Hi all. My little brother's Guinea Pig died last night and I'm going to buy him a bunny. He's 12 years old so he's not a baby, and he's been brought up with animals. Obviously my mum is there for care backup!
I'm thinking of a Netherland Dwarf.
What kind of toys do rabbits like? What is the best diet? (I only know about the foods we sell at work, which as with the dog food, isn't necessarily the best ) Is a buck or doe likely to be more friendly and amenable to handling? I'm sure I'll think of more questions soon, rabbits aren't my strong point, unless they're poorly of course!
XXX ____________ Georgia, Honey Bear, Rosie, Obi, Timber, Mia, Oscar and Mango XXXX
Posted:
Thu Sep 27, 2007 6:43 pm
sambo Co-Admin
Joined: May 09, 2005 Posts: 1872 Age: 32 No.Of Pets: 4 Pet Types: rotty, 3 cats 2 kids
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Location: west midlands Medals: None
Hi there good choice i love rabbits but cant keep them no more as sasha would sit and bark at it all day long giving the poor thing heart attack.
Years ago before sasha came along i had 2 netherland dwarfs but can honestly say i can't remember what toys they had if any.
As for anything else i'll leave that for the experts but you can't go wrong with a good pellet diet with fresh fruit & veg i know mine used to love broccoli and cauli just be wary of feeding lettuce to a young rabbit as this can be poisonous as my friend found out about not so long ago .
Good luck anyway with the search and look forward to pics. ____________
Posted:
Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:10 pm
honeydlc TopDog
Joined: Dec 06, 2006 Posts: 641 Age: 26 No.Of Pets: 5 Pet Types: dogs, cats,amazon parrot
Thanks, I know what you mean, I'd quite like a bunny myself, but no chance with Rosie the Jack Russell about, she's very well behaved in general, but show her a rabbit and she remembers what she was bred for!
I'll be sure to put up some piccies of him or her, Frankie is going to call it 'Sunny' after his Guinea Pig.
XX ____________ Georgia, Honey Bear, Rosie, Obi, Timber, Mia, Oscar and Mango XXXX
Posted:
Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:23 pm
jabbro TopDog
Joined: Jan 27, 2007 Posts: 1170 Age: 53 No.Of Pets: 3 Pet Types: 1 dog, 2 rabbits
I have a greyhound...and she is perfectly ok with my 2 rabbits. Oh by the way the bucks are more friendly than the does....does tend to be viscious and grunters...bucks just seem to be alot more friendly and docile. ____________ Dog: Katie
Rabbit: Buffy and Georgie
Posted:
Thu Sep 27, 2007 8:00 pm
Lisa_Ianniello TopDog
Joined: Jan 31, 2006 Posts: 564 Age: 21 No.Of Pets: 3 Pet Types: Rabbit-Rosie, Hammy-Buttonz,and a BIG BUNCH of fish in the tank, i dont know all their names.
i heard that rabbits like toys with bells in them. i got Rosie a carrot toy with a bell inside with green thread and she plays with it for ages she loves it lol. she also eats lots of hay.
hope that helps some pictures would be great lol ____________ Lisa Ianniello
I Love You Calvin, My Big Silly Pups.
Posted:
Thu Sep 27, 2007 9:33 pm
shadylady TopDog
Joined: Dec 21, 2006 Posts: 1446 Age: 21 No.Of Pets: 10+ Pet Types: dog 2 hamsters 2 snails 2 guinea pigs 3 cats and 6 rabbits
netherland dwarfs arnt necessarily the best breed as they tend to have big attitudes its like small dogs lol may be small but can pack a punch lol
mini lops, dwarf lops and dutch rabbits tend to have better attitudes towards humans..
also it doesnt necesarily matter wat sex you get if your only planing to get one as all rabbits personalities differ, and my doe bindi is the sweetest doe ever, also my other bunny buffy that died loved attention and a cuddle.. so its not just the bucks who have sweet personalities...
rabbits also love a variety off toys and you dont have to look far a toilet roll tube is loved by bunnies also a cardboard box, and u could make a mini show jump course which they would love also for some reason they love clothes and enjoy scrapping a coat or pants around and lifting them up and throwing them lol.. they also like a bit of mud to dig in.. ____________ Jet,Copper,Sasha,Scooby,Binky,Blade,Button,
Bizarre,Bailey,Bindi,Biscuit,Zig and Zag,Rain,Luna
Spiral and Swirl.
Posted:
Thu Sep 27, 2007 9:45 pm
honeydlc TopDog
Joined: Dec 06, 2006 Posts: 641 Age: 26 No.Of Pets: 5 Pet Types: dogs, cats,amazon parrot
Thanks everyone.
So the Netherland Dwarf is like a rabbit version of a Jack Russell is it?
