Hi i'm michelle and i'm looking at getting a rabbit.now i did a lot of research and stuff. i did own one when i was 4. it died of a disease a few months later tho. well i had some questions. Do you think rabbits are good pets, and how much will the whole set up cost. i plan on saving to 250.00$ what is ur estimate on it though. and where is the best pet shop to get one. i know some say pet shops are bad places but i can't afford a private breeder and i would be rescueing the rabbit anyway. So please help!!!
2007-05-23 19:04:25 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Rodents
i would say try petfinder.com find shelters from somewhere you can rescue and bunny ! if you live in MD i have rabbits bunnies comin soon lol $250 should be enough...
Pet Carrier - you will need a safe way to transport your pet home from the breeder and to the vet's office (if needed). You can purchase a 'pet taxi' type carrier available at most any pet store, or you can purchase an actual wire/drop pan carrier used by rabbit breeders, from any of the rabbit supply vendors. Make sure you choose one large enough for the rabbit breed you intend to purchase!
Cage - all rabbits need their own cage, even if you plan to 'bond' your pet rabbit with another rabbit. You can purchase cages from most pet stores but your best bet is to purchase directly from a rabbit supply vendor (links listed on the main pet page) They supply sturdy, long-lasting cages and are oftentimes cheaper than what you'd get from a retail pet store..
Rabbits do best in a wire cage, with sturdy wire flooring (1/2" x 1") which will allow droppings to fall through and collect in a 'drop pan'. Always buy the largest cage you can afford - rabbits are active if given the room! Below we've listed some minimum cage requirements you can use as a guide:
Small breeds such as Holland Lops, need a cage that is at least 18 inches by 24 inches, and at least 18 inches high, preferably larger as the smaller breeds are generally pretty active rabbits.
Medium sized breeds such as the Champagne D'Argents need a cage that is at least 24 inches by 30 inches and again, 18 inches high.
Large breeds such as the French Lops, should have a cage that is at least 24 inches by 36 inches, 18 inches high, preferably larger, and these large breeds should also have a wooden resting board so they are not always on wire flooring.
Note: breeds with short, plush fur, such as Rex and Mini Rex, should also be provided a resting board - the fur on their footpads is very short and does not offer adequate protection on wire flooring.
Cage Location - If your rabbit will be housed indoors, choose a cool, dry place, away from drafts, vents or direct sunlight. If your new rabbit will be the lone rabbit in your house, be sure to place his cage where he can be part of your household activities!
If you choose to keep your rabbit outside - he will need protection against weather elements such as direct sun, rain, snow, wind, and excessive temperature extremes, along with protection against many pests; flying insects, dogs, cats and other predatory animals, and this does include inquisitive neighborhood kids! Outside pet rabbits do best if they are housed next to, or are allowed to live with a bonded mate or friend - they should not be kept completely isolated!
Feed and Water dishes - there are many options for providing feed and water to your pet rabbit - a common practice is to use heavy ceramic crock dishes for both food and water. Purchase ones large enough so your rabbit's head can fit in to reach the bottom. Rabbit supply vendors also offer 'feed hoppers' that attach to the cage wire, clip-on bowls and crocks, and water bottles. If you choose to use a water bottle, you will need to make sure your rabbit knows how to drink from it!
Rabbit Feed - most breeders will give you a starter supply of rabbit feed when you purchase your rabbit, if not, ask for it! You can decide to buy the same type of feed the rabbit is already used to, or you can purchase a different rabbit feed. If you change feeds, the transition to the new feed should be made slowly (over a week's time or longer) Start by feeding just the breeder's feed for a few days, then gradually mix more and more of your feed in daily, until the rabbit's ration is all your feed and none of the breeder's.
Hay - we promote healthy digestive systems by feeding hay to our rabbits every night. Choose a grass hay, as alfalfa is too rich.
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Below are more things you can buy for your rabbit although you can purchase these later.....
Resting boards - many people like to provide a place for the rabbit to get off of the wire flooring. This can be as simple as a piece of cardboard (no tape, staples, glues or chemicals!), or a ceramic tile, piece of plain drywall, or a piece of unfinished, untreated wood. Keep in mind that whatever you use, you will need to keep it clean or replace it when it becomes soiled.
Toys - rabbits love toys! We find that our cheapest toy, a square of cardboard, makes the most entertaining toy for our rabbits - they sit on it, rip it to shreds, throw it around, and some carry it around with them. We also use clean, empty cans (no sharp edges), toilet paper rolls stuffed with hay, hard plastic cat toys (the 'roller' cages with a bell in the center), and small plastic bottles with noise-making rice or pellets inside. What ever you choose for toys - keep them clean, and make sure they are not made of a material that can be harmful to your rabbit.
Litterbox - if you intend to housetrain your rabbit, purchase a litter box. Some of our French Lops insist on using a litter box - and we've found that the large litter boxes that clip onto the side of the cages work well - the front is usually lower than the sides and back and allows our larger rabbits to lay in the box if they choose! We use the same shaved pine bedding in the litter boxes as we use in our drop pans, but there are other options. Do not use scented kitty litter or clumping litters of any kind though.
