The Pet Emporium

Its been a loooong time since I've updated this blog. I still get enquiries about available rabbits and I'm flattered that people still read this blog. Although I don't have any bunny related news to report, I'm happy to announce the fulfillment of a dream. We are officially opening our own shop on 7th August 2009! We are starting to accept appointments and bookings for our boarding and grooming services. Call us for more info!



The website is still undergoing some minor updates, with the webstore currently undergoing a major overhaul. Do visit our website and let us know what you think:)
Hope to see you at our store!

Updates

Hi All!
Just wanted to mention that we do not have bunnies available to new homes and won't be having any for quite some time. However, we do have 2nd hand sanko cages available for sale. Please contact us at thehiddenburrow@yahoo.com.sg for more info on that.

As a sidenote, I've gotten quite a few emails in the past month about how I dealt with flying fur especially since my buns have dense fur. Well, to reduce shedding and help keep bunny cool, undercoat has to be removed. I used 3 tools to do it and it takes about an hour to 2 hours to really get all the excess fur out. I might offer bunny grooming services after March but I'll have to see how things go. In the mean time, jia you and keep brushing your buns!

THB

Late Updates

Just a quick update here - Lolita, Bella and Bertha have gone to new homes.

Also, we no longer have any buns available for sale/adoption/rehoming etc. Thank you for all the emails :)

Blog

Due to a busy scheldue,(we now have puppies!) we anticipate that there will be minimal blog entries for the next 12 weeks.

If you are interested to see our puppies, please go to http://dreysonpuppyblog.wordpress.com/

Vanilla

Just received this video from Vanilla's owner. So cute!!!

Moochi(Vanilla's new name) bunny's bedtime lullaby

Boxy went to a new home!

Boxy went home with Soursop's owner. She is now renamed Fleur, for flower.

She took a couple of days to adjust and her owner is now happy to report that she is very affectionate, and will lick their faces and stare adoringly into their eyes.

I'm glad we have another happy story! :)

Bunny

Went to a pet shop near my place recently and was paying for my purchases when I happened to glance over at the bunny section. I was wondering why two grown men were looking at a particular lop and giggling when i realized that they were shaking a ripped plastic bag in front of the bunny and laughing whenever the bunny lunged for the bag! The poor bunny looked pretty stressed and lunged quite a few times. They stopped doing it when they realized that I was looking at them. I hope they do not do it again...

Composting

I've always wanted a composting system but never got round to doing it as
1) I do not like worms
2) The heat generated from composting systems is pretty high and if you're not careful, it can cause fires
3) I have no use for the compost

There are machines being sold overseas that convert poop into dry pellets so that it becomes odorless. I can't remember what its called but they are fantastic for people who only have their garbage collected once a week. That machine has been on my wish list for a super duper long time but I have never got round to getting one because i've not seen it locally, its pretty expensive and most models i have seen can't contain much er....waste.

I've seen an ancient sanyo biodegradable waste recycler machine at the sanyo museum in japan but have never seen others personally before. Hopefully they will be sold in sg soon if they are not already available here. If anyone knows where to get one locally, please let me know. Tks!

Bonded Gals

Well, I woke up this morning expecting a huge mess. After all, the last time i had them toilet trained was quite a while ago. I found it easier to just clean cages rather than to clear litter trays on a daily basis. However, now that i have less bunnies, it might be less work to toilet train them. Anyway, it wasn't too bad when i went to look at the room. Hay and pellets all over the floor but only one pee puddle. Yay! I need to put in more water points for them and maybe one or two more bowls for pellets. Will have to figure out the hay too. Now that its in a big container, Bella and Mocha find joy in digging in the hay and throwing hay EVERYWHERE! I found Bella sleeping in the hay tray belly side up this morning. Sheesh

Bella

Its not been very long since Bella was fixed but she seems to have mellowed a little. I was able to hold her for quite a while and was pretty shocked! I will continue to observe her and see whether or not she has really mellowed or whether it was just a one time thing. LOL

Hardworking?

I was pretty hardworking today if i could say so myself. I dismantled 9 cages, groomed 8 bunnies, scrubbed the rabbit room floor, cleaned the glass panels (no easy task as it requires a lot of scrubbing), Moved some cages about, cleaned cages etc. My motivation was to put the females together by today.Usually, i get distracted and take photos or just play, so I'm glad i managed to get things done. Hahaha. Now working on their litter training which seems to be going well. I need to poop train them too!

Playing around with some ideas to make the area more fun. Will post photos when it is completed. My aim is to create a rabbit `garden`. LOL

Claire & West went home today. They have both developed well since they were babies and I'm pretty satisfied with how they have grown. Their fur looks super glossy and shines very nicely. Claire is the obedient one while West is full of characeter and will demand that I move away if i am blocking him. ROTFL.

Lolita,Bella,Jolie,Mocha,Kimora

I decided that it might be more fun for the bunnies if I could give them a bigger area and decided to dismantle the cages + bond them. Hence, I did that today.

