Bunnies are amazing house pets. They are full of personality, and they are absolutely adorable! Before you decide to adopt someone, here are some things you should consider to be sure they are right for you and your household.
- As stated on our home page, rabbits are a BIG commitment. On average they can live 8-10 years, sometimes more with proper care. That's just as long as a cat or a dog's lifespan!
- Rabbits are prey animals. Most of them naturally get really scared when being picked up; so although you can slowly work on handling your bunny, the best way to bond with them is to get down on the floor and let them come to you. Rabbits are not recommended for little kids as starter pets or cuddle buddies.
- Contrary to popular belief, You can just have one bunny in your home, and they can be just as entertained and happy as a bonded pair would be, as long as they have lots of love and attention daily from you!
- Rabbits need DAILY care and cannot be left home alone for days at a time. They may not be a good pet for those who travel often, or plan on leaving bunny alone for many hours. However, bunnies are crepuscular "daytime sleepers" they sleep 6-8 hours a day, and are most active dawn and dusk. If you work 9-5 this may be perfect for a bunny owner :)
- It is Generally best to start with just one bunny and add a second after the first is spayed/neutered, if you want to have multiple bunnies.
- Sometimes two bunnies may never bond. Just like other animals and people they may never like each other, and will need to be housed in separate living quarters.
- Spaying/neutering is HIGHLY recommended for pet rabbits because their hormonal behaviors can be undesirable.
- Getting your bunny spayed/neutered can cost anywhere from $300-500 depending on where you live. Locally, the Bunny vet that I recommend is Coverdale vet in Riverview NB. Last I checked their neuter cost was $280 and included a wellness exam day of, pain medication to take home, and a 6 month follow up exam. They also make sure your bunny is eating before they leave and keep them overnight if they feel they need it, with no extra fee. The vet is experienced with bunnies and I would highly recommend them.
- Rabbits can be litter trained quite easily, but prepare for territorial accidents if they are not spayed/neutered.
- Even when litter trained, you WILL find some stray poop pellets, they are usually dry and I just pick them up and put them back in the litterbox.
- When fed a high quality pellet with no fillers, and unlimited grass hay, a bunnies litter box shouldn't really smell. Clean the litter box every day or every couple days. (Getting your rabbit fixed will help reduce smells even more)
- As prey animals, rabbits can be quite nervous around predators, such as dogs and cats, which is something to keep in mind if you have other pets in the home.
- Locating a rabbit-savvy veterinarian for emergencies and spaying/neutering is a MUST when owning a bunny. Don't wait until there is an emergency to be prepared.
- Rabbits have sensitive digestive systems and should not be fed low quality pellets or sugary/processed treats. NO dairy such as yogurt drops from the pet store. (many pet store products with a bunny on the bag are not actually safe for bunnies)
- Don't feed a baby bunny anything but pellets and hay. alfalfa can be given up until 5 months of age. Grass hays are safe for all ages.
- Do your research when it comes to bunny-safe greens and fruits. I recommend clicking this Link for a list of what is safe and what to avoid.
- GI stasis is probably the most common bunny illness. If your bunny stops eating, drinking or pooping please call your vet. having a bunny first aid kit on hand can also help with small injuries and early G.I stasis warning signs.
FAQ & more
I REALLY want to adopt a Riverbend bunny!! How do I do that?
To maintain the highest standard of care of to each our rabbits, we have a limited number of rabbits living at Riverbend at a time. For our bunnies' wellbeing; and to ensure proper care and socialization, we only breed a few rabbits at a time. We believe that quality is more important than quantity. Therefore, the amount of bunnies we have available for adoption is limited. It may take several months before a bunny is available for you and your family. At around 6-7 weeks, I gender the bunnies, and begin to decide who I would like to stay at Riverbend a bit longer to improve my program, and who I will be making available for adoption. When a bunny is available for reservation, I will post them on my available bunnies page, as well as my instagram account. I want my bunnies going to the best caregivers, so priority is given to the most suitable matches.
How do I ensure I'm a good match?
