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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum DIET & CARE Planning to get a bunny. What are the monthly costs?

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    • knnguy
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        I’m planning to get a baby holland lop soon, but I want to make sure that I can afford it. Can you please tell me how much it would cost to buy the basics for a bunny per month? I want to know how long these items will last me if I bring home a baby bunny:

        – Hay

        I found a farm near me that sells hay for $5 a bag. The bag is about the size of a standard brown paper grocery bag. Here’s a        picture:  https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-feed-barn-costa-mesa?select=OmQndAN8enuq1OzmkJwviA

        – Pellets

        I will be buying a 10lb bag of Oxbow pellets for $16.99.

        – Litter

        I will be buying the 20lb Feline Fresh Pine cat litter for $8.94. 

        Can you please give me an estimate of how long these will last me? Will it last me just a month or more? Thank you.


      • Boston's Mama
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          The first initial setup is costly – cage ( as a home base if free roaming or as a home if living in a indoor cage) hay, bowls , blankets , hideaway , nail trimmers , brush , litter tray , hay rack/ feeder , toys , carrier
          Vaccinations and then desexing ( unless adopting a older one from a rescue that already does these things ) also add up fast

          I live in a different country so prices etc will be different but I use oxbow pellets and have a tiny bun ( 2lbs) so a bag of oxbow lasts me 2 months
          I use about $10 worth of hay a month
          Veges it will depend on size of the bun and the variety you choose to feed each week – anywhere from $5-$20+
          Litter ( I use pine pellets ) costs me about $40 a month but I think there are cheaper options overseas

          Then you need to allocate for vet bills too


        • sarahthegemini
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            It’s great that you found a place that sells hay for quite cheap but you’ll need lots of it, and keep in mind the rabbit/s might not like that hay so you’ll have to buy something different which might cost more. I live in the UK but here’s a breakdown of my (expensive ) bunnies! 

            -Hay; I use Friendly Green Oat Readigrass, which is £4.74 per kg bag. I buy 10 bags a month. I put hay in my bunny’s litter boxes so there is more waste as I empty them out every day. Total £47.40 per month 

            -Pellets; I use Oxbow Natural Science Adult Pellets, which is £12.98 per 1.8kg. This lasts about 3 months. This averages out at £4.32 per month 

            -Veggies; I give roughly 7 to 8 different veggies per day. I do a veggie shop every Wednesday which comes to around  £6. I then top up on a Saturday. This costs another £4. So total is £40 per month 

            -Litter; this is what kills me! I use Carefresh which is £20 for a big bag which lasts 2 weeks. This averages out at £40 per month 

            -Pet insurance; I pay £23.89 per month for both bunnies (it’s £11 something per bun)

            Plus each month I buy 

            -4 bags of dried chicory root; £2.99 per bag so total is £11.96 per month

            -1 bag of dandelion which is £2.99

            -1 bag of plantain which is £2.99

            Plus some other extra dry foods such as nettle, birch leaf and raspberry leaf which are bought more sporadically. Plus toys. So according to my calculations, my bunnies cost me on average £173.55 

            Other costs to keep in mind are spaying and neutering, flea and worm treatment, vet check ups etc. 


          • tobyluv
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              Here is the article on Binky Bunny dealing with costs:

              https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/tabid/53/CategoryID/4/PID/940/Default.aspx

              Not everyone will spend the monthly amount listed, but it’s somewhat of a guide. There are some other expenses that aren’t listed, such as first aid supplies.


            • Vienna Blue in France
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                My 2 (big) bunnies cost me more than my 2 cats and 1 medium sized dog did per month….


              • Q8bunny
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                  My one 2kg adult lionhead bunny costs about 40 per month. When he was a wee bun he also cost me a one-time adoption fee and a neutering (all inclusive) fee of about 200. The daily happiness he brings me: priceless. And when you consider that weekly therapy and happy pills can set you back hundreds, it seems like a good investment.


                • kirstyol
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                    The other thing is that its not just the monthly costs you need to worry about, vet bills can be massive for rabbits. In the US it seems that people struggle to even find a vet that will see rabbits (I am in the UK, its not a problem here) and because its a specialist thing there the treatment is more expensive for rabbits than it would be for other animals. I don’t think you can get insurance for buns there either. One of our buns has problems with his teeth and needs them operated on at least twice a year (one year it was four times) at around £120-£150 a time depending on what meds he needs and the insurance doesn’t cover dental.

