My first Bunny

[Zipfelmuetze]

Hello Everyone,

 

I just got a bunny yesterday!  I’ve never had a bunny before, so there are a few things I still need to research.  I have two guinea pigs who haven’t really noticed that Kaow (the rabbit) is around.  I’ve read that since Guinea pigs and Rabbits have different diets they should stay in separate cages.  I would like to eventually have them play together in the play pen under supervision.  Let me know what you think of that.

I’m thinking that Guinea pigs and Rabbits usually eat the same type of fresh veggies, but Rabbits don’t need as much vitamin C correct?  They don’t easily get scurvy?  I have Kaow in a store bought cage, but the door is open during the day so that he can venture out into the play pen (which is cube caging).  So far he’s been real good with only using the potty inside the cage (which has pine bedding).  Am I doing things right so far?  I figure since I have the guinea pigs in pine bedding, it shouldn’t bother the bunny, but let me know your viewpoints.

He escaped the cube caging the other day; I think he probably jumped over.  I should have figured that rabbits can jump higher than guinea pigs.
I believe that i’ve read somewhere that rabbits like the room temperature cooler than guinea pigs.  I have these microwavable heat pads I could give the guinea pigs in case they are cold.  Do rabbits never really like being toasty warm?

 

[Deleted User]

Aw cute!!! Looks like my Boston and lots of other white/black lops on the forum! Welcome here!
I can’t really help you w/ the bunny/guinea pig questions, but lots of members here have both, so I know someone will be along to help!
How do you pronounce her name?
Look how she hasn’t grown into her ears yet! Too cute!

[(dig)x(me)x(now)]

Welcome to BB!

I’ve had good experiences with guinea pigs and rabbits together. My piggies absolutely adore by bunny, Frankie, and would follow him around everywhere when they were out! It’s definitely possible for them to get along (supervised)!

And you are correct about the bunny and g-pig diets – the guinea pigs need more vitamin C, but other than that, they require the same basic diet of veggies, unlimited timothy hay, and some pelleted food (alfalfa pellets for juveniles and timothy pellets for adults). My piggies and bunny occasionally even share a bowl of greens!

As far as bedding goes – most bunnies don’t really need bedding inside their enclosures because they can be litter boxed trained. All you need is some sort of bedding in the litter box. We recommend paper-based bedding for the most part over the wood based ones. Some examples are Yesterdays News and Care Fresh.  You can find other similar products at your local pet supply store. You can also use untreated wood stove pellets, which are very inexpensive. Pine and cedar shavings tend to be worse for small animals’ health.

Take a look around the information section of the website and you’ll find lots of good info! And feel free to ask questions! We are all willing to help!

By the way, I love your icon!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Well I think your questions are answered already! Welcome here and cute bunny! Congrats!

[(dig)x(me)x(now)]

Oh and about keeping the bunny warm – they are pretty good at keeping themselves warm. Heat pads usually aren’t necessary unless the bunny is sick.

[skibunny8503]

Welcome to the board!  Aw how cute!  He looks just like my Archie  
First bunny’s are exciting and you’ll learn a lot!  I don’t know anything on guinea pigs though.  Make sure your rabbit has plenty of hay (usually right by the litter pan).  There’s a list of veggies you can give your rabbit on the site under Bunny Info, certain veggies (like carrots) are considered treats and should usually give just a small piece a day.  You can also give them raisins as a treat and oatflakes.  I give my bunny about 2 cups of veggies a day but I’m not sure if you give them less if they’re younger (some of the other members would probably know this).  Also give him a small amount of pellets (I get the Oxbow bunny basic/ basic T pellets). 

As for bedding, stay away from pine bedding, I’ve heard it isn’t good to use.  You can buy bedding made from recycled newspapers like Yesterdays News (I find it a bit expensive) or Cell Sorb (I’ve used both and they’re really good at absorbing).  With my first rabbit I used pine bedding…and there’s such a difference using the other stuff because pine doesn’t absorb at all.  I’ve also heard that people use Wood Stove Pellets (like for fireplaces).  I haven’t used it yet but I’m going out this week and hunting for them.  You get a lot and they’re cheap.

