RABBIT CARE (herbivores) |
Some things you may need:
rabbit hutch : 4 ft X 3 ft x 2 ft high
ceramic crocks bowls
drinking bottle
rabbit food: Blue Seal Show Hutch
Deluxe pellets
timothy hay
pine shavings (never cedar!)
small pet nail clippers
small pet brush for grooming
pet carrier for vet visits
Small pet playpen
Rabbits are herbivores meaning they
eat grasses, fruit and vegetables.
They should be given 1/2 cup a day of
their pellets, unlimited amounts of
timothy hay. After 6 mos old they can
have small amounts of green pepper,
spinach, broccoli leaves, parsley,
apples, carrots, kale,dandelion
greens. They CANNOT have lettuce,
cabbage, beans, potatoes, rhubarb,
chocolate. Never make any big
changes in your rabbits diet. Small
amounts at a time. Diarrhea could
occur, not to mention causing them
tummy pains. Plain yogurt should help
if this occurs. Drinking water in water
bottles should always be changed
daily. Fresh food fed to your rabbit
needs to be taken away, before it
goes bad, so be observant. Don't
want bad bacteria to upset your
rabbits digestive tract., that could lead
to even worse conditions
Rabbits eyes should be clear, no
discharge from nose. Coat should be
shiny and clear. Daily grooming with a
small pet brush would be good.
Top teeth should overlap bottom teeth.
If the reverse happens they will need
trimmed and aligned by a vet to
correct. Chewing is important for a
rabbit because it helps wear down their
teeth. Rabbits eating their droppings is
normal, so don't worry if you see this
happen.
Anything that doesn't look right or
normal for your bunny should be
investigated by your vet. Waiting too
long could have dire consequences.
discharge from nose. Coat should be
shiny and clear. Daily grooming with a
small pet brush would be good.
Top teeth should overlap bottom teeth.
If the reverse happens they will need
trimmed and aligned by a vet to
correct. Chewing is important for a
rabbit because it helps wear down their
teeth. Rabbits eating their droppings is
normal, so don't worry if you see this
happen.
Anything that doesn't look right or
normal for your bunny should be
investigated by your vet. Waiting too
long could have dire consequences.
Rabbits like to have out of cage time.
Some people let their rabbits hop
around freely. This works well if the
bunny is litter box trained. However,
whatever way works for you, everyone
needs to rabbit proof the area they will
be free in. Electrical cords, things in a
bunnies reach that may fall on them,
etc. Some people don't like their
furniture legs chewed...................
What I do is get a couple small animal
playpens and attach them together to
make a good sized area.
I have 5x8 ft piece of carpet under it
for their feet. I place a litter box
w/shavings, rabbit toys. They like toilet
paper rolls, hard plastic ball to push
around. I include some hay for a snack
and a water bottle. Just be careful if
you have dogs or cats. You'll want to
supervise.
| FOOD AND WATER |
| APPEARANCE |
| PLAYTIME |
Hopefully your rabbit will be indoors
where it can be shown love and
affection. There are all kinds of
hutches out there, and you want the
biggest size you can for the type of
rabbit you have. You want it to be 3 ft x
2 ft, and at least 2 ft high. 18" of the
inside should be a sleeping area, that
opens to the rest of the cage. A drop
pan under the hutch is great for
cleanup. Some people use solid
flooring in their hutches, but you'll be
cleaning it more. The wire bottom
cages allow droppings to go through to
the pan underneath. I provide places
in the hutch where the rabbits feet
aren't on wire. You can purchase
bamboo mats for them. Safe to chew
too! Pine shavings are also in there.
Never use cedar shavings, only Pine
or Aspen. This helps with odor and
absorbs well.
where it can be shown love and
affection. There are all kinds of
hutches out there, and you want the
biggest size you can for the type of
rabbit you have. You want it to be 3 ft x
2 ft, and at least 2 ft high. 18" of the
inside should be a sleeping area, that
opens to the rest of the cage. A drop
pan under the hutch is great for
cleanup. Some people use solid
flooring in their hutches, but you'll be
cleaning it more. The wire bottom
cages allow droppings to go through to
the pan underneath. I provide places
in the hutch where the rabbits feet
aren't on wire. You can purchase
bamboo mats for them. Safe to chew
too! Pine shavings are also in there.
