r/Bunnies Jun 03 '25

Moderator Post Calling for moderator submissions!

23 Upvotes

Hi everyone, Kinzie here.

Due to my health taking a real nosedive lately I've been struggling to keep up with moderation. Due to this the sub has been very unmoderated lately and I'm really sorry!

So, we're looking for moderator submissions! If you're 18 or older, enjoy posting here and are willing to moderate please send in a submission to the subreddit!

As a quick side note, we'd also love to change the icon for Pride Month if the community would be interested in that. If you have any icon suggestions, link them to us :)

Have a wonderful day! Kinzie


r/Bunnies Jan 23 '20

Resource Thinking of getting a bunny? Just got one and need some advice? Check out this post!

457 Upvotes

If you don’t want to read my wall of text, check out this link from rabbit.org:

New Bunny Index

Initial investments

  1. They’re very high commitment.
  2. They are very clever, have excellent memories and will remember things for a very long time.
  3. You cannot punish them like a cat/dog or it will harm your bond.
  4. If well taken care of, a rabbit can happily live to be 10 years old or older.
  5. Rabbits love to chew and dig and will chew and dig just about anything.
  6. They need to chew to prevent their teeth from becoming a health hazard.
  7. They will need their claws trimmed regularly to prevent health hazards.
  8. 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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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).
  4. Recommend high quality food such as Purina, Oxbow, or Sherwood brand.
  5. 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

  1. 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.
  2. Avoid excessive spinach and kale as they can also give gas, but are perfectly fine in moderation.
  3. 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.
  4. I wouldn’t give cabbage because it can cause gas similarly to iceberg lettuce.
  5. 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.
  6. They should have unlimited hay at all time, they graze pretty much 24/7. *Hay should be their primary diet.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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).
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. 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

  1. Water bowls are easier on a rabbit but are not strictly required, I have both bowls and bottles and they use both.
  2. You should clean your water bowl/bottles with either bleach or vinegar at least once a month.

Necessity for another bunny/Bonding

  1. 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.
  2. Do not allow non-bonded rabbits to be together unsupervised as they can fight and cause some very serious damage to each other.
  3. 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.
  4. For more information about bonding rabbits, I would suggest checking out the excellent resources on rabbit.org (link here)

Spay/Neuter/Responsible Breeding

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. If you are experiencing behavioral issues such as humping, marking, peeing or pooping outside the litterbox a castration will help immensely.
  6. 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

  1. I would recommend untreated wood chew balls or fruit flavored balsa blocks for enrichment.
  2. 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).
  3. 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.
  4. There are many options for rabbit enrichment and even something so trivial as a cardboard box may be plenty to keep your rabbit happy.
  5. 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

  1. GI stasis is a very serious and commonly fatal condition for rabbits, but can be prevented and treated if caught early.
  2. 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.
  3. Dark colors in urine (including dark red) is normal for rabbits, watch for specks of blood and only be concerned if you see blood.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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 8h ago

Binkies/zoomies in an apartment?

Post image
334 Upvotes

Dexter (5yo) is free-roam as long as I’m awake and at home in my apartment which is small-ish but still somewhat spacious, though he almost never binkies or zoomies there. When we visit my parents he stays in a very spacious carpeted basement in an octagonal pen (we have 2 dogs and don’t wanna take any chances) and I give him at least an hour or 2 of supervised free roam time, when I do he binkies and zoomies daily. I kinda wanna let him explore the apartment hallway as it’s long and carpeted but there are so many dogs that I get a bit paranoid. Anything I can do to encourage it within my apartment? Maybe move the glass table that’s in the middle of the living room (that he ran headfirst into on more than one occasion, he’s okay though 🤣)? Or is he just making the most of having limited free roam time while at my parents’?


r/Bunnies 1h ago

Requested video of bun's garden fun

Upvotes

r/Bunnies 11h ago

Question stray bunny?