Only Bella is spayed while the others are "un-fixed" females. They all get along and are having a great time with the increased space. I have to find a solution for the hay though...they dug and played with it till its all over the floor! Yikes!

The boys are still in cages and I'm thinking about getting them fixed so that they can all be one big happy family. LOL.

I knew that my nethies could get along with each other but was hesitent about the hollands as I've not tried them all together before. I was so happy that they got along so well that I gave them loads of apples! Audrey was wondering why all the bunnies were running around and kept staring at them! Luckily, my bunnies are used to being stared at. ROTFL.



Please note that generally, its pretty difficult to bond same gender rabbits so don't try it unless you know what you are doing.

Chalky,Fluffy,Inkie,Boxy,Bella

Chalky went home to her new home today. She seems to get along pretty well with her new friend Bluey and she was pretty happy when she saw him. I can't wait to hear how well she adapts to her new home! :) She has a new name too (Adora. Isnt that sweet?) so i better get used to it. ROTFL.

Fluffy and Inkie went home together today too. Fluffy is now in the midst of puberty and will be sterilized soon. Fluffy is super white and has nice long fur which is super duper fun to brush through because of Fluffy's expression. When I brush fluffy, he relaxes totally and would have this weird expression that just says "I'm loving it!"

Sometimes it takes more than one try to find that special someone and that's what is happening to Boxy. Boxy my super docile, super guai, super affectionate bunny is back! She could not get along with her new owner (who is very nice). I think they just did not have chemistry! Boxy became a difficult bunny at her new home and would not co-operate with her new owner. I was pretty shocked at first because Boxy like Soursop and Vanilla is the type of bunny that would lay in my lap for long periods while i read or watched tv. Anyway, to stop digressing, Boxy is back and still looks the same as how she looked previously. She is available to new homes so if anyone is interested, please email me at thehiddenburrow@yahoo.com.sg

Been feeling a little swamped with the things i have to do! Other than having boarding bunnies, we will be boarding Sunshine too (Sunshine is a really cute King Charles Spaniel that we boarded previously with his bunny brother Cotton) and we have a dog show on Sunday too.

I'm going to bed now! I need my rest!

Clipping Nails

Some people have asked how I cut the nails of my bunnies if they are not in a co-operative mood. I'm embarrassed to say that i sing to them. Okay...i am a bad singer but the best thing about pets is that they do not criticize! ROTFL.

if you sing something that is slow and steady, it does calm them down. I find it works better than talking as there are minimal pregnant pauses. So, if you are having problems clipping nails, try this! Vanilla's owner highly recommends singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. I tend to do the alphabet song. -_-

Chalky and Bella

I sent Chalky for her sterilization last tue and sent Bella down today. Both Chalky and Bella started eating and drinking within minutes of coming home so that was fab. What were their first foods? Treats! Lol. Gave them some of the mix first before giving them their pellets. Chalky's activity level was back to her usual by the next day. Bella was normal from the minute we picked her up.

On the ride home, she was busy ripping apart the newspaper in her carrier. ROTFL. When I placed her back into her enclosure, she immediately started giving me "the look" and asking for treats. Oh well, she ignored her pellets so I gave her some treats. After a few small treat pieces, she dug into her pellets.

Bella is one of the most expressive bunnies I have. However, she is also one of the most independent and I call her my wild child. I'm hoping the op will tame her character by a little and restore her to the little sweet thing she used to be. Hahahaha

Woah

Woah.. I wanted to try using baking soda to clean stains and was advised to make it into a paste before using. Hence, what i did was to pour water into the baking soda container and started shaking it to mix the water with the baking soda properly. Guess what happened next?! I should have seen it coming but I was distracted and the next thing i knew, the bottle had exploded and there was baking soda EVERYWHERE! Yikes!

Anyway, results of using it to clean was disappointing. Big sigh

Updates

Fluffy is here for boarding. He is a REW local mix (at least i think so). Inkie is going home with him in a week. I'm happy for her :)

Soursop went home today. Darlin and Flint went to their new homes too. I'm sure they will be very happy..and spoilt! in their new home. LOL

West and Claire are coming tomorrow for boarding too! I'm so glad to see them. They are very sweet together. I will take some photos of all the boarding bunnies soon.

Introducing..Our Apple, Pineapple and Carrot Mix!

Our apple,pineapple and carrot mix is a treat for all bunnies! Even our dogs love it! (and they normally hate fruits!) They are very high in fibre, and is great for the prevention of hairballs! Purchase them at $5 for 50g or $8 for 100g (Postage included. Orders sent through postage) Please email your orders, or leave them in a comment. Thank You!

Coming soon..Apple treats, Papaya Treats and other exciting flavors!

Updated: Orders may take up to 3 days to process after payment due to overwhelming response. Thanks!

BunSpace

I have heard of myspace, but never bunspace. Check it out! http://www.bunspace.com/

The Rabbit World

Ever since i started arranging to get the bunnies i want to get from convention, i have received a lot of emails! All from some really great bunny people who are so helpful, they really are a blessing!