Grooming supplies - we use brushes and combs made for cats; our brush has a square head with curved wire bristles with the tips coated in plastic. You can use just about any comb bet we opt for the medium-fine-tooth combs to pull matted fur off the rabbit. Other that a comb and brush, it may be helpful to have a small spray bottle for water so you can mist your hands or the rabbit before grooming (if you mist your hands then run them over the rabbit-loose hair will accumulate on your hands, then 'ball it up' to dispose of it).
Of course you will need something to trim toenails with and again, we use a small scissors-type clipper commonly used for cats, but you can use most anything, even a human fingernail clipper, for the job.
A few first aid items handy to have on hand are:
Probiotic gel or powders - these are available from most any pet supply store and come under brand names such as Benepac and ProBios. Probiotics are a helpful first treatment for a rabbit not eating or one whose appetite is lessened from antibiotic treatments.
Sterile eye wash for pets - rabbits, especially lop rabbits with the big bulldog type heads, can suffer tear-duct blockages quite easily - eye washes help remove debris
Simethicone Drops - available from human pharmacies and made for infants. These drops help relieve intestinal gas pressure in the rabbit who is suffering from a stomach or intestinal upset.
Small plastic needle-less syringes - available from drug stores/pharmacies for infants - these can come in handy when you are trying to force-feed medications or water.
Of course, there are many more first aid items one can buy as you progress in your pet rabbit hobby, but most are treatment-specific and will not be needed unless your rabbit is undergoing treatment for a problem your vet identified.
if you get stuff from petsmart
cage- http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441808080&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302047888&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023695&bmUID=1180152268363&itemNo=15&In=Small+Pet&N=2047888&Ne=2
bedding- http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441814680&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302047882&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023695&bmUID=1180151712133&itemNo=5&In=Small+Pet&N=2047882+4294966683&Ne=2 (medium)
Food-
get it from walmart... its a big bag for $5
Food Dish-
http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441780500&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302047883&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023695&bmUID=1180151809636&itemNo=0&In=Small+Pet&N=2047883&Ne=2 (large one)
Water thing-
http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441780517&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302047883&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023695&bmUID=1180151809787&itemNo=14&In=Small+Pet&N=2047883&Ne=2
(bigger bottle)
Grooming-
Nail Clippers (bunny)
http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441781578&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302047886&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023695&bmUID=1180151910677&itemNo=2&In=Small+Pet&N=2047886+4294966683&Ne=2
Brush (bunny) http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441781577&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302047886&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023695&bmUID=1180151910664&itemNo=0&In=Small+Pet&N=2047886+4294966683&Ne=2
Treats-
Hay (24 oz) http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441776652&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302036906&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023695&bmUID=1180152230954&itemNo=0&In=Small+Pet&N=2047889+4294966683&Ne=2
Nibble Sticks (skinny 8 pack) http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441780528&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302047892&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023695&bmUID=1180152088178&itemNo=20&In=Small+Pet&N=2047892+4294966683&Ne=2
Carrot Slims- http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441776911&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302047892&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023695&bmUID=1180152088099&itemNo=2&In=Small+Pet&N=2047892+4294966683&Ne=2
Litter box-
http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441807318&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302047893&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023695&bmUID=1180152027527&itemNo=4&In=Small+Pet&N=2047893+4294966683&Ne=2
Toys-
http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441808126&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302047891&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023695&bmUID=1180152378593&itemNo=4&In=Small+Pet&N=2047891+4294966683&Ne=2
http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441779583&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302047891&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023695&bmUID=1180152378603&itemNo=5&In=Small+Pet&N=2047891+4294966683&Ne=2
http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441815446&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302047891&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023695&bmUID=1180152378609&itemNo=6&In=Small+Pet&N=2047891+4294966683&Ne=2
TOTAL PRICE IS ABOUT $115
PETCO !
Cage- (comes with cage, food bowl, water dish, bedding, food, mineral chew treat, treat dispensing toy
http://www.petco.com/Shop/petco_Product_R_1858_PC_productlist_Nav_236_N_87+122+30_sku_928747_familyID_12285.aspx
Food-
Hay-http://www.petco.com/Shop/petco_Product_R_9715_PC_productlist_Nav_233_rpp_51_N_87+114+30_sku_857998_familyID_10208.aspx
i couldnt really find anything else for this site !
2007-05-25 17:16:00 · answer #1 · answered by lilbritt91493 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure why you wouldn't be able to afford a private breeder, you would more than likely get a much better deal. There really are only two reasons to breed rabbits, one is to sell as fryers, the other is to show, we raise show rabbits, we sell some as pets for around $15, we have a friend that will sell rabbits with cages for around $65 each set. The best rabbit for a pet is probably the Holland Lop, they are the smallest Lop breed, bucks tend to be much more friendly than does, also Mini Rex, but the smaller the breed, such as Netherland Dwarfs, the nastier they may be, but then again I'm biased.