                    The day to day costs I don’t find that bad – we have two pretty big buns compared to a Holland lop (one is a little over 2kgs and the other a little over 3kgs) I buy their pellets from amazon at £15 for a 10kg bag that lasts months, their hay is more expensive because one of them is super fussy its £8 a bag and we use two or three bags a month roughly, their litter again I buy from amazon its something like £10 for a 10 litre bag but I don’t know how long this will last as its the first time I have bought this particular one. Their veggies are a bit harder to price because I just grab them when I am in the supermarket and don’t really think about how much they are but I think about £10 a week sounds about right. Their insurance is just under £20 a month, they have three monthly check ups at the vet which is £23 just for the check up (our vets are brilliant and only ever charge one consultation fee when I take them together)

                    The one off costs were quite a lot when we first got Bramble – his dog crate we got off a local classified site for £30, the playpen from amazon I think it was £40 or so, blankets and toys were maybe £20, his first vet check was free (my vet gives every animal their first appointment free) however his neuter and recovery must have cost us in the region of £250, I remember the first bill was £120 because I almost dropped dead on the spot after being told it would be around £70 and ended up having to use my credit card but he had a poor recovery and we were back and forth daily for ten days and getting loads of meds for him. However when we brought Ron home we already had everything we needed other than a temporary home for him until he was bonded with Bramble and he was already neutered so it literally cost us £20-£30 to bring him home (another dog crate from the classifieds) and he has never needed anything done at the vets (touch wood) so he doesn’t cost anywhere near what Bramble does – I am not trying to put you off at all, I am just trying to show that the costs can vary widely from bun to bun and you really do need to expect the unexpected when it comes to rabbits. I would say over half the money we spend on the two of them is Bramble’s vet bills


                  • SansaHotot
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                      I’m in Canada, my costs for my girl per month is probably $60- $80. That includes pellets, hay varieties, bedding, toys.
                      Her cage was about 150, plus dishes. Also bought her a little cat hut to sit in which was 50. As well, her spay ended up costing $850 (the procedure, medication, and an extra days stay and extra meds as she was having troubles recuperating).
                      Recently I had to spend 35 on Vetericyn hot spot spray because of her sore hocks.
                      I find I spend much more money on her than I do on my dog, and also much more time spent on cleaning and attention etc. Hope that helps!


                    • vanessa
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                        USA – I have 4 rabbits. Horse bedding pellets $6 per bag, about half a bag a month. Hay – it used to be $17 for a bale of hay, I dont’ remember how long a bale lasts me, so I’ll go with half a bale a month. But these days I’l ordering diferen types of smaller quantities of different hays, to try get Lancelot to eat hay. So at the moment – $30 a month for hay. Pellets, rough guess, 2.5lb a month, $3. So for 4 bunnies hay, food, bedding, $33 a month. Add $15 a month for veggies (I buy and grow). Now add $30 for puppy pee pads (you probably won’t need those). Vets bills – don’t assume you can manage without a vet visit. $60 a year for a checkup, (that’s $5 a month), and for Lancelot – $540-720 a year for dental procedures (that’s $45 to $60 a month to have his teeth filed 3-4 times a year). So if I only had one bunny, with no dental issues and no need for puppy pee pads (Lancelot is incintinent), but 1 health checkup a year, my total would be $50 a month. That’s excluding the cage, food dishes, water bowl bunny blankets, toys, and other buny furniture. I actually end up spending quite a lot more on the bunnies – getting them new wooden furniture, toys, etc.


                      • Luna
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                          Buns are not cheap, but they are so worth it! I spend (spoil) about $100-$120 per month.

                          Oxbow Hay: $13.00 for 40 oz. at 1 bag per week (she only weighs 4.13 lbs. but she eats like a hay monster!) = $52 per month
                          Carefresh Litter: $21.00 for 60L at 2 per month = $42.00 per month
                          Pellets: Luna is an adult so I limit her pellets and use them as treats, so one bag will last 4 months or more = $0 per month
                          Veggies: $4.00 on average per week = $12.00 per month
                          Spontaneous purchases of another toy or blanket + unforeseen vet visits and meds if applicable + annual vet exam = a total amount that I bury deep inside and choose not to think about 

                          Spending every day with Luna = priceless


                        • vanessa
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                            I like getting the nicest litter boxes, the nicest hay racks, etc, from Etsy.com. There are 2 bunny stores I get my wooden bunny furniture from. I spend a couple hundred a year on spontaneous purchases, and like Luna, I try not to add it up 😉 Cage options can get pricey, espcecially when we are talkign about bunny proofing/ I have $300 of NIC cube panels, While they were outside I spent $500 building them a two-story shed, I have $500 of x-pens, and I spent about $500 on fleece vet bedding. I recently built a 6-ft long 5.5ft tall 2-story bunny condo with storage space in the atic for one pair. The other pair has a $350 condo from Etsy. It can get as expensive as you woudl like it to… but I think you could probably get away with $50 a month. Definitely not any less than that.