Here are some ways you can prepare for your bunny/show me you are ready:
1. Fill out our adoption application with as much detail as possible
1. Read over my website/review the bunny checklist
2. Do your own research
3. Send me photos of your bunnies enclosure(s), free roam space(s), outdoor play space, etc. Anything that shows that you are ready to adopt a new companion.
4. let me know which rabbit savvy vet you are going to be seeing for their spay/neuter as well as regular vet checks.
5. Tell me about your experience with animals/pets.
How much are your bunnies?
Our bunnies range from $150- $350+ depending on their quality and their colours. That may seem like alot, but the only way to cut down on costs is to give cheaper/lower quality food, have our bunnies in tiny cages, over breed our bunnies etc which are all things I am completely against! Sometimes it takes months of trying before a doe gets pregnant. Certain colours are harder to produce. We also travel and spend money on quality bunnies to add to our program. We put lots of money and care into our bunnies to ensure they are their healthiest and happiest from day one. We do not raise bunnies for profit, we raise bunnies because we love the breeds we are raising. The bunnies we do sell merely cover some of the costs of our supplies/food/pens/vet care etc.
Our bunnies all come with some litter training (babies take longer to perfect that skill than adults, but they usually don't have pee accidents by the time they are 8 weeks of age), lifetime support from riverbend, transition hay/pellets, a sample of the litter we use, and our spay/neuter voucher. All of our bunnies have received flea/tick/mite prevention treatment (revolution).
Where are you located?
I am located on Havelock Road about 10 mins outside of Petitcodiac NB.
Do you have any bunnies available now?
Available bunnies will be posted on this page. We do have bunnies available year round as we are often working on improving our herd. We don't usually have bunnies available day of, but I promise, it's worth the wait getting a quality, well socialized companion.
Can I come visit and look at some bunnies?
Now that covid is coming to an end, we do allow visitors in the shop to come see the bunnies that you are interested in. We ask that you wear a mask and sanitize your hands, as well as social distance.
Do you deliver?
If you need us to deliver, we do offer within some of NB (fees apply) please contact for more information. We also have a transporter who goes as far as Ontario. (ground shipping)
Can two bunnies live together?
Yes, so long as they are both fixed and bonded properly. Bunnies do best in male/female pairs, but often stay bonded to same sex littermates.(as long as they're fixed). It is a great idea to have a pair of bunnies, as it benefits them greatly. I have some more information on that here.
Should I bathe my rabbit?
Absolutely not. bunnies are self cleaning, just like cats! They will groom themselves all day long. Bathing a bunny is extremely stressful and could potentially lead to serious harm or death. Please don't bathe your bunny! If you are having issues with mess please reach out to your vet.
To maintain the highest standard of care of to each our rabbits, we have a limited number of rabbits living at Riverbend at a time. For our bunnies' wellbeing; and to ensure proper care and socialization, we only breed a few rabbits at a time. We believe that quality is more important than quantity. Therefore, the amount of bunnies we have available for adoption is limited. It may take several months before a bunny is available for you and your family. At around 6-7 weeks, I gender the bunnies, and begin to decide who I would like to stay at Riverbend a bit longer to improve my program, and who I will be making available for adoption. When a bunny is available for reservation, I will post them on my available bunnies page, as well as my instagram account. I want my bunnies going to the best caregivers, so priority is given to the most suitable matches.
How do I ensure I'm a good match?
Here are some ways you can prepare for your bunny/show me you are ready:
1. Fill out our adoption application with as much detail as possible
1. Read over my website/review the bunny checklist
2. Do your own research
3. Send me photos of your bunnies enclosure(s), free roam space(s), outdoor play space, etc. Anything that shows that you are ready to adopt a new companion.
4. let me know which rabbit savvy vet you are going to be seeing for their spay/neuter as well as regular vet checks.
5. Tell me about your experience with animals/pets.
How much are your bunnies?
Our bunnies range from $150- $350+ depending on their quality and their colours. That may seem like alot, but the only way to cut down on costs is to give cheaper/lower quality food, have our bunnies in tiny cages, over breed our bunnies etc which are all things I am completely against! Sometimes it takes months of trying before a doe gets pregnant. Certain colours are harder to produce. We also travel and spend money on quality bunnies to add to our program. We put lots of money and care into our bunnies to ensure they are their healthiest and happiest from day one. We do not raise bunnies for profit, we raise bunnies because we love the breeds we are raising. The bunnies we do sell merely cover some of the costs of our supplies/food/pens/vet care etc.
