Welcome to my Bunny Baby Book! I wanted a small part of my website dedicated to a sort of baby book for my sons Edgar and Oscar, so here we are. I adopted them on December 6th and at the time of adoption they were about three months old. They are Dwarf Mixes and brothers from the same litter.
I'm the first to admit that I adopted them on a bit of an impulse. Every year I work on the Christmas tree farm, I want to adopt rabbits. That hasn't changed. Every year I manage to talk myself out of it. This year was different. We had a lot of the rabbits get sick. Some, sadly, did not make it. We were near the end of the season, with four rabbits left. Two more fell ill, including one I had become attached to who I had started calling socks (he had white on his feet.) Eager to keep the two who hadn't fallen ill healthy, I adopted them that day and took them home.
Edgar, Oscar, Socks, and a Fourth unnamed bunny, photo taken while they were all still in good health. Taken Dec 4th.
Emotionally and mentally, I was prepared. Physically, I had a lot to buy. It took a week for their hutch to be shipped in which sucked. I was going to work everyday and giving the sick bunnies medication and nursing them back to health until we could find someone to take them, which thankfully, we eventually did. I honestly would have adopted all four myself, but I do not have the money or space to do so. While it's great to run in and rescue animals when you can, it's also important to know your limits, not only for yourself, but for the sake of giving the animals the best homes as well!
Edgar and Oscar enjoying some fresh greens in their take home carrier on the day they were adopted, Dec 6th.
I took little Edgar and Oscar to their first vet appointment on December 9th, though at the time they were Rabbit #1 and Rabbit #2, two unnamed siblings, unsure of sex or even which one was which as they were very identical. At this vet appointment we learned that Rabbit #1, aka Edgar, is about 600 grams and has dark brown tips on his ears and Rabbit #2, aka Oscar, is about 500 grams.
Edgar and Oscar at the Vet, Dec 9th.
After I learned that one bun is significantly larger than the other I started being able to tell them apart pretty easily. I also learned that they're both boys which means I didn't have to seperate them or worry about pregnancy. (THANK GOD.) My friend who adopted two of Edgar and Oscar's other siblings ended up with a boy and a girl and had to seperate them until maturity (not until January) until they can be fixed. I'm really glad we were able to dodge that bullet!
Edgar and Oscar inside their carrier, Dec 9th.
Edgar and Oscar at the Vet, Dec 9th.
After I learned that one bun is significantly larger than the other I started being able to tell them apart pretty easily. I also learned that they're both boys which means I didn't have to seperate them or worry about pregnancy. (THANK GOD.) My friend who adopted two of Edgar and Oscar's other siblings ended up with a boy and a girl and had to seperate them until maturity (not until January) until they can be fixed. I'm really glad we were able to dodge that bullet!
Edgar and Oscar inside their carrier, Dec 9th.
For the rest of December, in between me finishing up work at the Christmas tree farm, me and my new sons bonded and got to know each other. I experimented with different toys, hay bins, and play pens. While a lot of people online recommended dog playpens for their large size I found them instantly problematic as even Edgar could just about slip right through the bars! And he didn't seem to stop trying to wiggle through the bars even after his wide hips wouldn't fit through. It took some trial and error but we eventually found a solution that worked for everyone. We also went thrift store shopping where I picked up various dishes to use as food and water bowls, including a food bowl divided into two with bunnies printed on them. I couldn't resist.
Oscar grooming Edgar sitting on top of a small box I used as a hidey hole, Dec 10th.
Oscar and Edgar hanging out together in their playpen, pictured also is their food dish, Dec 10th.
I also have a cat named Neela, who I adopted 18 years ago, so she's at least that old. Truth be told I know pretty much nothing about her past before adoption. Nowadays she's old and senile and does pretty much nothing but cuddle me and sleep. I wasn't really worried about her at all with the bunnies. She's afraid of bugs. They've been getting a lot pretty well. They're curious about each other but the bunnies set pretty clear boundaries when Neela's getting too curious. Neela's not showing any hunting instincts whatsoever, she's more interested in eating their hay than anything else. Lately she's been trying to go inside their hutch with them with interesting results... I always watch the buns and my cat very closely to make sure I don't need to intervene but I try to let them set their own boundaries.