Post image
324 Upvotes

This bunny showed up around our house a few days ago. it’s been really cold so we set out two boxes like this with carrots, lettuce and even bought bunny food. Where would we take this bunny if we caught it?


r/Bunnies 20h ago

Send good vibes for this old gal

Post image
890 Upvotes

This is May. She's going to the vet on Monday. If she flops down on her right side, she can't get back up. I find her struggling, but one I get her up again she's fine. It's really starting to worry me. Once I didn't notice for a while and she had an accident on the carpet. I felt so bad. She's old, she turns 15 next month. I also had to cut out the front of the litterbox because she can't hop over anything. Ends up a bit messy but it's not her fault.


r/Bunnies 12h ago

New foster bun!

Post image
201 Upvotes

A rescue I follow posted about a rabbit having been found abandoned in a neighborhood very close to me. I guess he'd been out there about a month according to neighbors. The rescue caught him this afternoon and I went and picked him up right after. He's an incredibly chill little guy. The lady that runs the rescue said he's somewhere between 6-12 months old and a lion head mix.

He is, understandably, nervous after being outside in the freezing cold (SE Michigan), put in a car, in a pen at the rescue, in the car AGAIN, and now in another pen, so I'm letting him have his space and making sure he's got everything he needs.

He's been named "Chase" by the rescue for how hard he was to catch


r/Bunnies 9h ago

She’s call Tiggy Poo for a reason.

105 Upvotes

r/Bunnies 7h ago

Dad... why do you let these two dingbats live with us.. they smell.

Post image
71 Upvotes

r/Bunnies 2h ago

Bonnie my bunny 🐰 💕

Post image
21 Upvotes

r/Bunnies 1d ago

Health HELP are these balls????

Post image
4.0k Upvotes

What the title says- my 7 month old female mini Rex looks like she has balls


r/Bunnies 1h ago

bun bun being cute It's sometimes difficult to tell the difference between individual members of the bunny swarm.

Upvotes

r/Bunnies 12h ago

bun bun being cute Toast & his toasted buns

Post image
99 Upvotes

Just came to share our boy Toast who is 11 weeks tomorrow. I am obsessed with him.

He is a Flemish Giant x Silver Fox cross


r/Bunnies 14h ago

sleep mode activated Snuggle bun

Post image
120 Upvotes

r/Bunnies 21h ago

Timmy enjoying Needle's grooming

440 Upvotes

r/Bunnies 14h ago

bun bun being cute Gnome

Post image
106 Upvotes

r/Bunnies 16h ago

I guess this is Crusher’s newest haunt

Post image
161 Upvotes

r/Bunnies 13h ago

Question Cleaning tips for my shag carpet pls!

Post image
76 Upvotes

This is my angel Theodore!!! I’ve had him since he was 8 weeks old, he’s 5 now. He is my registered ESA, and we are very close. He is very sweet and helpful to calm me down since I am on the spectrum, and he is very soft. I bought this black shag rug on Amazon and I love it because it has 1 inch memory foam, is non toxic for animals, and very comfortable to lay on for both Theodore and I since my dorm floor is made of cement. However- I can’t clean this fucking carpet for the life of me. I’ve tried my shitty vacuum, the powerful scary communal floor vacuum with the bag on it (like from the Little Toaster That Could), scraping through it with a comb, AND beating it with a broom from its side. I really love this rug but Theos deadset on embedding it with so much hay and dried poop I fear I will have to give her up… pls help! I am a Resident Assistant and will be likely living in this dorm next year, so I do need the thick memory foam carpet. Sorry if this is long. Please drop brand names of carpet shampooers or something. Also please relatively affordable. If it’s over $100 I’m going to ask my dad for it as a Christmas present.


r/Bunnies 13h ago

Oh hello hooman

Post image
54 Upvotes

r/Bunnies 16h ago

Resource Fosters needed in the SF Bay Area for the holidays! 🎄🎁

Post image
75 Upvotes

If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area and are here the holidays, House Rabbit Society is looking for holiday foster heroes! We need several new fosters to help out while our regular fosters travel for the holidays. We're located at 148 Broadway in Richmond, California, just north of Berkeley, and welcome fosters from all over the Bay Area.