Along with these emails, there have been very good advise on how to arrange the shipment, who i should be talking to, who i should be getting from, how to choose, and the most important thing-how not to get cheated.

There are a number of breeders who would double their prices, once they find out the bunny is going overseas, because they know we can't find good rabbits here. There are also people who after sending them money, could disappear, and it all goes down the drain. There are also breeders who can send you one great photo of the rabbit, but when you see the rabbit physically, it looks very different.

Thankfully, there are also breeders who are just..perfect. They give you advise all the way, they help list out the strengths and weaknesses of the rabbit, help with genetic information, they are honest and concerned. I have come a long way from my first shipment of rabbits! LOL

As someone who gets her bunnies from "around the world", i get to know other breeders from other countries and compare their "styles" etc. I can only say there is a big difference between SEA breeders and breeders in the US and UK in the way they keep their rabbits, the way they think, the way they behave.

I have spoken to breeders in Japan, Thailand and Malaysia. The japanese are great. They really are open to discussions about the breed, problems faced with popularizing the breed etc. Thai breeders are also an interesting bunch. They have some great AFLs, and they even created their own breed over the years! Impressive. Out of the asian countries, I would definitely have to say that Japan has the best rabbits as they actively show and import A LOT of rabbits. They also have a huge variety when it comes to breeds.

Us Singaporean breeders don't have a wide gene pool... As in the case of Malaysia as well. They probably have an even smaller gene pool, since most of their imported buns come from The Rabbit Hill. At least in Singapore, there are bunnies from LOV, Belokony, Irish Rose etc

My personal goal is to produce rabbits equal to those available in the US. Some people aim to breed rabbits so they can "share" them with other people, and let more people have the opportunity to have better rabbits as compared to those in the pet market. I'm more selfish.I want to produce the best only. What's the point of breeding if you don't aim to breed for the best? This has been repeated again and again. The purpose of breeding is for the betterment of the breed. If you do not strive to do this, or you are unable to at least produce an animal that would resemble what it is supposed to look like according to the breed standard, don't do it!

I have also mentioned this many times. I am a strong believer that rabbits...or any type of pet should not be bred if you do not know any information about the parents at the very least and if possible, at least 3 generations back. The point of this is that generally, any pet with a pedigree would probably be less prone to genetic abnormalities as compared to one without a known history.

One interesting point I realized was that the serious Singaporean breeders, who bother to bring in their stock - we have one thing in common. We don't breed often. I guess some people would say its a waste, and it doesn't justify bringing them in. All i can say is that I'm happy with the way things are. I don't mind them being pure pets. Its nice to just own a rabbit that when people see, they tell you thats the nicest bunny they have seen in Singapore (Aww..shucks..)

I think its pretty sad when people say rabbits are "just rabbits" or that its not worth it to try to get the best and spend that money because they won't "earn back" their cost. So what if they can't earn their keep? If that was the reason you got them...then you should do some reflection because pets are not meant for that purpose!

People have asked me to help them with their breeding project. I have not, because some people are so one-sided. They only want to listen to the side of the story that is beneficial to them. When faced with the realities of birthing difficulties, peanuts, in other words-death, they turn a deaf ear to it and assume it would never happen to them. A lot of people have said i am too direct. I don't hesitate to tell you the realities, because i have gone through them myself. I hate to see someone being mislead into believing one thing, and then finding out the truth.

Again, I do not agree with the breeding of pets without pedigrees and its fact that there are not many rabbits in Singapore that would come with pedigrees. I am definitely 100% against the breeding of any of my rabbits to rabbits that were purchased in pet shops or breeders that got their stock from pet shops.

Also, there is one indisputable fact. You must be able to provide homes for the offspring produced. If you are unable to rehome them, the obvious thing would be that you have to keep them. Hence, it is only prudent to ensure you have the space and financial resources to do so.

Lots of people think that it can't cost much to keep rabbits. I beg to differ. What with the hay,pellets,electricity for their air-conditioning, their essential oils, air revitilizer, treats, cleaning product, grooming tools, blah blah blah, it is definitely costing me a tidy sum to maintain them.

After keeping rabbits for so long, i have been acquainted with all types of people. I always try my best to help, but most times, this is not appreciated.

I feel that I have grown quite a bit since i started breeding rabbits. My first shipment came when i was 16 years old. Now, I'm 20. Its been a while! Looking back, I can't believe how much has changed! There have definitely been times that I have wondered if it would be better to stop keeping rabbits totally , mostly because of the humans, not the bunnies, but I somehow feel that if I do that, there will be a void in my heart and I'll feel a little empty. Oh well, I guess it was pre-ordained that I was to become a bunny slave. Yikes!

Oreo

Hmmm??? What are you doing?

Stop clicking away! I just wanna sleep!!

Well...since you are here....scratch that little spot for me...Thanks!

