Are you interested in adopting a rabbit? Prior to purchasing one of these loving animals, it is important that first time owners understand the type of care that rabbits deserve.
Food: Rabbits need access to fresh food and water daily. Old food and veggies should be removed and replaced from their feeders each day. It is recommended to feed rabbits pellets and grass hay to wear down their continuously growing teeth to help avoid future health problems. Our rabbitry recommends a diet of 80% hay and 20% pellets. Mini Rex/Holland Lops only need ¼ cup of pellets each day with unlimited amount of hay. You can always provide treats such as apples, pears, bananas, parsley, or romaine lettuce. It is recommended to stay away from iceberg lettuce due to its excessive amounts of lactucarium which can be toxic to bunnies in high quantities. When choosing a pellet for your rabbit, we strongly discourage families from buying pellets with seeds or treats mixed within the feed. We feed our rabbits Heinold but there are many wonderful feeds that can be found at your local pet store. If you need a recommendation, please contact us.
Grooming: It is important that rabbits’ nails are trimmed at least every other week. This helps avoid nail injuries. It is also recommended that you brush your rabbit weekly to help remove excess fur. Brushing your rabbit helps prevent ingestion of fur which could potentially lead to GI blocks. Rabbits will always groom themselves and will have fur in their systems but our job is to help limit their fur intake.
Caging/Supplies: The minimum cage a small rabbit breed should be in is 18x24 inches. It's essential that your rabbit has room to stretch in all directions. Too small of a living space can negatively affect your new bunny’s health and can cause spine issues or obesity. Rabbits should get at least 1 hour of exercise outside of their cage daily if possible. This will help ensure that you have a happy, healthy rabbit on your hands! When choosing bedding for your rabbit, please note that rabbits are allergic to cedar so please stay aware from cedar shavings. We recommend using pine bedding or CareFresh. At our rabbitry our bunnies only drink out of bowls but please know that many rabbits can be successfully trained to drink from a water bottle. We just recommend keeping a close eye on your rabbit as you are transitioning them to a bottle.
Handling: Just remember when handling your rabbit that their backbone is fragile and can fracture very easily. If your rabbit is kicking when handling them, make sure you are supporting their hind end. Do not pick up a rabbit by their ears as this is painful for the animal. It is recommended when you are first learning to handle your new bunny to practice near the floor in case your rabbit attempts to jump out of your arms. Also, when traveling with a rabbit, make sure that you have a carrier for your animal so that they are not harmed during the drive. Traveling can be stressful for them, so it is important that they are in a comfortable carrier.
Medical: When adopting a bunny, it is important that you find a local vet that is able to care for rabbits. Please note that not all vets specialize in treating exotic pets so you will need to do your research in your community! It is recommended that your rabbit sees a vet annually for a checkup to ensure they are healthy. If you are purchasing a baby rabbit and are interested in getting them neutered/spayed, vets generally request that this be done at 4 - 6 months of age. When adopting a doe as a pet, it is recommended to spay your rabbit as this can help avoid behavior issues that are caused from hormones (i.e. aggression, mounting, and territorial marking). It can also help undesired pregnancies and can help with litter box training if you choose to do so.
If you have any questions regarding caring for rabbits, please feel free to reach out to us. We'd be happy to answer your questions or concerns.