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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Housing my new Bunny

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    • Kevincuk
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        Hi everyone

        My name is Kevin and I live within the United Kingdom

        Here is my question i have just purchased this hutch which has an under floor run

        http://rabbithutchworld.co.uk/product/thc-kendal-raised-single-hutch-with-under-run/

        It’s extremely cold here in the UK so I plan on placing the hutch in my garage over winter but then

        Relocating in the garden during the summer months. I have added ventilation to the bed and exexcise area but I’ve never heard of anyone doing this before ?

        Can anyone see any possible problems?


      • Bam
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          The problem with a garage is fumes from cars and toxic volatile chemicals you might want to use on a car.

          A summer hutch needs netting on the ground floor, or the rabbit will dig its way out or predators dig their way in. The netting should be of the same type as that seen on the pic, ie welded netting, not chicken wire (not sturdy enough, easiliy cut with rabbit teeth.) Netting on floors is only ok if you are putting the hutch on grass. The grass will grow through and the bun won’t hurt its sensitive feet.

          Then there are of course any number of problems that comes from housing a bunny outside or in a place where you only come occasionally. First of all, the bunny will feel lonely and be bored. Bunnies are very social creatures and like to live where there are other bunnies or people or pets, i e where life is going on around them. A bun also needs lots more exercise than it can get in a cage, so it needs time outside the hutch every day (that of course goes for a house bun as well) – but you have arranged for an exercise area, and that’s good. Not having your bun near you means you can’t keep a close eye on it for signs of illness, which as a rule are really subtle since rabbits hide illness extremely well, prey animals as they are.

          Then there are the health-hazards of keeping a bun outside, like sun-stroke (can be prevented by placing the hutch out of direct sun), intestinal worms, mosquito-bites, ticks, fly-strike (really nasty). Since you are in the UK you need to vaccinate your bun against myxomatosis and RHV (it’s a double vaccine nowadays), but that should really be done even with house-bunnies in Europe. There are also predators that might take an interest in your bun, so the netting you use must be sturdy. Predators to worry about are cats, ferrets, minks, foxes, wild rats (not really predators but nasty) and various prey birds, the neighbours’ dogs etc. Rabbits are food to a lot of wild animals.

          I could go on with the dangers for quite some time, but then we are a house bunny forum, so we do advocate keeping bunnies inside.  I hope I answered some of your questions though =)


        • Kevincuk
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            Thanks for your reply

            There’s no risk of car fumes etc as I don’t own a vehicle and never have.

            I defintently agree with you regarding putting mesh on the ground.

            I only have 1 small dwarf lop


          • Bam
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              If he could be neutered and get a bonded bunny-friend, he’ll have a much happier life than if he is to live alone in a hutch in the garage/garden. Some shelters in the USA offers speed-dating for bunnies, I don’t know if that’s sth you have in the UK. Basically the bun gets to choose his mate himself and that vastly increases the chances of the buns getting along long term. A bunny who has a bonded friend is a very happy bunny.

              A garage is fine if there’s no fumes, it gives protection against rain and snow and direct sunshine, and bunnies tolerate cold well, it’s heat they can’t cope with.


            • Kevincuk
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                How funny, what a great idea speed dating for bunnies.
                I’ve only got one bun at the moment as I don’t want to over crowd in the hutch.

                Do you think my hutch http://rabbithutchworld.co.uk/product/thc-kendal-raised-single-hutch-with-under-run/

                Would be suitable for 2 ?


              • Vienna Blue in France
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                  Hi Kevin,
                  looks a great hutch….. and if you stick with another mini mini rabbit then I know your rabbit would be SO much happier in your hutch as a bonded pair, as he would be single in a castle…. if you have no car in your garage then there’s LOADs of room for bunny condo extensions !
                  Here’s hoping your garage is connected to the house and bun can see the comings and going of people too ?
                  My bun has her non- enclosed condo outside and free run on the patio (no foxes where I am in France) and free rein to come in the kitchen through the cat flap! when she wants – she actually chooses to stay 50/50 outside and comes in when she wants company… but when she does it cuddles and strokes and feed time galore!
                  You can make some cool indoor hutch space too….(mine is a converted sideboard!!)
                  I’m from UK so I know hutches tend to be outside, but maybe you can bunny proof a room (with a puppy playpen?), and your rabbit could come in each day and spend time in the lounge/kitchen with you while you’re reading, watching tele,… they’re great and litter trained and will thank you for your ‘indoor” love.

