What the 'promise' of a bunny can do...

[ChameleonMom]

Our 16 year old daughter hasn't taken on too many responsibilities at her young age. It seems we are constantly asking her to clean her room, do her chores etc and normally it wouldn't be a big issue as we allow for growing room when it comes to 'typical' teenage behavior AND, she really IS a good kid....but about 6 months ago she started to ask every day, "can I have a bunny, can I have a bunny?" She thinks if she asks enough, she'll wear us down and eventually get her way We already have a mini-zoo, so we weren't too keen on having another pet, but she kept asking and asking and asking...lol. The kid is persistant enough that we finally told her that if she did her chores without having to be asked and kept her room clean and just generally helped out, we'd consider it. We never thought the day would come when we'd have to admit that after 6 months, the kid has been doing her chores without being asked, has babysat her little brother numerous times and has kept her room clean to a fault! We NEVER thought in a million years our little Princess would be determined enough to do what we asked, in the quest for her first pet.

So, now we are on a quest for a bunny!

 

[Elizadolots]

I'm a bit surprised this is her first pet. My daughter had a frog (yes, she chose a frog) and a bird before she was 15. The frog died after 6 years, the bird flew away in an accidental cage cleaning thing (I wasn't there, I just heard about it).

You'll enjoy having a bunny. Have you ever had a bunny? Do you know about them? Because if this will be your first bunny I have advice (I've had 2, one big, one little, one male, one female).

One thing: If anyone in your house is allergic to animals, bunnies are like uber allergy monsters! It's something to factor into your thought processes.

 

[squeekz1992]

Bunnies are great!!! What kind are you looking for??

I have had 2 and my sister had one. 2 Holland Mini Lops and one Mini Rex

 

[lysinlight87]

I went to a local show this summer & they had a competition tent filled with bunnies. I'm not a rabbit person but I ended up wanting to buy them all lol. Amazing how much variety you can get!

 

[camimom]

I suggest Mini Rex Rabbits.
its a breed.
The one I had, I named her Honey, she was the color of a rich honey, and so freakishly unbelievably soft. ANd she lived to be almost 11 years old.
They come in all kinds of colors though.

 

[ChameleonMom]

Thanks for the input ladies! Bunnies have never been my thing - I like them but I've always had cats and dogs and never figured a rabbit as part of our menagerie!! As for a bunny being Kyla's first pet, she hasn't really expressed a desire to have her VERY OWN PET as we've had the cats and dogs that are family pets so I guess that served her well when it came to wanting pets! She does have a couple Siamese Fighting fish that she loves intensely so we figured it was time to let her flex her responsibility muscles! When I say Princess, I really mean it - she wasn't ready before this!

So yes! Any advice, suggestions or thoughts on type would be appreciated. I am just starting to do some reading (and wonder - why am I doing the research?) I always have the need to know everything I can to raise a happy pet - she thinks you go buy the bunny, a cage and some hay and a bag of carrots! Little does she know! Oh we'll, learning curve here we come!!

Thanks for any help you can give!!

 

[pssh]

I suggest a small one, the mini rex is a good start or a small "lop" type bunny. If you cant give it lots of free range time outside if the cage, I suggest building a fairly big multi level cage so it has plenty of room when it cant have free range time. Look into proper nutrition with fresh veggies/fruits and lots of grass or hay. Also look into a spay or neuter to prevent certain diseases/problems.

 

[ChameleonMom]

I suggest a small one, the mini rex is a good start or a small "lop" type bunny. If you cant give it lots of free range time outside if the cage, I suggest building a fairly big multi level cage so it has plenty of room when it cant have free range time. Look into proper nutrition with fresh veggies/fruits and lots of grass or hay. Also look into a spay or neuter to prevent certain diseases/problems.

Thanks so much! I have been doing some reading and as the bunny will be kept in her room and free ranging when she is home I think we will get her a dwarf and then a cage that will fit in her closet (it is open, she wanted the doors off so its like an alcove). A couple of levels is a good idea for some climbing exercise. I have been checking Craigslist and have found numerous spayed & neutered rabbits so I think we'll get a rescue for her! I also like that the rabbit will require many of the same fruits and veg that I give my chams so the only really different items needed would be pellets and hay. Sounds easier than I know it will be and I'm sure there will be a learning curve involved but I'm getting excited about our new family member!

 

[Elizadolots]

The hay is good for feeding to crickets too!

 

[pssh]

It sounds like you are really on top of things! Your new bunny will have a great home.

If you want to build a cheap cage, check out C&C cages (I believe it stands for cubes and coroplast.) You can make them any size you want and with any kind of levels, hay lofts, etc. plus you choose how tall you want the inside plastic part to be (so poop doesn't fly out when it hops around.) I made one for my guinea pigs that is (I think) 56" by 27" with a nice 13.5" by 56" hay loft (plus its raised off the ground) for only $40.

Otherwise, there are some okay store cages, but many are pretty small.

 

[stalincat]

My friend had a male bunny with a huge bawsaq. When the bunny was jumping around, the giant scrotum was just dragging on the floor behind him, it was unbearably funny. Her boyfriend hated having this bunny on his lap cause he had those huge human-like balls lying on him. He was a cute bunny though.
Good luck to you with your search!