Bunny Care Supplies
Preparing to Bring Your New Bun Home
This is a very exciting time, but it can become overwhelming because there is so much information, as well as an unbelievable assortment of products designed with your bunny in mind. Don't fret! We're here to guide you with a list of must-haves items to help you keep your Bun happy and healthy. Please email us with questions if you're uncertain about a product or if you notice a broken link.
Pelleted Food
Because we breed rabbits, their nutritional needs are a bit different than those of a pet rabbit. We will always recommend a timothy hay-based pellet above anything containing alfalfa. Read ingredients carefully as you compare products. Rabbit food should never contain corn, artificial colors, or added sugars (like molasses or cane sugar) to make it more palatable. We also prefer to steer away from foods containing alfalfa, soy (or soya), or wheat products, such as middlings, hulls, or ground versions of these. The vast majority of pelleted foods contain two or more of these items that act as "fillers" to give more bulk to the pellets.
The healthiest rabbit food pellet that we have found is Oxbow Garden Select. We use and recommend it for our retired and pet rabbits. It can be purchased in most pet supply stores or ordered online through Chewy.com. There are two types available, one for young rabbits and the other for adults. The young rabbit version does contain some alfalfa meal, but this is safe for rabbits six months of age and under. Just before your rabbit turns six months, it's time to slowly transition over to the adult rabbit formula, which doesn't contain alfalfa.
Your Bun will come with enough food to gradually transition him/her from the food we are currently using to the new food you have selected.
Fresh, High-Quality Hay
All rabbits need unlimited access to fresh, high-quality timothy or orchard grass hay. (Alfalfa hay should only be given to rabbits under six months of age.) We are very fortunate to live in an area where organically grown hay is available at an affordable price. If you live in a more rural area or don't mind taking a trip to purchase a bale or two of good hay, it is definitely the most affordable option. Hay should be stored in a cool, dark, dry location without any moisture issues. Mold can be lethal to rabbits, so keeping the hay dry is a must.
We prefer alternating weekly between first and second cutting hay for our Buns. First cutting is coarser and is very good when rabbits are going through a molt due to it's higher fiber content. Second cutting is finer and higher in protein, so is very good for growth and development.
If you need to order hay, our two favorite online stores for hay are Farmer Dave Pet Supply and Small Pet Select. Both sell excellent products. Farmer Dave Pet Supply is a bit more basic in their offerings, while Small Pet Select can have a boutique feel, with many treats and special hay selections. We have been gifted items from both companies and are always very impressed with the quality. Both stores are linked above through their underlined names.
If you are ever in between orders and run out of hay, we do recommend Oxbow's Western Timothy Grass Hay in a pinch. It is quite expensive, but the quality is very high and it is readily available at most pet supply stores. Most other pet supply store brands are cut very short and are quite dusty, so we avoid them.
Food/Water Containers
Your bunny will always need to have access to fresh water. All of the baby Buns are taught to drink from water bottles, but most of the mama Buns also have a water bowl, so many of the babies know how to drink from both. A sturdy crock bowl is great for water and is the more natural approach for a rabbit's drinking source. If you have a very active bunny who tends to knock over or land in water bowls, a bottle is a good back-up option to have available.
Heavy crock bowls are also great for food, too. If you prefer a hanging option, we like the Lock & Crock style. All the pieces are sturdy plastic, so nothing will ever rust. There is a latch to lock the bowl in place, but you can slide it open easily to remove the bowl for cleaning.
A Safe Place of Bun's Own
All Buns need a safe, quiet place of their own to chill out, use the litter box, have a good meal, and a great nap. While your baby is learning to trust you and to use the litter box, a cage and/or exercise pen is the extent of his/her world while settling in to this new life with a new family. If you have easy to clean floors, we suggest setting up an exercise pen as the Bun's primary living space. Add a towel, blanket, or washable rug on the floor, a litter box, food bowl, water bowel/bottle, some simple toys, and a little box or hideout house, and your bunny will be perfectly happy. If you prefer to have a more enclosed area for her, a cage can be utilized and a pen can safely be attached to it, to enlarge the living space and play area. Our favorite cages with solid flooring are linked through the images below.
The Living World Deluxe X-Large habitat has gotten ridiculously expensive (as I type this on 3/4/24, it is over $190 on Amazon and Chewy). I purchased them for around $70 each when we started Hot Cross Buns.
The KW Cages Bunny Villa comes in four height options, from one to four stories. They are very well-made, but you may need to wait a while for delivery as they are sometimes on backorder. The one-story size is comparable in floor space to the Living World. Although it's a bit more expensive, it's definitely worth it.
This pen is available on Chewy. The 24" height is suitable for all but the most active of Buns, who tend to need the 30-36" height for maximum containment. LOL
Washable puppy pads are essential for protecting floors under exercise pens. There are many options available on Amazon.
Litter Training Supplies
The Buns are introduced to litter boxes from the day they hop out of their nest box for the first time, but we don't advertise them as being fully litter box trained. Most rabbits, regardless of age, will have a few messy days after going to a new home, while they establish their territory. We are often told that the Buns catch on to using their new litter boxes within a day or two, but always want our clients to be prepared for less than perfect behavior at the beginning.
Our preferred litter boxes are plastic with a plastic grate that snaps firmly across the pan. (Metal PVC covered grates tend to discolor, degrade, and rust fairly quickly, so plastic grates seem to be safer and last longer.) Some Buns like a taller, roomier litter box which contains their hay, so they can munch and do their business at the same time. These Frisco pans are great and should be cleaned at least every other day.
