I just want to point out that Easter is by far the worst time of year for people visiting shops and buying rabbits on a whim, only to drop them off at a rescue before they go on holiday for the summer.

If you have to buy an Easter bunny, get a chocolate one... that really is just for Easter, unlike real live rabbits which are a long term up to 13 years expensive commitment.

Baby rabbits are indeed cute and extremely cuddly, but they can grow in to snarling hormone driven, which hate to be cuddled. Add to this pet insurance, half annual vaccinations (VHD & mixy) at possibly £20 per rabbit per shot so £80 per year for just one rabbit.

This is without housing feeding and watering and any unexpected trips to the expensive vet.

Housing a rabbit, even a tiny cuddly one isn't going to be cheap, it simply isn't acceptable to put a rabbit in a confined space, rabbits need space just like any other active pet... think large hutch, simply for night accommodation, better still a large secure safe shed onto this you will need a decent sized secure garden... rabbits are experts at The Great Escape, so secure really does mean properly secure.

If you are thinking about a house rabbit, think about everything before acquiring your rabbit... cables are so tasty, but electric ones are dangerous to! Your new rabbit will need a secure area to sleep in even if he is to be a house rabbit... perhaps a puppy pen will be needed for litter training your new rabbit.

OK so you get everything set-up and got a lovely pair of female rabbits for the kids at Easter... only cost £16 each bargain. by spring bank holiday week one of them looks a bit plump, must be getting most of the food? Oh no we have a male and a female and the gestation period of a rabbit is only 31 days! Yikes we are going to be overrun, she has had 6 babies and the father is chasing the mother around now! What are we to do? Mum is carrying the babies around looking really stressed, what have we started. HELP.

All I am trying to say here is please don't buy a rabbit on a whim this Easter, rabbits are not an easy or inexpensive pet. If you really do want rabbits get a book, or two read up on what you need before even thinking about getting the rabbit, ask yourself can you commit to what can be a long lived pet. Longest lived rabbit I've heard of was a 13 year old Netherland Dwarf.

If after all this you still feel you can give a rabbit a good home, go to a rescue after Easter (many rescue refuse to rehome at Christmas and Easter)

If anyone wants further advice this board has several experienced / knowledgeable people who rescue or have pet rabbits.

PM if you are shy or want to tell me I am wrong.

Happy Easter to all



All I am basicaly saying here is PLEASE think before you get a rabbit

... Longest lived rabbit I've heard of was a 13 year old Netherland Dwarf....



A former work colleague of mine told me about the rabbit she got for her children, partly because she thought they ought to learn how to cope when the pet eventually died.

NINETEEN YEARS later, the kids had long since left home, and it was my colleague who was devastated when the rabbit finally died of old age!

Think rabbit, think possible long-term investment!

I saw so many people lookng at the bunnies in pets at home yesterday and i was cringing at the thought of them buying them as easter gifts.

A rabbit is for life not just for easter!

I have already seen some babies for sale as 'easter pressies'. I wonder how long it will be before they start coming my way on the look out for new homes.

Good post GB.

Please could you advise whether I would be able to look after a bunny and provide a good home, my situation is as follows;

I have previously owned 2 rabbits who lived outside in hutch and received lots of affection and excerise...they were 2 dutch one black and white the other grey and white and much missed now.

Financially can afford care, bills, food etc... However we live in a apartment in the city centre with no garden access and wooden floors.... also both myself and my other half work late.

Are we selfish to think about getting 2 bunnies?

Despite the time of year I'm honestly not thinking about this on a whim...all advice much appreciated!

A pair is a good start if you work as they will have eachother for company. You may also want to think about getting a pair of house bunnies from a rescue, we get quite a few who have alsways lived inside here.

can you provide them with a secure space to exercise for at least 4 hours every day and spend this time with them socialising? Do you have space for a large dog crate or indoor cage fopr them to live in?