I believe rabbits can be in temperatures between 50-70 degrees F. 

As for the cage situation, I just have mine in store cage and let him run around some of our house (we shut the doors in places he can go) but he’s such a pain and tries to get into everything so we’re going to eventually make big condo cube cage so he has more room when he is in his cage.

Is your bunny neutered?  I have one that’s not (at my parents) and Archie is neutered…what a difference in personalities!  Don’t forget to bunny proof the house (don’t leave any wires out…already learned our lessons!) 

Hopefully I helped a little bit 

[MooBunnay]

Welcome to Binkybunny!

It sounds like you have already done a lot of good research, and most of the posts above answer most of your questions I think. I would like to second what the others said about the pine bedding, the pine shavings are not really recommended for bunnies, and probably aren’t all that good as a litter anyways. Beddings such as carefresh are recommended, and are affordable if you have just one rabbit. I have 8 so I buy horse stall bedding that is pelleted pine wood. The difference between the shavings (which are not recommended) and the pelleted pine litter (which is) is the way that the pellets are made, somehow (and I’m not sure of all the technical aspects) – the pine pellets do not have the same fumes and dangers that the pine shavings have. I hope that didn’t confuse you!

Also, bunnies don’t really need heating pads unless they are sick and have gotten cold due to the illness, then heating pads are good to use just to help them regulate their body temperature.

Your bunny is extra cute!! Let us know if you have any more questions

[Deleted User]

psst…I think she was asking about the heating pads for the piggies, since buns like it cooler!

[Zipfelmuetze]

I finally built the pen two cube grids high so that Kaow can’t jump out anymore.  I was out all evening today, and when I came back I noticed that he had pooped outside of his litter box (the bottom of a store cage) as well as inside of it.  I am very happy he did not pee on the mats though, and just peed inside the box.  I really don’t care too much if he poops outside of the box, because it’s not messy like urine.  I’ll still try to potty train him though.  He hasn’t peed on my lap yet like my guinea pigs do all of the time! 

How much should a lop rabbit weigh?

[BinkyBunny]

Welcome!

What kind of lop is your bunny?
Holland lops are the smallest at 4 pounds, and then you can get as big as the Giant French Lops to over 18 pounds. The most popular lop around here is the Holland lop, but your bunny has such long ears, I am not sure what kind he is.

Pine shavings are not good as they have oils/phenols that can cause liver problems. But if you like the pine scent, then there are pine pellets that process the bad stuff out. If you are looking for a soft alternative to shavings, you can try Carefresh – fluffy recycled newspaper type.

[Zipfelmuetze]

I’m not sure what kind of lop he is.  Right now he is only 12 weeks old and doesn’t even weigh 2 lbs yet, so I’m glad he is eating a lot.

He escaped from his pen today.  I woke up this morning looking around the apartment for him for a few minutes until I found him with his head stuck behind the bookshelf.  Luckily the bookshelf wasn’t too heavy.  I managed to pull it forward a few centimeters to pull him out.

I thought maybe he had hurt himself, but he seems fine to me.  How high are they able to jump?  I can’t believe he made it over the pen, which is two cube grids high.  I guess I should look around at cube cages for rabbits, to see how the other people do it.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Two cubes usually will contain a lazy or unmotivated rabbit. But two cubes is not too high for one who wants to go somewhere! Sounds like you have a pretty determined bun! Three cubes would defniitely keep him in, or you could make it 3 D -if they can’t see the otherside, they (usually) won’t jump

There is a GREAT section on this site, just click on the top ‘bunny info’ then ‘cool habitats’ It’s worth look ing at all three galleries -it’ll give you lots of great ideas.

[Zipfelmuetze]

I was wondering if cat litter is okay and which kinds are not okay?
The pine bedding that I am using is kiln dried (which is what the guinea pig owners say is okay). Kaow doesn’t just live in the pine bedding, because he has free range in his pen. The bottom of the pen is made out of connectible rubber mats. I hope he won’t discover how to chew on them. Basically The next time I clean the litter box, I want to try and put a smaller litter box in there. This way, he will only be sitting in the pine bedding when he pees. Or would that still be bad for the liver anyway?

