Questions Re: Rabbits & hutches etc
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Topic: Questions Re: Rabbits & hutches etc
Posted By: BuzzyBee
Subject: Questions Re: Rabbits & hutches etc
Date Posted: 28 February 2010 at 5:06pm
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Hi, in light of my little guy turning three I've decided to buy him two bunny rabbits and the full set up for them (hutch, water bottle, food, bowl etc etc).
I have a couple of questions regarding this, and am hoping there are some rabbit enthusiasts/breeders on here that can help me out! I'm currently looking at a wooden hutch that has an asphalt roof, I'm unsure as to whether the wood is treated and if it will withstand NZ's winter weather conditions. What I want to know is should I stay clear of a wooden hutch (with wire mesh) in favour of galvanised metal & mesh? Which is more likely to last longer, I'm worried about the wood rotting after only a matter of months. This is the wooden hutch http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=273947714 - here that I have been contemplating, good or not? Also with buying two rabbits am I best to get two females, two males or one of each and get the male neutered? Once we have all the cage set up I will start looking around, am hoping to get two from the same litter, dwarf rabbits at this stage as the mini lops look like they can get quite big? So any breeds you'd recommend? What do I NEED to know - the basics? Galvanised metal cage/run or an old fashioned wooden frame hutch with mesh/metal cage? Just any advice in general would be greatly appreciated at this stage, I'm so excited as is DS, it's all he keeps talking about atm! TIA ETA: I am also planning on buying a cheapie second hand run so the rabbits can play/eat grass during the day when we're outside in the yard. It's the hutch they intend to sleep/live in of a night time that I'm confused about. ------------- Single Mum to a darling wee boy of 3 years :) |
Replies:
Posted By: Smelly_Kelly
Date Posted: 28 February 2010 at 5:52pm
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Hiya,
I have 2 bunnies myself, one is angora and one is a lop ear x flemish giant, male and female. I got them both from the SPCA neutered and all shots up to date. I dont recommend getting an angora, they require a lot of work to keep their fur from getting dreads etc. Mini lops are prolly what i would recommend to get although im by no means an expert lol. That cage you have linked is what i have for their nighttime sleepies, one for each of them. For during the day (when we are home only) we have them outside in a run that we built of them using just wood and chicken mesh/wire. it has an open roof and they go in there together to get exercise. I got Levi (angora) first, he started losing his hair and getting very stressed so we got him a female mate (Frosty-lop) although they are both neutered, he was always trying to hump her to claim his place as the man i guess. that eventually stopped after a couple of weeks and now they are inseparable in their run. They groom each other and cuddle up etc. Ok, i think thats all for now, let me know if you want any other info :) ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/392aa6"> 
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Posted By: Smelly_Kelly
Date Posted: 28 February 2010 at 5:54pm
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Oh, make sure the cage you get for them for during the night is around 1m long, or longer and they can stand up in it. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/392aa6">
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Posted By: kabe
Date Posted: 28 February 2010 at 10:32pm
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I posted a question about rabbits last week as we're looking at getting one. I found this website good regarding what types to get. We're going for a dutch bunny.
http://www.pet-rabbit-care-information.com/how-buy-pet-rabbit.htm - link I read this online "If you are getting 2 rabbits, we recommend 2 females, or a female & a male, & get the male neutered at 14-15 weeks, & they wouldn't need to be separated. Both of these pairings have a high chance of getting on together, the female & neutered male's chances of getting on together being slightly higher than the 2 females." ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: caitlynsmygirl
Date Posted: 28 February 2010 at 11:58pm
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over the years i've had *counts* 20 rabbits (I can still name them all )
the best breeds I found were either the lop earred bunnies or the dwarf rabbits. And I would get 2 females, 2 males may end up fighting , and a male and female tend to mate, well, like rabbits. That is from personal experience, the two females I had together (Bitsy and Belle ) got along a lot better than the male Buster, who was neutered when I got him . ------------- 
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Posted By: caitlynsmygirl
Date Posted: 01 March 2010 at 12:01am
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That hutch is good, its one of those new ones that are becoming popular, mine were just in one of the old style ones that sat on the ground , was huge tho , plenty of room for two, that one seems a bit smaller , so a minature breed might be a better idea so 2 fit more comfortably .
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Posted By: BuzzyBee
Date Posted: 01 March 2010 at 12:01pm
After looking around I found this one here ...it's only $70 extra and you get a second level, ramp AND the run that can be separated from the actual cage ...seems like a huge difference considering the other one is $199, and this is $269. Makes the other cage I was originally looking at seem very piddly. I've sold the big activity climber and slide thing I bought for his 1st birthday that he's far outgrown, so I can afford to get him something nice for his 3rd birthday - ingenious huh! ------------- Single Mum to a darling wee boy of 3 years :) |
Posted By: tropics
Date Posted: 01 March 2010 at 1:09pm
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that one looks much better
If your hubby is handy you could get him to make one? my DH has made lots of hutches over the years for me and my animals. I second the angora rabbit issues, ive had two in the past and one was friendly and I could groom and the other wasnt so was a nightmare. Also I would recommend getting two females. I did have a male rabbit de-sexed when I was younger and he died under the anisthetic  so I wouldnt do that again 
They also do breed like rabbits in my younger days I had two male and female one a dawaf (male) and flemish giant (female) stoopid me thought that there would be no way they could breed given the size difference!  and sure enough they did!
Also handle them alot from day dot, I havent with my rabbits that I have had recently and they are not friendly at all. Also guniea pig can also make a good companion for a rabbit too Enjoy ------------- http://lilypie.com">    [/url]
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Posted By: mummyofprinces
Date Posted: 01 March 2010 at 10:19pm
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Second one looks awesome....
Second the Angora thing... both of ours have dreads atm and I dont know how to get them out (I am thinking a trip to the vet to be shaved, oh I feel so mean).... darn ms has kept me from grooming them properly  -------------   
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