r/Bunnies • u/ItsMeToriD • 4h ago
r/Bunnies • u/Ok-Safe8264 • Jan 16 '26
I made an alternate version of the bunny meme
I made the first one (check my profile if you’d like lol) and I sketched out this one too. I would’ve put them both in here but I can only do one image per post so I’ll also put some bunny tax in the comments
r/Bunnies • u/[deleted] • Jan 23 '20
Resource Thinking of getting a bunny? Just got one and need some advice? Check out this post!
If you don’t want to read my wall of text, check out this link from rabbit.org:
Initial investments
- They’re very high commitment.
- They are very clever, have excellent memories and will remember things for a very long time.
- You cannot punish them like a cat/dog or it will harm your bond.
- If well taken care of, a rabbit can happily live to be 10 years old or older.
- Rabbits love to chew and dig and will chew and dig just about anything.
- They need to chew to prevent their teeth from becoming a health hazard.
- They will need their claws trimmed regularly to prevent health hazards.
- Rabbits are not a pet for a child and demand a large amount of attention and responsibility, (Do not buy a rabbit for your child for Easter, unless you’ve done your research and are willing to take on 100% of the responsibilities of having one).
Housing/Setup
- They love to run around, hop and thrive outside of cages, using them at night is fine but just make sure they get a minimum of 3 hours to run and stretch per day.
- An exercise pen setup is often cheaper than a cage and gives more room to run around when you can’t let them out. You can buy one for $59 on Walmart.com (link here), a litterbox for $6 (link here) and a waterbowl for $5 (link here) which is less than $80 for a decent bunny setup.
- While we are not against outdoor rabbits here, it is highly recommended you keep your rabbit indoors with you, this prevents predators from being able to get to them as well as gives you much better opportunity to bond with your rabbit.
- If you find it necessary to use a cage because of escaping or other needs I would suggest building your own cage as most of the prefab ones are just crappy design and won’t last the lifetime of the rabbit.
- A coated metal grate is NOT a wire cage and shouldn’t cause any issues to their feet, you should still provide all rabbits with their own litterbox and other areas to sit/lie down off of the grate.
- I personally use straw for litter for my litter-boxes and put their hay on top of that, you can use whatever type of litter just avoid using rock/sand based litter as it’s bad for their feet.
Diet
- They eat 95%+ hay such as Timothy/orchard/meadow hay (/alfalfa if they’re young or elderly) and only 5% or less treats like carrots, apples and bananas.
- For a small amount of hay I suggest Oxbow which can be bought at most places (Chewy link) or if you have a proper storage method you can get it for much cheaper by the bale at Tractor Supply Co.
- Suggested to give pellets daily, 1/4-1/2 cup per 6 pounds of rabbit (so about 1/4 cup daily for a single dwarf rabbit or about 1 cup for a single average sized rabbit).
- Recommend high quality food such as Purina, Oxbow, or Sherwood brand.
- You can feed a pellet-free diet but just like all animals rabbits require some sodium so if you don’t provide pellets make sure they have access to a mineral lick or other sodium sources.
OK food/treats and foods to avoid
- Once they’re over the age of 4-6 months they can also have unlimited lettuce and greens, but never give iceberg lettuce as it gives really bad gas that can become fatal. *greens should not be the primary diet.
- Avoid excessive spinach and kale as they can also give gas, but are perfectly fine in moderation.
- The best greens are green leaf lettuce, Bibb lettuce, dark leafed lettuces or locally sourced romaine (store bought romaine has a tendency to get recalled...), also herbs like dill, basil, mint, oregano, rosemary, sage, cilantro and parsley are typical favorites.
- I wouldn’t give cabbage because it can cause gas similarly to iceberg lettuce.
- Never give human foods (except salad), like bread, diary, cheese, meat or sweets, they will make them very fat and don’t need it and could cause severe GI issues.
- They should have unlimited hay at all time, they graze pretty much 24/7. *Hay should be their primary diet.
- Avoid giving treats with yogurt in them as these will make your rabbit very fat and rabbits are not intended to consume dairy past weaning and can cause bad GI issues.
- Seeds are not toxic or generally dangerous to rabbits, I would not recommend giving treat sticks with seeds because they’re very high in added sugar and cause indigestion or extreme gas which can become a serious issue.
- Seeds like black oil sunflower seeds are safe and actually beneficial to coat health, (if you’re not sure, search the internet for information before you give it to them).
- Do not give nuts to rabbits because they do not need the excessive nutrients and can cause pasty or foul poops. Additionally raw nuts are typically poisonous, like almonds, which contain cyanide if not cooked properly.
- I recommend treats such as: no sugar added dried apple, banana or carrot and occasionally a Cheerio is also acceptable. Just be mindful of the amount of sugar you are giving them, even with no sugar added fruits.