[Beka27]

welcome here! BinkyBunny has a photo gallery with cages, condos and pens in the “cool habitats” section…
https://binkybunny.com/Default.aspx?tabid=71

that should be able to give you plenty of ideas on what you can do for housing.

from the pic, it looks like your bun might be just a regular mini lop. i think they can be anywhere from 4 or 5 pounds on the low end, up to about 7 or 8 pounds. he might be a mix of a couple breeds, so it’s likely you won’t know his full-grown size until he is older. he is absolutely adorable! i have a thing for black and white bunnies!

some buns can jump higher than others. i use a 24 inch tall baby gate for my two and they have never hopped over it. i use 36 inch xpens for housing. it’s usually best to go bigger and taller if you can, just because you never know if they will eventually learn how to jump over their pen later on.

you might want to take a look around your apartment and “bunny-proof” spaces so she cannot injure herself. make sure wires are protected or out of her reach. small spaces (like behind the bookcase) should be blocked off until she is older/bigger/smarter to leave that area alone.

cat litter is generally not okay, b/c it’s either clumping which is dangerous, or dusty, which is also dangerous. you can use paper-based litters, or pelleted pine litters (i believe one version is a cat litter… feline pine.) the pine litters that are dangerous are the shavings. round pellets are usually safer because of how they are processed. can you tell us what brand you are using, and if there is any identifying company info on the back. we might be able to determine if it is safe or not. i believe the liver effects from litter is cumulative, so it might not cause problems at first, but as the months and years go by, more damage will be done.

for the litterbox, i’d suggest something big enough for him to be able to stretch out in.  i use the medium size cat litterboxes.  they are cheap (usually not more than 5 bucks) and large enough for medium size rabbits.  mine measure approx. 12×18 inches.

[Zipfelmuetze]

Here is how the cage is set up for now, but he has managed to jump over this.  Maybe with assistance from the igloo. 
 

[hooty22]

wow, that is quite a nice set up you have there!

[Beka27]

that looks great! what a lucky bun to have such a big pen. another option would be just adding a third row of grids to the top. i would maybe try that first before you take it all down and try something else… or you could make a large flat top out of grids (5 grids long like your pen and maybe 4 grids wide so it overlaps the top slightly) and just place it over the top. you could lift it off for feeding, cleaning, playing, etc…

[Zipfelmuetze]

Thank You!  He seems pretty happy.  I really hope he will be able to get along with the guinea pigs.  I don’t want him to be lonely, but I don’t really want to get another rabbit.  Do most people have one or two (or more)?

[hooty22]

I just have one, my little man Felony. I’ve had him for over two years, and he doesn’t seem lonely. He’s been around other animals (cats, dogs) but he seems very uninterested…

[Beka27]

you need to do what is right for you and your own situation. bunnies are very social and they enjoy company, but they are not inexpensive to care for. with a second bun, those costs will double (food, hay, veggies, litter, vet care). the great thing about pairs is that they both speak the same “bunny language” and they will keep each other company when you’re away. but you can have a happy single bunny as long as he gets interaction from you on a regular basis. with a single bun, depending on his personality, you might find he is more affectionate with you. with a pair, they will be more affectionate with each other and you may feel a little bit like an “outsider” in the relationship.

i would not recommend housing pigs and buns together because of the differences in their diet requirements. also, a bunny can hurt a smaller pig without meaning to, just b/c they are so much bigger. supervised playtime betw/ them should be okay tho. i think it’s recommended that the pig always have a small spot that they can fit into that the bun cannot reach, just in case the pig wants to get away from the bun.

is that the pig cage on the far side of your pic?

[bunnytowne]

Wow what a neat set up you have.  When Cotton was a young boy he would jump up and climb over a 48 inch tall xpen.  I put a sheet over it held in place by clothes pins.   Then finally I just gave him the living room to roam in once he got his litterbox habits down good.  The occassional poo was not big deal.  Stil isn’t. 