Never use cedar shavings, only Pine
or Aspen. This helps with odor and
absorbs well.
| HOUSING |
| HOLDING YOUR RABBIT |
Always hold your rabbit with two hands.
They can be wigglers! Their bones are
tiny and can break easily! You need to
keep one hand under the rump, while
the other supports the chest. NEVER
pick up a rabbit by the ears this causes
them harm. Because of sudden loud
noises and such, your grip should be
constant, not too tight. Place a towel in
your lap and hold and pet him there.
Broken backs, slipped discs, internal
injuries can occur if not careful. Don't let
small children pick up a rabbit without
supervision.
They can be wigglers! Their bones are
tiny and can break easily! You need to
keep one hand under the rump, while
the other supports the chest. NEVER
pick up a rabbit by the ears this causes
them harm. Because of sudden loud
noises and such, your grip should be
constant, not too tight. Place a towel in
your lap and hold and pet him there.
Broken backs, slipped discs, internal
injuries can occur if not careful. Don't let
small children pick up a rabbit without
supervision.
Domino - Mini Lop
(rescue bunny)
(rescue bunny)
stackable hutches
with pan trays
with pan trays
Bunnies should have their own hutch
after 3 months old. Never put 2 bucks
together, they will fight in a hutch or in
a play area. Our does are together for
right now since they are both under 3
mos of age. Next month they'll have
own house.
after 3 months old. Never put 2 bucks
together, they will fight in a hutch or in
a play area. Our does are together for
right now since they are both under 3
mos of age. Next month they'll have
own house.
| SPAYING AND NEUTERING |
Very important to do for the health of
your bunnies! They will be less
territorial, less aggressive and live
longer. They become calmer, less
destructive and easier to litter train.
Once your bunny is altered you can
introduce him/her to another altered
bunny. Rabbits are social animals,
some like little guinea pigs to pal
around with too as long as they are the
same sex. Supervise if you choose to
do this to make sure they don't fight!
You need to find an experienced vet
who's altered plenty of rabbits.
your bunnies! They will be less
territorial, less aggressive and live
longer. They become calmer, less
destructive and easier to litter train.
Once your bunny is altered you can
introduce him/her to another altered
bunny. Rabbits are social animals,
some like little guinea pigs to pal
around with too as long as they are the
same sex. Supervise if you choose to
do this to make sure they don't fight!
You need to find an experienced vet
who's altered plenty of rabbits.
China and Honey- 2
mos old
mos old
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| GENERAL FACTS |
Rabbits hide their discomforts and
injuries. They injure very easily. Watch
body language carefully. Something
doesn't seem right, call the vet! They
can die quickly.
Do not set a domesticated rabbit free
in the wild. They do not know how to
find food or shelter. They don't know
what predators are. If a domesticated
rabbit is set free their life expectancy
will be 3 days at most. And yes they
can scream and cry when hurt or very
frightened. Remember you made the
commitment to the rabbit, not the other
way around. If unforeseen events occur
that you can't keep your rabbit, it
would be much kinder to find a good ,
safe home for him/her. Next option
would be finding a rabbit shelter that
would take him in and then adopt him
out to another family. And sometimes if
you bought your bunny through a
breeder, they may take him back also,
and rehome him.
injuries. They injure very easily. Watch
body language carefully. Something
doesn't seem right, call the vet! They
can die quickly.
