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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

Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Getting my first bunny

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    • HKsai
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        Hello guys!

        I’ve decided to add a new animal to my family (just me) after my cockatiel passed away earlier last year. I have 2 hamster, Pip and Giselle, here in Chicago living with me. I’m currently a graduate student and a therapist in training.

         I’ve been eyeing these two rabbits that I saw, one was a holland lop and one was a dutch. The holland lop was very laid back and the dutch approached me instantly and then later the holland lop also came and they were cuddling near the corner of the cage that I was in. I’m so torn since I think I love the dutch a little bit more but I’ve been looking at some information online and most people said that holland lop are the most cuddly rabbit breed and the dutch isn’t. I’m really looking for a calmer laid back rabbit to chill with me and let me cuddle with them ideally. I’m wondering if you guys have any experience and suggestion regarding these two breeds. Another quick question, I’m wondering if the living world XL cage would be sufficient when they are full grown considering having outside of the cage time for a few hours a day. Thanks!

        Tim


      • Beka27
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          Hi, welcome to BB!

          Either bun sounds like they would be great! Breed generalizations can’t always be trusted bc rabbits are breed for looks, not personality. For every cuddly lop, there will be another that is skittish. So base your decision strictly on the individual rabbit!

          The minimum recommended size for a cage is 2×4 feet, but in reality, 4×4 feet is becoming the standard size for one rabbit. I would skip the cage and invest in a dog xpen from the get go…


        • marbun18
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            Our bunny Marley has the living world xl cage. It’s nice but I ended up upgrading to a exercise pen from Amazon. It attaches to his cage on each side with the cage propped against a wall to ensure he can’t get out. It’s the best thing for him. Just make sure the exercise pen is tall. I think ours is 4 feet tall. They are curious by nature and will climb on other things to check unknown areas out. Anyways, I leave the cage door open and he has free reign to the whole cage. I’m actually trying to decide if I want to eliminate the cage all together but haven’t decided how the exercise pen will be sturdy without the cage.

            The living world xl is big enough but I just wanted him to be able to have more room to play while I’m at work.


          • JackRabbit
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              Don’t get the cage! Just go with a dog exercise pen (xpen). You’ll save yourself money and bunny will be much happier. On xpen height, I’m a firm believer that taller is better, especially if you don’t know if the bunny is a jumper (they can surprise you and they can use other things like boxes and tunnels to gain height). My lops live in an area of 3 xpens attached together, and the xpens are 48 inches tall. The min height for xpens for bunnies is 36 inches but some buns can clear that height. We did the 48 inch height after our 3 lb Kieko started jumping baby gates!

              JMO, but the best spent money for bunny abode is an xpen (Midwest brand is great) with a tunnel haven (BinkyBunny store) and a cat litterbox.


            • Little Lion Head
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                Yup, we wasted a good $80 on a cage. Now we have a NIC condo thats open when we’re home and attach an xpen to it when we’re not home!


              • HKsai
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                  Hello! Do you guys mind linking the exact xpen? I already bought the cage so I might just connect the xpen to the cage like what marbun18 is doing.


                • JackRabbit
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                    LLH — you got off easy! The “cage” we got was $150 (2×4) and got used for about 3 weeks before we switched to the xl dog crates in order to separatebthe M&Ms. Kieko was in a borrowed cage while we built her condo and still in it until she grew big enough that her head couldn’t fit through the 1.5 inch NIC openings! She was so tiny.


                  • gingerg
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                      I have both the Living World XL and a Leith Petwerks bunny abode. The Living World XL is large enough for one adult bun, but I prefer the bunny abode (though it cost a bit more). it just looks better in my living room. I wound up getting an exercise pen, so that I could regulate the amount of space that my bunnies had while they were growing up and they were getting used to being free range. Now I don’t use the xpen, I just open the cage as soon as I get home, so the rabbits have three-six hours of free time a day.

                      I concur with everyone else–go with the rabbit who has the personality that appeals most to you. I don’t think that one breed is really more cuddly/affectionate than others. It’s all down to the individual rabbit’s personality.


                    • JackRabbit
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                        On breed, both of my holland lops are very cuddly but only with each other, and Moshi is super laid back. Kieko is a mutt bunny (but definitely a dwarf) and loves to cuddle. She’s very energetic like the dwarf breeds standards, but once she’s burned off all that energy, she’s a total lap bunny.

                        Cuddliness definitely varies by bunny and not necessarily by breed.


                      • HKsai
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                          thanks guys! i’m definitely over thinking this. I definitely had an instant connection with the dutch. He came up to me right away and licked my finger. My friend was the one that was all over the lop


                        • HKsai
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                            One more quick question, I’m wondering if i should feed my bunny alfalfa hay and based pellet…if i do, what should i start switching to timothy hay and based pellet. I’m going to the vet to get Gus neutered so I will probably ask the vet then but you can never fully trust a vet i always feel like


                          • JackRabbit
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                              The recommedation is alfalfa up to 6 months and timothy thereafter. If he’s already on timothy you could stay with that. We did alfalfa pellets up to about 4 months and slowly transitioned to timothy pellets. We did timothy hay from the start and now have changed to a conbination of timothy and orchard.


                            • marbun18
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                                http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003ZBXR4M/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1429448382&sr=8-1&keywords=midwest+exercise+pen+558-48dr&pi=AC_SY200_QL40&dpPl=1&dpID=41dRq9HSMYL&ref=plSrch#

                                This is the pen I have attached to Marley’s cage. I’ve found that Marley isn’t a digger so I buy carpet you can find at Home Depot that’s on a roll. It’s cost maybe $15 to line under the entire pen and inside the cage. You buy it by the foot. My only problem with it is when he molts… The carpet looks like I’ve added a few more rabbits to it.

                                What does everyone else use as their flooring for their buns xpen? I have to use something because the room carpet is sorta long. I don’t want to tempt him to chew it.


                              • Little Lion Head
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                                  So you got the dutch HKsai??? Pictures??? Please!

                                  marbun, I use a rug like you do. $8 on sale at Menards!


                                • HKsai
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                                    Posted By Little Lion Head on 4/19/2015 12:04 PM

                                    So you got the dutch HKsai??? Pictures??? Please!

                                    marbun, I use a rug like you do. $8 on sale at Menards!

                                    I reserved it! I will probably not take him home until my midwest pen and the cage come on Tuesday.


                                  • Little Lion Head
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                                      Congrats!!!! I love that flop picture!

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                                  Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Getting my first bunny