Bunny Supply Essentials:
Our Recommendations
Congratulations on your new bun! The day that you finally bring your bunny home can either be fun and exciting, or if you're not prepared - stressful. Having the right setup and supplies on hand will make the transition smoother for both you and your bunny. These are the essentials we use every day with our herd at Holland Lops Hawaii, and each item has been chosen through trial, error, and lots of bun-approved testing.
Essentials:
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Unlimited fresh hay
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High-quality pellets
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Enclosure (cage or pen)
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Litter box + litter pellets
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Water dispenser + food bowl
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Hay bag / holder
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Grooming brush & nail clippers
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Emergency basics
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Hideouts, toys, and enrichment
Below, we'll go into detail about why each is important and share our personal recommendations (with links).
Food & Diet
Your bunny's diet should be made up of 80% hay and 20% pellets. Hay is the foundation of their digestive health and also helps wear down their teeth naturally (which never stop growing). Pellets provide balanced nutrition and should complement - not replace- hay.
Hay (80%)
Your bunny needs unlimited access to fresh hay 24/7. We recommend Small Pet Select on Amazon for the freshest quality - pet store hay is often stale and may even contain mold.
Types of Timothy Hay:
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1st Cut: Coarse, high in fiber, great for adults to maintain digestive health.
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2nd Cut: Softer, leafy, and easier to chew - ideal for babies.
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3rd Cut: Very soft and lower in fiber, less ideal as a staple but sometimes used for picky eaters.
**Orchard Hay is another great option to add to their diet - it's softer, has a sweeter taste, and adds variety and nutrients.
Timothy Hay 1st Cut: https://amzn.to/3V2ZLpS
Timothy Hay 2nd Cut: https://amzn.to/463CwB1
Pellets (20%)
Pellets are the next essential requirement for your bunny's diet. Babies 1 - 12 months of age should be feed alfalfa-based pellets, adult buns 12+ months of age should be fed timothy-based pellets. **Do not feed your bunny pellets with colorful additive (nuts, flowers, cereal, etc). Always switch food gradually (mixing old and new food over 10 - 14 days to avoid digestive upset or GI Stasis). Your bunny will be sent home with a small bag of food so you can safely transition them to your preferred pellets.
We recommend Oxbow Essentials, which has formulas for both young and adult rabbits.
Young Oxbow Essentials: https://amzn.to/4p7IN7y
Adult Oxbow Essentials: https://amzn.to/41E4x0K
Housing & Enclosure Essentials
Your bunny's enclosure should feed safe, cozy, and practical to keep clean. There are two main options: cage style or pen style. It's important to remember that bunnies need time to stretch, play, and explore daily. If you're using a cage as your primary enclosure, you'll also want a playpen setup (indoor or outdoor) for enrichment and exercise.
Every enclosure will need the basics:
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Litter box (if potty training)
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Water dispenser
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Food bowl
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Hay bag or holder
Cage Enclosure
When choosing a cage, look for one with a grid bottom. This helps prevent sore hocks - a condition where the fur on the bottom of a bunny's feet wears down, exposing the skin to irritation and infection (contrary to what some think, sore hocks usually come from sitting in damp bedding or urine, not from the grid itself).
Our cages are from Japan (they no longer ship to Hawaii) but this cage is similar and will work just as well:
Bunny Cage: https://amzn.to/4gaLt0f
Tray Puppy pads: https://amzn.to/3I8C0tC
Tray Bedding & Material: https://amzn.to/3K8MfyD
Litter Box
Potty Training is fairly simple since bunnies naturally pee / poop while eating. Placing hay and pellets inside the litter box encourages them to use it consistently. We recommend a box with a grate to keep the soiled litter separated to prevent them from eating it (do not use the litter pellets linked below if your litter box does not have a grate).
Litter box: https://amzn.to/4ggwylg
Puppy pads: https://amzn.to/4n10moc
Litter pellets: https://amzn.to/47qQdfO
Water Dispenser
Bunnies drink a A LOT of water, so please avoid nozzle bottles. A heavy dish is better, but they can tip it over and end up without water overnight. We like water dispensers for piece of mind that our buns won't run out of water (refilled daily). We have a dispenser that attaches to the cage and the freestanding dispenser for the play pen (that you may also use for the cage).
Cage Water Dispenser: https://amzn.to/42h9tZA
Freestanding Water Dispenser: https://amzn.to/3I9kXYA
Food & Hay Containers
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Food Bowl: Choose a heavy ceramic dish they can't tip over. (This bowl is small, but works for us since we feed 2x per day, you'll need a larger bowl if only planning to feed 1x day)
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Hay /Bag: Keeps hay tidy and keeps them from soiling fresh hay. Also, encourages potty training.