Hehehe
XX ____________ Georgia, Honey Bear, Rosie, Obi, Timber, Mia, Oscar and Mango XXXX
Posted:
Fri Sep 28, 2007 7:15 am
shadylady TopDog
Joined: Dec 21, 2006 Posts: 1446 Age: 21 No.Of Pets: 10+ Pet Types: dog 2 hamsters 2 snails 2 guinea pigs 3 cats and 6 rabbits
yep lol i had a netherland dwarf called rosie and she used to lunge at everyones ankles lmao the only one who could hold her was my sister, i still loved her though lol ____________ Jet,Copper,Sasha,Scooby,Binky,Blade,Button,
Bizarre,Bailey,Bindi,Biscuit,Zig and Zag,Rain,Luna
Spiral and Swirl.
Posted:
Fri Sep 28, 2007 11:29 pm
rufftydlc Packleader
Joined: Feb 07, 2007 Posts: 273 Age: 13 No.Of Pets: 7 Pet Types: dogs,cats,guinea pigs, Cockatiel, rabbit
Hi im Honeydlc's brother. My sister bought the rabbit yesterday. He is really tame and around 10 weeks old. Ill get some photos on the way ____________ Frankie, Bindi, Buddy, Jack Baeur, Peter Pan, Ruffty Tuffty, Sox, Dexter,Tiger, Flint, Vilmaris, Run free at rainbow bridge Sunny and Betty
Posted:
Sat Sep 29, 2007 7:55 am
Lisa_Ianniello TopDog
Joined: Jan 31, 2006 Posts: 564 Age: 21 No.Of Pets: 3 Pet Types: Rabbit-Rosie, Hammy-Buttonz,and a BIG BUNCH of fish in the tank, i dont know all their names.
Rabbits are a complicated pet, they require as much work as a dog or cat, as they require regular worming, annual vaccinations and should be spayed/neutered, they also moult four times a year. They also can easily live for 12 years....but I assume you already are aware of that? If not, plans for the future are going to have to be made as your new friend could still be with you when you are in your mid-late 20s.
They require a special diet, having the longest digestive system of any animal in accordance to their size, makes thems very prone to digestive upsets which can prove fatal.
Therefore diet wise, lots and lots of fibre in the form of good quality hay, about 80% of the adult diet should be hay. Only 5% pellets, the rest vegetables. However, I wouldn't feed any veg till your bun is 12 weeks old and start off small and avoid really gassy foods such as cabbage, broccoli or sprouts initally. Celery leaves, coriander and nasturiums are all favs here. You can feed a small bit of fruit eventually, but wait a few weeks as its very sugary, apple, pear, tomato and even the odd little bit of banana are very much the favourite treats here.
Here are some good links to get you started and reading up on common health complaints is a really good idea as well ie bloat and stasis:
and if you are interested in getting another bun, please do check out
www.rabbitrehome.org.uk
ALso, you'll want to find a vet in your area who is good with buns, and so as you can book them in for their vaccinations. Myxi and VHD are very very active this year due to the damp weather, so you really MUST get them protected. VHD can't be given until after 12 weeks though, so nows a good time to book his myxi.
I must also warn you, that when he hits sexual maturity (another couple of weeks) he may turn a bit aggressive and hormonal and start spraying pee at you etc. Its all normal, and once neutered he'll settle down!
Posted:
Sat Sep 29, 2007 2:17 pm
shadylady TopDog
Joined: Dec 21, 2006 Posts: 1446 Age: 21 No.Of Pets: 10+ Pet Types: dog 2 hamsters 2 snails 2 guinea pigs 3 cats and 6 rabbits
oooooo congratulations cant wait for some pics.. ____________ Jet,Copper,Sasha,Scooby,Binky,Blade,Button,
Bizarre,Bailey,Bindi,Biscuit,Zig and Zag,Rain,Luna
Spiral and Swirl.
Posted:
Sat Sep 29, 2007 2:48 pm
rufftydlc Packleader
Joined: Feb 07, 2007 Posts: 273 Age: 13 No.Of Pets: 7 Pet Types: dogs,cats,guinea pigs, Cockatiel, rabbit
my sister said we should name him Peter Pan as when she went to buy him the hutch he was in said "Neverland Dwarfs" for sale. Hard to tell his gender at the moment but we think he is a boy ____________ Frankie, Bindi, Buddy, Jack Baeur, Peter Pan, Ruffty Tuffty, Sox, Dexter,Tiger, Flint, Vilmaris, Run free at rainbow bridge Sunny and Betty
Posted:
Sat Sep 29, 2007 3:27 pm
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rufftydlc Packleader
Joined: Feb 07, 2007 Posts: 273 Age: 13 No.Of Pets: 7 Pet Types: dogs,cats,guinea pigs, Cockatiel, rabbit
Thanks everybody for the advice everyone ____________ Frankie, Bindi, Buddy, Jack Baeur, Peter Pan, Ruffty Tuffty, Sox, Dexter,Tiger, Flint, Vilmaris, Run free at rainbow bridge Sunny and Betty
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) Is a buck or doe likely to be more friendly and amenable to handling? I'm sure I'll think of more questions soon, rabbits aren't my strong point, unless they're poorly of course!
.
Cant wait to see the pictures 
Have you chosen a name for him?
