Got a bunny yesterday, so many questions!!

[PyroLou]

My fiance has kept rabbits before but he’s unable to have a bunny at his right now as his parents own a large hunting type dog and it wouldn’t be fair to dog or bunny. So the bunny is at mine. 

We did loads of research before getting him mostly for my benefit as this is my first bunny, but there’s a lot of conflicting info.

Firstly, When can he have veggies? Some places say 3 months, others say 6, some say from day1!

Secondly, he is a lionhead x lop and has masses of adorable fluff! His wood shavings are getting stuck in his fur and from what I’ve read they’re clean creatures so he’s probably not too thrilled about that. I’ve seen megazorb and easibed recommended. Basically horse bedding. I’ve had horses since I was a kid so I know where to get that cheaply. 

Thirdly, we’re having a disgustingly hot few days where I am and all the tips I’ve seen for keeping your bunny cool are not really tailored for bunnies that don’t know/trust you yet. He let us put cool water on his ears and he cuddled up to a frozen water bottle. He also loves the fan. I read that it’s bad to have a fan pointing straight at the bunny so I set it to oscillate And he presses his face against the bars of his cage and looks like a supermodel facing into a fan for a photo shoot!

He also loves throwing things around, is that normal? Is he just really into interior design or is he annoyed?

He also lies down a lot, like he properly lounges with his feet out in front of him and it looks really uncomfortable to me, is that normal!?

From what I’ve read he needs to be treated like a tiny horse. Approached from the side due to blind spots at the front and back, slow movements but not the kind of slow like a predator stalking prey, and bucket loads of love.

And I can’t resist sharing a pic of the adorable little dork, he’s called Rengar

[tobyluv]

3 months/12 weeks is usually the best time to start giving veggies. Only give one at a time, try it for a week, then you can add a second veggie the next week, and so on.

Wood shavings, if they are pine or cedar, are not recommended for rabbits. They contain dangerous aromatic oils. Also, you should not have bedding/litter all over a rabbit’s cage. It should only be in their litter box.

Here is an article on safe and unsafe litters for rabbits:

What To Use In Your Rabbit’s Litter Box

Remember that rabbits may sit in their litter boxes for extended periods, and that they nibble on everything, so it’s important to choose the right litter.
Do not use cedar or pine shavings. These contain dangerous aromatic oils that have been found to cause liver damage and respiratory problems. Don’t use CatWorks, a litter made from oat hulls, which when ingested has caused fatal zinc poisoning. Swheat Scoop Litter should not be used since rabbits will often ingest it. It is comprised of wheat, is very high in carbohydrates, and can cause obesity, excessive cecal production, diarrhea and other health issues. Don’t use clay litter. The dust causes respiratory problems, and if ingested, it is harmful to the digestive tract. Don’t use any clumping litters–if nibbled on, they are likely to cause obstructions in the intestinal tract. Also avoid corn cob litter. If eaten, it can cause a lethal intestinal blockage.
Recommended litters:
1. Newspaper, shredded or cut-up. It’s inexpensive and readily available, but it offers no odor control. If the newspaper is cut into larger pieces, urine may puddle at first until it is absorbed into the paper, which could cause your rabbit to have damp feet. It can be composted.
2. Paper pulp litter. It has low dust, good absorbency, and no hazards, though it also offers little odor control. It can be flushed or composted. Brands include Carefresh, Yesterday’s News, Cellu-Dri, and Eco Fresh.
3. Oat, alfalfa and wheat straw based pellets. Low dust, good absorbency, and no hazards, although they can cause bloating if too much is ingested. They can be flushed or composted. Brands include Critter Country, Cat Country, and Oxbow Eco-Straw.
4. Compressed sawdust (pine) pellets. Unlike pine shavings, these are safe, since they have no dangerous aromatic oils. They are economical, highly absorbent, and have good odor control. They may be composted. Brands include All Pet Pine, Feline Pine and Exquisicat.
5. Aspen bark, pellets or shredded. Highly absorbent, with good odor control. Pellets are economical , because it only takes a thin layer in the litter box. They may be composted. These larger pellets are good for long haired rabbits, since they don’t get stuck in their fur as easily as the small particle litters. Brands include Aspen Fresh, Gentle Touch and Aspen Supreme.
6. Straw or hay. Straw can be dusty and is not very absorbent, but has no hazards, unless it becomes moldy. Any of the grass hays can be used. Be sure to clean frequently, as your rabbit will also be eating the hay. It may be composted.
7. Wood stove pellets. These are compressed pine or hardwood pellets. Make sure that the pellets are plain and that they don’t contain accelerants. These are very economical. They come in large bags and are inexpensive. They can be found in home supply or tractor supply stores.
8. Horse stall pellets. They are compressed sawdust (pine), also very economical. Found in feed stores, home supply stores, or tractor supply stores. One brand is Equine Pine.

If you change to a new litter, your rabbit may hesitate to use it. Mix some of the new with the old, or put some of the dirty litter into the new litter. Daily cleaning of the dirty areas is best. Regularly dump out the whole contents of the box, and thoroughly clean with an organic cleaner or a natural cleaner, such as vinegar or baking soda.
Many of these litters are available in pet supply stores, grocery stores, or discount stores. Litter, food and other rabbit supplies can be ordered online from drsfostersmith.com, wag.com, bunnybytes.com, petfooddirect.com, binkybunny.com, leithpetwerks.com, or various other pet supply catalogs and websites.

You said that you did research, but I don’t know if you saw the info pages here. All the basics are covered on one page, so info is easy to find. Go to the top of the page and click on Bunny Info.

It is best to keep bunnies in a cool environment. It can get dangerous for them if the temperature is over 80 degrees.

Rabbits can lie in various positions, one is with their front feet stretched out, others are when they are stretched out on their sides (a flop), laying with their back feet stretched out, or they may lay in a loaf position, where there feet are tucked up under them and they look like a loaf of bread.

[MCRabbit]

Hi! Congratz on your first rabbit, you’ll love the experience.

Okay, start adjusting dark leafy lettuce such as romaine into his diet, but avoid iceberg lettuce. That’s all I would start with for vegetables, but when he gets older (how old is Rengar anyways?) you can properly add new veggies into his diet. Example is if he’s adjusted to having lettuce, maybe mix a chunk of celery in with it so it doesn’t upset his tummy.

Personally, I don’t use bedding. My rabbit’s cage is a dog pen we have on a homemade base. We used plywood and tiles on top so his floor is the tiles and he really likes it because they stay cool in the summer. But yes if you are using bedding I’ve also seen horse bedding recommended for rabbits.
It sounds like you are keeping him cool enough, but add a tile or something in there for him to sit on other than the floor of his cage which can get hot with bedding.

Yes, throwing things around is normal, at least I am pretty sure since my rabbit does it and 2 other rabbits I know do it. I think its just a game they play with themselves.

And when he lays down the way you described it is normal. Actually it means they are comfortable! When rabbits get into a position that makes it harder for them to get up and run right away it means they feel safe and comfortable with their surroundings.

Yes, rabbits are like tiny horses!

I hope this helped!

[Author]

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