                          • Q8bunny
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                              I guess I’m a weirdo then? Maybe because Chewie has always been completely free range and never required any crazy vet visits? Plus don’t underestimate the power of bunny wish lists at holiday or birthday time: most of chewie’s toys and stuff like that are prezzies from his grandparents and uncle


                            • vanessa
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                                Yeah like Q8 says, not all bunnies get sick. But looking through this forum – there are many bunnies/health questions that required a visit to the vet. Guin and Morgana have each needed one vet visit, to remove Warbles from their skin when I was still keeping them outside. Since I brought them in, no more vet visits/illnesses for them. Avalon has also been super healthy. It’s Lancelot who drains my vet-bill-bank… Toys can also be things around yoru house that don’t cost anything. Toilet roll holders (without glue), cardboad boxes, pine cones, safe branches (I like to place a 12-18 inch mample branch ont he ground for each bunny pair to nibble on), plastic plant pots to throw around, and towels/dish cloths to drag around/rearrange, I like woodwork, so I like to make woden things for them. A simple wood idea for a scratch board, is take a 12″ square untreated piece of pine shelf, Dill rows of holes, and weave sisal rope between the holes. Cut lots of little pieces or rope and tie knots into each loop of sisal rope with the knot ends sticking up for the bunnies to tug on. Something like that could last a year or more before you have to replace the sisal rope.


                              • Azerane
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                                  If I had to spend as much on hay and litter as some of your spend, I would never be able to afford bunnies! $50+ a month on hay (before the currency conversion is just crazy to me!)

                                  One off costs initially are very big, but my monthly costs are pretty low. This is for a bonded pair.

                                  Hay: roughly $7 a month, I buy a bale at a time and it lasts me around 2 months.
                                  Litter: about $12 a month, one 15kg bag of wood pellet litter lasts me just over 5 weeks.
                                  Pellets: (not currently feeding but when I was) at a guess $10 per month.
                                  Greens: (again, not currently feeding very much due to diet correction but when I was) maybe $5-24 a month, give or take, it depends how much I’m feeding from the garden as opposed to buying.

                                  So for food and litter only, it’s about $34-53 monthly.

                                  BUT there are other costs over time
                                  Toys: approximate costs of additional toys over time $3 month (I don’t buy very often)
                                  Vet: If you’re putting aside monthly just for check ups and vaccinations is about $14 a month (for two rabbits)

                                  So with the more hidden costs of additional toys and the annual check up it’s more like $51-70 per month for my two rabbits.

                                  Regarding your products, those $5 bags of hay at a guess might last around a week, the feline pine might last a couple of weeks, depends how you set up your litter tray and how often you change it. The pellets will last a long time, several months at least.


                                • Ellie from The Netherlands
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                                    It’s great to see that you’re reading up on this and asking questions before you make the choice! It makes me very happy to see that you’re preparing so well. If you decide to go ahead with getting a rabbit, then I’m sure you’ll make a great owner!

                                    Rabbits make great companions, but are not as low-maintenance as many people think. Many people think they’re calm cage pets and easy to care for. Turns out that they are little balls of spunk with a lot of personality, who need several hours of exercise to vent their energy. They need a lot of attention and stimulation to thrive, and vet costs can be high. This is why many rabbits end up being mistreated or abandoned: many people get rabbits on a whim and are unpleasantly surprised when it comes to financial/practical matters. I’m sure it’s more ignorance than malice, but it’s still heart-breaking to hear the stories of rabbits wilting away alone in a small cage in the back yard

                                    I agree with the others: rabbits may be relatively cheap to get and are not overly expensive to feed and care for in the beginning. Spay/neuter and housing are one-time expenses. Later in life vet bills can get surprisingly high, because you’ll need a rabbit-specialised vet. Regular vets mostly do cats and dogs, but rabbits are seen as exotic pets. Make sure that you can afford to put some money aside in a savings account. Common problems are dental problems, infections, digestive issues and kidney/bladder problems. Last year our bun was sick and we suspected bladder/kidney issues. Luckily this cleared up after a change in diet, and we only needed two vet visits (approx. €30 a visit). Otherwise he would have had to stay in the clinic for a night, for observation, blood tests and an examination. This would have cost approx. €200.


                                  • Theodorusrex
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                                      Monthly costs for me are as follows

                                      1.14kg bag of oxbow hay = £12
                                      I buy a 2kg bag of science selective pellets at a time. This could last me up to 4+ months. So at £5.50 a bag probably £1.50 a month

                                      Litter – a 30L bag of wood pellets lasts us probably a month and costs £5

                                      Protexin pro-fibre probiotics (tub lasts around 2 months) = £7/month (Theo needs these for onging tummy issues)
                                      Fibastick treats = £5/month
                                      Fresh veg = bag of kale, 3 romaine lettuces, 2xbags of mint, 2x large bags of coriander, 2xbags parsley, 2xbags of basil probably on average = £12
                                      Dried dandelion x2 bags = £6
                                      Pet insurance = £14
                                      We usually buy him a new toy or 2 every month = £5

                                      Total of £67.50 ( approx 82 USD) per month.