Really though, I think your best bet would be to get one from a breeder that shows rabbits, they usually have pet quality rabbits that they are willing to part with, they will also give great advice on keeping your rabbit healthy.
2007-05-24 05:05:45 · answer #2 · answered by Axe 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Before you get a rabbit, make sure you can take care of it. It needs an exercise pen ($70), littler box ($8), cat condo ($20), water bottle ($6), food bowl ($2), cardboard boxes for the floors or rugs but I prefer cardboard boxes because I can throw them away after they finished tearing them up. They like to bite things because their teeth are constantly growing and they need things to grind them down ($2), 25lbs of timothy hay pellets ($17), bags of hay from local rabbit rescues 5lbs ($7), and maybe some wood chew toys ($10). So am I only at $142? I got my bunnies for $12 each dwarf and $15 for the mini-lop. And you will have to set some money aside for neuter/spay. But if you get it from a local rescue, the bunnies are already spayed/neutered. The adoption fee is only $75 which is very reasonable since I paid $150 for spay/neuter.
Conclusion - Adopting a rescue bunny ($217)
Buying new bunny ($304)
Well, I am a rabbit owner for 3 years now and I have 5 healthy bunnies. They are so cute and adorable and they don't require much attention. 2 sets are paired and 1 is a loner because nobody else likes him. He loves everyone, which is sad. He is always picked on. The odd number.
2007-05-24 12:48:42 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi!
I had a rabbit a few years ago that was forced to leave by my sisters.
Now, I have a dwarf rabbit. He is about 1 year old. We bought him in a pet shop and that was a good place. They were well treated andwe could get advises!
the cage doesn't cost a lot, you must have some kind of small plate for your rabbit's food and a bottle of water that you can buy in a pet shop too!
The cage is filled with hay (that your rabbit will eat partly). We also put shaving wood under hay (so that it doesn't smell). I also advise you to put a trash bag between the cage and wood/hay so that it's easier to wash the cage and change the hay!
Having a rabbit doesn't cost too much! there is food that is not so expensive, they also eat grass, carrots, apples (we give him cores)...our rabbit like bananas ans watermelon too...What is like caviar for rabbits is dandelions...
For the claws, you must cut them. It's possible to do it with your cisors....
Our rabbit is very happy and shows some signs of affection (leacks us and come to sit down next to us to be stroked,....). He also has a little sister, a cat, they play together. Rabbits are very sociable...(our is very friendly with a dog)....
It's not a big (financial) invest but it gives you a lot of affection!
2007-05-24 02:17:34 · answer #4 · answered by lisasimpson 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would suggest getting a smaller breed of rabbits. They are so much more easier to clean and to take care of. Rabbits make good pets. It's also adorable! I tihnk you need a little more than $250. Maybe if you're lucky, you can get a used cage if you look around the local classifieds in the newspaper. Mind you, raising a pet isn't easy. Taking care of a rabbit is as much work as a dog. If you think you're ready, then I think you'll enjoy being a rabbit owner!!
2007-05-24 02:12:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes I think rabbits can be great pets, especially if kept inside and given loads of company, both human and other rabbits. They can be litter trained. You should get two bunnies, they need the company of their own kind.
I can't give an estimate in dollars, but here's the Petsmarty website, it will give you prices for everything you need:
http://www.petsmart.com/global/search/search_results.jsp?In=Small+Pet&N=2047884&Ne=2
Basically the biggest expense is a hutch and a run, and of course any medical expenses the rabbit might incur. To minimise the risk of this, the rabbit needs vaccinations (myxomatosis and VHD). They also need to be fleaed and wormed - fleas transmit the myxy virus, and worming protects them from e. cuniculi, a potentially fatal parasite that affects the brain. These are things few people seem to know, but everyone should know them!
Chalice
2007-05-24 15:22:03 · answer #6 · answered by Chalice 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well my hubby built our rabbit hutch it was fairly cheap, I just picked up to baby rabbits for $3.50 a piece they were being sold at a rummage sale. But I would look at shelters or the classifieds. Sometimes it is best to look for babies or tamed rabbits as pets. I wish you the best of luck and hope you find a rabbit soon.
2007-05-24 04:01:40 · answer #7 · answered by oooooh!!! 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can find them here for 5 dollars...I just got 3 for free along with the hutches...2 Japanese Harlequins and a Mini Rex...Look on in your local classifieds, you may find someone just looking for a home...I know animal shelters adopt them out, here they are 20 dollars for adoption and they are spayed for free.....I see ads all the time, so check out your local paper and even feed stores, they'll have a board were people put adverts....
2007-05-24 03:40:34 · answer #8 · answered by ABBYsMom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi,
Please email me and I can help you with getting your set-up cheap and I have rabbits for sale. I breed, so I get the item cheap. I can offer you a whole start up kit including a baby bunny for $80.00. Email me if you are interest @ ktuzzolo@yahoo.com.
2007-05-24 10:30:50 · answer #9 · answered by ktuzzolo 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
rabbits are awesome i have one
2007-05-24 09:50:11 · answer #10 · answered by Cait...♥Border Collie♥ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