Edgar and Oscar hanging out in their playpen with Neela sniffing one of the boys. Dec 11th.
It took about a week to get their hutch in, which in the meantime they stayed in their playpen. My mom came over before work in the morning and we built the hutch together. Luckily it was pretty easy! I still keep them in their playpen at least four hours a day. Giving bunnies exerise is really important. But when not out and about I wanted to give them their own space that was large enough for them to be able to hang out. I do like how this hutch turned out. My only real complaint after having it for awhile is that I wish the bottom had two doors instead of just one. If you do decide to get your rabbits a hutch, make sure to get one that has pull out trays for the bottoms like this one has. It makes cleaning so much easier, particularly since I'm disabled.
The Hutch fully built, with one of the buns sticking his head out. Dec 11th
At this point, my mom was having a double knee replacement, which was inoppertune time for bunny documenting, sadly. This was also around the time when I started potty training. So if I wasn't out taking care of her, I was at home, constantly cleaning their cage. I was suprised with how quickly they took to using litter boxes, however, because they weren't fixed at the this time (still too young) it was more of like an 80% litter training rather than full litter box usage. It made me excited for them to finally get fixed, lol.
Oscar and Edgar, enjoying morning pellets. Dec 28th.
We also had a vet follow up on Dec 30th. Bunny vaxinations are two rounds so this was just a general health check up and getting the second dose. I was suprised at how much they had opened up and how much more comfortable they were at their second appointment. They took the vax shots without so much as flinching, and Edgar even wandered in and out of the carrier while Oscar was getting his check up, almost as if he was checking on his little brother, as well as being a curious little guy. Their vet says that they're both very well behaved. : )
Edgar and Oscar in their carrier, eating some hay and waiting patiently for their vet follow up. Dec 30th.
Oscar grooming Edgar sitting on top of a small box I used as a hidey hole, Dec 10th.
Oscar and Edgar hanging out together in their playpen, pictured also is their food dish, Dec 10th.
I also have a cat named Neela, who I adopted 18 years ago, so she's at least that old. Truth be told I know pretty much nothing about her past before adoption. Nowadays she's old and senile and does pretty much nothing but cuddle me and sleep. I wasn't really worried about her at all with the bunnies. She's afraid of bugs. They've been getting a lot pretty well. They're curious about each other but the bunnies set pretty clear boundaries when Neela's getting too curious. Neela's not showing any hunting instincts whatsoever, she's more interested in eating their hay than anything else. Lately she's been trying to go inside their hutch with them with interesting results... I always watch the buns and my cat very closely to make sure I don't need to intervene but I try to let them set their own boundaries.
Edgar and Oscar hanging out in their playpen with Neela sniffing one of the boys. Dec 11th.
It took about a week to get their hutch in, which in the meantime they stayed in their playpen. My mom came over before work in the morning and we built the hutch together. Luckily it was pretty easy! I still keep them in their playpen at least four hours a day. Giving bunnies exerise is really important. But when not out and about I wanted to give them their own space that was large enough for them to be able to hang out. I do like how this hutch turned out. My only real complaint after having it for awhile is that I wish the bottom had two doors instead of just one. If you do decide to get your rabbits a hutch, make sure to get one that has pull out trays for the bottoms like this one has. It makes cleaning so much easier, particularly since I'm disabled.
The Hutch fully built, with one of the buns sticking his head out. Dec 11th
At this point, my mom was having a double knee replacement, which was inoppertune time for bunny documenting, sadly. This was also around the time when I started potty training. So if I wasn't out taking care of her, I was at home, constantly cleaning their cage. I was suprised with how quickly they took to using litter boxes, however, because they weren't fixed at the this time (still too young) it was more of like an 80% litter training rather than full litter box usage. It made me excited for them to finally get fixed, lol.
Oscar and Edgar, enjoying morning pellets. Dec 28th.
