So you decided to get a bunny. Congratulations! Welcome to the world of bunny owners. You will soon realize your bunny needs you as much as you need it. I didn’t know I loved bunnies until we got our first bunny, Tarzan. He was and still is just the sweetest bunny.
We will start here: Getting a bunny is a commitment. A bunny will live an average of 10 years, which is quite a long time. They need care, room to explore, and attention. Don’t let that change your mind, though. They are completely worth it! Each one has their own personality.
Gender Preferences:
I have a lot of potential bunny owners asking me, “Should I get a male (buck) or female (doe)?” My answer is always male. Male Holland Lops inherently have a calm demeanor. I always follow up with, “But any bunny who gets loved on every day and cared for well is going to be calm and want love.” Whenever a person buys a bunny from our rabbitry, they can rest assured that their bunny is coming home to a home with dogs and loud noises and has been handled every day since birth. Repetition is key. We have a female Holland Lop, the sweetest doe I have seen. She is so chill and loves being held and cuddled. It depends on what you want, but you can go either way. I’m partial to a buck because they’re naturally chill.
Care
Bunnies need a constant supply of water. We give our bunnies water in a water bottle. Some people say bunnies need bowls of water. We believe either is good and works. It just depends on your preference and where they will live. A water bowl will be easy to keep up if they are inside. If they are outside like ours, we use water bottles to keep the water fresh and clean, which is always thawed in the winter. We use this water bottle in the winter. In the summer, we buy bigger water bottles that last longer while they drink more water.
Bunnies need a constant supply of hay. You want to give them Timothy Hay or Orchard Grass. Alfalfa hay can be used as a treat, but not as their main course. Their hay intake needs to be 80% of their food intake. A good rule of thumb is a bunch as big as the rabbit a day. Then, you need to get rabbit pellet feed to supplement the rest. We let our bunnies free eat and have not had any issues with obesity.
We get our hay and rabbit feed at our local feed store. Either North 40 or Tractor Supply. Getting a hay holder is a smart move to keep the hay as clean as you can. We usually put the hay in a corner of the litter box that is not used. We use this food dispenser for the pellets because our bunnies are outside. It doesn’t rust and stands up to the elements. While also holding lots of food, making the chores less frequent.
Room to Explore
Bunnies need a cage that is 24″ by 36″ to live comfortably. Obviously, bigger is better, and if you are choosing to house your rabbit indoors, potty training them is best for them and you, as they can then run around the house for exercise. Exercise is so important for your rabbit’s health.
Great Outdoor Option: This is the hutch we used for our outdoor bunny before building our own. It is nice, and now we use it to house bunnies in transition. It’s lasted and is durable for the price.
You could also make a DIY hutch from an old TV stand or kitchen hutch.
Please, please, please do not let your bunny live on a wire grid. Even if they have a pad for it to rest on, the wire beneath their feet will eventually cause discomfort.
If you intend to house your bunny outside, they need to be used to the weather and have been transitioned outside. Please do not place a bunny that has been inside its whole life and then immediately put it outside in winter. They will not be able to stay warm because their fur coats will not have grown in. If you intend to house your bunny outside, please move your bunny outside in the late spring/early summer. If you live in a place with the same weather year-round, your bunny will be fine to be placed outside whenever it’s warm.
Attention
Bunnies need attention, just like we need attention. They crave it. When we have a litter of bunnies, we commit to holding and giving those bunnies attention every day until they go to a new home. This is so important so that they know humans are safe. They must also be introduced to other animals in the house and loud noises, such as a vacuum cleaner. Here are some items to play with your bunny and encourage activity.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out. Ultimately, bunnies need love, food, water, and room to grow. I know you will not regret getting a bunny. They are my favorite small pets.
If you want more info on How to Potty Train Your Bunny, my most popular blog post shares tips and tricks to get your furball running around the house in no time!
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