Now that he is 1 1/2 yrs old he no longer jumps over the xpen or the baby gate.  I presume he is happy with his living room.   I think as they mature some mellow out with the jumping and getting out. 

Welcome by the way

[Zipfelmuetze]

Yep that’s the pig cage.  It is a store bought one and not a C&C, but that’s why I had the cube grids and the rubber matting. It used to be their play time area.  That’s why I’m hoping Kaow will get along with Punk and Monty (the pigs), because they will be joining him for play time in his pen. Otherwise I have to get more grids and mats.

I don’t mind rebuilding things constantly for some reason.  I actually find joy in it.  You’ll probably see me posting different style pen areas every now and then.

[KatnipCrzy]

I would guess that your bunny is a Mini Lop- I got my Mini Lop when she was 12 weeks old and she weighed 2 lbs (as much as my friends full grown Netherland dwarf).  So at 12 weeks there is still a lot of growing to do- and my bunny is about 5 1/2 lbs now.

I would move the igloo to the center of the enclosure to see if that prevents any “escapes”.

After seeing the photo- I can see what you mean about putting a smaller litter box in there.  I would probably replace it with a normal cat-sized litter box- mainly for the ease of cleaning.  It would be more difficult and awkard to have to dump such a large tray.

[skunklionshow]

My Leo appears kinda lazy & skittish.  He’s the kind of bunny that runs along the permeter of the room during playtime.  Anyway, he too was like Cotton….he could get out of any of his enclosures & baby gates.  He would readily pop out of a triple level cage from the top to party on the floor.  Sooo Naughty!!  So you may have a super leaper.

I can’t believe he has his own door!  How clever, but how do you get in & out of your home?  Also since you like to build, you may want to build a multi level bunny condo….just a thought.

[(dig)x(me)x(now)]

Wow, the piggies have a great play area! Mine would be jealous!

Also – I am a one-bunny woman and he is by no means lonely! He loves being the king of the castle! I’ve had him here over 2 years.

[Deleted User]

cool idea w/ the floor grids……*mind wanders to building boston a new home*….

[Zipfelmuetze]

Yeah, I ordered the grid mats on amazon. They still have them there too. I was thinking about ordering another set. They are waterproof and just nice to have, because my apartment only has carpet flooring. I didn’t want my guinea pigs or my rabbit walking on the carpet, in case they decide to go potty. Kaow (my lop) seems to enjoy the mats better than the fleece.

[xParadise]

Those interlocking foam mats are a great idea! I might need to find some for myself for the x-pen.. I looked on Amazon but it’s $20+ to ship them to Canada.. Hmmm. Those would be great since Nixon’s not much of a chewer, and he doesn’t do slippery surfaces

[Zipfelmuetze]

Here’s the setup I have now to prevent him from jumping out.  I added a seccond level with fleece which he likes to use as a potty for some reason alongside his litter box.   And I thought I had him potty trained.  He doesn’t pee on the mats but on the fleece…weirdo.

[jerseygirl]

Ha ha, look how he’s standing up, scoping out the new height restrictions…you can just guess what’s ticking over in his mind!

[Deleted User]

wow thats cool! i wish i had the space to do that!

[Zipfelmuetze]

Well I live in a one bedroom apartment.  I literally sacrificed my livingroom. 

I have a little couch which I sit on to watch the guinea pigs and rabbit. 

I don’t have a television so I’m pretty much set on watching the live ‘Animal Planet.’

[Beka27]

that looks great! so you made little levels in the pen? i love it! he’s such a cute bun!

[Zipfelmuetze]

Yeah there is one other level which he likes to sit on. I’m already looking at the cage again pondering how to rebuild it.
He just doesn’t have enough run around room if I make it three levels.

[MimzMum]

That’s a very nice setup. I hope you don’t mind, I copied the pic to my computer as I hav to think of setting up a different system for my two soon-to-be-bonded buns eventually and I collect all sorts of ideas for xpen/grid constructions.

And such a lovely view from his penthouse! ^_^ He looks to be a VERY happy bunny indeed! (and adorable!)

