Bunnies !!!!!!!!!!

  • 11 Replies
  • 3251 Views
*

asd1

  • Experienced Member
  • ***
  • Location: norfolk
  • 258
Bunnies !!!!!!!!!!
« on: June 26, 2011, 23:12 »
So Oh got me a early bday prezzie of a rabbit hutch with accessories my question is what dimensions do you need for two rabbits and also suggested breeds? Quite like the look of mini Rex ATM. Any thoughts?

*

Mulberry1990

  • Experienced Member
  • ***
  • Location: Scarborough
  • 262
Re: Bunnies !!!!!!!!!!
« Reply #1 on: June 27, 2011, 08:51 »
The rabbit welfare people are currently running a campaign about hutch and run size, and their guidelines are on here...
http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/ahutchisnotenough.htm

Have you considered rescuing a couple of rabbits from the RSPCA? The rabbits they have range from all ages, from ones born in the RSPCA to older ones. When you adopt one they'll give you all the information you need and do a home visit to check your set up is right for the rabbits, the rabbits will be spayed, vet checked and have all their injections up to date.
All my rabbits currently are RSPCA resuces, and they are the friendliest rabbits i've ever had, they just seem grateful to be given a second chance, I have two big ones that were in the RSPCA for over a year because they were too big for children and they weren't friendly, but now if I go in their enclosure they run up to me and headbutt my ankles until I feed them. It's really rewarding!

One of those big ones is also a REX, (just not a mini one =p) and she is the so soft! Like a velvet rabbit. But she does need grooming because her fur matts more than the others when she's malting, and she also malts a lot! 

Have fun with your bunnies! x
4 Dogs: Stanley, Oscar, Borris and Scraps, 8 chickens: Prada, Mulberry, Alessi, Apple, Dior, Bobbi, Eve and Fendi, 2 Guinea Pigs: Rupert and Milo, 3 Rabbits: Louis, Daisy and Charlie 2 Fish: Sandy and Pebbles, 6 Quail

*

joyfull

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: lincolnshire
  • 22168
    • Monarch Engineering Ltd
Re: Bunnies !!!!!!!!!!
« Reply #2 on: June 27, 2011, 09:40 »
I used to have a lilac rex (large version) but she was really aggressive. My mum and dad used to show rabbits (dad was also a judge) when I was young and they had black, lilac and blue silver foxes - very nice rabbits and these were all friendly.
Staffies are softer than you think.

*

maxyboo

  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Location: Downham Market Norfolk
  • 680
Re: Bunnies !!!!!!!!!!
« Reply #3 on: June 28, 2011, 06:53 »
We have had a couple of rex bunnies where I work (not mini ones though). They were quite friendly and docile. Like Mulberry says though, please consider rescue buns.
As for hutches, the bigger the better.  A hutch for shelter and a large run is best. You get so much more pleasure from rabbits who have plenty of room to run around. They will be happier too.

*

PhilDotte

  • New Member
  • *
  • Location: Carllisle, Cumbria
  • 25
    • Ruskin Miniature Lops (rabbits)
Re: Bunnies !!!!!!!!!!
« Reply #4 on: July 02, 2011, 10:08 »
Hi Asd1

I breed and show rabbits and I judge both in the UK and the rest of the world.  I keep 4 breeds (Miniature Lops, French Lops, Netherland Dwarfs and Standard Ermine Rex) and have done for 30 years

The Mini rex seem to have better temprements than the standards and are a lot more docile. I would consider them a medium sized breed though with a mximum weight of 4lb8oz.  They are a good size to handle and are quite hardy.

Often the really small breeds like N.Dwarfs etc dont make the best pets. they can be flighty and not very easy to handle.

It depends on what size breed you go for as to the hutch size.  However, I personally never advocate keeping two rabbits together.   The RSPCA however thinks differently, saying they are social animals and need company.  This however is not true and the RSPCA has not really done its research properly.

Rabbits are social feeders and only socialise at feeding times.  The rest of their time is spent on their own which then really tells me they dont like to be kept together, but the RSPCA (even without evidence to dispute this) still say otherwise.

It is up to the individual I suppose as to what they do and how many they keep together.

What ever you decide I am sure you will enjoy them immensley

Phil  :)
4 Ex Batts (Sophia, Dorothy, Blanche & Rose) 1 SLW Bantam  (Lacey) 1 GLW Bantam (Harriet) 2 Chocolate Wyandotte Bantams 2 Silkies & 1 Cream Legbar. 3 Pugs (1 Black & 2 Silver Fawns) I breed and show rabbits of which I have about 80 and judge in the UK and Internationally

*

SnooziSuzi

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Newton Hall Allotments, Durham, UK
  • 2840
    • Facebook
Re: Bunnies !!!!!!!!!!
« Reply #5 on: July 02, 2011, 10:36 »
Um, not sure about the not keeping rabbits together; in fact they seem to thrive on contact in small groups!

