Buying a bunny?

Question

I'd like to buy a rabbit soon because I love rabbits and taking care of animals. I am fourteen years old and I have taken care of numerous fish, dogs, and turtles throughout my life. I have always wanted to have a bunny but have never gotten the chance. Are they difficult to take care of? I'd love to buy one but before I do I just want to make sure that I am ready to make the commitment. Could someone explain to me briefly what exactly the caretaking would involve and how much the total cost would be? Also, is there a certain breed that you think would fit into my environment well? I have a small dog, a s**+-tzu, and a little brother who is three but besides that, our house is seems very well fitted to include a bunny. I understand that it is a huge responsibility, but I think I am qualified to take care of one and I think it could be a great experience. Thanks for your opinions!

Answer 1

we have two rabbits(had them since they were bunnies)........  first you need a cage. water bottle feeding dish(rabbit food and timothy hay) drop pan for cage(and i suggest using feline fresh litter in the drop pan for smell and absorbancy(and little dust) a bed(towel will work)...... and a hiding place(pet stores have them) .... and then the bunny.......... just remember to let them out now and then to run around the house or fix a place outside for them to run(inside beware of wires though) .. and enjoy they are cute .. but they dont neccessarily like to be held petted and messed with as much as cats dogs etc.. but mine have never bitten........... and throw them a carrot about once or twice a week it helps with the teeth ... and any breed is nice but one of the prettiest is the lionshead(we have 1 lionshead and one mini rex)

Answer 2

Check out ARBA.net. It has pick of all the breeds and will list breeders in your area. You could also go to a rabbit show to see them in person and talk to breeders. I would say nothing to small since you have a young brother because they tend to be more tempermental and the larger breeds are easier to handle. I raise californians and they are very sweet and low mantinance. KWcages.com will send you a magazine for all the products that you will need for a rabbit.

Answer 3

You have to feed them every morning and give them water and take them out and give them lots and lots of love!  It would cost around 60 dollars for a purebred rabbit but 10 or 20 for a mix breed. a cage would cost around 75 for a nice one and then you have to get a water bottle, food bowl, litter, litter pan, house,  chew toys, food and hay. it cost around 2 to 3 hundred dollars at first but then like 20 to 30 dollars a monthe for food and hay. You should get a mini lop or mini rex or dwarf breed. smaller breeds are easier to handle and will make better pets.

Answer 4

rabbits are not low-maintence or cheap to care for properly.  i spend approx. 150 dollars a month on food, litter, hay, fresh veggies, and vet care for two rabbits.  they need 4 hours of exercise outside of the cage per day.  the average lifespan is bewteen 8-12 years old (and sometimes up to 15 years old!) so you will need to make sure your parents will assume the responsibility if you are planning on going to college (colleges do not allow pets in the dorms.)

please do research before getting a bunny.  here are a couple good articles that give you basic info:

http://www.rabbit.org/care/living-with-a...

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/firstrabbi...

diet:

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/diet.html

litterbox training:

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/training.h...

why you should house rabbits indoors only:

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/indoorbun....

bunnies will smell unless they are spayed/neutered.  this will also improve behavior, and litterbox habits, not to mention prevent an accidental pregnancy... more info:

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/spay.html

show these links to your parents b/c they will need to be ultimately responsible for the pet.  if you choose to get a rabbit, please adopt.  they will be already altered and you will be saving a life!

good luck.

Answer 5

The hardest part will be spending time with your bunny - after it grows up!

And I mean handling it every single day.  If you don’t handle the rabbits all the time, as they get older they learn to kick out with their back feet and it can be really painful.  I’ve seen all sizes do this, and, it’s always a result of not enough handling.

Beyond that, it’s important for bunny to have fresh water (daily or twice a day), food, not a whole lot of extra lettuce or carrot things as they could get *wet tail*, (it’s like diarrhea), a salt l**k and a nice sized cage.  Not that expensive to keep and not a lot of extra costs.

Good Luck!

PS - you ever thought of a Guinea Pig?

They have a whole lot better personality an are WAY more fun!

Check out Guinea Pigs, they are sooooo cool and lovable and really can get to be your best animal friend!

And there are so many different kinds!  

They're awesome!

Again, good luck!

Answer 6

Please, please, don't buy a bunny. Adopt! There are so many bunnies in shelters and rescues: http://www.petfinder.com/

Also, read up on their care:

http://www.petinfopackets.com/rabbits/ra...

http://www.rabbit.org/

http://homepage.mac.com/mattocks/morfz/r...

http://www.guineapigcages.com/

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/det...

http://www.amazon.com/Rabbit-Health-21st...

Answer 7

you seem like a great animal lover and that is the main key to own any animal but since you now know that you would need a mini lop bunny small and so cute you would need about 100.00 you could go to a pet store that will show you items that you would need to take care of your bunny and explain everything about it.

                PS. you can get the bunny from any classified news paper under the pet section

Answer 8

I have a holland lop - she's a sweetheart, and one of the smallest breeds.  She's very quiet and low maintenance.  Basically all you have to do is keep them groomed, nails clipped (they get long), feed grain and timothy hay every day, water, and keep their cage clean.  They are relatively quiet.  Mine happens to be very friendly and licks.  I'd say about average is $20-$30 a month.

Answer 9

well they are a little hard to care for for example cleaning the cage. The cost for my rabbit was 30 dollars because he is a dwarf the cost for every thing including my rabbit was up to 70 dollars.The care taking will include feeding it in the morning and the night DO NOT FEED IT CARROTS TELL ITS 6 MONTHS OLD!MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A CAGE. i got my rabbit cage on eBay for $20.50 but it can go up to a 100 dollars. What i think will mach for you is a dwarf rabbit because dwarf rabbits stay small and i also have a 3 year old brother and they get along fine.