We also had a vet follow up on Dec 30th. Bunny vaxinations are two rounds so this was just a general health check up and getting the second dose. I was suprised at how much they had opened up and how much more comfortable they were at their second appointment. They took the vax shots without so much as flinching, and Edgar even wandered in and out of the carrier while Oscar was getting his check up, almost as if he was checking on his little brother, as well as being a curious little guy. Their vet says that they're both very well behaved. : )
Edgar and Oscar in their carrier, eating some hay and waiting patiently for their vet follow up. Dec 30th.
In January we experimented more with their playpen setup as well as trying new hides, toys, and treats. I was still caretaking my mom at this time and I was actually starting to leave them in the playpen for longer and longer. By late to mid January I was actually leaving the bunnies in the playpen most of the time, only putting them back in the hutch when I was asleep or when I was going to be out of the house for longer than an hour or so. I think they liked the freedom and the extra space a lot.
Edgar and Oscar loafing in their playpen. Jan 11th.
We also started experimenting more with different veggies around this time. I was going to different grocery stores to see what all they had in stock that was fresh and healthy. I found out, for example, that they really really like basil and cilantro while, for some reason, they didn't seem to like Dill at all! We also, in very small amounts, experimented with fruits, such as bananas, blueberries, strawberries, oranges, and apples. I think bananas are still a favorite! One of their favorite new toys, also pictured below, is a colorful tunnel with three exits that was gifted to them by their grandma. They love running through tunnels!
Edgar and Oscar enjoying their evening veggies. Jan 15th.
At this point I also started to observe bunny flopping, which I was very very excited about. This meant that I was providing a comfortable enough habitat that they were willing to lay down and relax on their side which is a very vunerable position! I wasn't ever sure if they would flop on their side, at this point I had only seen them loaf, but as of writing this I can say that both are avid side floppers. : D
Covert picture taken of the very first flop seen by human eyes. Jan 15th.
An Oscar flop with an Edgar manspread. Jan 16th.
Since they were getting more comfortable, we also started spending time in my bed together, both seperately and individually. Before this I was mostly spending time sitting on the floor with the playpen or hutch open, letting them come to me. Now that they were more comfortable being handled, I started picking them up to transport them from the floor to my bed. Not a far carry, but still nerve wracking! They did like exploring my bed, but eventually they'd come and lay down with me for some well deserved cuddles.
Edgar snuggled up between my arm and a stuffed animal. Jan 28th.
Edgar and Oscar loafing in their playpen. Jan 11th.
We also started experimenting more with different veggies around this time. I was going to different grocery stores to see what all they had in stock that was fresh and healthy. I found out, for example, that they really really like basil and cilantro while, for some reason, they didn't seem to like Dill at all! We also, in very small amounts, experimented with fruits, such as bananas, blueberries, strawberries, oranges, and apples. I think bananas are still a favorite! One of their favorite new toys, also pictured below, is a colorful tunnel with three exits that was gifted to them by their grandma. They love running through tunnels!
Edgar and Oscar enjoying their evening veggies. Jan 15th.
At this point I also started to observe bunny flopping, which I was very very excited about. This meant that I was providing a comfortable enough habitat that they were willing to lay down and relax on their side which is a very vunerable position! I wasn't ever sure if they would flop on their side, at this point I had only seen them loaf, but as of writing this I can say that both are avid side floppers. : D
Covert picture taken of the very first flop seen by human eyes. Jan 15th.
An Oscar flop with an Edgar manspread. Jan 16th.
Since they were getting more comfortable, we also started spending time in my bed together, both seperately and individually. Before this I was mostly spending time sitting on the floor with the playpen or hutch open, letting them come to me. Now that they were more comfortable being handled, I started picking them up to transport them from the floor to my bed. Not a far carry, but still nerve wracking! They did like exploring my bed, but eventually they'd come and lay down with me for some well deserved cuddles.
Edgar snuggled up between my arm and a stuffed animal. Jan 28th.
text goes here
tab 3 pages
tab 4 pages
text goes here!
tab 5 pages
text goes here!
text goes here
text goes here
text goes here
text goes here
text goes here
text goes here