Our rabbits (both Old English Spot) are possibly the happiest in the country: they have the whole back garden (the size of half an allotment!) to run around in and are very friendly, greeting you as you enter the run just like Mullberry's bunnies.

The main thing I would say is don't keep them confined to hutches all day and if they do have to stay in separate hutches, make sure the bunnies can see one another to maintain the bond.  Buy the biggest and best of what you can afford and give the rabbits the most amount of room you can.

Just think to yourself "if I were a bunny, what would I want to live like?"

good luck :)

*

asd1

  • Experienced Member
  • ***
  • Location: norfolk
  • 258
Re: Bunnies !!!!!!!!!!
« Reply #6 on: July 02, 2011, 10:40 »
We have now got our two rabbits :) we tried Three animal rescues first and although they had Rabbits none were suitable for us as first time rabbit owners. In the end we got them from an aquatics centre they are Rex x lops one is grey the other it tan with a black dot on his head. Both boys soon to get the snip lol ! Lucky our hutch and run is big enough so that they can get out of each others way if they wanted but they have spent most of their time so far running around through the tunnels or laying side by side in the shade. We are also going to build a add on to our run to make it even bigger so when they grow they still have loads of space  

*

PhilDotte

  • New Member
  • *
  • Location: Carllisle, Cumbria
  • 25
    • Ruskin Miniature Lops (rabbits)
Re: Bunnies !!!!!!!!!!
« Reply #7 on: July 02, 2011, 13:02 »
Um, not sure about the not keeping rabbits together; in fact they seem to thrive on contact in small groups!
Our rabbits (both Old English Spot) are possibly the happiest in the country: they have the whole back garden (the size of half an allotment!) to run around in and are very friendly, greeting you as you enter the run just like Mullberry's bunnies.
The main thing I would say is don't keep them confined to hutches all day and if they do have to stay in separate hutches, make sure the bunnies can see one another to maintain the bond.  Buy the biggest and best of what you can afford and give the rabbits the most amount of room you can.

Just think to yourself "if I were a bunny, what would I want to live like?"

good luck :)

As you keep two in a very large open space, they are able to spend time away from each other and they can lose one another if they so wish, which believe me, they will want to.  This is a much more suitable environment for them as it is more natural than being hutch bound day in day out.

The first post mentioned nothing about keeping them in a run, or indeed the garden, only in a hutch - which  IMHO are not suitable for more than 1 rabbit - no matter what size the hutch is.

If you have the amount of space available to you that you seem to have Snoozi, then rabbits may very well enjoy being kept on the 'colony' system as this is not far off from natural habitat, not everyone is that fortunate though.

Phil

*

SnooziSuzi

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Newton Hall Allotments, Durham, UK
  • 2840
    • Facebook
Re: Bunnies !!!!!!!!!!
« Reply #8 on: July 02, 2011, 21:17 »
point taken philldotte, they do spend a lot of the day at opposite ends of the garden  :blush:

*

Mulberry1990

  • Experienced Member
  • ***
  • Location: Scarborough
  • 262
Re: Bunnies !!!!!!!!!!
« Reply #9 on: July 05, 2011, 20:37 »
Ooo what're the new bunnies called?
I have four rabbits together, but they have two hutches and a quarter of an acre enclosed to run around in, but it's guaranteed each of them will always be with another one of the other bunnies laying in a hole or a chickens dustbath, they never spend time alone even though they have the option if they wish.
Have fun with your bunnies! x

*

Thorby Bislam

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Location: North Yorkshire Coast
  • 7
Re: Bunnies !!!!!!!!!!
« Reply #10 on: July 06, 2011, 14:56 »
We used to keep Beverens. This pic doesn't give an idea of size. Thet were huge beasts. About 10 - 12 lb weight. I made hutches for them out of crates the motorbikes came delivered in.


*

asd1

  • Experienced Member
  • ***
  • Location: norfolk
  • 258
Re: Bunnies !!!!!!!!!!
« Reply #11 on: July 06, 2011, 17:48 »
I have called them sharky ( tan colour with black splodge on hin head) and George (grey) . Oh is already smitten and is currently building them an even bigger run :)



 

Page created in 0.132 seconds with 39 queries.

Powered by SMFPacks Social Login Mod
Powered by SMFPacks SEO Pro Mod |