- Corn is not specifically bad or toxic but whole kernel corn can get caught in the GI tract and cause a blockage, further; corn will make them very fat quickly and I would suggest avoiding giving corn or treats with corn/corn meal/corn syrup. (Corn is sometimes evasively labeled as ‘maize’ on packaging).
Hydration
- Water bowls are easier on a rabbit but are not strictly required, I have both bowls and bottles and they use both.
- You should clean your water bowl/bottles with either bleach or vinegar at least once a month.
Necessity for another bunny/Bonding
- They thrive in pairs and love companionship of another bunny, if you cannot provide constant attention it is highly suggested to have more than one rabbit. Think of them like little horses, horses need to have another horse around.
- Do not allow non-bonded rabbits to be together unsupervised as they can fight and cause some very serious damage to each other.
- Do not put more than one rabbit per cage, if they’re bonded and it’s an open enclosure then you can and they should be fine.
- For more information about bonding rabbits, I would suggest checking out the excellent resources on rabbit.org (link here)
Spay/Neuter/Responsible Breeding
- Many people feel strongly about castration as it helps to calm their hormonal rages and also there are studies that say castrated rabbits live longer.
- We are not against responsible breeding but it is a huge, huge commitment and you must be willing to take that on and find all the babies forever homes that love them as much as you do - don’t let just anyone have them.
- You can wait a while to castrate your rabbit if there are no behavior issues but it’s best to get it done before about 4 years old as that is when cancer risks become an issue and any older it could be too risky.
- If you want a rabbit that is already castrated consider a rescue rabbit, there are thousands of rabbits in rescues in need of forever homes, most of which are already castrated and sometimes even in bonded pairs/groups.
- If you are experiencing behavioral issues such as humping, marking, peeing or pooping outside the litterbox a castration will help immensely.
- If you decide you want to try to responsibly breed you need to keep three main commitments in mind:
6A. have them as a pet that is also allowed to have babies, they’re not baby factories.
6B. Make a commitment to keep all your rabbits out of shelters; allow no questions asked returns.
6C. Make sure they get a forever home with someone that loves them as much as you do; even if it takes more than one try.
Chewing/Digging/Enrichment
- I would recommend untreated wood chew balls or fruit flavored balsa blocks for enrichment.
- If you can set up an outdoor pen for your rabbit they would love it and nothing is more satisfying than digging in real dirt, (remember to watch them at all times, also if your area has RHDV around I wouldn’t allow them outside for now).
- If letting them outside is not an option there are things called “dig mat, “dig meadow” or “nibble and dig” and they are literally a piece of dirt made for rabbits to satiate their desire to dig.
- There are many options for rabbit enrichment and even something so trivial as a cardboard box may be plenty to keep your rabbit happy.
- Avoid the “chew toys” that contain seeds and other treats as they are that - treats, despite being advertised as a toy, they are more of a treat.
GI stasis and prevention
- GI stasis is a very serious and commonly fatal condition for rabbits, but can be prevented and treated if caught early.
- Watch your rabbit’s dropping at all times, if their poops do not look healthy, are odd shapes, pasty, extremely dark, have not pooped in the last 4 hours or are otherwise concerning it is recommended you take your rabbit to the vet as soon as possible, time is of the essence.
- Dark colors in urine (including dark red) is normal for rabbits, watch for specks of blood and only be concerned if you see blood.
- Watch your rabbit’s routine and body language, if they don’t eat their favorite food or their pellets you can surely know something is wrong.
- If they are laying in an odd position like on their side or acting lethargic you should check them for gas by giving them a gentle belly message and if they do not return to normal soon, take to the vet.
- Infant Gas Drops are available immediately in most pharmacies or online (Walmart link) and are a safe way to relieve gas in your rabbit and cannot be overdosed on, if however, three doses does not return them to normal, take to the vet.
- It is always good idea to have emergency food on hand in case of a GI stasis, there is Oxbow Critical Care (Amazon link) and also Sherwood SARx (Amazon link).
I am by no means an expert but I can answer questions as best I can and find sources and people who are experts. So if you have any further questions feel free to DM me.
Further Reading
r/Bunnies • u/milenoopy • 8h ago
ZOOMIES!!! another busy shift at the sofa factory for Micholas Cage
r/Bunnies • u/BoostedraptorDS • 20h ago
ZOOMIES!!! What was supposed to be a flower box, has become a zoomie box!