Do not set a domesticated rabbit free
in the wild. They do not know how to
find food or shelter. They don't know
what predators are. If a domesticated
rabbit is set free their life expectancy
will be 3 days at most. And yes they
can scream and cry when hurt or very
frightened. Remember you made the
commitment to the rabbit, not the other
way around. If unforeseen events occur
that you can't keep your rabbit, it
would be much kinder to find a good ,
safe home for him/her. Next option
would be finding a rabbit shelter that
would take him in and then adopt him
out to another family. And sometimes if
you bought your bunny through a
breeder, they may take him back also,
and rehome him.
| SUMMARY |
Recently there was an article in the
newspaper stating that rabbits are high
maintenance. That depends on the
person. Start up cost:: cage -70.00 new
25 lb bag of pellets 20.00 (lasts a long
time), timothy hay I get from KW Cages
25 lb for 20.00. Water bottle 2.00.
So you're talking roughly 115.00. Once
you have those things you're set for
awhile. Then add the price of bunny.
Depending on how much you really
want your bunny, maintenance is
relative. Its all in the commitment you
make to your pet, any pet for that
matter. Also if you rent, make sure
your landlord is OK with you getting a
rabbit. Just research everything
beforehand, and there will be no
surprises.
newspaper stating that rabbits are high
maintenance. That depends on the
person. Start up cost:: cage -70.00 new
25 lb bag of pellets 20.00 (lasts a long
time), timothy hay I get from KW Cages
25 lb for 20.00. Water bottle 2.00.
So you're talking roughly 115.00. Once
you have those things you're set for
awhile. Then add the price of bunny.
Depending on how much you really
want your bunny, maintenance is
relative. Its all in the commitment you
make to your pet, any pet for that
matter. Also if you rent, make sure
your landlord is OK with you getting a
rabbit. Just research everything
beforehand, and there will be no
surprises.
If you house your bunny outside, make
sure he/she has plenty of shade and
access to cold water to help keep him
cool. Rabbits don't do well in heat, esp.
babies. You could freeze extra water
bottles and swap them out during the
day and night. You may want to place
a little hut inside the hutch that they
can duck into that provides more
shade and security from a storm. Flies
and parasites are another concern.
Keep hutch clean and as fly free as
possible.
sure he/she has plenty of shade and
access to cold water to help keep him
cool. Rabbits don't do well in heat, esp.
babies. You could freeze extra water
bottles and swap them out during the
day and night. You may want to place
a little hut inside the hutch that they
can duck into that provides more
shade and security from a storm. Flies
and parasites are another concern.
Keep hutch clean and as fly free as
possible.
-- Will my new rabbit get along with my other rabbits?--
Most rabbits will start to fight around 3-4 months. Unless 2 girls have been raised
together from a young age it is unlikely they will get along. But if you get 2 baby girls, most
of the time they can live together. 99% of the time 2 boys will not get along. Males are
territorial and will fight to the death. Older rabbits will usually fight a new baby if they are
introduced but I have seen very laid back older rabbits which will tolerate new babies.
Older does will rarely tolerate new babies which are not theirs. Boys and girls typically will
get along. If you don't want babies you can have 1 or both neutered. If rabbits are
introduced and do not get along, it is most likely that they will never get along.
From Welch's Honey Buns Info Site
Most rabbits will start to fight around 3-4 months. Unless 2 girls have been raised
together from a young age it is unlikely they will get along. But if you get 2 baby girls, most
of the time they can live together. 99% of the time 2 boys will not get along. Males are
territorial and will fight to the death. Older rabbits will usually fight a new baby if they are
introduced but I have seen very laid back older rabbits which will tolerate new babies.
Older does will rarely tolerate new babies which are not theirs. Boys and girls typically will
get along. If you don't want babies you can have 1 or both neutered. If rabbits are
introduced and do not get along, it is most likely that they will never get along.
From Welch's Honey Buns Info Site
Gandalf is wearing a bunny
harness for a bunny walk.
Makes sure
if you get one it goes over
the shoulders not the neck
pic: Kate Ingram
Gandalf is a French Lop
harness for a bunny walk.
Makes sure
if you get one it goes over
the shoulders not the neck
pic: Kate Ingram
Gandalf is a French Lop
