My husband and I decided to give our children a real treat this Easter...A real live Easter Bunny! We made a trip to our local Agway store and, as we suspected, they had several baby bunnies for sale, along with fresh-hatched chicks and ducks. Thank heaven that Darlene,
lady working during our visit, knew a good bit about bunnies. She was able to quickly gather essentials we needed to take our new family member home, before our 2 year-old harmed any of little chicks that she insisted on picking up by their necks! I was glad to get out of there!
So with supplies in hand, and our furry little friend in a box, we headed for home. We made a quick stop at local Giant Eagle for cat litter, since our new friend will be a house pet.
Since this was my first experience with a bunny, I decided to consult my wise friend, internet, for some advice. I learned a lot from sites I visited and it made whole process much easier for us. We especially wanted to learn about litter training, since that would be key to keeping our new friend indoors! I'll share these helpful links with you later in article.
If you're thinking of purchasing a bunny of your own, here is a list of essential items you will need to get started. Are you wondering about cost? The bunny was cheap, just $6.50. However, all "stuff" we needed to go along with it added up to about $75.00. These amounts can vary depending on type of bunny you want (pure bred, or mix) and "accessories" you choose.
Essential Items:
1. Cage—There are lots of styles and sizes to choose from. We chose a 2' x 2' wire cage. Make sure there is ample room for all items that must be in there plus room for bunny to play! 2. Water bowl—I recommend a heavy ceramic dish that will be heavy enough not to tip over when bunny decides to stand on side! 3. Food bowl—Same recommendation as above. 4. Food—Special pellets just for bunnies. Ask your bunny salesman for recommendations. TIP: I always thought we could feed her scraps of cabbage, carrots, lettuce...you know, all things that "Peter Rabbit" liked! I was quickly cautioned against this. It seems that too much of these good things will cause diarrhea! I've not personally witnessed this as yet, but I'm taking her word for it. These items should only be given in small amounts as "treats" every now and then. 5. Litter pan—Any plastic pan will do. I purchased a corner pan from Petco, which fits nicely in corner of her cage and doesn't take up much space. The back sides are higher than front so bunny can get in and out without much effort.
