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| If you have done any shopping at all for your soon-to-be pet, you have discovered that rabbits are not as cheap as one can lead you to believe. Here is a brief list of equipment you will need and about the average costs of them. Cage - $30--$100+ Depending on what type of cage you get, how big it is, and where you get it you could pay next to nothing for it or you could pay a boatload. Some cheaper equipment dealers that I highly recommend: Bass Equipment Martins Cages Kw Cages Water Bottle - $3-$10 Depending on the size of the water bottle (I recommend 32oz) and what it is made of (plastic or glass--I recommend plastic; if the rabbit is kept outside, water will expand when frozen and can break the glass bottle, and if you drop a plastic bottle it will not break like a glass bottle.) you can expect to pay more or less. I recommend water bottles over crocks because the water stays clean longer. J-feeder or Feed Crock - $3--$10+ Again, depending on size and what it is made of. Ceramic crocks (these are the best to use because they are heavy) tend to be a bit more pricey than the metal J-feeders (the feeders that clip onto the side of the cage). Litterbox - $5--$15 You can buy a cheap cat litterbox at stores like Wal-Mart for next to nothing. You can also find litterboxes with grids over top of them to prevent litter spilling all over the place. These are more expensive. A trick: you can find florescent light covers ($5-$9) at hardware stores such as Lowes and Home Depot. They are white and come in large grids. You can cut these to fit the litterbox. Use golf balls (1 in each corner + 1 in the center) to hold the grid over the litter. I use these and they are a cheap alternative to ready-made grid litterboxes. Litter/bedding - $2--$15 I use Pine bedding in my rabbits' litterboxes. I buy the gigantic bags you see at stores like Wal-Mart and Meijer. The price is about $6 and it lasts about a month-month and a half. Pine IS safe, contrary to some people's beliefs. (see: "The Truth About Pine" by Corinne Fayo) If you chose to stay on the safe side as some people do, you can use Aspen bedding, Feline Pine, Yesterday's News, All Pet Pine, Carefresh, or wood pellets found at hardware stores seasonally. The brands like Feline Pine and Yesterday's News are quite spendy. I have tried Feline Pine and wasn't at all impressed (it is a pelleted litter). Regular Pine bedding works much better at controlling odors in my opinion. Hay - $2--$3 A lot of rabbit owners have a problem when it comes to hay. Many aren't sure where to find it. A lot of sites tell you not to buy hay from pet stores or department stores. I buy my hay from Wal-Mart. In Ohio, anyway, the hay is always green and fresh, and the rabbits love it. And the cost is $2.17/bag. Look for green, sweet-scented hay. Less dust is best. Many people order from Oxbowhay.com. I have heard good things about this company, but they are VERY expensive. I'd go broke just buying hay for the buns if I went through Oxbow. :-) Pellets - $3--$15 Please try to feed your rabbit the best pellets available. Most feed stores carry a variety of rabbit pellets. Purina, Blue Seal, Oxbow, and Manna Pro are a few quality brands. I feed Purina Complete Blend formula and am very satisfied with it. For a 25lb bag I pay $5.06 and the rabbits enjoy it thoroughly. Stay away from brands like Kaytee and the pellets with dried fruits and veggies, colored kibble, and seeds mixed in. These are junk...complete and utter junk. Your rabbit will receive no nutritional benefits from them. **For more information on feeding, check out our "Diet & General Information" page. UNDER CONSTRUCTION** Now you have a vague idea of the prices on the necessary items. If you do some shopping around, you may find better deals on items that I listed as expensive. Home Click to go to the HOMES 4 PETS site ! |
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