What about bedding? If you don't mind doing a couple loads of bunny laundry every week, we love using washable litter box liners, which are very cost effective, eco-friendly, and easy to clean. Simply shake off the droppings into your garden and launder the liners as you would cloth baby diapers, using a mild detergent. We make liners out of a double layer of fleece, but folded hand towels, which can be purchased inexpensively at any big box store are another great option. For those who prefer to not launder litter box liners, we recommend using pelleted wood or pelleted paper bedding. Pelleted bedding can often be found at feed stores (like Tractor Supply) for $5-$7/40lb bag. These can be added to your compost pile when cleaning the box. We're not fans of the fluffy paper bedding, as this is not particularly absorbent, is very expensive, and it gets everywhere.
Bunny/Pet Carrier
You will also need a pet carrier to safely transport your Bun home and on trips to the vet. Our preference is for hard sided carriers with two doors, one in the front and one on the top. Many of our clients opt for soft-sided carriers, which is just fine, but please be aware that a Bun who likes to chew or dig can wreak havoc on a fabric carrier fairly quickly. Size-wise, a carrier that can comfortably house a medium to large cat should be suitable for your baby Bun as it grows to maturity.
Health Supplies
The most important thing to have on hand for your Bun's health is the name and contact information of your primary rabbit veterinarian, along with two back-up emergency vets. As any rabbit parent can tell you, bunnies inevitably tell you something is wrong at 11pm on a Sunday or during a holiday weekend. If you are well-prepared in this area, you're already way ahead of the game.
We do recommend keeping the following supplies on hand, in case you suspect your bunny is feeling a bit "off" but you aren't quite ready to call the vet.
Infant gas relief (Simethicone) drops can help settle tummies that might be reacting to a new food that doesn't agree with them. It can be purchased at most stores and pharmacies and is a good aid to have available. Store brands work just was well, but try to find some without artificial dyes.
We highly recommend Sherwood's Appetite Restore for bunnies who are a bit "off feed". Because it's banana flavored, most Buns love it. You will need to keep a syringe (or eye dropper) on hand to squirt the Appetite Restore into the mouth of a reticent rabbit, but usually the first taste is all they need to become interested. If your Bun doesn't enjoy it and makes no attempt to drink it, call your vet immediately!
Sherwood's Digestive Support tablets are always on our "must have" supply list. They can be given as a treat, and have the added benefit of helping to keep your bunny's digestive tract healthy. The normal dose is one tablet per day, but more is recommended when your bunny is going through a molt.
We also keep Bene-Bac on hand when our Buns need to take medication for any reason. Their tummies are very sensitive to changes in their gut bacteria, but the Bene-Bac helps restore the good bacteria and keep things in balance. If you can't find Bene-Bac, look for Probiotic Acidophilus at your local pharmacy in capsule form. You can open up a capsule and sprinkle a small amount on their food to get the benefit of good bacteria. Once the bottle has been opened, keep the probiotics refrigerated.
Grooming Supplies
Your Bun will need regular attention to grooming to help him look and feel his best. This will mainly involve clipping nails every 2-4 weeks, brushing his coat a couple of times each week (we recommend twice daily brushing when your bunny is going through a molt), checking your rabbit's teeth to make certain they are not becoming overgrown, and peeking around his bottom to make certain he is keeping himself clean and tidy. If there are any messy surprises, you will want to trim out any dirty fur carefully with safety grooming scissors.
Typically, a rabbit will molt or "blow out" his coat twice a year, in early spring and fall. This can be a fairly quick and easy process for some bunnies with a thin coat, but can last several weeks in rabbits with thick, plush coats. You'll know when your bunny is going through a molt because she will suddenly have tufts of fur sticking up in odd places and a cloud of already shed fur will follow behind. A simple slicker brush (used gently on bunny's delicate skin!) will take care of most loose fur, but some Buns will need a little extra help. If your rabbit has a very thick double coat, you will want to have an undercoat rake, to help remove the shed fur that has been caught in the coat and still needs to be removed fully.
For nail clippers, we like the small, simple Kitten/cat clippers because they allow more visibility when looking for the quick of the bunny's nail. Larger nail clippers can be cumbersome and make it more difficult to handle the bunny, the nail, and the clippers at the same time. We linked two styles below, but one pair should be sufficient, unless you're always misplacing them (like I do!)
Toys and a Place to Hide
Bunnies love to play, but their toys needn't be costly. They love cardboard boxes and will enjoy exploring a playhouse made by cutting doors and windows in an old Amazon delivery box. Tunnels and tubes are a delight, as well. Some rabbits enjoy scruffling and hiding under inexpensive fleece blankets. Empty toilet paper tubes can be stuffed with hay. They enjoy willow balls and will happily chew on unsprayed/untreated apple or willow twigs. A bunny's favorite toy is their very best friend...You! We have clients who make mazes for their bunnies out of couch cushions and pillows. Some inexpensive pit balls can be added to a cardboard box along with a pinch or two of old-fashioned oats to make an excellent foraging toy. Rabbits need enrichment, engagement, and interaction to keep them from becoming bored and destructive.
A place to hide out and relax is also greatly appreciated by a worn out Bun. Carboard boxes make excellent hidey holes, or you can purchase/make a special hidey hole.
These are some examples of toys (with links) that our Buns enjoy.