Our bunnies all come with some litter training (babies take longer to perfect that skill than adults, but they usually don't have pee accidents by the time they are 8 weeks of age), lifetime support from riverbend, transition hay/pellets, a sample of the litter we use, and our spay/neuter voucher. All of our bunnies have received flea/tick/mite prevention treatment (revolution).
Where are you located?
I am located on Havelock Road about 10 mins outside of Petitcodiac NB.
Do you have any bunnies available now?
Available bunnies will be posted on this page. We do have bunnies available year round as we are often working on improving our herd. We don't usually have bunnies available day of, but I promise, it's worth the wait getting a quality, well socialized companion.
Can I come visit and look at some bunnies?
Now that covid is coming to an end, we do allow visitors in the shop to come see the bunnies that you are interested in. We ask that you wear a mask and sanitize your hands, as well as social distance.
Do you deliver?
If you need us to deliver, we do offer within some of NB (fees apply) please contact for more information. We also have a transporter who goes as far as Ontario. (ground shipping)
Can two bunnies live together?
Yes, so long as they are both fixed and bonded properly. Bunnies do best in male/female pairs, but often stay bonded to same sex littermates.(as long as they're fixed). It is a great idea to have a pair of bunnies, as it benefits them greatly. I have some more information on that here.
Should I bathe my rabbit?
Absolutely not. bunnies are self cleaning, just like cats! They will groom themselves all day long. Bathing a bunny is extremely stressful and could potentially lead to serious harm or death. Please don't bathe your bunny! If you are having issues with mess please reach out to your vet.
What is normal bunny poop?
Bunny droppings is a very good indicator of bunny's health. A healthy adult bunny is going to have medium to large droppings that are golden brown in colour, and full of hay fiber. They are dry and easy to squish. Rabbits on average will produce 200-400 poop pellets a day.
Another type of poop rabbits produce are called Cecotropes or cecal pellets. They sort of look like a bunch of grapes, are mooshy and smell strongly. They are usually a dark brown colour. They are totally normal and not the same as Diarrhea. Generally a bunny will eat them from their bottom for important nutrients, but sometimes when a bunny is getting too many pellets or greens, or are nervous, they will leave them behind.
Another type of poop is something called "poop ornaments" a term describing some poop pellets that are strung together by some fur they ingested. When you notice poop like this, limit pellets to increase hay intake, make sure they're drinking enough fresh water, give them some extra brushing, and provide a digestive tablet. These poops aren't unhealthy, but they should be addressed. Bunnies cannot cough up a hairball like a cat or even throw up at all, so make sure you help them pass their hair to prevent any blockages, especially for lionhead or other long haired bunnies.
Click here for more info/photos on bunny poop
Bunny droppings is a very good indicator of bunny's health. A healthy adult bunny is going to have medium to large droppings that are golden brown in colour, and full of hay fiber. They are dry and easy to squish. Rabbits on average will produce 200-400 poop pellets a day.
Another type of poop rabbits produce are called Cecotropes or cecal pellets. They sort of look like a bunch of grapes, are mooshy and smell strongly. They are usually a dark brown colour. They are totally normal and not the same as Diarrhea. Generally a bunny will eat them from their bottom for important nutrients, but sometimes when a bunny is getting too many pellets or greens, or are nervous, they will leave them behind.
Another type of poop is something called "poop ornaments" a term describing some poop pellets that are strung together by some fur they ingested. When you notice poop like this, limit pellets to increase hay intake, make sure they're drinking enough fresh water, give them some extra brushing, and provide a digestive tablet. These poops aren't unhealthy, but they should be addressed. Bunnies cannot cough up a hairball like a cat or even throw up at all, so make sure you help them pass their hair to prevent any blockages, especially for lionhead or other long haired bunnies.
Click here for more info/photos on bunny poop