Preparing for Your Bunny
- Bailey Bunnies Rabbitry
- Jul 30, 2019
- 9 min read
Updated: Mar 27
You have picked out the perfect bunny for your family, now what?! Bringing a new pet into your life is an exciting event. You’ll want to make sure you are fully prepared so that your bunny has a smooth transition between our home and yours. Below is a checklist of recommended bunny supplies to help you prepare for your new bun. We have included links to many of the items.
Cages, Hutches, and Ex Pens
When it comes to selecting an enclosure, there are many options. We will go over the three most common options. Most importantly, you want to pick an option that fits your available space. I can never stress enough, the importance of purchasing a high-quality, larger enclosure in the beginning.
If you go with a traditional cage, make sure the cage is tall enough for your bunny to stretch up without his ears touching the top. It's long/wide enough that your bunny can stretch out fully in any direction with some room to spare. You will want a door that opens outward so that the bunny can hop in and out of his cage on his own. Plus, make sure the cage is roomy enough to have space for a litter box, a food dish, and a water supply. The larger the better, especially if your bunny will spend many hours a day in his cage. Pros: Can be more travel friendly, a good fit for smaller spaces, full enclosure, and comes in kits normally. Cons: small space, not as hygienic, breaks down over time quicker than other options, and has many smaller pieces to keep up with. We highly recommend not using these times of cage unless your bunny will significant free range time or an added ex pen. An ex pen is a great addition around a traditional cage to provide your bun more space.
If you prefer the look of the hutches, make sure you keep in consideration the same size requirements as a traditional cage. Pros: More esthetic, offers multi levels, more durable, little more hygienic. Cons: Bunnies can chew on the wood, wood can absorb stains and smells, and while they seem larger, they can limit their space. We like to add a small ex pen around a hutch for additional roaming space.
Ex Pens
Ex Pens are a great alternative to traditional hutches and cages. They are our preferred enclosure and first choice. We love ex pens for many reasons! You can adjust the size to your space, they are easily movable, easier to clean, and provide your bunny more space. If you go with an ex pen make sure the pen is at least 30 inches or taller and will be placed against a wall on at least 1 side, preferably 2. If you have other pets that might be able to jump into the ex pen, a traditional cage or hutch would be a better option. Bonus time: Keep an extra ex pen on hand, so that you can setup playtime outside or on the porch.
Here are some of our favorite exercise pens:
Resting Surface
Your bunny's cage should include a solid surface for resting. If the cage you have has an all-wire bottom, you can provide a solid surface by inserting a carpet sample, folded newspaper, cardboard, etc.
Our preferred resting pad options:
Bedding
Most bunnies do not care for bedding and many times will push it out of the way. We personally do not use bedding inside our cages. If you would like to use a bedding, please know it may hinder their litter training. It can be unsanitary as well. Once your bunny is fully litter trained you can provide them fleece to lay on.
If you would like to use bedding here are some suggestions: Kiln dried Aspen/Pine bedding, Carefresh paper, hay, pine/paper pellets (NO cedar, as it is harmful)
Food Bowls
When it comes to food dishes, a ceramic crock or plastic dish that can be secured to the cage is best. If you have a pair of bunnies, be sure to get a bowl large enough so both bunnies can fit their heads in at the same time, or two bowls, to prevent disagreements.
Some of our favorite food bowls:
Water Source
Bunnies need a constant water source. You can use either a water bottle or a dish similar to food dish. Most full grown bunnies require at least 16 oz. of water a day. You can use both a crock and a large water bottle. Providing both options are optimal for your bunnies health.
Recommended water bottles & bowls:
Hay & Hay Racks
You will need to maintain a continuous supply of hay for your bunny. Hay should always be 85-90% of their diet. You can use any grass hay, such as Timothy, Orchard, Oat or mixed grasses. Avoid alfalfa except as an occasional treat.
Some favorite hay options:
We encourage the use of a hay rack. Many people will place hay directly in the litter box or in the cage. We prefer to use a hay rack for sanitary reasons. We absolutely love the hay, food/water dish, and litter box combo. It is well worth the investment.
Our fav hay racks:
Litter Box
It is best to have at least two litter boxes. You will want one for inside the cage and another for the exercise area. They should be big enough for your bunny and a portion of hay to be in the box together comfortably. A deep (4"+) sided litter box is recommended to prevent accidents. Note: Make sure litter box fits through the cage door!
Our preferred litter boxes:
Litter
When it comes to litter it is best to use an organic or paper-based litter. Equestrian pine pellets work the best. Avoid clumping cat litter and cedar wood shavings that can cause serious health problems. If your bunny decides to eat his litter, then additional precautions are necessary to prevent digestive problems. We recommend changing the litter every 3-4 days while litter training and every 2-3 days once litter trained.
Best Litter options:
Hidey Hole
Hidey houses come in all shapes, materials and sizes. You can purchase one or make your own! And don’t feel limited to the small animal section. You can look in the cat section or get creative with those Amazon boxes. Hidey houses are important for rabbits because they are naturally prey animals and having somewhere to hide is very important to keep them from getting nervous or scared.
