Top 5 Things to Ask When You Buy a Bunny (for a pet)
For those who like their information dealt in short, succinct bites, I present the Top 5 series articles. This is a series that aims to give you a cheat sheet, born out of my own mistakes and suffering, so that you can make wiser decisions with less research. For those that want a longer explanation, meander down the page. So, without further ado:
Top 5 Things to Ask When You Buy a Pet Bunny
1. Can I see the Parents?
2. What kind of temperament does this bunny seem to have/how much human interaction has it had since birth?
3. What is it's current cage size?
4. What kind of food does it eat/how does it drink?
5. What is your return/rehoming policy and can I count on you for help with the transition?
Okay, now for those who like a little more detail:
1. Can I see the parents?
You want to see the parents. If you can't see both, at least the doe. Seeing the parents will give you an idea of the general condition of the rabbits in the rabbitry. Are they healthy, clean, generally cared for, socially adjusted. Those are all clues. If you are looking at an 8 week kit, be aware that a nursing mother might look a bit thin. She will fatten back up once she no longer needs to produce milk for so many babies. You'd look tired too if you had quintuplets and no help.
2. What kind of temperament does this bunny seem to have/how much human interaction has it had since birth?
You want to have a heads up, as much as possible about the temperament of your bunny. It's hard to tell at 8 weeks, but does it act shy, outgoing, friendly, etc. Ask about the temperament of the parents. The apple doesn't usually fall to far from the tree. Ask about socialization. Frequent, kind human interaction since birth can only help. Limited human interaction can make for a challenging start.
3. What is it's current cage size?
This is not about judging the breeder for having their bunnies in a cage smaller than 3 ft by 5 ft - or whatever people on the internet claim is the correct size. This is about helping you understand what size your bunny is accustomed to, so that you don't overwhelm it with a huge space, or make it feel trapped with a tiny space.
4. What kind of food does it eat/how does it drink?
This is essential. Some bunnies transition to your food just fine. Some bunnies protest with a hunger strike. You need to have a bag of transition food on hand - and ideally the brand and name of the food in case it takes a long time to switch over. Also, this is not obvious - what does the bunny currently drink from: a dish, a water bottle with a ball, a water bottle with a stick valve.
5. What is your return/rehoming policy and can I count on you for help with the transition?
This needs to be clear and up front to everyone involved in the sale. There is a short window in which it is rarely the fault of the buyer - typically a few days to a week. If the bunny is sick (this does happen), or particularly nasty and unsocial, the breeder should have a return policy to deal with it. Know what that policy is, and make sure they know that you know. Ad nauseam - to protect yourself. However, once you pass that short window, the percentages of fault start shifting, and it's less clear who is responsible. Behavioral problems can definitely be the result of interaction with their new family. That's also enough time for the buyer's children, pets, friends etc, to make the bunny sick. In those cases, is the breeder willing to work with you? Will they readily exchange calls, emails, texts to resolve a problem, educate you, or help what was once THEIR bunny?
Okay, so if asking these questions seems annoying and pointless to you, then you probably view the bunny as a starter pet and aren't too worried about what happens in the end anyway. If however, you want to hedge your bets towards getting a bunny that is healthy and a good addition to your family, muster up your courage and ask these questions. Conversely, if the breeder you are buying from balks at having to answer 5 questions, then consider whether you trust them enough to buy from them anyway.