Hellobee

Yesterday we went to visit a friend at his home, a children’s magician who’s currently battling late stage lung cancer. Charlie and Olive played with the rabbits he uses for his magic show while we were there, and his wife, who works as his assistant, saw how much my kids loved the rabbits and asked if we wanted to adopt them. The rabbits require a lot of care and expense that they don’t have anymore due to high medical costs and both of them not working. Of course the kids wanted them! I asked Mr. Bee if we should adopt them, as we already have plenty of animals we care for, and he said, “He’s giving you the bunnies he pulls out of his hat. No greater gift from a magician!”

The kids named them as soon as I said yes. That’s how we ended up bringing 2 rabbits home.

I’ve had to have a crash course on raising rabbits, as many of the items we need for their care are not available locally. I’ve had many pets in my life (dogs, cats, hamsters, birds, turtles, fish, lizards), but no experience with rabbits. I thought I would share what I’ve learned about rabbits in case you’re thinking of adopting one for your family!

PROS

• Rabbits are social, smart, affectionate, and of course adorable! They have individual personalities and can be as friendly as dogs or as aloof as cats.
• Rabbits are very clean — they bathe themselves and can be trained to use a litter box.
• They can be kept in a large cage as long as they get time to roam free daily.
• Their poop is hard pellets that don’t smell – easy to clean!
• Indoor rabbits can live 10+ years. Smaller breeds tend to have longer life spans.
• People that are allergic to dogs and cats often are not allergic to rabbits.

CONS

• Rabbits require a special diet that can be quite pricey (hay, pellets, and fresh vegetables).
• Rabbits are more sensitive than dogs and cats and do not like being picked up, so they are best suited for kids 6+.
• Rabbits will chew anything like cords, baseboards, etc. because of their growing teeth so if they are free roaming, your house needs to be rabbit-proofed.
• Rabbits typically do not get along with dogs and cats.
• Their litter needs to be cleaned daily for pee and they poop A LOT!

Our dogs are indeed very curious about the rabbits, but we will put up a baby gate and the rabbits will be on the second floor while the dogs will be on the first floor. Our dogs are used to sharing their home with tons of other dogs and cats, so I think they will be fine with the rabbits — I just don’t want the rabbits to be scared since we’ve just brought them home, but they are doing great! Because they were used to being handled in a magic show, the rabbits are already very friendly towards us. As soon as we approach their pen, they come running hoping that we will give them food, and eat out of our hands. And oh my goodness can rabbits eat!

I’ve ordered hay online as it’s not available locally, and should be given in unlimited quantities. Hay should make up most of their daily diet, as well as 2 cups chopped vegetables (75% leafy greens) per 6 pounds of weight, and 1/4-1/2 cup of pellets depending on rabbit weight. This website has the best list I’ve come across on which vegetables should be given regularly, and which should be given in moderation due to high oaxalic acid content.

The supplies I’ve already purchased, most of which I had to buy online, include:

• playpen
• litter box
• hay
• rabbit pellets
• veggies (bok choy, spinach, carrots, parsley, romaine lettuce, basil)
• toys and mat made out of hay
• water bottle
• hay rack/feeding bowl
• brush

They also require vet care. They are a male and female, 1 years old, and have had 1 litter but none of the bunnies survived. I’m having them spayed and neutered this week. The vaccines they need unfortunately are not available on this island, but since they won’t come into contact with other bunnies and live indoors, they should be ok.

Pebble the female and the one used most often for magic tricks

Carrot the male who loves to eat more and is more chill.

Bringing these bunnies home cost us hundreds of dollars already, but the kids adore them and have been taking charge of every aspect of their care. They feed them, play with them, and change their litter. They’re also learning about all sorts of leafy greens that they wouldn’t otherwise as we figure out what to feed them. It’ll be over a week until their hay arrives, and they’ve never had hay in their lives, so I hope they take to it as hay is essential for keeping their teeth growth in check. They were also eating 6 mangoes/day when fruit should be given very sparingly as a treat, so I’ve been giving them mostly leafy greens but some fruits because their system is so used to it. Rabbits are very sensitive to diet changes, so hopefully they will be ok.

The kids love them already and I have to admit, they are pretty darn adorable.