Poor Coby

Coby was made to wear a bumble bee suit that was too big for him. Look at his miserable face! Awwww....

Bunny Roar

Dug up this photo of Snowie:

Multi-Purpose Cleaner

I bought this from the supermarket a few weeks back by accident. I had thought it was an eco-friendly glass cleaner but horror of horrors! I went home and read the back where it wrote "Do NOT use on glass" Ahh!!! What was I going to use it for?!?!

Luckily, I soon discovered that its function was much better than I could have hoped for...It works fantastically on urine stains! I have pee trays that are urine stained and I was able to use this product to remove stains quite effectively without having to use as much brute force as I had to use previously just armed with dettol,vinegar and hot water.

Its not a miracle worker but so far, I find that it works pretty well. Also, its plant-derived...Fab!

Here's a photo of it :)

Carrying a bun properly

I did not realise that not everyone knows how to carry a bun properly, so here are some pointers-which i hope helps!

Place a hand under and behind the front legs and scoop up the hindquarters with the other hand.

If your bunny is scared when held, tuck it’s head between your body and the inside of your arm. It will calm down once it’s head is covered and its sides are securely held.n If this doesn’t work, use a towel to cover its head. Works like a charm for most buns!

Move to wordpress

Hi Everyone!

Please visit our new blog. Its much easier for me to post there, so expect even more entries! LOL

See you guys there!

Rabbit Grooming

Unlike for dogs, there aren’t books that specifically teach you what you can do to increase grooming efficiency or to get certain desired effects. There are many online guides and some are very interesting but so far, I find that a lot of the brushes,combs etc that I use for my rabbits are dog products and not rabbit specific products. Maybe this will change after I’ve had the chance to prowl the vendor stores at convention but for now, dog products are definitely reigning in my grooming routine.

My aim for grooming is that the fur looks glossier, fluffier, tangles if any are removed and nails are cut. Some rabbits get groomed more often than others. For example, darlin only gets groomed when she is moulting while Jolie gets it done more frequently.

I read something recently that was meant for show dogs but I felt applied when it comes to rabbits. ” Great show coats are born, but then they are lovingly developed.” How true! Even if you have purchased rabbits with great ancestry and great coats, unless they are maintained, they will lose their lustre and will not be displaying their full potential.

I’ve seen many rabbits that are badly stained or has unnaturally coarse fur. Its really quite sad when you consider that they would feel and look so much better with just a little more effort.

Grooming is definitely something I have grown to enjoy. Previously, I always felt that grooming was time consuming and tiring and not fun at all because I get fur all over my face and home. However, its quite a nice sensation to see them looking prettier. I call this proud parent syndrome. LOL.

Photos

I need to take lots of photos of my rabbits. I’m very overdue and its making me feel very guilty. However, the past month has been pretty busy so photo-taking has been pushed again and again to the back if my to do list.

Sorry, J,S&L! Really meant to take photos! I will definitely try to get it done on Sat.

Chalky

Forgot to post this previously. Sorry J. Chalky has been reserved!

Adoption

We have a few rabbits that we are willing to consider giving away FOC to good homes. All are adults. The condition would be that they have to be spayed or neutered before they leave my home at YOUR cost. Other terms apply

Email the following information to me at thehiddenburrow@yahoo.com.sg if you are interested.

Current pets:
Previous Rabbit Experience:

Please note that we reserve the right to choose who the bunnies will go home with. Thanks!

Convention

Exciting news! We have already confirmed that we are getting ourselves some GREAT hollands from Convention. They are from the top Holland Lop breeder in the US. You can't get them from anywhere else better!Yippee!

I'm not going to be bringing in many, as i want to breed for quality, not quantity. While numbers have not been decided yet, I'm trying to keep it small. Tough for me when i will be in contact with so many fantastic breeders all at one location!

We want to introduce a new breed to our rabbitry as well. Check back later on the blog for more details. I'm still trying to confirm colours and numbers!

Have a good day!

Moving

We have moved our blog to wordpress!

Please visit http://thehiddenburrowrabbitry.wordpress.com/

We will probably double post, and post entires in both blogs, so you guys decide which blog to visit!

ARBA convention

It has always been my dream to go for convention as its the largest rabbit show of the year and is held annually. There have been years when entry levels were high and 28,000 rabbits were entered. Other years had less at about 20,000 but that is still A LOT!

This year, my dream might finally be coming true. I will be going to convention! Yay!!! I will be arranging to send some rabbits back to Singapore. People interested in getting show rabbits and would like to join this shipment, please email me with the follwing information.

Your name:
Breed of rabbit interested in:
Gender:
Colour:
Age of rabbit:
Quantity:
Show Breeder in mind if any:

I can help find good breeders if you do not know of one. Be warned that costs will be VERY high.

I am still in the midst of making some arrangements and the costs are not fixed in stone yet. Email for more information.

Update

Jane Doe has gone to a new home and will be reunited with Squiddie and Snowie. Thank you R for taking good care of them!

