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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.

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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A New Rabbit owner!

  • This topic has 3sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 7 years ago by Kyela.
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    • Kyela
      Participant
      8 posts Send Private Message

        Hi everyone, first, sorry I am not native English speaker, so if something I say is not clear, please let me know.

        I have been reading this forum and I see everyone is very helpful. I have read a lot of bunny literature, but I am still concerned at times whether or not I am doing everything alright.

        My bunny is 66 days old, I have Holland lop, his name is pompom, he is super active and he doesn’t like to be lifted and runs like crazy if he thinks I am going to do so. My boyfriend gifted him to me, with a cage, and then I bought him an x-pen and a litter box, some wooden toys he seems to ignore, and I rodent tunnel he seems to like a lot and I want to make him a cardboard castle, we started with 1 box, with two holes, which he liked from the first moment.

        Since he is very young, I give him lots of alfalfa, some bunny pellets and my doubts are about what veggies to give him. I know not all lettuce is good, so I give him only the good one some times, and carrot, which he likes. Now I started giving him rucula. And as Treats he likes banana, dried banana, dried pineapple, which I give him in limited amounts, although he asks all day long for them!

        I am concerned, because different sites and people say different things regarding what he can eat at his age. Is it ok what I am feeding him? I try not to mix too much fruits, and I monitor his poops to make sure he is alright. A couple of times I think I gave him too many treats and he had some not regular poops, but I fixed that really quick.

        I work from home, so as long I am at home he is free-running in the living room, which is kinda large, he likes to climb my couch, so tiny and he manages to jump up! But when I am not there or sleeping he is in his x-pen, he always finds something he shouldn’t be biting and I have some wire areas, that although protected, I am afraid he could breach If I am not paying attention. I live in an apartment. I have tried to play with him, but he doesn’t seem interested in it. He does love to ask for treats, and has no problem in climbing my legs, resting his two front feet in my hand while I feed him or climbing all over me while in my couch (which sadly he loves to poop on!)

        Soon I am going to buy a second x-pen to join it with the one I already have so he has way more space. I am litter training him, but I have some issues, because I can not get myself to keep him enclosed while I am there, he stands in his too back feet and looks at me like saying “freee meee!”. Btw he does that a lot, he really likes to be standing in his two back feet, is that normal? Won’t it hurt his back?

        I think now he is warming up to me, because he nibbles on my shoes from time to time, and I can’t give him treats all the time, so I try to pet him, and he has started to like it, i think, the other day he was more than 10 minutes there while I was petting him. I would love if he came up the couch and lay there, but I feel he likes more his distance, he likes to lie down behind the couch I sit while I work.

        I try to give him his space, and I stopped holding him in my arms (although I did it only 3 times), because he peed an pooped on me.  2 times. 

        He times to time licks me, but it doesn’t seem to like if i grab them to pet him. Although i always give him a way of escape, so if he doesn’t want to be pet he can leave.

        Should I keep trying to hold him? or will he recent me?

        Finally, since he doesn’t seem to be interested in socializing so much with me, I was thinking of getting him a dwarf companion. I was wondering if it is alright to mix different races, like will he get along fine with maybe a Netherland Dwarf or a Polish Dwarf? I will get a female one, but I will neuter them both when they are old enough. Should I wait longer to get him a companion?

        Sorry for this long winded message and if it the questions are too obvious, but I want to alright by my bunny.

        Thanks!


      • Luna
        Participant
        2219 posts Send Private Message

          Hi! PomPom sounds like a very nice bun. Usually buns do not get fed veggies or fruit until they are at least 6 months old. For now, alfalfa and pellets are good. It is not uncommon for buns to be playful at times and then calm at other times. They kind of play by their own rules . Since he lets you pet him and he likes to climb on you, he is interested in you even if he does not play when you want him to. And it is normal for buns to stand on their back feet and look around. This is their way of getting a better view of everything.

          There are mixed views on whether or not to pick up and hold your bun even if he doesn’t like it. Some say to keep doing it to help your bun get used to it. Some say that if your bun does not like it then do not do it unless you have to. In my opinion, I agree with those who say do not pick up and hold your bun if he does not like it. Buns are prey animals, so when they are picked up they do not like it. This could be why PomPom runs when you try to grab him. If you stop picking him up and holding him, then he will probably stop running away because he will no longer think that you will try to pick him up. Being low to the ground when petting him and laying on the floor near him is a good way to bond more.

          PomPom may seem like he is not interested in socializing with you, but it sounds like he loves you . It is not uncommon for it to take a long time for a bun to develop trust and bond. Just keep spending as much time as you can with him, even if it is just you sitting in the same room as him.


        • Azerane
          Moderator
          4688 posts Send Private Message

            Hi there, I just wanted to comment on the diet It is fine for your bunny to be getting leafy greens at his age as long as he tolerates them well and isn’t getting mushy poop or gas as a result. The varying information on the correct age to introduce greens to a rabbit is largely because many young rabbits tolerate greens differently, and some won’t tolerate them well until they’re 5-6 months + of age, whereas other rabbits are fine with leafy greens introduced correctly from as young as 6 weeks (usually if the mum has been eating lots of leafy greens). If all is going well, I would continue to feed small amounts of the greens, lettuce is fine, the only one to avoid is iceberg lettuce. I would however take care with the treats such as fruit, and carrot (which should be classed with things like banana as it’s high in sugar). No more than 1 teaspoon of treats per day. Although at such a young age I probably wouldn’t feed treats every day.

            A few other good leafy greens to start with are romaine lettuce, coriander/cilantro, bok choy, endive, and dandelion greens just to name a few. Only introduce one at a time over the course of a week though and make sure he doesn’t get tummy upset from it before starting something else new.


          • Kyela
            Participant
            8 posts Send Private Message

              Well I am glad to hear that, I just wanted to be sure he wasn’t missing any important nutrients if I didn’t give him veggies. And what about the rabbit friend? Do Holland Lop get along with Netherland Dwarfs or Polish Dwarfs?

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          Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A New Rabbit owner!