Bunny Basics

[BabyGotQuack]

Hello! I’m interested in bunnies but have no clue where to start! We’d have them just for fun/as pets, not for meat. Give me all the bunny basics!

-What all do we need for bunnies?
-Can they live outside year round?
-Do they need to stay inside for the first little bit due to cold? Or could they go straight outside?
-How hard is it to have a fully inside bunny?
-We have ducks and know that you shouldn’t have just one, is this the same case for bunnies or could we get just one?
-When purchasing from cal ranch or other farm store typically how old are the bunnies?

Any other information would be appreciated! I wanna make sure I know what we’re getting into before we start.

 

[T-R-O-U-B-L-E]

@Everose

 

[Everose]

Thx FeatherFeet for the tag!

What all do we need for bunnies?

I recommend a large above ground hutch within a fence. Racoons and dogs love to dig into ground colonies, and rabbits are spreading RHDV2 like wildfire right now.

Make sure you're giving lots of different surfaces for their feet, I like to use drywall, hay, and ceramic tiles. Improper flooring can give them sore hocks or splayed legs.
I like to use both bowls and water bottles because bowls can tip and water bottles can leak.
I use gravity feeders so that they don't waste feed by tipping bowls.
I like to give them pine cones, toilet paper rolls stuffed with hay, wooden ABC blocks, and some bells for toys. Change things up for them. They love to play.
I use a few different brushes because I keep four different breeds, so once you know what kind of rabbit you're getting I could tell you what works best for their fur type.

-Can they live outside year round?

Yep. I give them frozen bottles of water to lick in the summer, along with ceramic tile boxes with ice packs to lay on. Fans are great for airflow and keeping any amonia smells down.
Hay and wind blockers for winter time. Keep their waters thawed and their feeders full.

Do they need to stay inside for the first little bit due to cold? Or could they go straight outside?

It depends. If they were raised inside then it'd be best to keep them inside until mid spring when temps are neutral. If they were raised outside they will have a great winter coat and provided with enough hay they'll be fine. Bringing them from a cold outdoor environment into a warm indoor environment could make them blow their coats.

We have ducks and know that you shouldn’t have just one, is this the same case for bunnies or could we get just one?

One is usually fine. Siblings can do great together, and two neutered boys can be good friends. Two unaltered females make great friends in my experience.

-When purchasing from cal ranch or other farm store typically how old are the bunnies?

Usually bunnies are weaned and sold at eight weeks of age. I like to sell mine at ten weeks to ensure that they're gaining great weight and they have good temperaments for being pets.

Are you set on keeping your bun outdoors or could you keep it indoors? Indoor bunnies are sweet, playful, and affectionate pets. My outdoor rabbits are still fabulous pets but I don't get to enjoy them as much.

 

[BabyGotQuack]

Thx FeatherFeet for the tag!


I recommend a large above ground hutch within a fence. Racoons and dogs love to dig into ground colonies, and rabbits are spreading RHDV2 like wildfire right now.

Make sure you're giving lots of different surface for their feet, I like to use drywall, hay, and ceramic tiles. Improper flooring can give them sore hocks or splayed legs.
I like to use both bowls and water bottles because bowls can tip and water bottles can leak.
I use gravity feeders so that they don't waste feed by tipping bowls.
I like to give them pine cones, toilet paper rolls stuffed with hay, wooden ABC blocks, and some bells for toys. Change things up for them. They love to play.
I use a few different brushes because I keep four different breeds, so once you know what kind of rabbit you're getting I could tell you what works best for their fur type.

Yep. I give them frozen bottles of water to lick in the summer, along with ceramic tile boxes with ice packs to lay on. Fans are great for airflow and keeping any amonia smells down.
Hay and wind blockers for winter time. Keep their waters thawed and their feeders full.

It depends. If they were raised inside then it'd be best to keep them inside until mid spring when temps are neutral. If they were raised outside they will have a great winter coat and provided with enough hay they'll be fine. Bringing them from a cold outdoor environment into a warm indoor environment could make them blow their coats.


One is usually fine. Siblings can do great together, and two neutered boys can be good friends. Two unaltered females make great friends in my experience.


Usually bunnies are weaned and sold at eight weeks of age. I like to sell mine at ten weeks to ensure that they're gaining great weight and they have good temperaments for being pets.

Are you set on keeping your bun outdoors or could you keep it indoors? Indoor bunnies are sweet, playful, and affectionate pets. My outdoor rabbits are still fabulous pets but I don't get to enjoy them as much.

Thank you so much for all the great info! I edited my post but you must of started replying before I got my edit in, I’m not set on outdoors at all, I didn’t know how hard it was to keep them inside?

I thought of another question about gender. What are the pros/cons/differences of each?

 

[HappyClucker7]

-What all do we need for bunnies?