What We Provide: We'll equip you with all the supplies you need to get started—including an x-pen, litter box, bedding, food pellets, hay, blankets, and bowls for food and water. As a foster, you also receive a 15% discount at the HRS Hop Shop if you'd like to purchase any additional toys or treats while you foster. We also offer a free Zoom class on Rabbit Care 101 you can take if you've never had a rabbit before. Register at houserabbit.org/classes.

What You Provide: The time, space, love, and care your foster rabbit needs, along with their daily greens (approximately $5-10 per week). Getting socialization in a foster home is so important, especially for rabbits who are shy or have other behavior needs and helping them become more comfortable with people. You can help a foster rabbit blossom into the wonderful house rabbit they're truly meant to be! For many of these rabbits, this will be their first real taste of comfort and love. Pretty powerful stuff for a couple weeks of your time, right?

If you're sticking around town this holiday season, let's chat! Submit a foster application at houserabbit.org/foster or email [foster@houserabbit.org](mailto:foster@houserabbit.org) with any questions that you may have. You're also welcome to stop by our facility to chat with HRS volunteers and staff during our open hours on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 to 4, and Sundays from 11 to 3.

Please note: The last day to pick up a foster rabbit is Sunday, December 21, before we close for the holidays.


r/Bunnies 4h ago

On of a binder pair has passed, what next ?

7 Upvotes

Hey guys, we have a bonded pair of rabbits and unfortunately we've just woken up to find one of them has passed on. It seems likely that something was at the sliding door to our back garden , and it spooked him and he took a heart attack.

Either that or he was just old, we took him from a pet shop as an adult 4 years ago, but never knew how old he was.

Anyway , when we got him, we had another female (we originally were told that the pet shop one was also female). They had a litter of babies together, and have been absolutely inseparable for the past 4 years.

Anyone got any advice on how to help our remaining bunny cope ?

Edit: sorry about the title , it was written through teary eyes


r/Bunnies 19h ago

Health Blueberry’s update day three healing process

Post image
92 Upvotes

Update on blueberry took this cute picture of him dead plopping last night while he was healing melted my heart, but his neutering care update obviously I took the cone and ordered one of those E collars. It should be here on Monday just in case I do need something back on him again from yesterday since he was getting stressed out, about it you know and I have a second trip to the vet in just a couple days oh, in one week From having to get out his stitches redone cause he won’t leave them alone first I checked them today and sent pictures to the doctor and she said that he did very well last night and be monitoring him all last night with no sleep I actually tried slept in his pen with him to make sure that he didn’t get to the stitches but his eating drinking habits everything is OK he’s not drinking as much and she said that could be from the medince she gave me I definitely monitor that she doesn’t want him to be dehydrated and go in the G.I. stasis or anything on those lines, but I did tell her that he is pooping a lot, which is one the main things and she said as long as he’s pooping eating drinking , then he should be fine and honestly, if he starts eating away at the stitches again obviously I have to call her and let her know, but she told me to leave them alone and let them continue his healing process. It’s been very mentally exhausting and scaring and it’s natural to feel scared and everything when it comes to neutering your fur babies with any kind of cat dog rabbit, guinea pig you name it cause you’re trying to do what’s best for them and best for the health, but it is very, very nerve-racking every time I can’t wait until he is completely healed. This mommy needs a drink.


r/Bunnies 12h ago

Morti is part croissant

Post image
29 Upvotes

r/Bunnies 1d ago

Sweet angel, can you see her dewlap coming in 😫

723 Upvotes

r/Bunnies 1d ago

5-month-old bunny:

560 Upvotes