                                      We have had 2 emergency vet visits this past year totalling nearly £400. This was, thankfully, covered all except £55 by our pet insurance – please insure your rabbit if you decide to get one.
                                      We also have a yearly check up and vaccinations costing £25, and every few months we get his nails trimmed for £10 but this can be done at home. Set up costs can be as expensive as you want to make them. x pens make great indoor homes, and are relatively inexpensive, whereas an outdoor hutch which is secure enough will cost a lot more. Then you will need to stock up on heavy ceramic crocks for water and food (plastic or metal ones will be tipped!), a hay feeder, a litter tray, some toys (which can be very inexpensive if you’re willing to be creative! ) etc.


                                    • Mikey
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                                        With my trio, I spend well over 100USD on food, toys, litter, hay. My buns love good toys, but they never last more than a few days lol


                                      • Limit
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                                          I can only say that mine are expensive, especially being bigger than the average buns. Ones around 6.4 kg and the other just about 4 kg now.

                                          Housing: This cost me £590 as they are outdoors with their own 12x5x6 ft bespoke made rabbit shed.

                                          Toys: The most I’ve payed is £115 for a manor pet housing wooden castle, still looks great.

                                          Pellets: Cheapest thing I buy at around £8 a bag which lasts a month (just about).

                                          Hay: 20 kg for £22 lasts a month or in winter it lasts less than a month. Redigrass timothy £4.74

                                          Bedding: straw is about £6 a bag doesn’t last longer than two weeks, megazorb at 85 litres lasts 2-3 weeks if you don’t pile it up this costs £10

                                          Veggies: A good £40.

                                          Herbs: Another £15-20

                                          Insurance: Mine were £7 a bunny when insured, they won’t do them over 8 years old here.

                                          Vets: Yearly vacs cost me £50 for both.
                                          Surprise vet bills have cost me over £500.
                                          Rabbits are lovely animals and I’m ashamed to see how much I spend !


                                        • Luna's Mom
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                                            For Luna this biggest expense was in the beginning when getting everything for her. I would say I spent over $1000. That is also including having her spay which was $400. Her veggies cost about $15 and they last around 7 days. Her pellets and Hay last about a month and half and they cost around $50. Her litter cost $15 and is shipped to me once a month. I bought a bunch of different dried herbs from the bulk herb store and mountain rose herbs. I bought 1 pound of each and those have lasted 2 months so far and I still have more. I sprinkle a little of them on her pellets in the morning. Every 2 weeks or so I will order her some new willow balls and stuff like that. That usually cost any where for $30 to $50 depending on what and how much I buy. I have also purchased a couple of the wooden toys for her but she has not been very interest in them. Once you get the big stuff out of the way in the beginning it’s not so bad!


                                          • DanaNM
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                                              So much good info on here, just wanted to mention a pro-tip that I think I read on this site a long time ago, that you can get pine pellets for MUCH cheaper if you can get them at a horse-supply shop. They are sold for horse stalls, and I get mine for $8 for a 40 lb bag! It was seriously like Christmas when I found a shop that carried them in my town. They can also be found as wood stove pellets in places that are cold in winter, but I live in S California… so not here. 

                                              Also in terms of toys etc, there are lots of cheap things that you can make yourself that the bunnies love just as much (phone books, thrift store untreated wicker baskets, etc). 

                                              I would say the most important thing is making sure you either have enough savings to handle unexpected vet bills, OR pet insurance. The food and bedding costs are important, but you have to make sure you can handle the unexpected. 

                                              . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  


                                            • Gina.Jenny
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                                                Hay and dried grass for 6 buns and one guinea pig around £15 a month
                                                Veg for 6 buns and one piggy also around £15 a month, bought at local market so cheaper and fresher!
                                                Pellets for 6 buns and one piggy around £2.5 a month
                                                Puppy training pads to line hay boxes which double as litter trays £8 a month

                                                Buying in bulk works out just under £6 per month per bun/piggy for food and bedding

                                                Vaccinations per bun, £30 VHD/Myxo every 12 months, £24 VHD every 6 months, Panacur 3 x per year, Spot on every 4 weeks once flies hatch in spring til they die off in autumn, allow £120 per year, which averages £10 per month

                                                So basic ongoing costs are about £18 per month per bunny

                                                Vet bills can be very high, insurance can help, depending on the age of yr bun.

                                                Plus the initial costs of cages, runs, water bowls/bottles, blankets/beds etc, and occasional replacement costs for some of these.

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                                            Forum DIET & CARE Planning to get a bunny. What are the monthly costs?