Bunnies On A Budget?
Rabbits can be extremely costly to keep correctly but as long as you have enough money for insurance, yearly vaccinations and quality hay & pellets rabbits can be kept on a budget if you’re prepared to do some hard work to ensure their needs are met.
Most bunny parents will know that owning rabbits is not cheap with annual vaccinations and medical bills. However, there are several things you can do to save yourself some money without decreasing welfare standards. This can be as simple as buying in bulk, growing your own bunny food, and making your own toys to keep your bunny entertained.
Buy in bulk
Hay is the most important part of a rabbits diet and it is vital that rabbits have unlimited access to good quality hay. It is not only more cost effective to buy bales of hay from a farm shop(this works out around £5-£8 per bale), but these are also better quality than bagged pet shopped hays. You can also order bales and boxes of good quality variety hays online. Although these may be slightly pricier than bales of hay, they can be brought in bulk which makes individual items cheaper, can be easier to store, and provides variety for your bunnydiet. A lot of these companies also offer tester packs of their hay variety so you can “try before you buy”.
In addition you can save money by buying larger bags of pellets. Pellets tend to have a long shelf life and the bigger the bag you buy, the cheaper this works out. It can work out cheaper if you shop around online, and look for any deals to make your purchase cheaper, or by utilising multi-buy offers.
Annual checks at the vets
Although it may seem to defeat the point of saving money in the short term, taking your rabbits to the vets for an annual check up will definitely save you money in the long run, and can be done when your rabbit goes for its annual vaccine. In doing so vets can give a full health check and catch signs of illness early, and can provide guidance on how best to proceed, which will save you money on emergency appointments.
It is vital that you find yourself a rabbit savvy vet to ensure that the right care and advice is given to you. This will in fact save you money, as these vets will be experienced in rabbit veterinary care, and may be able to give you a better prognosis of illness than those not experiences with exotics. You may have to travel slightly further for these, however it is definitely worth it.
Although it may seem to defeat the point of saving money in the short term, taking your rabbits to the vets for an annual check up will definitely save you money in the long run, and can be done when your rabbit goes for its annual vaccine. In doing so vets can give a full health check and catch signs of illness early, and can provide guidance on how best to proceed, which will save you money on emergency appointments.
It is vital that you find yourself a rabbit savvy vet to ensure that the right care and advice is given to you. This will in fact save you money, as these vets will be experienced in rabbit veterinary care, and may be able to give you a better prognosis of illness than those not experiences with exotics. You may have to travel slightly further for these, however it is definitely worth it.
Accommodation
Accommodation can be quite pricey when buying readymade set ups, and many of these aren’t actually suitable for rabbits. To keep costs low, my suggestion is to build it yourself. Predator proof wire and wood to build aviary panels is an extremely cost effective way of building a suitable outdoor 60 square foot accommodation for a fraction of the price. Second hand sheds work perfectly as shelters, which can easily be incorporated into the accommodation, or attached via a tunnel system, and in some cases last longer than premade items. As long as they are thoroughly disinfected before use, there is no reason why second hand items cannot be used.
Accommodation can be quite pricey when buying readymade set ups, and many of these aren’t actually suitable for rabbits. To keep costs low, my suggestion is to build it yourself. Predator proof wire and wood to build aviary panels is an extremely cost effective way of building a suitable outdoor 60 square foot accommodation for a fraction of the price. Second hand sheds work perfectly as shelters, which can easily be incorporated into the accommodation, or attached via a tunnel system, and in some cases last longer than premade items. As long as they are thoroughly disinfected before use, there is no reason why second hand items cannot be used.
Grow your own food
Rabbits are herbivores with a diet made completely of a plant based diet such as leafy greens, herbs, forage and vegetables. This is the part of the rabbit’s diet that can be the most costlyhowever you can grow some yourself, especially during the summer months saving yourself some money.
Growing a herb garden, and leafy green such as cabbage, kale and sprouting broccoli will allow you to cut the price of your rabbit vegetable shop dramatically. Rabbit safe seed packs can also be brought online to grow both in your garden and as a tasty windowsill snack.
Alternatively, you could try your hand at foraging, which is FREE! There are several books to get your hands on and support groups specifically for rabbit foraging on social media. The summer months are the best for this, however there are several plants still available through the colder months. It is a fun, alternative hobby, and your bunnies will thank you for it. Another fantastic thing with foraging is that you can dry this out ready for the winter months. You can buy dried wild plants and forage online in bulk, which will save you money if foraging and drying isn’t for you. This is cheaper than buying small packs of dried herbs from pet stores and supermarkets.
Rabbits are herbivores with a diet made completely of a plant based diet such as leafy greens, herbs, forage and vegetables. This is the part of the rabbit’s diet that can be the most costlyhowever you can grow some yourself, especially during the summer months saving yourself some money.
Growing a herb garden, and leafy green such as cabbage, kale and sprouting broccoli will allow you to cut the price of your rabbit vegetable shop dramatically. Rabbit safe seed packs can also be brought online to grow both in your garden and as a tasty windowsill snack.
