Does anyone own a rabbit??? How much does it cost to keep a house rabbit???

Question

This includes all the supplies you may need, food, treats, toys, bedding, etc.
What's the initial price? What's the regular price after that???

also, what about time? How much time do you end up spending on a rabbit each day???

Answer 1

i have a rabbit and she is a house rabbit i have her in an indoor cage which cost me 60 pounds.
the bedding costs me 6 pounds a month for shavings i buy a big bale where i keep my horses,i buy a bale of hay a month which costs me 4 pounds,this is a cheaper way than buying the rabbit hay at 3 pounds a small bag
you need a water bottle at 2 pounds ,rabbit food at 2 pounds a bag a week feed bowls ,a couple of pounds a week ,
the up keep of a rabbit after that varies ,i buy vegetables every week for my rabbit she goes out in her rabbit run everyday which cost 46 pounds,i have her vaccinated against myxomatosis and viral hemorrhage disease once a year which cost 15 pounds a jab
you should research more before owning an animal,and always put money buy for vets bills.you do have the option to insure your rabbit for vet bills ,i have mine insured and it costs me 7 pounds a month

Answer 2

They're pretty cheap. You're looking at about $2-$3 for each bowl. The cage can run from $25 for a cheap wire cage to about $400 for a hutch. A 50 lb bag of rabbit pellets costs somewhere around $12. A rabbit normally eats 4-8 ounces of feed a day based on its breed size. So a 50 pound bag of feed will at least last you 100 days for one rabbit. I'd recommend getting only a 25 pound bag if you only have one rabbit. The feed will cost a little more but you don't want the feed going stale or getting moldy.

So compared to most animals they are pretty cheap.

Answer 3

I have 17 rescue buns. None of them cost me anything to buy as they were all surrendered or rescued. After that, each one cost between $90 - $160 for desexing. Every year we get them all vaccinated. We go through a bale of hay every two weeks that costs us $20 a bale. I try & grow some of their veggies but in reality I spend at least $5 a day on their food. We only buy Oxbow pellets as these are the best in my country and they cost us $23.75 for 2kgs but last one month. Emergency veterinary costs have been as much as $900 for one bunny.

Indoor houses we make for around $60, however most have their own bedrooms which are bunny proofed and they can run free 24 hours a day. Litter trays cost between $2 & $20 depending on the size. Food bowls cost between $2 - $3 from reject shops. Toys are generally free (cardboard boxes, old towels, apple sticks).

We never go on holidays anymore but are happy to spend our time at home with our bunnies. We would spend at least four hours a day with our buns.

Every morning (rain, hail or shine) we feed each bunny their breakfast and clean out all the litter trays. In the evening we feed our bunnies their greens and then spend time playing and patting with bunnies.

This might sound extreme to most but animals are a responsibility and you have to put in the hours and time like you would with any other interest.

Don't forget that rabbits can live over 10 years. Think long & hard before you take on such a long term commitment if you don't want to do the work.

Answer 4

After the start-up costs like a cage and some toys, they are very inexpensive. You can get a good quality rabbit from a breeder as a pet for about $20, if not less. I would buy from a breeder so you know what size cage to get and so that you can contact them if you have any questions. Some rabbits can get as big as 20 pounds! Make sure you know what breed you are getting.

Just plain food and water only takes a couple of minutes, but your rabbit would love it if you played with it! But if you are really busy it won't mind, as long as it has something fun in it's cage!

Ask the breeder what they feed their rabbits-it is likely a large brand like Purina Show Chow, or Heinold, or the like. You can get a fifty pound bag of those foods for less than $20 at a feed store! Just make sure it is sealed well and doesn't get stale. For one rabbit, a bag would last quite awhile!

I am a breeder of Dutch and Thrianta rabbits, as well as a registrar (which means I look at people's rabbits and make sure that they meet the standard for that breed before they can be given a registration certificate). I am nationally ranked in my breeds and have won several national titles with my rabbits. Look online about which breeds you like, but I would recommend Dutch, mini lops, and larger breeds, which are very friendly!

ps-Rabbits do not carry human transferable diseases, and there has never been a recorded case of rabies in rabbits. A rabbit does not need to be licensed and does not need vaccinations in the US.

Answer 5

I agree with ice queen. If possible go to a rescue where the animals are vet checked, neutered, vaccinated and have had their teeth and claws checked too. They can advise you on everything you need to know for a house bun including bunny proofing your house ( cover all wires with hosepipe or plastic conduit to prevent damage to your wires or them) and housing requirements. They will make sure the bunny is suitable for your needs and your house size. The donation you give goes directly to the animals rather than a pet shop/breeders pockets who only sell for profit and you may not get a healthy animal. Rabbits are sociable, so preferably get a pair to keep each other company while your at work. The price is not twice as much as your initial outlay is the same for two as it is one. The only extras are hay and veg. Do some research and visit rescues before getting one. They are great pets but only if you know what you are getting into.

Answer 6

I have 2 rabbits and they cost £40 each, we bought a hutch for £70 food is about £7 per month, hay is £3 a week, straw is £4 a month and litter is £5 a month.
I also buy fresh veg weekly and we have a hutch for outside (£40) and one for in the shed.

The most expensive part of having a rabbit is vets bills!

We had the neutered which was £40 each, and i had one that was very poorly with eye & nose infections and have spend over £300 getting her better!

If you are going to get one, don't get one from a garden centre or pet shop, go to your local vet and ask if they know of any breeders or people who are looking for homes, you may get them cheeper and for free and you can ask health questions before you commit!

Answer 7

Our rabbit is now 5 years old, and we kept her indoors for a short time after she had an operation.

The original hutch cost around £40 - regular vets vaccination and health check fees are similar, then as she's getting older insurance is becoming more expensive at around £100p.a.

The whole family loves the rabbit, to pin a figure on the cost of her care and calculate how long we spend with her seems heartless. Whilst this was originally a consideration, we're hoping to move her into deluxe accommodation this autumn, and the amount of time we spend around her - she is one of the family, as I'm sure your own pets are.

Answer 8

My rabbits are spoiled. They stay in cages when I am not at home, but as long as I am home they are free. They use a litter box. The initial costs, with the cage and supplies, food, timothy hay and toys might be around $150.00. The food hay and litter is not really expensive. I spend a few minutes every morning and a few minutes every night playing with them or petting them. They have each Other's company, so a single rabbit may require a little more attention from you.
It cost $110.00 each to get them each neutered.
You will have to cover any electrical wires, as they love to chew them.

Answer 9

Expect to spend $200-$300 up front to do it right (cage, toys, water bottles, litter, food, etc.) and about $100 to 150 / year after that in litter and food.

Rabbits don't require a ton of time and attention, they tend to be pretty contented. The one thing that you will spend a lot of time doing is changing litter, because rabbit cages stink in a hurry if they aren't changed frequently (multiple times per week.)

Answer 10

i have a house rabbit, its cheaper than an outdoor rabbit in the long run. altho they cost the same to fed, and the housing and bedding is the same pirce, but they dnt need to be replaced like outdoor cages the last longer. an average cage will cost between £20- £50.
i see mine most of the day, you should spend as much time as you can with your rabbit.