Pellet prices

I don't know if everyone knows this, but all my bunnies are on Oxbow pellets. The recent price increase (starting May 2008) didn't really come as a surprise, since friends in the US were telling me that their feed prices had increased by as much as 30%. I guess i should say we are lucky that ours only increased by 10%! Still..for someone who has the number of rabbits i have...a 10% increase is A LOT!

Can someone please come over and tell my bunnies to not waste their pellets? ROTFL.

Jane Doe

Jane Doe is back! She was originally rehomed with Squiddie but her new home was not suitable and we took her back.

Update

Squiddie and Snowie have been rehomed together!I'm glad that they are going to a good home :)

Squiddie

Squiddie's back!

Due to certain reasons, we took squiddie back today. We were really disappointed for Squiddie but we're very glad/happy/excited that he is back. He looked pretty shaken by this rehoming exercise but i'm sure he'll be back to normal soon. As of now, he's running about in his tunnel and eating some apples.

After this experience, we want to use the opportunity to say this - Rabbits are not toys! They are pets that are to be loved and cherished. They are a commitment and are not to be taken lightly. Think carefully and consider all factors that you can think of before getting a bunny.

Update

Inkie is no longer available and will be going to her new home in june!

Departures

Squiddie went to his new home today, together with Jane Doe. I will miss them!

It doesnt seem the same to enter the rabbit's room and see Squddie, Jane Doe, Boxy and Vanilla's cage empty.

Some of the netherlands and hollands still need new homes. If you are interested, let me know!

Rabbit Update

Vanilla,Soursop,Jane Doe and Boxy are no longer available. Squiddie and Snowie are pending. Will update tomorrow :)

Rabbits

We are looking for loving homes for our rabbits. Imported and Local holland lops and netherland dwarfs available. Selling all below my actual cost. Please email thehiddenburrow@yahoo.com.sg if you are interested in a vewing session.

The Hidden Burrow.

Note, Blackie has gone to a new home.

Forums

Ok..recently I got an email asking me what rabbit forums there are in Singapore so here goes.

There aren't any rabbits only forum in Singapore besides the HRSS forum. However, forums like ministry of pets, petsfanatics, petschannel, pets.com have sections for rabbits.

Each forum has their own webmaster and moderators and their way of doing things. The forums I go to most are Pets.com and Petsfanatics. However, I used to go to PetsChannel only because it was more active there. However, whenever I posted photos of my rabbits, they said it was self advertising. Hence, I decided to delete all my photos. I won't be patronising that forum anymore so I'll just have to hope that the other forums have more activity. I get pretty sad when its low activity not because I like to yak but because it signifies that rabbits MAY be losing their popularity. I say this because of what happened in the chinchilla forum in Pets.com. When I first joined, the chinchillas forum was VERY active. There were new topics every days and loads of replies. As their popularity as pets decreased, so did the number of posts and most of the experienced chin forumers no longer take part in discussions.

Oh well, I may be reading too much into it but since I never want rabbits to lose popularity, I tend to participte in forums whenever possible.

Chalky

Born Locally. Please note that she is currently undergoing her first major moult.

Darlin

Tort doe - US Import.

Lolita

Another Holland Lop we are looking to rehome. She's a Black ARBA registered, US imported Holland Lop.

Flint

Flint is one of the bunnies we intend to rehome.

What's next?

Since our first import in 2005, its been 3 years. We first started out with our holland lops which were US imports than decided to incorporate netherland dwarfs into our rabbitry which meant the import of nethies from holland. Now, its come to the point when its time to either move backwards or forwards.

I've been contemplating a few directions in which we could go.
1) Stop breeding altogether and rehome a majority of our rabbits
2) Import more holland lops or netherland dwarfs
3) Import a new breed
4) Concentrate on one breed only

I've been really hesitent with going with option one and i'm very tempted to go with option two. In any way, I'll decide fully after I rehome some of my rabbits. Currently, I would like to rehome Lolita, Darlin, Flint, Blackie and Chalky. After they have been rehomed, I'll decide on which direction we will go.

Hence, people interested in the above rabbits..do contact me at thehiddenburrow@yahoo.com.sg. Photos coming soon.

Bunny Yawns

Coby

Rabbits

Some of our rabbits will be needing new homes. They include our imported rabbits. Interested parties, please email thehiddenburrow@yahoo.com.sg. International shipping is unavailable and all such enquiries will be rejected. Thanks!

Furminator

Lately, i received quite a few emails regarding where the furminator can be purchased in Singapore.

Just Fyi, http://petssion.com.sg/ carries it :)

We are back!

Hi all,
we are home. The bunnies are all doing okay. I think they didn't even notice me gone! :(

Please give us a week to reply to all emails. I am still going through them now as i speak..erm, no. I mean, as i type. Hahaha

Had a great time on my trip, though i was disappointed that the shop i usually frequent for bunny stuff has cut down on their range and now sells mainly dog items. Still, i mananged to get them some treats and clothes. Will post photos if i can. The camera's CF card has gone wonky and i have lost all my photos..Sob..