                  Do you have any photos ?


                • Kevincuk
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                    I do but it won’t let me upload it on here ? I’m using my mobile

                    I will try and send from laptop when I return home tonight.

                    She’s only young so I am going to try and litter train her, do you have any experience trying to do this ?


                  • Vienna Blue in France
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                      You’ll prob notice now that she only soils one area….. so put the litterbox in that area… !!!! That’s the easist way I’ve found !!
                      Try and fix the litterbox somehow (some have hooks on the back to fix to a cage). I’ve screwed my cat litterbox to the back of the sideboard or else it would have waltzed across the room ages ago!! LOL) Some rabbits are well behaved and don’t throw stuff…
                      WHAT you put in the litterbox is a choice of many options. People use all different kinds…. you can search on here for ongoing debates. LOL


                    • Kevincuk
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                        Thanks, that’s a great help, someone told me that cat litter can be used but I’m rather cautious in trying this ?


                      • Bam
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                          Cat litter is not ok for rabbits if you mean the gravel-like type. The bun can very well eat the litter and get compaction, and it will breath in the particles, which is also bad. A bunny often spends some time lounging in its box, plus they like to have hay within reach so they can munch as they do their business =)

                          There are aspen shavings for cats that are fine for bunnies. I use hardwood stove pellets, the type you get in hardware stores etc in winter, it’s for heating houses. It’s cheap and absorbs excellently. Another option is litter made of recycled paper.


                        • Kevincuk
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                            Thanks I think I will give the Aspen shavings a go


                          • tobyluv
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                              Besides aspen shavings, you can use aspen pellets. You can also use pine pellets or hardwood pellets, compressed paper pellets, horse stall pellets. As bam said, do not use cat litter or any kind of clumping litter, or cedar or pine shavings. Also do not use corn cob litter. That can cause intestinal blockages when ingested. It’s a lot easier to litter train a rabbit if it’s been spayed or neutered.

                              It would be nice if your bunny could live inside. Bam already mentioned all the dangers outdoors, plus the loneliness factor. Even if you make an enclosure totally predator proof, on all sides, top and bottom, a rabbit can be so frightened if a predator is near, that it might careen around the cage and hurt itself.


                            • Azerane
                              Moderator
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                                What size version of that hutch do you have? If you only have the small 4 foot one I would say it is too small for having more than one rabbit in it. The 6 foot would be perfect for housing two rabbits. Ultimately the more space you can provide the better, and it’s worth even considering an additional run that can be added onto the one joined to the hutch for extra space.

                                Rabbits can live happy, healthy lives outdoors with the correct set up and care. Just make sure you cover all your bases when it comes to other wildlife, illnesses, temperature etc. When people keep their rabbits outdoors I also like to always recommend they get them microchipped in case something happens and they get out. My vet did this during the de-sexing surgery. If down the track you decide you want to get a second rabbit, make sure you read up on bonding because it’s a lot more involved than just two rabbits meeting and getting along


                              • Kevincuk
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                                  I have their largest one which is 6ft


                                • Vienna Blue in France
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                                    Yay for Kevin ! He got the largest one AND it fits in the no-car garage!!!
                                    Kev, that’s just made it ALL OK to get a bonding partner AND be indoor (garage) bunnies for good !!!!!!
                                    LOL
                                    You’re talking yourslef into it all by yourself… lmao !!


                                  • Vienna Blue in France
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                                      (But seriously, if you do put it in the garden for spring/summer, make sure you can shut the access to the run down below each night and then COVER the door with a purpose made cover or with a groundsheet or suchlike….)


                                    • Kevincuk
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                                        Yea your definitely right about protecting my bunny / ies overnight whilst outside during the summer months, I also purchased a very good quality cover http://rabbithutchworld.co.uk/product/thc-double-hutch-hugger-cover/ this fits very securely around the hutch and the bottom area which zips up. I am then going to use a purpose made wooden shutter to protect from predators.


