any advice??

mini rex - I have awhite mini rex with beautiful blue eyes - this is not her, but looks like her!!
United States
January 2, 2007 5:23pm CST
Hello, I just got a mini rex rabbit and I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for taking care of her?? If you have or had one - how long did you let it run around outside its pen a day? Did you have trouble getting other animals (dogs, cats) to get along with it? Any advice would be greatly appresiated!!!! Thanks in advance!!!
2 responses
@sizzle3000 (3036)
• United States
8 Jan 07
I hope this helps. I have a dwarf rabbit and he eats nothing but the best. The best hay is Timothy hay. This is this best on the market at this time. I have talked to his vet as well as the breader and they both say to keep him healthy timothy is the best. I buy his food from Oxbow online. The food is also made from Timothy hay. These little critters need the best because they are so small. My rabbit is only three pounds and will get no bigger. He thinks he is a dog. He attacks stuffed animals if he thinks they are getting more attention than him. He doesn't go out side. I take him out once a week in the summer time. He is put in a small dog pen that is round. My little bunny has the run of the house most of the day. He is very good at going back to his cage to potty. We do put him in the cage all night though. He does have to be watched because he gets into things. I have never had a problem with him chewing wires but there is always that possibility. I love having this litte fellow around he is lots of fun.
1 person likes this
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
8 Jan 07
Timothy hay and orchard grass have similar nutritional values. For people who have issues with allergies (or rabbits who get issues with hay pokes in their eyes), orchard grass can also be an excellent choice. Oat hay and other hay mixes are also good choices, especially for picky rabbits. Oxbow is definitely the best pellets! Timothy pellets are good for rabbits over 1 year old, and alfalfa pellets only for growing rabbits. Otherwise, alfalfa pellets can cause problems with their high levels of calcium. In either case, all rabbits need a grass hay as well (such as timothy), whether they are young or old. Hay helps wear down the teeth and also is necessary for digestion. Some rabbits will chew wires, others don't. If the rabbit is a chewer, I put plastic sheaths over the wires. Rabbits are definitely more fun inside than outside. :)
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• United States
8 Jan 07
Thank you both for your great responses!! This will help me out alot!! Thanks again!!
• United States
9 Jan 07
I was wondering where would you get orchard grass. I have allergies so I have to be carefull about what I bring in the house. My rabbit does have problems with the hay getting him in the eye sometimes. I saw an add for a small planter of this orchard grass and was wondering if that is what you use. How does your rabbit like this? Thanks Dawn
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@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
4 Jan 07
Oh I love mini rexes! I fostered one before and she was adopted so fast. But there seem to be a lot in the shelters out here despite that. Check out www.rabbit.org for care information. Main thing is, rabbits eat hay, hay, and more hay! Lots of it! Make sure you're giving her a diet of mostly hay (oat hay, timothy hay, orchard grass, or a mix, all good choices, not alfalfa though, that's a legume... but if she's young, you can give her alfalfa in addition to another hay). Introduce veggies slowly, but once you've introduced them, she should eventually work up to eat about 1 cup per day if she's around 2-3 pounds. I never liked to let my rabbits outside because of the crazy weather out here, it can get hot so fast. However, I like using puppy pens to house rabbits in. I use the 4 foot high ones that are 16 square feet. Those work great! If you have cats that can jump that, maybe put some kind of top on it (warning, this style of housing ONLY works in the house!!!). I use linoleum underneath as the flooring. Then I put some bedding and hay in the litterbox, and give either another litterbox or a bed for resting. I supply plenty of fling toys and baskets to chew as well, which can be seen and bought here: www.bunnybunchboutique.com I would be very very very careful introducing other pets. My 10 year old rabbit loves to bully cats, so as long as the cat is submissive he'd do fine. But he's afraid of dogs and runs when they bark. Once he ripped out a toenail trying to run from a dog that almost got to him when I let him play outside (in a pen, but the dog was large and if I hadn't grabbed it's collar, it would have broke in). I don't have dogs or cats though, my biggest challenge is teaching the rabbits that they can't jump in the guinea pig cages to steal food. Ohh! And my biggest tip of all... make sure to spay or neuter your rabbit! Helps a HUGE amount with behaviorial issues and you can find it low cost many places. Best of luck to you!
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• United States
5 Jan 07
Thank you so much for all of the advice!!!
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
5 Jan 07
You're very welcome! Hope it's helpful. I'm always willing to answer rabbit questions. :) I used to be more active in rabbit rescue and doing education days and stuff, but not as much as I'd like to anymore.
1 person likes this