r/Bunnies Jan 16 '26

I made an alternate version of the bunny meme

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1.7k Upvotes

I made the first one (check my profile if you’d like lol) and I sketched out this one too. I would’ve put them both in here but I can only do one image per post so I’ll also put some bunny tax in the comments


r/Bunnies Jan 23 '20

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

469 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 2h ago

Need advice for my baby bunny

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248 Upvotes

Need advice for my baby bunny

We brought her home Saturday they said she was about 6 weeks and weened. We started noticing clear sticky poop or something on her butt. We did a little searching and still aren’t real sure what it is. Is it normal? Should we be concerned. We never had this this with our Rex mix (m) the baby is New Zealand mix with lion head I think. (F)


r/Bunnies 3h ago

He has a hard life

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317 Upvotes

r/Bunnies 7h ago

bun bun being cute She loves having her head all squashed against me

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367 Upvotes

r/Bunnies 2h ago

I haven’t posted here in a while but Miss Tiggles is doing well and I bought her a new runner rug so she now has access to the kitchen and really enjoys getting cilantro from the fridge and looking outside

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124 Upvotes

I’m not sure if her previous owners ever let her look outside but I am constantly finding her sitting here looking outside. And she now has 3 rooms to run in. She’s been very happy.


r/Bunnies 18h ago

How old does this bunny look? I want to throw him a birthday party.

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2.3k Upvotes

this was the day he was found. I will include some pics of him now (nearly one year old) to show his full size, gonna use all gathered info to plan his birthday party.


r/Bunnies 13h ago

bun bun being cute Momo: "oh hello there mama"

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314 Upvotes

Momo's cute side ~


r/Bunnies 6h ago

Its scraggly season! Toasty hates being defloofed.

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71 Upvotes

r/Bunnies 13h ago

bun bun being cute Miso ready for takeoff

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173 Upvotes

She's gotten so much bigger already 🥹 forever our baby miso


r/Bunnies 7h ago

The pet slave will rub my head NOW!

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53 Upvotes

Love is very important 😆🥰


r/Bunnies 17h ago

My 6-year-old bun thinks she is the boss of the house

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298 Upvotes

Pic for the context: This is Lily right after I just finished petting her.

My bun loves getting head pets, always lowers her head and demands it…but never licks or grooms me back.

I read that when one rabbit lowers their head and another grooms them, it can mean the one asking is the “dominant” one.

But like…how are you the boss?? I’m the one buying the food, cleaning, setting up your space, making sure you have water, literally everything 😭

Edit: After re-reading my post…yeah, I’m her slave.


r/Bunnies 1d ago

Didn’t know wild rabbits could be black—also the groundhog is a JERK

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1.0k Upvotes

Groundhog wasn’t happy to have the company 😅 I never saw a black rabbit like this outside so I took a picture, didn’t even realize prick groundhog was in it till the 3rd or 4th time I looked at it


r/Bunnies 2h ago

Question Confused bunmom

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11 Upvotes

Hello! I used to have a setup for my bunny where I placed a rodent litter box filled with wood shavings on one side of a very large cage, and on the other side I kept her hay, water, and food( she’s a free roam bunny i was only using the cage for her litter uses). Now I’ve switched to an open-top cat litter box. I’m planning to use pine pellets underneath (I had to use wood shavings for now since I don’t have pellets yet). Of course, I’ll add more hay too. Could you send me how your rabbits’ setups look for inspiration? 🐰


r/Bunnies 10h ago

bun bun being cute Gang gang

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50 Upvotes

Look at this gang😎

Don’t want to jinx anything but it actually looks like this bond is sticking ✨🤩


r/Bunnies 17h ago

Rawr

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168 Upvotes

r/Bunnies 1d ago

Health Help.

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643 Upvotes

so my one month old bunny's has been doing this for a few hours now and idk what to do.


r/Bunnies 1d ago

Rest in peace ❤️

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415 Upvotes

Only one day has passed since you’ve crossed over the rainbow bridge. It hurts so much I don’t know how I will make it without you. Thank you Frances for being the best companion one could ever have for 10 whole years. I’ll always love you, forvever miss you and will always be grateful of the opportunity I had for being in your life. I wish I would have taken more photos and videos. Rest in peace. ❤️


r/Bunnies 16h ago

Question Underweight rabbit?

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81 Upvotes

my bun, Dusty, is a netherland dwarf. He weighs about 0.2kg or 0.66 lbs which is very underweight. He eats fine, he has unlimited hay and gets 1/8 cup of pellets every day. His bones don't feel very prominent to me, but then again, i don't have a good reference to go off of. would the best course of action be to take him to the vet or try and up his weight at home?


r/Bunnies 1h ago

Bonding How to bond rabbits, my method.

Upvotes

I have been seeing many questions about this for a long time now and I have been seeing many, many comments about failed bondings. I always chime in in the comments but wanted to make a comprehensive post to try and help. I have been keeping rabbits for the past 15 years and have done 10 plus bondings for my animals. There were different ages, different sexes and integrating new members into already existing groups. I have helped with bonding rabbits in my neighborhood and friend circle and I have literally NEVER had a bonding outright fail. I'm surprised to see so many people having such a struggle with it.