                                      • Vienna Blue in France
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                                          Sounds as if security is a priority…..
                                          Hope you can get a playpen or something to keep them indoors when you’re there too
                                          I got an individual panel fold away playpen for my travels… brilliant to make sure they cant get to cables or wallpaper…
                                          Zou has flopped in the kitchen as I write….. they just LOVE company.


                                        • Kevincuk
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                                            So I am now seriously thinking of getting a friend for Betty after the persuasion of everyone on here.

                                            I reluctantly got Betty from a local pet shop, she was rather expensive and in my opinion not very well looked after.

                                            Does anyone know of any breeders who are based in the North West in the United Kingdom?


                                          • Vienna Blue in France
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                                              Have you got Pets at Home up there? Our local branch looks after rabbits really well imho or else contact the RSPCA, they’ll have rabbit rescues and could do bunny dating maybe….?
                                              I’m suuuure if you google rabbit rescue in your area you’ll come up with something…. you’re in the UK, land of animal lovers.
                                              Don’t forget you’ll have to get them neuteured or you’ll have more than 2 and have to rent out your whole garage to them !!!!! LOL

                                              I just had to go have a look – the choice is yours…..!

                                              http://thecheshirepetcharitynetwork.co.uk/rabbit-rescue-north-west/
                                              http://www.saveafluff.co.uk/rescues/north+west
                                              http://www.rabbitrehome.org.uk/centres.asp


                                            • Kevincuk
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                                                Thanks for the advise and these valuable Web links.

                                                I got Betty from the pet store which you mentioned, and all I can really say is that there stores cannot all be of that standard.


                                              • tobyluv
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                                                  If you are thinking of getting another rabbit, you will have to go through a bonding period with them. The first step to that is for both to be spayed and neutered.

                                                  Here are 2 good articles on bonding:

                                                  http://rabbit.org/faq-bonding-multiple-rabbits/

                                                  https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/tabid/53/CategoryID/9/PID/940/Default.aspx

                                                  Bonding can be quick and easy, or it may be difficult and take weeks or months to accomplish. In some rare cases, the rabbits never bond and cannot be kept together, so you would have to be prepared for that. Most rabbits in rescues will already be spayed or neutered, so that saves you money.


                                                • Vienna Blue in France
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                                                    Kevin that’s a shame – yes of course, in stores that are country wide you will get different levels of care…
                                                    Don’t go back there then ! Rescues are going to be passionate about their animals. It’s voluntary so they wouldn’t do it if they weren’t…
                                                    Let us know how you get on !


                                                  • Bam
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                                                      Pet stores are often not great. This seems to be a world-wide thing. They certainly sell lots of crappy rabbit food and -treats, so beware of that! Don’t buy yoghurt drops or cereal sticks dipped in honey or bunny-müesli with bits of seeds and dried fruit in it. People buy that a lot and no wonder – if you go to a pet shop you expect the stuff they sell to be not just ok for pets but also good for them.

                                                      I know you haven’t asked about bunny food, but that’s one of the things (of many, regarding bunnies!) I’m passionate about, I hope you don’t mind =)

                                                      I totally second Vienna, please let us know how you get on!


                                                    • Kevincuk
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                                                        Thank you Bam and of course everyone else for their much appreciated advise,.

                                                        After my poor experience I tend to stear away from Pet shops which sell live stock “I.e” Bunnies, that’s why I purchased my Hutch from the already mentioned online UK Store http://rabbithutchworld.co.uk/# They sell only hutches/runs and accessories and have told me that they never intend on selling live stock as they have openly admitted that they simply can’t spare the resources to provide both customer service along with giving 100% care to animals.


                                                      • Azerane
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                                                          The 6ft, very nice Looking forward to seeing photos of the set up once it’s all done if you’d be up for sharing some.

                                                          Sounds like you have everything in order.

                                                          I try not to even buy supplies at pet shops that still sell kittens or puppies, only ones that have them from adoption groups. Unfortunately that’s not as easy to avoid when it comes to rabbits as they’re somehow not considered as important in that regard and are sold at almost every pet shop.

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                                                      Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Housing my new Bunny