Cage

What Supplies Do I Need For A Pet Rabbit?!?

Hi, yesterday I said I wanted a rabbit, but I needed to convince my mom. Last night I talked to her and she said "maybe" which is up from a no. Anyways I still trying to convince her, but incase she says yes which will probably happen after I show her a shelter bunny I found..............What supplies do I need? These are the supplies I know I need, but please add if they are right, wrong or what brand you use. Large Rabbit Cage Rabbit Pellets-What do you use? Water Bottle Corner litterboxes Wood Chips as the litter Hay-Timothy, Alfalfa A Slick Brush-How often do I need to use this? Fruits and Veggies-I'll add these slowly into its diet Cat Litter for the litter box Vitamin Blocks-What Brand ...................................................Is there anything else you use or different brands than what I listed? Please if you just say no, not really, maybe that is not giving me a answer! Thanks=:-P Please have some answers! I've looked on google and got nothing! Please have some answers! I've looked on google and got nothing!

Public Comments

1. 1. Cage or Rabbit Hutch: These are sold at Petsmart, Petco, Drs. Foster and Smith, Wal-Mart, and many other stores. We purchased our stackable cages online from Bass Equipment and we LOVE them. Wire cages with slide out pans are the easiest to clean. 2. Water Bottle: You will want to use a 32 oz. bottle (rabbits drink a lot!). 3. Food dish You can use heavy crock bowls which work well and do not tip over easily or you could try out - EZ Crocks. They work wonderfully! They are available online at many different stores. They're also great to use on carriers. 4. Rabbit Pellet Feed Their diet should contain a protein content of between 12 and 16%. This can be provided with commercial pellet feed (specific to rabbits). Pellets must be stored in moisture-proof containers and used within 60 days. Hay is also important for your rabbit, adding fiber to their diet. Hay should be fed daily in unlimited amounts. We recommend Rabbit Star Commercial Pellets by Lone Star®, it is what we feed all of our rabbits. Check with your local feed store for this brand. 5. Timothy Hay: You can buy timothy hay at most pet stores or from local farmers. Do not give rabbits Alfalfa hay after the age of 3-4 months, as it is too high in calcium. 6. Wood or Paper Bedding Bedding must be non-aromatic, such as Aspen or CareFresh. Do not use Cedar! Some rabbits are also sensitive to pine. 7. Litter Pan Rabbits can easily be litter trained just like a cat! This is optional, but a good idea if you are planning to keep your rabbit indoors. 8. Baking Soda for Deodorizing Cage Tray or Litter Box: This is a great way to reduce smell. Just mix some baking soda in with the bedding. 9. White Vinegar, Vanodine, and/or Other Pet Safe Cage Cleaners: White vinegar is the only cleaner we have found that removes the white calcium build-up on trays, litter pans, etc. Very useful for rabbit owners! Vanodine is a pet-safe disinfectant and works very well to kill bacteria and germs. We use a combination of vinegar and Vanodine solutions for cleaning. Vanodine can be bought at bunnyrabbit . com 10. Slicker Brush for Grooming: 1-2 times per week unless they are molting (shedding) then once every day or every other day. 11. Pet Nail Clippers: Trim nails once a month or as needed. 12. Toys: Some great toy ideas include paper shopping bags, cardboard boxes full of shredded paper, toilet paper rolls, magazines, parrot toys that can be tossed or hung from the top of the cage, empty soda cans, untreated wicker or willow baskets, a hand towel for bunching and scooting, tennis balls, unwaxed paper cups, hard plastic cat toys, wooden blocks and boiled/baked branches (healthy woods include untreated willow, apple, pine). 13. Resting Mat (if you use cages with wire floors): You can use a mat, floor tile, or a board. This prevents them from getting sore hocks (sores under feet). 14. Fruit & Veggie snacks: Do not feed fruit & veggies to young rabbits under the age of 6 months. Once they are 6 months you can gradually add in a vegetable or fruit treat once or twice a week -- a slice of carrot or apple is a good place to start. Some other safe treats include celery, parsley, cucumber, grapes, green pepper, peach, pear, strawberry, zucchini, cantaloupe, cilantro, and nibbling on pesticide-free grass if you let them out on the lawn. Do not feed them iceburg lettuce, it can cause diarrhea which can kill them.