You're going to need a litter box, timothy hay, good quality pellets (I recommend Oxbow), fresh vegetables, a water bowl, and a food bowl. You'll also need some kind of pen to be his "home base", where his litter box and food is. You might need some pee pads until he is litter box trained.
You can use card board boxes as hides, as long as he doesn't eat the cardboard. You can also get rabbit toys. Rabbits need things to chew to grind down their teeth.
You may also need cable protectors, and other items to stop him from chewing things he shouldn't. However, not all rabbits chew, so you might not need that.

-Can they live outside year round?

No. Rabbits are very prone to getting heat stroke, and they can die just from getting scared of something outdoors. Definitely keep him inside.

-How hard is it to have a fully inside bunny?

Not hard at all! Just make sure any wires are either covered or out of the rabbit's reach. Also, keep any books remote controls, etc. of the floor, if you have a rabbit that chews. But again, not all of them do. Neither of mine chew anything.
You can also easily train a rabbit to toilet in a litter box, so you won't have poop or pee everywhere.
The youtube channel Lennon The Bunny is really great, and it shows you everything you need to know about keeping a rabbit indoors.

-We have ducks and know that you shouldn’t have just one, is this the same case for bunnies or could we get just one?

Keeping just one is fine, as long as he isn't left alone for hours every day. You will become his family, and he will need your company.

When purchasing from cal ranch or other farm store typically how old are the bunnies?

Usually, bunnies are sold at around 8 weeks old.

 

[HappyClucker7]

I thought of another question about gender. What are the pros/cons/differences of each?

If you want to get two, the best combo would probably be 1 male and 1 female. But, if you're getting just one, then it doesn't really matter. The personality depends more on the individual. The only thing is that the neuter surgery is cheaper and less invasive than a spay, so that might be a reason for choosing a male over a female.

 

[HappyClucker7]

@EverythingDucks

 

[Everose]

Thank you so much for all the great info! I edited my post but you must of started replying before I got my edit in, I’m not set on outdoors at all, I didn’t know how hard it was to keep them inside?

No prob. Ya I did.
It's not too hard. I've done it quite a few times. I'm a breeder and I show so there's no way I could keep all of mine inside. They do just fine in my 115 degree heat and they are quite friendly, my bestie bud will come to the door of his big ol hutch for kisses on his head and pets.
As for keeping them indoors happyclucker gave good advice.

I thought of another question about gender. What are the pros/cons/differences of each?

I like boys best. They're usually more friendly. Does can be very affectionate but boys make the best pets imao. Two boys can be together only if they're fixed. Boys and girls are fine but you have to have them fixed. Two girls are great friends in my experience.

 

[BabyGotQuack]

You're going to need a litter box, timothy hay, good quality pellets (I recommend Oxbow), fresh vegetables, a water bowl, and a food bowl. You'll also need some kind of pen to be his "home base", where his litter box and food is. You might need some pee pads until he is litter box trained.
You can use card board boxes as hides, as long as he doesn't eat the cardboard. You can also get rabbit toys. Rabbits need things to chew to grind down their teeth.
You may also need cable protectors, and other items to stop him from chewing things he shouldn't. However, not all rabbits chew, so you might not need that.


No. Rabbits are very prone to getting heat stroke, and they can die just from getting scared of something outdoors. Definitely keep him inside.


Not hard at all! Just make sure any wires are either covered or out of the rabbit's reach. Also, keep any books remote controls, etc. of the floor, if you have a rabbit that chews. But again, not all of them do. Neither of mine chew anything.
You can also easily train a rabbit to toilet in a litter box, so you won't have poop or pee everywhere.
The youtube channel Lennon The Bunny is really great, and it shows you everything you need to know about keeping a rabbit indoors.


Keeping just one is fine, as long as he isn't left alone for hours every day. You will become his family, and he will need your company.


Usually, bunnies are sold at around 8 weeks old.

Thank you so much for all that info! As far as keeping one inside would you say it’s comparable to a dog or cat as far as messes. I don’t mind inside dogs or cat but I’m not looking to bring a farm animal inside if that makes sense?

 

[BabyGotQuack]

No prob. Ya I did.
It's not too hard. I've done it quite a few times. I'm a breeder and I show so there's no way I could keep all of mine inside. They do just fine in my 115 degree heat and they are quite friendly, my bestie bud will come to the door of his big ol hutch for kisses on his head and pets.
As for keeping them indoors happyclucker gave good advice.

I like boys best. They're usually more friendly. Does can be very affectionate but boys make the best pets imao. Two boys can be together only if they're fixed. Boys and girls are fine but you have to have them fixed. Two girls are great friends in my experience.

So at cal ranch they had “assorted bunnies” is there a way I would be able to tell sex?