s required you get a mattress pad protector. But those pillows man… Watch the bunny! I’d actually just avoid allowing bunny on bed lol

                                    NIC grids. Check them out! You can block off from under the bed with those. I know a member here actually made a bunny maze with cardboard boxes completely taking up under her bed for the bun to play. But I’d still be concerned of them chewing through the box and somehow finding a wire. Basically, my bedroom door stays closed at all times. My bed is too expensive to have a bunny chomp a wire from the adjustable frame or nibble on memory foam from one or two seconds of me being distracted lol

                                    I too have an aquarium. If you have yours placed on a wooden stand. Be prepared. They will chew on the edges. So if it’s a nice stand. Get some corner guards to protect the wood. I find sprays are useless and my bun actually likes the bitter apples sprays! I have a little gap between the aquarium Stand and the wall because of my filter and it would allow a bunny to squeeze back there and there are ALOT of wires for the aquarium. So I used a nic grid to completely block the passage way. If you have like a computer desk, instead of putting cords in individual protectors you can, once again, block off the entire area with nic grids lol. See how awesome these things are?!

                                    Don’t line the entire cage with bedding. It’ll confuse with litter training. Its only needed where you actually want them to go potty. I use wood stove pellets. It’s like $4 for 50 pounds. I bought the entire years worth (hopefully as I don’t know how much will get me through the year as it’s the first time I’ve done it this way to save money) because you can only seem to get wood stove pellets at the store during winter months so I stocked up. So it was like $40 for a years worth of litter. Probably even last longer than that!

                                    Ummm really? It’s a learn as you go type thing with buns. What works for one person may not work for you. Or what’s working currently may not work in the future because all your bunny will have to do all day while you’re at school is think of ways to get past all the bunny proofing you did to keep you in your toes. I’ve had my buns for over a year and I’m still adjusting things.
                                    Your bun may go a whole year without showing the least bit of interest in your carpet or cords and then one day decide to dig or chew on said carpet and cords. Have fun!


                                  • BunnyLady1989
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                                      Lol I think your going to do just fine! Can’t wait to hear updates


                                    • lozzkate
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                                        well this will make me look like a bad owner. i didnt really do a lot of research when i got my first two rabbits i just did the basics like how often to clean them how much they should eat and what they should eat. as for toys we didnt really buy anything for them just used kitchen roll tubes. other than that they were just fine sitting in the corner watching us while we cleaned them out. 

                                        mind there was one time when we were cleaning thumper and mischief out and they were sat behind us the next thing we saw was this white blur running past us and into the hutch. poor mischief tried to run into the hutch and jump halfway up the ramp to get to the top floor but decided he didnt want to a few seconds too late and ended up skidding sideways into the ramp. so there was me horrified going omg you ok mischief whilst my sister was in the floor laughing her head off. looking back it was funny as he just shook it off and ran back to thumper who just looked at him like he was saying you idiot. i miss them both but they gave us so many laughs 


                                      • Lulu_rose
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                                          Thanks for all the helpful info NBO!! There is one way I can avoid having the bunny near my rooms (and aquarium cords) altogether.  

                                          I have the option of having my rabbit in my room, or in the sun room. Our sun room is heated and air conditioned but it’s attached to the TV room, where all the dogs are. There is a door between them and the dogs cant get in with the door shut. The advantages to the sun room is that my furniture won’t get eaten up and I can allow more freedom, and the advantages to my room is that it’s farther away from where all the dogs are. Any thoughts?


                                        • Hazel
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                                            Does the school have any requirements regarding the pet’s health? Clean bill of health from a vet, vaccinations? I’d be kind of worried about my bun catching something being housed with a bunch of other animals. I also wouldn’t trust other people not to mess with my pet but that’s just me. How would free roam work, would they let one pet out at a time?

                                            Edit: I edited some stuff out of my post. You were talking about when your bun is at home with you, I thought you were talking about school. Sorry .


                                          • NewBunnyOwner123
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                                              Oh are you having roommates who have dogs? Or something I’m kinda confused with the situation. How does the “pet room” work?


                                            • Lulu_rose
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                                                Alright I’ll try and explain this as best I can.

                                                The animal  has to come with certifications of vaccinations. The only pets allowed to live in the pet room are guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits mice etc things that are small and fluffy, but no ferrets because that scares the other small animals. Also no dogs or cats. It’s a big room separate from the dorms, located in the building where you go for most of your classes but it’s in a low traffic area, past the science room. No one would have a need to go back there unless you are keeping a pet. 



                                              • Lulu_rose
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                                                  Double post


                                                • JPetrucci84
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                                                    I’ve learned the hard way that having a bunny builds and requires patience. When I rescued my rabbit off of the streets, I didn’t know she was preggo. So when she became defensive and moody, I could never understand why. Always make sure you keep your eyes on your pet. The SECOND you turn, an innocent cable might be shredded. I have been able to repair three iPod cables, a router power cable, and a stereo cable, but it happens very quickly.


                                                  • BunnyLady1989
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                                                      Agree with jpetrucci84! Especially with cords and cables. I lost track of the amount of chargers Lulu has destroyed. Luckily phone chargers don’t have enough power to cause damage to an animal. But you never know when they will find one that can hurt or even kill them. Regardless of how well they are trained you still need to keep eyes on them at all times. Sometimes they are worse than toddlers lol, but you still gotta love them to death.


                                                    • Zombie-Sue
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                                                        Personally I recommend covering your cords. ..


                                                      • BunnyLady1989
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                                                          I do to zombie sue, but even when they are protected you still need to watch just in case. Bunnies can be sneaky lol.


                                                        • Deleted User
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                                                            I lost my bed warranty NBO – washing my specifically bought mattress protector for my very expensive cushioned bed, it took only 2 minutes for Henry to wee and void my 10 year warranty! Dam! And don’t get me started on anything else I have had to throw out – I’ve even hidden chewed items from my hubby, don’t want the argument!
                                                            BunnyLady1989 – they are worse than toddler’s! (I can’t smack Henry – though I picture in my mind giving a smack on his cute little butt as he scurry’s away!).  JOKES!
                                                            But love him? How do you explain loving something that causes you so much grief? Oh, that’s right – “bunny love”!


                                                          • Lulu_rose
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                                                              Haha thanks everyone for the advice!


                                                            • Annabel93
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                                                                I bought some cord covering despite having rabbits who were never interested in cords, yet one day all 3 decided to chew through the covering (which smells like bleach and is meant to repel them!) and the cord, so really the best bet is to hide all cords and have your eyes open 24/7!

                                                                Also agree with keeping them off the bed, mine are well litter trained until they get on the bed, at which point they go mad…

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