This is a specific conversation about Rabbit supplies — what you actually need — ask about yours and get one honest answer for your exact situation.
inparticular.ai
Bonded Lionheads are a joy — keeping them together is genuinely the right call, and setting up for two doesn't have to cost twice as much if you plan it sensibly. Rabbits are more complex than people expect: they need unlimited hay as about 80% of their diet, proper space to move and binky, and mental stimulation or they get bored and destructive. Getting the basics right early saves money on vet bills and replacement gear later. So — are they indoor or outdoor, and what are you working on first: housing, hay and feeding, enrichment, or the whole lot?
They're indoor, I've got two female Lionheads who've been bonded since they were babies. I'm a single parent so budget is tight. They're in a puppy pen at the moment but I need a better hay feeder because hay is going absolutely everywhere and I'm hoovering constantly. Also open to hearing what else I actually need vs what's just nice to have.
inparticular.ai
The hay mess is one of the most common complaints and it's completely fixable. A hay rack or hay bag mounted on the side of the pen keeps it contained and — importantly — encourages the rabbits to pull hay out themselves, which is better for their digestion and teeth. For two Lionheads I'd go with the Rosewood Naturals Large Willow Hay Rack. It's big enough that you're not refilling it every few hours, it fixes to pen bars easily, and it's around £10–12 on Amazon UK. It'll pay for itself in a week just from reduced wastage. What are you currently using for their litter and sleeping area?
They've got a fleece blanket in the corner and I've just been using newspaper under the hay area. I haven't got a proper litter tray yet.
inparticular.ai
A litter tray is genuinely essential, not optional — rabbits are naturally inclined to toilet in one spot, especially where they eat hay. If you put the hay rack right above or beside the litter tray, they'll use it almost automatically. You don't need an expensive one: a basic cat litter tray with a low front works fine for Lionheads. Fill it with paper-based litter like Megazorb or Fitch — not wood shavings, which are too dusty for rabbit lungs. That combo costs very little per week. The fleece blanket is fine for comfort as long as you're washing it regularly. What about enrichment — are they getting anything to chew or forage through?
Not really. They mostly just flop around and occasionally dig at the fleece. I didn't realise they needed that much stimulation.
inparticular.ai
Flopping is actually a great sign — it means they're relaxed and trust their environment. But the fleece-digging is them telling you they want something to do. The good news is enrichment doesn't need to cost much: cardboard boxes with holes cut in them, paper bags stuffed with hay, or a paper towel tube packed with herbs. You can also scatter a few dried herbs or forage mix through their pen a couple of times a week — that foraging behaviour really satisfies them. So your priority list is: hay rack first, litter tray and paper litter second, cardboard and forage for enrichment third. That's your actual setup, and it's all under £20 total if you're starting from scratch.
That's so much more manageable than I thought. Thank you — I'll start with the hay rack.
inparticular.ai
Perfect starting point. Once that's in place and they're eating hay more cleanly, add the litter tray underneath it and you'll notice a big difference in how tidy the whole pen feels. Two bonded Lionheads who have space, unlimited hay, and a bit of daily foraging are genuinely low-maintenance once the setup is right. You're already doing the most important thing by keeping them together.