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Hay Holder (alternative): Some bunnies don't like hay bags or chew on them. We use holders for babies who are still adjusting. Be aware that some bunnies will hop in and use it as a litter box.
*For adults that dislike both, placing fresh hay directly in the litter box corner daily works just fine.
Pen Enclosure & Playpen
We love and use this customizable playpen in our living room. These are great as primary enclosures or as playpens in addition to a cage. The panels are fully adjustable, which is helpful when starting potty training (12 panels are included, we are only using 10 in the above photo - during the last step of potty training). We share a full step-by-step potty training guide in your Bunny Care Guide when you reserve a bunny.
Transparent Panel Playpen: https://amzn.to/4pbbHnm
Washable Puppy Pad: https://amzn.to/468B9ky
Water Bowl: https://amzn.to/45RFWrZ
Playpen Litter Box: https://amzn.to/4mVKbsC
Castle: https://amzn.to/3HKkqfx
Bunny Bed: https://amzn.to/42jcjgK
Cushions: https://amzn.to/3UZt4d0
Outdoor Play Area
We also set up outdoor playpens for enrichment. This mimics natural foraging behaviors and provides fresh air and stimulation. Always ensure that your outdoor area is fully shaded, during cooler temperatures of the day, free of treated grass, toxic plants, and potential predators or insects.
Outdoor Playpen: https://amzn.to/46kASMN
Emergency Basics
It's a good idea to keep a few supplies on hand for emergencies: Critical Care, a feeding syringe, and Bene-Bac gel. One of the most common health issues to look out for is GI Stasis - a life-threatening slowdown or complete stop of the digestive system in rabbits, usually triggered by stress, pain, or diet issues (not to worry, we cover GI Stasis in more detail including what to look for in our Bunny Care Guide). These products can help in the early stages, but GI Stasis progresses quickly and they will not replace urgent veterinary care.
Critical Care
A specially formulated recovery food for small animals. It's used to assist-feed your bunny to keep their gut moving and help prevent GI Stasis.
Critical Care: https://amzn.to/3IjWBeC
Syringe
A small feeding syringe can help when your bunny isn't eating on their own. However, if you need to syringe-feed, it's likely that your bunny needs urgent veterinary attention.
Feeding Syringe: https://amzn.to/48igm0H
Bene-Bac
A probiotic that supports your bunny's digestive system during stressful situations - moving to a new home, sudden diet changes, or antibiotics. It's not a cure, but can give their gut bacteria a boost (feeding instructions including in our Bunny Care Guide).
Bene-Bac Gel: https://amzn.to/46AA1HQ
Grooming Tools
Holland Lops require very little maintenance when it comes to grooming. They don't require haircuts, and they should never be given baths - submerging your bunny into water can be extremely harmful.
Grooming Comb
What they do need is regular brushing - at least once a week, or daily during molting season. This prevents them from ingesting too much loose fur, which can lead to intestinal blockages (since bunnies, unlike cats, cannot cough up hairballs).
Bunny Shedding Comb: https://amzn.to/45TCWLG
Nail Clippers
Most bunnies will need their nails trimmed regularly. Some may naturally wear them down if they spend time exploring outdoor pavement or rougher surfaces, but many will still need a little help. You can trim their nails at home or take them to the vet. If you're trimming at home, we recommend using cat nail clippers - they're small and easy to control (we include more info on this in our Bunny Care Guide).
Cat Nail Clippers: https://amzn.to/4mRedxl
Lightweight Fur Clippers (optional)
This is not necessary for everyday care, but it's helpful to have on hand in case small mats form around the bum area. These clippers are wireless, compact, and extra quiet. *Holland Lops do not need haircuts or shaving, we'll give some of our buns sanitary shaves around the bum occasionally but please do not attempt if you are unfamiliar with their anatomy.
Wireless Clippers: https://amzn.to/4p8gRAB
Additional Enrichment & Toys
Bunnies thrive on enrichment! Toys, tunnels, and bunny-approved chew items give them safe outlets for their natural behaviors like digging, chewing, and exploring. This helps prevent boredom, support their mental health, and keep them active. Even something as simple as a cardboard box with a cut out for a tunnel will make all the difference.
We've listed some of our favorite products below - but check back often! We'll continue adding products that we love as we try them out with our own bunnies.
Willow Tunnel: https://amzn.to/42npIEC
Seagrass Tunnel: https://amzn.to/42npIEC
Wooden Toys: https://amzn.to/3Km3L2v
Colorful Wooden Toys: https://amzn.to/3HVuwKE
Stacking Cups: https://amzn.to/466BLss
Foraging Mat: https://amzn.to/480w2pt
Hay Cage Mat: https://amzn.to/3Kkv9Oo