2. Large rabbit cage. ( Your rabbit cage should have enough room for your bunny to have 5 hops) Pellets. (The best pellets to get are Excel as they have all the goodness that your bunny needs) Water bottle (Make sure that you use a bottle not a bowl, as rabbits trip over the bowl) Corner Litterboxes (They are a brillant idea as it means you are useing less material) Wood chips (I woulden't use wood chips as litter, i would use wood shavings as it is much more comphy) Timothy hay (This is a good product, as it has not dust) sLICK BRUSH( you do not need one of these) You don't need cat litter, do not use that as it is bad for rabbite health, use wood shavings, and for the vitamin blocks, you can use any! good luck x
3. I use blue shield rabbit pellets. They don't have too much protein for the rabbit...which is good. Litterboxes aren't necessary but, if you want it to be easier to clean the cage, go for it. I only have one rabbit out of 8 that uses a litter box. Its all up to you. I wouldn't suggest giving your rabbit very much alfalfa hay either because, that has a lot of protein in it which can make a rabbit very sick. Occasionally as a treat is okay(i mean like once every two weeks...and only a little!) If you are getting a lionhead or angora rabbit, you will need a brush but other than that, you shouldn't need one unless you want to use it while petting him. Rabbits are pretty clean animals. Don't use cat litter in his litter box. PLEASE. If the rabbit decides to eat it (which he very well might) you won't have a good result. You would be better off using just a different type of shavings. Vitamin blocks arent' really necessary either. I don't use them and my rabbits are just fine. I give them regular salt blocks in the summer so they drink a lot of water. I don't know much about vitamin blocks because I've never heard of someone giving them to a rabbit. I'd hate to say its a waste of money...but it kind of is. Good Luck with your rabbit! If you have anymore questions feel free to email me livelaughdance2195@yahoo.com
4. Meadow hay for bed area. Large run.
5. Large Rabbit Cage or Hutch - Yep. A single rabbit needs atleast a 5'x2'x2' cage, two rabbits 6'x2'x2'. Rabbits nearly always should be kept in pairs - and I'd be shocked if a shelter offered you a single rabbit without you having one already to bond with it?! Rabbit pellets - depends where you are. I use Wagg Optimum, but Excell and Science Selective are also good. Look for a high fibre content! Water bottle or bowl - I found the bottles leaked after a while, but they hold more water in them. If you go for a bowl, go for a solid ceramic one, or one that attaches to the cage such as a coop cup. Litterbox - you can use either a corner or a normal cat sized one, as long as its large with high sides. Hay - good choices! Remember to make sure to give the buns an unlimited supply. Mine arn't a particular brand as i get them from a local farm shop Brush - depends on the rabbit. The smaller haired rabbits just rarely - but more often when they moult. Longer hairded (such as lionheads) need more regular grooming, such as every other day. Fruit and Veggies - yep slowly, but I dont recommend a lot of fruit or carrots as they have a high sugar content so should only be given as a treat. And remember no light colored lettuces such as iceburg! I just get my veg from the local supermarket Litter - Wouldnt necessarily recommend cat litter for rabbits - brands such as Megazorb or Carefresh are good absorbers and safe for rabbits. Vitamins - the rabbit veg and pellets should generally give enough vitamins. Remember a lot of toys and tunnels! My rabbits love willow balls and toys made out of it. Never lasts long but its cheap enough. They love plastic rattle balls too. Also hay racks are good to keep hay tidy and off the floor. Also a rabbit run if you're going to let the rabbits outside. Needs to be about 6x4x2 either with a lid or 6x4x4 without a lid