Rabbit Care and Advice
You can also visit my Rabbit Behaviour Page to learn about your bunnies behaviour.
Home
You will need to consider what type of home you are going to offer your bunny. Whether he will be a house rabbit or kept outside in a hutch. I recommend purchasing a hutch at least 4 1/2 ft wide and at least 5 ft for 2 bunnies kept together. The bed area needs to be raised off the floor and seperate to the living compartment, has a run attached or purchase a seperate run for exercise. You need to make sure the hutch is sturdy aginst fox attacks. Its good to to keep the hutch indoors in the winter or ensure it is covered with an appropriate hutch cover which you can purchase from good pet shops. In the summer the hutch needs to be protected from direct sunlight and high temperatures.
You need to fill the bed with straw , provide a litter tray filled with sawdust (which should be changed daily) and provide fresh water and plenty of hay daily.
Diet
Feed your rabbits pellets but not too much, 3 small handfulls a day is plenty. You must ensure your rabbit has plenty of hay at all times. You can feed your rabbit fresh greens from around the age of 3- 6 months.(Ihave been told lots of different ages to start but I find at the age of 3 -6months their stomachs can tollerate the gradual introduction of greens). You can feed your rabbit broccoli, cauliflower, celery and cucumber. Apples (no seeds) pinapple and bananas as a treat. Rabbits love to eat grass and dandelions also.
You must not feed your rabbit lettuce. Rabbits can suffer from diarrhoea so you need to keep an eye on this.
Watch out for poisenous plants such as ivy and foxgloves. (visit here for a list of poisenous plants )
Feed your rabbits pellets but not too much, 3 small handfulls a day is plenty. You must ensure your rabbit has plenty of hay at all times. You can feed your rabbit fresh greens from around the age of 3- 6 months.(Ihave been told lots of different ages to start but I find at the age of 3 -6months their stomachs can tollerate the gradual introduction of greens). You can feed your rabbit broccoli, cauliflower, celery and cucumber. Apples (no seeds) pinapple and bananas as a treat. Rabbits love to eat grass and dandelions also.
You must not feed your rabbit lettuce. Rabbits can suffer from diarrhoea so you need to keep an eye on this.
Watch out for poisenous plants such as ivy and foxgloves. (visit here for a list of poisenous plants )
Company
Rabbits like company. Therefore unless you keep a house rabbit it is a good idea to keep them in pairs. The best pairing is male and female but these would need to be neutered to live together. Sisters can get along usually if they are kept together from birth but not always so you would need to bear this in mind. Two males will fight and should not be kept together. You can provide your rabbits with toys such as jingle balls, cardboard boxes, tubes and hanging treats to keep them entertained and plenty of exercise and play time.
Rabbits like company. Therefore unless you keep a house rabbit it is a good idea to keep them in pairs. The best pairing is male and female but these would need to be neutered to live together. Sisters can get along usually if they are kept together from birth but not always so you would need to bear this in mind. Two males will fight and should not be kept together. You can provide your rabbits with toys such as jingle balls, cardboard boxes, tubes and hanging treats to keep them entertained and plenty of exercise and play time.
Health
A gnawing block to keep their teeth from growing too long is also a good idea. All rabbits show be vacinated against Myxomatosis and VHD yearly. Lionheads should be combed.
A gnawing block to keep their teeth from growing too long is also a good idea. All rabbits show be vacinated against Myxomatosis and VHD yearly. Lionheads should be combed.
Further Rabbit Advice
For more information and advice click on these websites:
British Rabbit Council
RSPCA - Rabbit Care
For more information and advice click on these websites:
British Rabbit Council
RSPCA - Rabbit Care
My Care Guide
Download my Care Guide.
Download my Care Guide.
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