Regardless of where I work, I do agree with you about not buying a rabbit on a whim. My team are on alert to look out for people who are buying a rabbit because it looks cute for Easter. We refused sales to 2 people today and persuaded another couple to go away and have a serious think about things.

When someone wants a rabbit, I make it all sound rather unappealing to be honest. I want them to be aware of the financial implications and the time and effort that is involved in looking after rabbits....in fact looking after anything.
I love it when someone comes in and they have done so much research and have a clear cut idea about what they're looking for and know exactly what's going to be involved. It's refreshing.

Its surprising how many people dont realise how vicious a rabbit can be.
We used to have one that regularly bit people and other animals.

rabbits are not born viscious....people make them that way.

Regardless of where I work, I do agree with you about not buying a rabbit on a whim. My team are on alert to look out for people who are buying a rabbit because it looks cute for Easter. We refused sales to 2 people today and persuaded another couple to go away and have a serious think about things.

When someone wants a rabbit, I make it all sound rather unappealing to be honest. I want them to be aware of the financial implications and the time and effort that is involved in looking after rabbits....in fact looking after anything.
I love it when someone comes in and they have done so much research and have a clear cut idea about what they're looking for and know exactly what's going to be involved. It's refreshing.

If you can sell them a book, about rabbits, to take away and read, before making the long term commitment. This would perhaps focus people on the downside of rabbit ownership, as looking at a little fluffy bunny only shows the pleasurable side of pet ownership.

This is directed all all those in a position to offer rabbits, not solely PAH or yourself Lspacehopper, rescues also need to fully inform potential owners before they take on responsibility for a rabbit or indeed any living breathing creature.

Rabbits are naturally defensive because they are pray animals, too many people think rabbits are cute and cuddly.

99% of rabbits hate being held as they can only associate being held with being carried off by a fox.

This is not to say that rabbits do not enjoy attention.

Please could you advise whether I would be able to look after a bunny and provide a good home, my situation is as follows;

I have previously owned 2 rabbits who lived outside in hutch and received lots of affection and excerise...they were 2 dutch one black and white the other grey and white and much missed now.

Financially can afford care, bills, food etc... However we live in a apartment in the city centre with no garden access and wooden floors.... also both myself and my other half work late.

Are we selfish to think about getting 2 bunnies?

Despite the time of year I'm honestly not thinking about this on a whim...all advice much appreciated!

As long as you are not too worried about a little rabbit damage, you protect your cables and are prepared to spend the time and effort litter training your house rabbits I don't see why a pair shouldn't make ideal pets...

Wooden floors and rabbits are not idea, as rabbit feet are fully furred hard floors can be quite a challenge and quite dangerous (I know of one rabbit which ended up will dental problems following sliding into skirting boards.) If you are prepared to put a few rugs around this gives your rabbits something to grip on, if you are wanting your apartment to have the clean minimalist look house rabbits are not for you ;)

Personally rabbits being kept permanently indoors is not a problem, some people will claim that house rabbits are not as healthy as rabbits which have time out in the sun, but as I have seen no veterinary proof or other scientific studies of this I don't take it too seriously.

Your rabbits will need somewhere to call home, and somewhere to be put during litter training, a puppy pen is idea for this purpose, do you have space for a puppy pen?

What would you do with your rabbits when you go on holiday?

Hope I've given you a few thing to think about, I think you could be ideal house rabbit owners.

You already have experience of the Dutch breed, you should be aware that Dutch rabbits can be lively but generally are very easy going, not all rabbits are as easy going or care free as this ;) Choose your rabbits carefully.

Any more questions fire away, I added to a thread about rabbit text books on this forum some time ago, may be worth searching for and having a read.

Oh and please get your rabbits from a rescue.

thank you so much for all the very considered replies and advice. Yes I was definately looking to rehome, have been on various site.

Have now decided to leave until we are in a better space for bunnies and have more time with them, not fair that we both work late and often not back all evening.

Perhaps i need to limit myself to goldfish!

thanks again!!!