Ok, thats it for now. Still got to go clean some cages!

Vacation

Hi all,
We'll be leaving for a short trip tomorrow night so there will not be any new posts till we come back next month. Thanks! We posted where we'll be going in Audrey and Arson's new blog http://audreynarson.blogspot.com/

THB Crew

P.S Not to worry about the bunnies. One of us will be staying behind to care for them.

Home Made Bunny Treats - Pear

Home Made Bunny Treats - Pineapple & Cucumber

Pineapple:


Cucumber:

Home-made Bunny Treats!

Some stuff i made for the bunnies
Dehydrated Zucchini:


Dehydrated Carrots


Dehydrated Dou Miao

Introducing your rabbit to the slicker

Some rabbits hate being groomed! They just do not like the sensation of the brushes etc. In such cases, it would be better to slowly introduce your rabbit to grooming through a brush like this:

Close-up:

It's actually a cat slicker brush. Notice that the tips have rubber tips? This makes it super gentle. It doesn't remove much fur like a normal slicker but it's great for introducing rabbits to grooming.

Another brush you can use is a bristle brush:

The one in the photo above is made from Boar bristles. The main function of this brush is to stimulate the hair follicles and skin to produce natural oils which add gloss to the fur. This also results in less flyaway fur.Boar bristles are the best when it comes to this. Try not to use brushes made out of nylon.

Combs

The comb on the left is an Anti-Static double comb while the comb on the right is just a normal comb. So far, i feel that both work about the same. However, I do love these combs and grooming without them can be a pain. I use them simultaneously with the slicker and it results in a very glossy look on their fur. This comb is good for removing dead fur that is around when they are not moulting. If they are moulting, it'll be faster if you use the furminator. This comb is also good for any tangles etc that might have arisen from pee wars etc.

There are combs with smaller spacing but personally I can't use it because my rabbit's fur are too dense for it to penetrate.

Nail Clippers

Generally, I use three different types of nail clippers. Sometimes, depending on the bunny, I use a fourth but I won't be mentioning that one today.

The three types I use as shown in the photo below are the guillotine style (top), the scissors style (left) and the normal pet nail clipper style.



The guillotine styled nail clipper is fab for people who are not used to cutting rabbit nails and are afraid of cutting the quik. Generally the idea is that you place the clipper at the line where you see the quik and the nail clipper cuts just above it. I like to use this nail clipper for young rabbits as well as rabbits with dark nails as the quik cannot be seen easily.

The scissors style is my ultimate favorite. The particular model shown in the photo is in my personal opinion, the BEST nail clipper that I have ever used. It's super sharp and can cut through the thickest of nails quickly and smoothly. Also, it doesn't get blunt easily. I used to throw nail clippers away every few months because it became blunt.

The last type has many many different sizes. The one shown in the photo is meant for big dogs. I like it because its very sharp. With a bit of practice, its easy to use. First timers might find it uncomfortable to use because you need to open it up pretty wide in order to cut the nail. Not practical if you have a struggling rabbit. So far, most of my rabbits don't really struggle when I cut their nails so this nail clipper works well for them too.

Squiddie - Bunny Tunnel

Squiddie loves his bunney tunnel and will run up and down it again and again!

Photos of Snowie. Inkie & Jane Doe - Digging Area

Snowie looking at the camera disapprovingly:

Whatcha looking at?

Siesta time soon?

What's up there?

Hide N Seek!

Scent Glands

I think not everyone realizes that a bunny has scent glands. If I'm not mistaken, they only have two sets of scent glands. One under their chin and the other set near the tail area.

The chin scent glands are really tiny and cannot be seen.They normally do not clog and you generally don't have to do anything to it. However, sometimes excess secretions will cause the fur there to be stained a little yellow. If so, you could try cleaning it off with warm water. Rabbits use the scent glands there to mark their territory. Has your rabbit ever rubbed its chin all over you? Well, that's his way of saying that you belong to him! LOL.

The other set of scent glands are located at the testicle area for boys or where the testicles would be if they were a boy for girls.

Photo of scent gland:
They are usually no bother at all, and you don't need to constantly check on them,so they can be easily forgotten. However, if it gets clogged, you do need to clean it. You can tell that its clogged by the smell and its pretty obvious. Just sniff your bunny and if you smell a musky and some would say skunk like odour, chances are you rabbit has a clogged scent gland.

So what do u do when this happens? Well, its very simple. You just use cotton (wet it with warm water) and clean the scent gland. Try not to touch the secretion because if you do, the smell stays on your hand for quite a while.

Note: Remember to be VERY careful when doing it because the skin there is ultra delicate

Furminator

When I first heard about the furminator, I was like...What's that? It sounds super duper impressive! Hence, i did a google search and found the website. Man! I was impressed! What greeted me was the sight of a dog surrounded by fur! I thought to myself...all that fur came out from that one dog? I wonder if rabbits can use it.

