After receiving many e-mails asking questions about Buckwheat, our pet bunny, I have decided to dedicate a post exclusively to him. I am also linking this post to Lara's Talk About Tuesday. Make sure you make a trip over to her blog and read about her hatching baby chicks! That is going to be ME next year!!!
Buckwheat is a
Mini-Rex. This breed of rabbit makes for a fabulous pet. They only grow to be 3-4 pounds and are generally very friendly. They can be kept indoors or outdoors (as long as the proper accommodations are provided). They have a medium level of activity, and can be perfectly content to play or to just sit on a lap and be petted. Petting this breed of rabbit is so rewarding because they are extremely soft, like velvet!
Buckwheat is currently 5 months old. He was 2 months old when we got him. He was so tiny he could fit in the palms of our hands. We purchased him from a local farmer whose daughter raises and sells bunnies.
Here is Buckwheat's cage. This is where he stays when we leave the house and go to bed for the night. He also spends some time in here when he is in "time out". I'll get to that in a minute...
I clean out the cage every morning and give Buckwheat fresh litter & hay
Buckwheat eats rabbit pellets and Timothy hay every day. He also enjoys apple slices and carrot sticks.
Where does he go potty? See the triangle litter box in the back right corner? Ta-da! That's where he does his business. No matter where he is in the house he'll go to his cage to go potty. I did not do anything to train him except provide the litter and the box. Bucks taught himself.
As mentioned above, Mini Rex bunnies are VERY friendly. Buckwheat HATES being in his cage when we are home. If he is in his cage and the door is not secured he pushes it until it falls down and he can get out. If he wants some lovin' he comes over and tickles your toes until you pick him up or bend down to give him a tummy rub.
Buckwheat needs the occasional time out. He likes to chew things...mainly cords and paper. If a book is left out where he can grab it it's a goner. He's also chewed through several lamp and phone cords. Sigh..... The "experts" say to spray water in their faces when you catch them chewing. This does not work for Buckwheat. He could care less about getting wet. What's most effective is a time out in his cage. It's the craziest thing. He also knows when he's doing something he shouldn't. When I catch him chewing something he goes a-runnin'! When the girls see Buckwheat in his cage they ask me, "Mom? Is Buckwheat in time out?" Too funny!
The Engineer bunny-proofing the house
The weather has been grossly hot the past few days (we'll reach 97 degrees today and keep in mind, I live in the East where it is HUMID!!!). Bucks has been finding the cool places to hang out. These are his two current favorite spots.
The brick in the fireplace feels nice and cool
When the A/C is on Bucks likes to be right next to a vent...smart bunny!
Does Buckwheat smell? Absolutely not. As sad as this may sound, if he did, he would not be in my house! His little poop balls have no odor and the litter I use (sanitized dried corn cobs) absorbs any urine smell. Bucks' fur doesn't have any odor. It's the weirdest thing. Every time I bury my face in his fur I expect to smell something but never do.
We would like to start taking Buckwheat for walks outside but we first need to purchase one of these:
We will NOT be purchasing one of THESE:
And then there is Hilary Swank's mini rex (who looks a whole lot like Buckwheat). This posh bunny makes his home in this gorgeous antique chest inspired hutch.