Alternatively, you could try your hand at foraging, which is FREE! There are several books to get your hands on and support groups specifically for rabbit foraging on social media. The summer months are the best for this, however there are several plants still available through the colder months. It is a fun, alternative hobby, and your bunnies will thank you for it. Another fantastic thing with foraging is that you can dry this out ready for the winter months. You can buy dried wild plants and forage online in bulk, which will save you money if foraging and drying isn’t for you. This is cheaper than buying small packs of dried herbs from pet stores and supermarkets.
Make your own toys and treats
Toys are important for mental stimulation in your rabbits, as well as being vital for dental health, however commercially brought toys can get pricey, especially those that rabbits will destroy quickly. Rabbit toys need not be expensive, and sometimes the toys that rabbits have the most fun with are those that are homemade.
You can make rabbit toys from materials just lying around the house. Something as simple as a toilet roll tube stuffed with hay and a few tasty treats can give your bunny hours of fun. Old cardboard boxes can have holes cut from the sides and made into makeshift hide boxes, or stuffed with hay and forage to create a tasty dig pit. Just make sure that if your bunny is chewing these, they are not eating the cardboard.
What to look for regarding enrichment
Items marketed for rabbits online or in stores tend to be pricier than those marketed for other animals and humans, with some of these items being versatile and useful enrichment items.
Litter trays marketed for rabbits are usually too small to be affective; therefore I would recommend using an under-bed storage box as a litter tray. These are definitely cheaper and are more suitable than those marketed for rabbits in the pet shop, giving them more space to graze on hay, snuggle, and may even make a fun rabbit dig pit.
Cat tents, tunnels and trees make fantastic enrichment for rabbits. They tend to be cheaper than specific marketed products and some can even be brought in the supermarket. Just make sure that any dangly balls, bells or feathers are cut off before use to prevent injury to your rabbit.
Children’s chairs and tables are great enrichment for rabbits as allow for them to get up high. Baby toys such as stacking cups, rattles and wooden blocks make great toys for rabbits to throw around and play with, and are cheaper than specifically marketed products. Most of these items can be acquired second hand through selling sites, usually for pennies and sometimes even for free. Just make sure anything second hand is thoroughly disinfected before use.
Toys are important for mental stimulation in your rabbits, as well as being vital for dental health, however commercially brought toys can get pricey, especially those that rabbits will destroy quickly. Rabbit toys need not be expensive, and sometimes the toys that rabbits have the most fun with are those that are homemade.
You can make rabbit toys from materials just lying around the house. Something as simple as a toilet roll tube stuffed with hay and a few tasty treats can give your bunny hours of fun. Old cardboard boxes can have holes cut from the sides and made into makeshift hide boxes, or stuffed with hay and forage to create a tasty dig pit. Just make sure that if your bunny is chewing these, they are not eating the cardboard.
What to look for regarding enrichment
Items marketed for rabbits online or in stores tend to be pricier than those marketed for other animals and humans, with some of these items being versatile and useful enrichment items.
Litter trays marketed for rabbits are usually too small to be affective; therefore I would recommend using an under-bed storage box as a litter tray. These are definitely cheaper and are more suitable than those marketed for rabbits in the pet shop, giving them more space to graze on hay, snuggle, and may even make a fun rabbit dig pit.
Cat tents, tunnels and trees make fantastic enrichment for rabbits. They tend to be cheaper than specific marketed products and some can even be brought in the supermarket. Just make sure that any dangly balls, bells or feathers are cut off before use to prevent injury to your rabbit.
Children’s chairs and tables are great enrichment for rabbits as allow for them to get up high. Baby toys such as stacking cups, rattles and wooden blocks make great toys for rabbits to throw around and play with, and are cheaper than specifically marketed products. Most of these items can be acquired second hand through selling sites, usually for pennies and sometimes even for free. Just make sure anything second hand is thoroughly disinfected before use.
Adopt, don’t shop
Adopting rabbits rather than buying them from a pet shop or breeder is definitely going to save you money. Not only that, they will come with a clean bill of health, vaccinations, neutering and potentially with a friend. Adoptions fees are usually around £50 per bunny, whereas typically breeders and pet shops sadly charge a lot more for a lot less. Adoption from a rescue also allows you to access free guidance and advice, and most will often offer a bonding service if you lose your rabbit’s friend. Not only that but by adopting you aresupporting a worthy cause, as over 35,000 rabbits are abandoned in the UK each year, therefore you are not only saving money on necessary medical bills, but you are also helping an animal in need.
Adopting rabbits rather than buying them from a pet shop or breeder is definitely going to save you money. Not only that, they will come with a clean bill of health, vaccinations, neutering and potentially with a friend. Adoptions fees are usually around £50 per bunny, whereas typically breeders and pet shops sadly charge a lot more for a lot less. Adoption from a rescue also allows you to access free guidance and advice, and most will often offer a bonding service if you lose your rabbit’s friend. Not only that but by adopting you aresupporting a worthy cause, as over 35,000 rabbits are abandoned in the UK each year, therefore you are not only saving money on necessary medical bills, but you are also helping an animal in need.
Rabbit’s are definitely not fussy about how much is spent on the toys and enrichment provided to them, and it is honestly sometimes the cheapest of things that gives them the most joy. As long as welfare standards are maintained, and your rabbit is happy, it is definitely okay to keep it cheap and cheerful