At the time that i wanted it, i heard rumours that there were some problems with the distributorship and hence, I had problems getting hold of one. Hence, when i headed over to Japan i kept an eye out for it and managed to buy one.

I bought the small deshedding tool from a japanese pet shop chain I like to visit whenever I am there(photo below)

So far, i find that it works best for moulting and shedding rabbits. If they are not shedding, the effects are pretty minimal. Also, you have to be very very careful when using it. First time users tend to get carried away and overdo it. I've overdone it before and my poor chocolate netherland dwarf Boxy ended up with a bald patch on one side. Whoops!Thank goodness it grew back in record time. Lol.

The furminator is now more easily available and I've seen it being sold in quite a few online shops. It is fast gaining popularity even for rabbits and lots of people love it. I tend to use quite a few dog products for rabbits because i find that they tend to work better. If you need to know where to get one from locally, just drop me an email at thehiddenburrow@yahoo.com.sg

Toys - Digging Corner

Some of my rabbits like to dig. Hence, i had no choice but to set up a digging corner. What i did was to get shredded paper and just throw it all over the floor. I also put mini piles of hay for them to munch on while they are in there. For added mental stimulation, i hide herbs as well as treats in the shredded paper pile so that they have to dig around for them.

Of course, for easy cleaning, you could put cardboard or newspaper on the floor for easy cleanup. I just vac. everything up so i don't.. Heehee..I've done this set up for quite a while but just didn't take photos. Recently the topic of digging toys came up in a forum so i decided to take some shots.

Here are some photos of a bunny in the digging corner. I will post photos of other rabbits in the digging area after i have taken them.

Which pile of hay should I munch on?


Jackpot! I found the rosemary sprig!!! Yay!!!

Diet-Feeding your bunny

IMO,The main diet of a rabbit should be rabbit pellets. The recommended amount of pellets to be fed daily is 1 ounce per 1 pound of rabbit. Young bunnies below the age of 4 months should be free fed. Personally, I tend to free feed all my bunnies.

Young bunnies should be fed alfalfa based pellets, while older bunnies(6 months onwards) should switch gradually to a timothy based pellet.

Hay is also an important component of their diet. Hay provides the roughage in their diet. It helps to grind their teeth down, and prevent blockages in the intestines. I feed timothy hay, which provides the best fiber and lowest levels of calcium amongst the hay types available here. Alfalfa hay is higher in calcium and protein and lower in fiber.

Generally, if you feed alfalfa pellets, feed timothy hay. If you feed timothy pellets, supplement with a bit of alfalfa hay.

Grooming Tools - Slicker Brush

Slicker Brush
Ever since I started keeping rabbits, the slicker brush has always been my most basic tool. I first started using those that were recommended to me by pet shops but after a lot of trial and error, I have finally found one that I feel has worked best out of all my other slicker brushes. The brush i use is by #1 All Systems and was not designed for rabbits. Instead, it was made for show dogs.
One problem i always had with other slickers were that they were very sharp and i would find that after grooming, my rabbit would have flakes on its skin. Also, they did not enjoy being brushed. With the #1 All Systems Brush, they do not seem to mind being groomed as much.

I am particular about the products i use because with more bunnies, i need to be as efficient as possible. I need a brush that works as well as does its job well. Also, rabbits have extremely thin and delicate skin. If you use a brush that is too "rough" it can damage their skin.

The main reason i use a slicker is to remove dead and loose fur. Especially useful when your rabbit starts to moult. I have two versions of the #1 All Systems slicker and love them! After each brushing, their fur always looks much glossier and feels very lush. Perfect for hugging!Try to brush your rabbit at least once a week if possible.

One other slicker i would like to try is designed by Chris Systems. However, i missed the opportunity to buy it during the AKU dog show and have not been to shops that sell it. I will try to get my hands on one if i see it and do a review when i buy it.

Grooming - Why Rabbits Need To Be Groomed

One motivating reason to groom your bunny is that when you groom them, at least the fur ends up in the bin rather than flying around the house or in your mouth. LOL. Grooming also helps your bunny look their best and make their bunny parents feel proud of them. Besides these superficial reasons, the most important reason is:

Rabbits love being clean.Well.....most of them anyway! They basically shed 4 times a year - Two major moults and two mini sheds. If you do not help your rabbit groom itself, he or she will do it by itself. A major concern would be whether they injest their own fur in the process. If they have, it could lead to fur block and a shut down of the entire digestive system, a major no-no for rabbits. This is the most important reason that should motivate you to groom your rabbit(s).

Feed papaya/pineapple enzymes and lots of hay to prevent blockage!

About This Blog

Before i start posting, I would like to take this opportunity to say that everything written in this blog will either be written by me or by other THB(The Hidden Burrow) members. All views and opinions expressed here are of our own and it is not our intention to force others to do the same as us or to have the same views.

