Litter Box & Food shopping

[MB & Neville]

Hello everyone! My name is MB, and I am a new bunny mommy! My bunny is a 10-week old English Angora Buck named Neville.  Before getting him from his breeder two days ago, I went ahead and bought litter and food at PetCo, which was really expensive!  It turns out, Carefresh is super tasty to the little guy, plus is sticks to his fur!  He likes to kick it all out of his litter box so it goes through the wire floor.  Obviously, I need a new litter so that I can train him.  I was just really hesitant to go back to PetCo.  But reading on here, I saw many people mention deals online when buying in bulk.  Could anyone recommend a good site, please? I really want to be a good mommy to him, and want to get started on the right track.  Any help is greatly appreciated!! Thank you! -MB

[Sarita]

Well, first off, welcome!

I would say that you should not put your rabbit on a wire floor at all – it’s very bad for their feet.

If you can get wood stove pellets that would be the most affordable…it depends on what part of the country you live in though and the season. Otherwise if you have a Tractor Supply look at their horse stall pellets.

Did you have a question about food as well? I don’t see it on your post.

[Tessie]

I agree with Sarita, wire floors are very bad for their feet!

Wood stove pellets or aspen shavings might be cheap.

[MB & Neville]

Thank you both! His breeder assured me that Angoras are fine with wire bottoms, especially since his hutch has a loft with a solid floor for him to rest on. And yes, Sarita, thank you, I forgot to put that bit in! What kind of food is best: pellets with Alpha or without? Do either of you buy in bulk online?

[Sarita]

I will just have to disagree with the breeder about any wire floors but it is good that he has a solid floor :~)

At his age and because he is an angora alfalfa pellets are best – I would go with a grass hay though because he would benefit more from a grass hay even at his young age.

I do not buy in bulk from the internet but I do buy my pelleted litter in bulk when I buy it at a local feed store. I usually buy about 8 bags of the Lone Star Bedding – mainly because the store is about 45 minutes away and I hate driving there. I would encourage you to look for a tractor supply or feed type store to see if they have the pelleted horse stall litter.

I probably wouldn’t buy any food pellets in bulk for just one rabbit though…

[Sindri]

I agree with Sarita see if you have a Tractor Supply. I do use carefresh for my rabbits and its much cheaper at that store,or you could go with the type of litter that they use. If you use carefresh I would suggest you only use it in the rabbit’s litter box if you are trying to litter train him. I am not sure if you are using the bedding anywhere else. I would then cover it with hay so that your bunny doesn’t see the carefresh. Sometimes one of my bunnies tries to nibble on the carefresh when I am putting it in the litter box. Being you have a long haired rabbit pelleted bedding would probably a better choice for not getting in the fur.

As for food I am also agree with Sarita when it comes to buying pellets in bulk. I also wouldn’t buy those in bulk either since pellets aren’t the bulk of a rabbits diet. I do buy hay in bulk though. Best of luck and congrats on your new baby bunny!

[MB & Neville]

Thank you to everyone!! I really appreciate the information and encouragement!! I will most certainly check out the Tractors Supply!

As for the litter-training, y’all just recommend that I put the litter only in the box, maybe cover with hay, and put it in the corner he uses to relieve himself? Eventually he will just pick up on it? 

[Sarita]

He sure is a cutie! Did the breeder give you recommendations on grooming him? I’ve only had angoras and Jersey Woolies as fosters for very short times and I was terrible at grooming…otherwise I love the long haired breeds.

[Sarita]

Yes, for the litter box training – what you said.

[MB & Neville]

Thanks! His breeder was wonderful! She actually showed me how to groom him using different brushes and a blower; also how to clip his nails quickly and without harming him. So long as he is brushed at least every other day, I shouldn’t have any troubles. (Plus, since I won’t be showing him, I cut most of his wool so that he would be cooler and there would be fewer knots and such.)

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