Caring for your Rabbit....

Please bare with me as this page is a work in progress.

But it will have loads of info on caring for your rabbit, from feeding and housing to play time and handling.

I have had rabbits for over 15 years now and have children of my own so I know how hard it can be to get them to do the cleaning out of the hutch (worse job of owning a rabbit!) and taking care of them everyday - This page is mainly written for children in mind and those parents who are finding they are now looking after the 'kids rabbit!'

Before you buy your new rabbit, first stop and think - Is a rabbit right for you??

Rabbits are cheaper to own than say a dog or a cat, but they do need as much care and time spent playing with them. Do you have at least 2-3 hours a day spare where you can care and play with a rabbit??

So you got the time and still really want a furry ball of fun.....

OK, Next you need to make a shopping list of all the things you will need and these will have need to be bought BEFORE you bring your rabbit home.

First you need to make up your mind where will your rabbit be housed Inside or Outside??

HOUSING....

Hutch

Minimum size: x1 rabbit = 4ft. x2 rabbits = 5ft

The main rule here is the bigger the better. Shop around there are some nice ones about in pet shops and online.

Indoor Cage

Same with the hutch the larger the better.

We have 2 house rabbits, our netherland dwarf has a small hutch and the run of my girls bedroom and she only goes in her hutch at night. And my giant has a large dog crate and the run of the lounge when we are home.

Run

If you go for a hutch with a run, I would still get a run that you can move around the garden.

It does help when you are cleaning out your rabbits - as you will find they do like to help out!

Food Bowl

Best type is a ceramic bowl as they can't knock this over so easily.

Water Bottle

Standard size bottles are only suitable for x1 rabbit, so if you have x2 then either get 2 bottles or a larger one.

Remember in the warmer weather your rabbit will drink more so make sure it is large enough to last them all day if you go out for the whole day.

Dry Food

Whatever food you chose to buy make sure you can get it all the time.

A supermarket isn't the best place to buy your rabbit food as they don't keep a big stock. A pet shop is the best place to go. And most importantly buy the same food everytime, or your poor bunny will have an upset tummy.

If you chose to change their food, do so over at period of at least a week.

Fresh Food

See below of a list of fresh food you can feed your bunny - Rabbits love carrots, but why not try them on some other fruit and veg that you like as well!

Hay

As well as their normal dry food, Hay should be available to them at all times.

It's good for them and also helps stop them from getting bored.

Bedding

I use shredded paper on the floor of the whole hutch and hay in the bed area, plus straw in the winter / colder months.

You can also use wood shavings onthe hutch floor, which is what a lot of people use.

Toys & Extras

You don't have to buy lots of toys as they can be very pricey. Some toys can be Home Made, See info below.

Hay Ball / Rack

Gnaw Toys

Jingle Balls

Toilet / Kitchen Tubes

Cardboard Boxes

Play Tunnels

Lead & Harness

Litter Tray

Hutch Spray

Food storage box - Just needs to be a plastic box with a lid to keep the dry food fresh, doesn't have to be anything fancy (unless you want it to be!)

Grooming Brush

Nail Clippers

Hutch Cover - doesn't have to be a fitted one,just something to cover themup at night with - I use Tarp and in the winter an old sheet or blanket under the tarp.

A good Rabbit Care Book or 2.