How Many of you keep Pet Rabbits?

[Mrs.Clooney]

Hi Geeks and apologies in advance for the nature of this thread, but I would really like some advice please. How many of you have a pet rabbit/rabbits?

I have been considering getting one for several months now. I said nothing at all to my hubby, but have now been caring for the neighbours 2 rabbits for the past 10 days (as they are away) and they are very sweet.

My 4 year old daughter has delighted in helping me on a daily basis with cleaning the hutches, cuddling them and feeding them. My 13 yr old would love a pet rabbit and promises to help care for it. My hubby has said catagorically 'NO' ............... too much expense, vet bills, kennels if we go away, responsibility etc......

He is all too aware that I start my Beauty Therapy in September and is worried that I won't cope. We already have a boisterous retriever and lovely soppy cat. I have read that rabbits are less work than dogs but more than cats.

I know somebody who is looking for a good home for their pet rabbit. I have met the rabbit and he is gorgeous with a lovely temperament. I would rather this than purchase one from a pet shop with all it's unknown problems IYKWIM?

Advice please. Are they difficult to care for? Are they hugely expensive? Will I regret my decision?

 

[pure]

Rabbits are lovely!:green:

I've had them as pets since I was a young child and we currently have one that lives free range in our garden.:lol: Fortunately the garden s totally secure and we don't often put her in her hutch.

They are easy to look after, food, water and change their bedding regularly (couple of times a week) but like any animal can incur vets bills if they fall ill, but no more than any other I shouldn't think.

They really don't take a huge effort but are lovely to have around. I think if you got one you wouldn't regret it.

 

[*Gemma*]

We have 2 french lops that run freely round the garden and in the house and on thesofa and up the stairs, in fact there aren't many places Bud and Laverne don't go. They are bigger than one of my dogs and are more sociable than the cats we have. You can sit on the pation for lunch and they come and ask for their titbits like the other animals. Officially they belong to my 13 year old but I love them dearly. Shh but we have 3 babies too at the moment don't tell my hubby but they are 10 days old and adorable. My advice is get one !

 

[gemsie1983]

I have one and she is lovely and so funny!

She isn't expensive too clean or house but you need a secure garden too let them out. At the moment mine plays out all day!

They are great pets for children too and if you do go on holiday you just need someone too feed and water them once a day!

You won't regret it! x

 

[Exquisite Touch]

I have four pet rabbits

I have mitzy who is a madam she is a lop, i have floppy who is a dwarf lop then we have doggy bunny who is a giant french lop and he is massive he even growls like a dog :lol: and our newest member of the family is Rose the teeny tinyest rabbit you have ever seen

They are really good at house training mine all go in litter trays but they love to chew threw wires and every so often have a nibble at the plaster on the walls but they love to cuddle up on the bed with us all and just sit watching telly

my advice is get one they are addictive and you will find that they have a character of there own
Deb x

 

[nicky's nails]

we have a pet rabbit, (kids easter pressie a year ago ) he was buster til trip to vets revealed he was a she lol, so is now rosie rabbit, she has a hutch £40 and water bottle , feeding dish etc (few quid) think the biggest expense was hutch hugger to keep rain out and cold out in winter cost £60 , but if we cleared space in shed she could go in there, tom built massive run fpr her, its hip height for us so she cant get out, and cost around £15 for the wood and the wire etc, we cant let her in the garden as we dont have fences with wire under and she tries to dig her way out, and would also demolish our beloved strawberry bushes,

her vets bills are minimum, think its cost £60 in year an half and she dosent really need anything else now unless shes ill,

her food, hay and sawdust costs me about £11 every 3/4 weeks, and the kids buy her treats and toys out of their pocket money, her hutch gets changed evry few days and water and food daily, but thats about all the looking after they take, we let her out in the run in the morning, and look her back in if she goes back in before we go to bed, if not she mostly stays out, we leave one side of hutch shut so she has cozy area and shes happy to come in and out as she pleases,

shes not one for hugs and cuddles so the kids moan that they dnt get to play with her as much as theyd like, but most rabbits love being cuddled and stroked etc,

they really are a cheap pet to have ince the initial outlay is over, all i would say is either make sure the garden is secure and they cant dig their way out , or build nice big run, but they are lovely to watch binkying around on a summers day!!

let us know what you do

xxxxxxx

 

[Mrs.Clooney]

Thank you all so much for your comments. I'm also interested to hear from anyone who feels they don't think it is a good idea or has regretted keeping a rabbit.

 

[littlepinkfairy]

We used to have a rabbit we adopted from one of mums friends as the kids kept on they wanted it and promised they would look after it and clean it out...but once the novelty had worn off the kids lost intrest and it was up to mum to clean it and make sure it was fed etc. Sadly the rabbit died of old age last year and mum has told the kids they aren't allowed another one as they don't bother with it. I think as long as you are prepared to look after it you will love it!
xx:hug:xx

 

[Carolep]

Thank you all so much for your comments. I'm also interested to hear from anyone who feels they don't think it is a good idea or has regretted keeping a rabbit.

Hi there, well as one geek said, they are addictive! I have 11 rabbits and would never dream of parting with them. Infact, one of them is about 15 or 16 years old - he is older than the longest living rabbit in the guniess book or records! they all have their own personalities. What I have learnt over the years, is that if you treat them as some cute thing and never pay them attetntion - then that is what you will get from the rabbit - a dull cute thing that just sits there. But show them love and attention and a whole new side comes out! they can be house trained, some or mine even come when I call them by their names. I had one who loved cartoons! They are not very expensive to look after. you could buy the rabbit pellets in bulk - works out cheaper and lasts long. whatever you decide please bear in mind that rabbits do need excersise. they have to have a safe secure place to be able to run around outside daily. some rabbits, depending on their personalities can even be walked like a dog on a leash!