The Hidden Burrow Blog

Hi All,
We will be closing this blog for now. We hope to take this opportunity to transform this blog from one that was mainly about our bunny ramblings to something more informative. This blog will co-exist with our new website and we hope to be able to update at least once a week. Our current blog has very limited photos and we hope to change this.

Thanks!
The Hidden Burrow Crew

P.S We will restore our old posts when we make sure the photo links etc work

Lionheads

Lionheads are not a recognized breed by the ARBA. It is however, currently being presented to get it recognized. In the first presentation, a few colors were presented but only tort was passed. Sadly, it failed at the next two conventions.

This signifies that there will be changes made to the current working standard. Previously, tort lionheads could be shown at all shows but cannot compete for Best In Show or get legs. Now, Lionheads (torts only) will still be allowed to be shown if the show organizers allows and accepts entries but this will be up to the show organizers discretion and they are not obliged to. From what I understand, this year's failure means that its back to square one for the lionheads and torts will have to be re-presented although it passed previously.

Lionhead breeders will not be giving up and will be trying again next year. 5 colors will be presented and it is hoped that the lionhead breed will be lucky next year.

Cecals

A long time ago, i promised someone tt i would post a photos of cecals but never got round to it. So...here's one! Photo credits go to Andora's owner :)


Cecels don't always look like this, some are more grape like and kinda looks like blackberries.

Photos!!! (Netherland Dwarfs)

The photos from the photoshoot done by the production company has finally arrived!!

Photos - Netherland Dwarfs

Photos - Netherland Dwarfs

Photos!!!

The photos from the photoshoot done by the production company has finally arrived!!

Models for a day

Today, 6 of my netherlands went to a local production company for a modelling job; where they posed for a photographer as part of a series of `owners and pets`, with 2 female human models and 1 male human model.Other than rabbits, there will also be dogs, cats, snakes etc

It was kinda cool sitting there, watching the people do their stuff, and see how the shots turned out. Most of them were, IMO, quite good! Hahahah..I wasn't in the greatest of moods, having only slept a couple of hours as the shot was scheldued at 9am, but i had to leave the house at 8am as i wasn't sure about how to get there. I usually sleep till 11am on Saturdays...sigh. Imagine what time i had to get up to pack all their `luggage` e.g. wet wipes, toilet paper, hay, water,apples, grooming tools, plastic bags etc etc etc..I felt like i was preparing for war! My bag was HUGE...I still had to get the bunnies ready after all that!

The 6 of them wrecked havoc at the studio..lol. They weren't the most cooperative bunch but i am still proud of them.Inkie and Squiddie were too frisky, prefering to explore the whole place rather than sit still. Snowie (BEW doe) posed the most, as well as Mocha (Choc doe), as they were able to hold still for the longest period of times. Snowie is really one cool bunny. She just slept on the bed she was posing on while waiting for the models to change etc. Everytime the photographer was about to take a shot, she would sit higher up so that he could see her face clearly. Even he (the photographer) commented that she knew where the camera was.

The photographer was really patient though, and always asked for my opinion with how the rabbits were to be posed to see if i was comfortable with it. I really appreciated this and enjoyed the whole experience.

Think the bunnies weren't all too happy posing for so many hours. I could see it in their faces and see their thoughts too..`so much work just for a few strands of hay..stay at home and do nothing also get more than this...'

Sheesh! Too pampered!!! Must train u guys so that you are not so spoilt!

I am waiting patiently for the shots to be mailed to me.Will post once i get them :)

For the moment, photos i took using my phone.

10 little knowns facts on rabbits

I found this strangly interesting. Did u know that...

1. The first pelletized rabbit feed appeared in 1930
2. Longest time recored for one person to keep rabbits is 87 years
3. Wool of the rabbit is lighter and warmer than any other wool
4. Rabbit meat is one of the highest nutritional meats around and is a white meat.It beats chicken, beef, pork, veal, turkey, beef etc.. (I'm not asking u to eat them though! I find that gross!)
5. Rabbit manure is one of the world's best as it will not burn and is high in nitrogen. (If u are a gardener, no harm trying some of their poop! LOL)
6. Highest price recorded ever paid for a single rabbit is USD5000. (If I remember correctly, it was for a new zealand white and happened within the last few years at convention)
7. There are 180 breeds of rabbits world wide, and 60 extinct breeds.
8. There are more breeds of lop breeds than any other breeds
9. The single largest litter ever produced by a rabbit was 26, with 24 living
10. Have never been known to carry Tularemia or Rabies

The Hidden Burrow

Located in Singapore, we are a small rabbitry that specialises in holland lops. Our motto is "Quality, not quantity." Our foundation stock were specially imported from the United States.

Our rabbitry is currently registered with the ARBA and we are members of the HLRSC. We aim to share our wonderful pets with everyone in Singapore and will strive to continually improve our stock. The aim of this blog is to share our hollands with everyone. We hope you enjoy your visit.
Thank you for visiting our blog!

The Hidden Burrow

Update:We have since introduced netherland dwarfs into our rabbitry