Some of our favorite hidey holes:
Toys
A bored bunny is a destructive bunny. Provide your bun with a variety of chew toys, toss toys, noisemakers, and activities. The more toys your bunny has, the less likely he is to use his natural instinct to dig/chew on inappropriate items like furniture. However, toys are not an alternative to bunny-proofing for your bunny's safety. Dig boxes are a great way to entertain your bunny and helps to keep the nails naturally trimmed.
We recently started our own line of toys! We had a difficult time finding toys and treats that were bunny safe. After hours of research and years of raising bunnies, we created our own line. You can view and purchase our toys her: https://www.baileybunniesrabbitry.com/bunnyshop
Some of our must-have toys from other vendors:
Carrier
A carrier is necessary to safely transport your bunny home, to/from the vet and to evacuate in case of emergency. Look for a carrier that disassembles easily and/or has a top opening in order to remove an unwilling bunny with the least trauma.
Carriers we love:
Nail Trimmer
For most bunnies, scissor style is easiest to use. You can also use human nail trimmers. Be careful of the quick and to not cut to short. Great news! We will send you home with a pair of nail trimmers. Check this item off your list.
Brush
Bunnies need regular brushing, especially during molt season. Bunnies will molt every 3-6 months. Normally around the change of seasons. Brushing bi-weekly will help with every day shedding. When molting begins, we suggest brushing a few times a week. Brushing is important to keep them from ingesting too much fur and developing a digestive blockage.
Food
Providing a high quality pellet food gives your bunny extra vitamins and nutrients. We feed our bunnies Blue Seal Show Hutch Deluxe . For house bunnies we recommend Sherwood Rabbit Food, Small Pet Select, and Science Selectives. Stay away from rabbit food mixed with colorful additives.
The pellet feed we use:
Other foods we recommend:
Daily Supplements
We offer our bunnies daily and weekly supplements to help support a healthy immune system and a healthy gut. Here are a couple of our favorite supplements.
Probios Multi Species probiotics powder. We add half a scoop of Probios to our bun's pellet food every 2-3 days. It will help ensure they have a healthy digestive system.
Herbal Supplements are a great way to add antioxidants and vitamins to your bun's diet. We give our bunnies up to a tablespoon 3 times a week but it can be offered daily.
Treats
Treats are great for training and rewarding your bunny. Since bunnies tend to be food driven, treats can be your best friend. However, finding age approved treats can be a little tricky. We do not want to give bunnies younger than 4 months old treats that are veggie or fruit based. We need their digestive systems to develop a little more before adding those to their diet. Until then, we have a couple of treat options. We will send you home with Black Oil Sunflower Seeds. These work great! In fact we give these to all of our bunnies daily. You can mix in some old fashion rolled oats as well.
Here are a few other treat options for bunnies under the age of 4 months:
For older bunnies here is a link to some awesome DIY treats:
Plus some store-bought options for bunnies over 4 months old:
Emergency Kit
This is a suggested list of supplies to have in your bunny first aid kit. Many of these items can be purchased at your local pharmacy or grocery store, but some must be ordered online. The suggested medications can be prescribed by your vet, along with your vet's specific instructions and guidelines for their use. Become familiar with your first aid kit and how to use the items in it.
Do not wait for your bunny to become sick before you learn how to take a temperature or to give tummy massage to ease gas pains.
Your Basic Bunny First Aid Kit
· Critical Care Formula by Oxbow or SAR X Rabbit Recovery Food by Sherwood Pet Health
· PetAg Bene-Bac Plus Gel Digestive Supplement for Dogs, Cats & Small Pets
· Simethicone (infant gas drops)
· Canned pumpkin or squash baby food (to stimulate appetite and gut movement during GI stasis)
· Digestive Support Tabs by Sherwood Pet Health or Oxbow
· Large oral feeding syringe or 60cc catheter tip syringe
· Flex Thermometer
· Neosporin (*Very important – Original Formula only)
· Kwik Stop (styptic powder for a bleeding nail – do not use on open skin wounds)
· Q-tips (to apply styptic powder)
· Medications (available from your vet - use only with your vet's complete instructions)
· Vet tape
The use of first aid items is not a substitute for proper veterinary care.
If your bunny appears ill, not acting normally, or has an injury, your first response should be to contact your veterinarian or an emergency vet clinic.
Handheld Broom and Dust Pan
A handheld broom and dustpan will come in handy to anyone who has a bunny. They are great for spot cleaning and getting into small and hard to reach areas.
Pet-Safe Cage Cleaner
It’s always important to have a pet-safe cage cleaner around. Using harsh cleaning chemicals such as bleach could seriously harm your bun. Pet cage cleaners can be found at pet stores or you could make your own bunny-safe solution at home using a mixture of vinegar and water. This will get rid of smell and is a base that will balance the chemical properties of your bun’s urine.
Now that we have covered the necessary supplies and our recommendations, it's now time to go shopping! Here is an easy shopping list!
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Commenti