I hope this helps.

 

[lucy_locket]

hi we had Poppy our rabbit in june and i must say it has been a delight she is a mini rex and very very easy to look after and doesn't cost alot.

every 4 weeks we spend £20.00 a large bag saw dust a med bag of food and some hay and thats it. the starting cost was the most she cost £25.00 and the hutch was £100.00. i always worried about having one and how much looking after they need but i was very surprised we just clean her out completely once a week and empty her toilet every 2 days.

good luck

 

[1999judy]

We had a rabbit before we had a dog and although the rabbit is low cost and maintenance the dog made the rabbits life hell and had to go and live with my parents...well, it went there on holiday one year and they kept it actually...because they felt that the rabbit spent too much time in the hutch as the dog made the rabbits life hell by continually chasing it.
Just something to bear in mind x

 

[fificharlie]

Rabbits are lovely, but have you thought about a guinea pig? You even get to know what thier little squeeks mean! I have a house guinea pig called malcome, he is great!

He has an indoor hutch, which was around £100, prob more expensive than an outdoor one, I spend about £10 every month on bedding and food etc. Like rabbits they love to play with toys, can learn their names etc! Malcome is litter trained too.

One thing to remember is that in winter, its a good idea to keep a rabbit / guinea pig indoors if you can, or in a shed / garage, as sometimes it just gets too cold for them and they can die :cry:

Just something else to think of! :hug:

 

[blossom]

Rabbits are lovely. If you know one who is lovely I too would be tempted to go with that.

We lost our 18 month old bunny Mitzi before Christmas, :cry:she had a tumour (apparently there is a high risk of them getting ovarian tumours if they have not had a litter and if you don't get them spayed - I only recently learned this).

We have just got a new baby bunny Minty who is 17 weeks now, absolutely gorgeous, a real poppet, he lives outside but comes in the house quite a lot, he has a huge long low box which he knows is his, he does anything he needs to do in his poop tray in the corner, he house trained himself really, I take no credit.

In my experience if you are gentle and affectionate the rabbit will return this. They are more intelligent than people give them credit for. Minty already has learnt not to chew the rug and not to jump on the sofa (we just say no firmly and move him away and eventually he stops bothering). I think they're smashing pets!

Oh btw, also a big fan of guinea pigs, we have five, all girls. They are timid little creatures, ever so gentle, and their little squeaks are different depending on what mood they're in, they are lots of fun.

Anyway good luck, let us know what you decide xx

 

[Mrs.Clooney]

Rabbits are lovely, but have you thought about a guinea pig? You even get to know what thier little squeeks mean! I have a house guinea pig called malcome, he is great!

He has an indoor hutch, which was around £100, prob more expensive than an outdoor one, I spend about £10 every month on bedding and food etc. Like rabbits they love to play with toys, can learn their names etc! Malcome is litter trained too.

One thing to remember is that in winter, its a good idea to keep a rabbit / guinea pig indoors if you can, or in a shed / garage, as sometimes it just gets too cold for them and they can die :cry:

Just something else to think of! :hug:

We had 2 guinea pigs when we were kids (Noddy and Big Ears, lol) and we all took it in turn caring for them on a daily basis. They stayed out in a big run during the day and lived indoors at night in a box with loads of scrunched up news paper. They died naturally of old age.

We adored them. I have thought about a guinea pig. This rabbit already has a lovely home but is looking for a new one which is why I'm focused on a rabbit.

 

[alpina]

Rabbits, OMG! I had no idea you could keep rabbits as pets.

They are illegal here because they are a pest.

They are so cute, I would love to have one.

What do they eat?

 

[Mrs.Clooney]

Rabbits, OMG! I had no idea you could keep rabbits as pets.

They are illegal here because they are a pest.

They are so cute, I would love to have one.

What do they eat?

Illegal as pets in Aussie? You are joking!
Seriously, I am gobsmacked. Is this an Aussie wide law or in your particular area only? I'm interested to hear more please. Why are they seen as pests? Are you allowed to keep guinea pigs, hamsters, mice etc....... They could be seen as pests too.

 

[Bagpuss]

just found this...

House Rabbit Society of Australia Inc

 

[bellapet]

I had a rabbit and he was sooo lovely he lived until he was 9 which is a good age for them. You can get really big ones that you keep in the house which are bigger that a cat there really cute. There no hassle really so there a good pet to look after.

bella
xxxxx

 

[blossom]

Rabbits, OMG! I had no idea you could keep rabbits as pets.

They are illegal here because they are a pest.

They are so cute, I would love to have one.

What do they eat?

They eat specialist rabbit pellets/dried mix supplemented with small amounts of carrot and cabbage

 

[alpina]

Illegal as pets in Aussie? You are joking!
Seriously, I am gobsmacked. Is this an Aussie wide law or in your particular area only? I'm interested to hear more please. Why are they seen as pests? Are you allowed to keep guinea pigs, hamsters, mice etc....... They could be seen as pests too.

I just read the link about rabbits, I didn't know the fine was that much
I will definitely not be keeping an illegal rabbit hidden in my backyard now.

After reading the article, they seem to be only illegal here in Queensland. I live in town now, but used to live further out of town, and I can say I've only ever seen two wild rabbits in my life (and they were so cute), but I suppose they can be pests in other on properties where there are a lot of rabbits in one area.

As for guinea pigs and mice, they are allowed, I used to keep mice. I might be completely wrong here but I don't think we have hamsters here, I've never seen one.