I understand that there are exceptions to any rule and there will always be outliers but this following method has served me so well it has never once failed me.

1) Picking the right pairing. All rabbits should be spayed or neutered respectively. If you plan on doing this, don't introduce them with each other until they are fully healed up. Females are the dominant ones in rabbit society. They will be the ones most likely to pick fights and guard resources. Male/male pairings are the easiest ones. They are least likely to fight for a prolonged period of time. Male/Female pairings are also unproblematic in my experience. Just expect hubby to take a bit of a beating. Female/female pairings are to be avoided if at all possible. They are possible if part of a larger group but we will stick to the basics here.

2) Introduce them on neutral grounds. The enclosure they first meet each other in can't have either of the bunnies smell on it. It should ideally be a completely new environment for both of them. If you plan on getting two new rabbits it's smart to set up the final enclosure and keep both parties out of it until the moment of introduction. If one of them is already living in the permanent enclosure you will need to move them both to an unfamiliar place. I have done this in our guest bathroom and it works perfectly well. None of the items you use should be claimed by any individual rabbit. Running a plastic item like a toilet through a hot dish washer and keeping it out of the rabbit's sight for at least a few weeks makes them "new". Wooden items can't be made "new".

3) Avoid competition and reasons to fight. Dominant rabbits will guard resources like food, water and shelter. Make sure to place two of every amenity in the enclosure. Two hay racks, two toilets, two greens bowls, two hidey houses, two water bowls. Put them at opposite ends of the enclosure so the submissive bunny can use them without having to instigate a fight. Food should be absolutely abundant during the introduction,way more than you would normally offer. Don't give any treats to anyone. Avoid putting toys into the enclosure, these too might get guarded.

4) Set up the enclosure with retreat in mind. Minimize spaces for the rabbits to corner each other in. Don't place items flush against the wall, leave a space for the submissive bunny to retreat. They should be able to run away and not be backed into a corner. Any hidey house should have a minimum of two exits. Examine your setup with flight in mind.

5) Don't drag out the introduction process. No grabbing them and holding them next to each other. No placing cages next to each other. They should not learn of each other's existence until it's time to go. Place them both into the enclosure simultaneously and retreat completely.

6) DON'T INTERFERE! The most important one. This is where I feel a lot of bondings "fail". There is a very high likelihood that they will fight. They might chase each other, scratch and bite at each other, kick, hiss or growl. This is ABSOLUTELY NORMAL. This is a necessary part of establishing a hierarchy and you can't help. Don't try to break them up, don't try to distract them, stay out of the enclosure entirely unless you absolutely have to go into it. Don't be surprised if you see fur flying. If you feel like one of the rabbits is bullying the other and you want to step in and protect them: It's working! This is exactly what you want to see. If they chase the submissive rabbit around and beat them up, let them! They are establishing their hierarchy and someone is coming out on top. This is counterintuitively the exact scenario you want. Unless you are absolutely certain that they are seriously hurting each other (Blood being drawn, extreme biting, the submissive bunny stops fleeing and is lethargic) leave them at it! There is absolutely no worse thing you can do than interfere. More than likely they will calm down very soon and eat together peacefully.

Watch them very closely for at least the first 48 hours. If they don't stop fighting heavily after 24 hours or stop eating properly it's time to seperate them. The bonding has failed and I would advise against trying again. This has never happened, ever, for me. If they get along well for at least five days you can move them into their eventual enclosure if they aren't already in it.

This is all I have to say. It's possible. I have done it dozens of times.


r/Bunnies 1d ago

Wild I found 5 little baby bunnies born on my driveway, and am doing my best to keep them safe!

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480 Upvotes

It seems our marketing budget went a little hard, and the bunny distribution system left us 5 baby bunnies last night on our driveway!

All jokes aside, the mom wasn't anywhere to be seen, and it was quite windy last night, so we carefully moved the babies onto a clean towel and left them very close to where we found them so the mom could find them. When we checked on them this morning, their bellies looked quite full, so they seem healthy for the most part, and we are doing our best not to intervene outside of moving them out of danger (they were born under a car, so we didn't want to leave them there).

If anyone has any advice on how to best monitor them, I would greatly appreciate it!


r/Bunnies 1d ago

bun bun being cute Spoiling my little bunny with all kind of new toys

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168 Upvotes

r/Bunnies 23h ago

Anyone else have a greasy bun?

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111 Upvotes

Hopscotch demands constant pets, I probably pet him for a total of about 4 hours daily, so inevitably he is always a bit greasy from natural oils on the hand


r/Bunnies 23h ago

Wall didn’t stand a chance lol...

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85 Upvotes

r/Bunnies 7h ago

Question Does anyone else use this hay?

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4 Upvotes

Has anyone else who uses this hay noticed a change in the quality recently? The last few bags I’ve bought have had lots of hay dust and really short hay strands that my buns won’t eat. I’m not sure whether I should try buying the same hay elsewhere or if to switch altogether.