[BinkyBunny]

Very NICE!!! Once we get our galleries fixed, I’d love to add that to our cool habitats section to show people some great habitat ideas. Would you mind sending it to jenniferATbinkybunnDOTcom (I don’t want to write out the actual address because posting actual addresses is just a spam magnet for net bots.

Awesome job so far, and if you change it, definitely show us to new digs!

[Beka27]

^^^and there is a “y” before the dotcom in her email address.

(lol…)

[Zipfelmuetze]

Do you think rabbits would become depressed if they couldn’t climb? I have decided to remove the second level, because Kaow decided that since it is a different level from the first level, he could pee on that level separately. Today I put in only a small litter box, and got a hammock for him. I’m hoping he won’t pee in the hammock. I think he doesn’t mind the one level cage. He likes to run around a lot.

[MimzMum]

Two of my bunnies have separate levels in their pens. The exercise pen is all floor. Their favorite activity is to zoom around on the floor as fast as they can. Not all bunnies are into climbing.
Mine seem to like going up and down their levels, but it doesn’t seem absolutely necessary. I can’t put things like hammocks or cuddly cups in their pens though, because they tend to mark them. I can’t do THAT much laundry.
If you are concerned with his boredom level, perhaps plenty of things to ‘toss’ would be in order. My bunnies particularly like to chew on and toss cardboard tubes that I take out of paper towel rolls when I’m done with them.

[Zipfelmuetze]

Yeah, I’ve got paper towel role in there which he has tossed around vigorously.
He seems to be eating his “Yesterday’s News” litterbox stuff. Will there be any left for him to pee on?! LOL.
He has a piece of wood in there for his teeth…He likes that too.
Today I am going to slowly make the transition from LM Farms Classic food (Alfalfa based) to Oxbow Bunny Basics T.
He really loves he LM Farms food though, I hope he’ll enjoy the Oxbow since it’s probably better for him and he needs the Timothy based food anyway.
Oh yeah, and I got him Orchard grass. Can you tell I had fun at the pet store today? There was so much going on at Petsmart. Once again I felt bad for the guinea pig sitting in his very enclosed cage without hay. Tsk tsk.

[Hedi]

Your bun is adorable!

My lop does the same thing…litter trained but if you give him a blanket or fleece mat and he pees on it. Your bun could be marking it too, just to make sure your piggies know where your bun lives. You could always try a second layer when your bun is a little older.

My lop is a mini lop and looks like yours (face and ears, not color ). But again, he could turn out bigger. Mini lops are larger than Holland lops even though the name would suggest they are the tiniest of lops. My lop right now is at least 2 years old and weighs a little over 6lbs. He is So furry though and is always shedding. And being a little boy he drags his ears thru everything!

One thing also…at this point I doubt he will be able to really jump out but if you ever worry that he will, you can always make it look like the house has a roof by using a sheet and clamp it to the top so your bun “thinks” it has a ceiling to it. This works like magic because buns if they see a barrier they tend not to try to get out. Just an idea to keep in mind if you ever worry he may jump out of a pen.

And..keep an idea on those foam squares. I had to throw mine out because all the buns figured out they could chew them so we had to stop using them. If you need other ideas in the future for flooring you could go to the hardware store and buy cheap roll out linoleum for the floor or even carpet squares. My buns all have carpet squares in their houses so their feet dont get cold on the hard floor and they are cheap enough to pitch if someone messes one up.

[Zipfelmuetze]

Indeed, he has figured out how to chew the mats (where they connect). I shoo him away though, and then he stops. He doesn’t chew on them often. Maybe just three times so far, and never when I haven’t been home. I have decided to get coroplast tomorrow though, because some of his poopies that don’t make it into the litter go flying out onto my carpet as well.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I love your setup!! The colorful foam mats are super cute!! Mine are just gray

I have the foam puzzle peices as well, but mine would chew them alot-so I put coroplast over it (sign board) does not look as pretty as your setup but the function of the foam is still there (Soft bedding) and the coroplast can be pulled out once a week for it’s shower (I just pull them out and stick them in the shower to clean them off nicely) easily too-and no chewing of the foam matts either!

[Author]

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