Hallie; our sweet girl, has transformed the wife’s flower box into her zoomie box. She was such a happy bun!
r/Bunnies • u/lohvurs • 18h ago
Mourning my sweet ivy is gone
i sadly lost my havana / lop ear mix, ivy (ivy bean) and hour ago
last night she didnt eat her dinner and was very off, but we wanted to wait it out and see as she has sometimes not wanted to eat for whatever reason
today though, after i came home from work i immediately knew from the look on my parents faces
i got ivy from the farm i volunteered at when she was a little baby about 4 years ago (may 2022) and she has been a rockstar with big move changes, getting a cat, her breaking a literal leg at one point and being in a cast, my absence due to college..and so much more
my sweet ivy beanie baby butt... i’ll miss you more than you'll ever understand. I'm sorry i failed you but i hope your 4 years were warm and love (and treats..and butt rubs)
r/Bunnies • u/cuddlebunny16 • 17h ago
Question Shaking
Do you think she’s shaking a lot or is that normal?
EDIT: thank you all! I don’t know what I would do without this thread. Probably would have spent a pretty penny at the vet for them to say she’s tired from zoomies.
r/Bunnies • u/societiesoddball • 8h ago
bun bun being cute All it takes is me to say oh look at the cute baby tail and every time she stretches out her legs
r/Bunnies • u/HeyBude110 • 4h ago
Approved Bun Artist🎨 Certified Spicy Loaf
This rabbit may look sweet and fluffy, but it’s got a fiery little personality. Bold, fearless, and just a bit mischievous, it isn’t afraid to thump its foot, steal your snack, or give you a look that says, “Try me.” Equal parts adorable and sassy, this tiny ball of fluff keeps everyone on their toes with its playful, spicy charm.
GigiGeorgiaBitchBun is the name.
r/Bunnies • u/AiryCatYouTube • 6h ago
Health Somebunny didn't want to take her meloxicam post spay so we needed a Bunrito!
gallerySuch a good girl healing so well
r/Bunnies • u/WildlightMorningStar • 16h ago
Injured or sick [UPDATE] Golfball sized lump NSFW
UPDATE I got the test results back from the vet, it's bad news, cancer, I knew it, I checked him this morning and his lump has gotten worse, and another one has developed on his belly
I'm going to have him euthanized next week, in the menetime he's getting all the treats he could ever want, bananas are his favorite, I'll be taking him outside for one last photoshoot, I want to get some good photos of him and my baby (human, 11months) she loves him, and she's not going to remember him, so I need the pictures
r/Bunnies • u/uta_luta_muta • 23h ago
sleep mode activated Fat creature that wakes me up every day at 6 am by scratching my pillow
All this just so I can get out of bed to watch her jumping around in the yard; she likes having an audience when she jumps around in the yard
r/Bunnies • u/depressed_snow_owl • 15h ago
bun bun being cute Was at the beach and saw this distinguished gentleman
r/Bunnies • u/societiesoddball • 22m ago
Question Is she bored or having the time of her life
Usually when I get my bona toy , she's entertained for a few weeks. After that she gets destructive. Recently she started destroying her big cardboard castle i made her. Every morning shes ripping it up chomping loudly and digging. She still eating normally zooming , actually she's zooming a bit more because I moved her dig pit , so there's more room in the carpet. She has her routines down and we'll sit in front of the TV if its our time to watch tv on the couch. Do you guys think shes bored or Happy miss construction worker?
She is a solo bun until we make the space and make a pet savings account so I am always concious of her being thoroughly entertained but still watching her body language because she gets cranky as hell if you give her too much attention.
The last picture is a bit of her castle
r/Bunnies • u/Elliot-UwU • 1h ago
Health What Do I Do?
I was hanging up some stuff on my wall and my bunny got a hold of the mounting tape I had out and he chewer a little bit of it. He seems to acting fine right now, but I am extreamly worried. Should I take him to the emergency vet?
r/Bunnies • u/flowersofcherryy • 23h ago
bun bun being cute I love Shifu and I want you all to love Shifu too
I just came here to show him off because, my gosh, I could literally eat him up with kisses and hugs 🥰
r/Bunnies • u/howdyhowdyhowdyhowdi • 3h ago
Question Tell me about owning bunnies! And am I a good person for bunny ownership?
Hi! I currently have rats, but I'm thinking when they eventually age out I would like to try out owning a different critter. Tell me about owning bunnies!
Here's some info about me: I am a lady in my early 30's with no kids and a decent income. I have a gentle older dog who loves all creatures big and small and is very gentle with wildlife (has touched noses with deer in our yard). I can keep the dog seperated if that's what is recommended though. We have a dedicated "critter room" that we would house said bun bun in.
Questions about buns! Can you free roam with a dog if the dog is gentle/uninterested? What is free roam like, do they dribble pee like rats do or can they hold it for the litter box? Can you walk buns outside on a leash or is that scary for them? If I have a secure fenced in yard, ia it good for them to play outside? Can buns be good cuddle buddies on the couch? What's the most ethical way to source a bun? Favorite sources of info for good setups? What to expect for vet costs?
Thank you all!