Indoors or out

I keep my guys indoors, because we are able to interact with them more. Outdoor rabbits tend to get neglected. In areas where it freezes someone must go out and change the water 2x or more a day, feed, and give them as much attention as the summer months. House rabbits just get more attention than outdoor bunnies. If you do keep them outside make sure that their hutches have the wire on the inside of the moldings and the latch on the door requires two hands to open as raccoons are able to pull the wire off and open simple latches to get to the rabbits. Raccoons will kill and eat rabbits.

For indoor rabbits they need large cages, my cages measure 30x36x18” the other is a duplex 30x24x36” there is a half shelf upstairs with a nice view of the TV.

There are wire bottoms to the cages rabbits need to be off the bedding and not come into contact with their feces, they will get sick. I use newspaper on the bottom for easy clean-up. Their urine is quite acidic and will eventually eat through the metal pans, so these will need to be replaced. I use ceramic food dishes, I’ve tried everything and these work best for me. Plastic gets chewed and tipped, yes rabbits think its fun to tip over the food bowl.

Diet

Bunnies diet changes over time. For young rabbits they need more pellets and some veggies and hay. Never give a bunny under 6 months any veggies or fruit, can be very harmful. Oatmeal is a quick fix for a little prob. with the runs. If it persists however, a trip to the vet is in order. B.B. used to get diarrhea a few times a week. Turns out he was allergic to the pellets and is on a pellet free diet now. As rabbits age they need more fiber and less pellets as the pellets are high in sugars from molasses. Rabbits can become over weight. Regular exercise is very important. A good diet for a middle age rabbit is a big salad consisting of greens high in fiber such as Kale, Mustard greens, Collards, Dandelion, Spinach. Other good veggie choices are cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, bok choy, beets, these are all high in vitamins too. Experiment and see what they like, my guys love kale and wont eat squash.

Exercise

It is very import for the over all health of the bunny. Its also when you get to play with your bunny. Rabbits can be trained to use a litter box like a cat. They will usually pick a spot themselves and you place the box there. If your not thrilled with their choice then place a paper towel there with some “Keep Off” on it or a little bleach and this will deter them from that spot. You will need to rabbit proof your house all electrical wires must be either raised above rabbit height or placed inside coverings. Anything you don’t want chewed should be off the floor. Your priceless record collection need to be relocated to higher ground. They can chew almost anything. Doors, moldings Mr. Bunny ate a couch. I recommend not letting bunny under the couch, you can put 2x4s underneath. Bunnies like to jump on the couch. Couches are fun , they hop up and down or run full speed back and forth.

Bunnies are very entertaining but they do need supervision unless you have a separate play area for them so they cant get into trouble.

Hygiene

Coat- rabbits shed 4x a year, so you’ll always be brushing. A slicker brush is for good hair removal. I use short strokes and try to get a lot out. You can use a finishing brush after to smooth out the coat. Rabbits don’t like baths and it can be so stressful on them that it can be harmful. If they have had a diarrhea prob and you need to remove feces, then soak in a shallow dish of warm water for a few mins just wet that area to soften and remove.

Nails- must be trimmed regularly. If their nails are not dark this is relatively an easy process. You need 2 people one to hold bunny or to clip. Best to cut to just below the vein in the nail. It will help keep the vein short if its done regularly. Bunny wont feel anything. If you do cut into the vein don’t panic, it will bleed and the rabbit will jump but   some corn starch or flour held on that spot for a few mins will stop the bleeding. You don’t have to cut all the nails at one time, if the rabbit is getting squirmy. But do cut regularly or it can be a big job.

Teeth- normally its not a concern, if bunnies teeth are aligned properly they will grind down evenly. If that’s not the case then they will need to be trimmed by a vet regularly. They do need to have things that they can chew on; wood blocks are a good choice some are even flavored.

Sexuality- its is best for the heath of your rabbit to have them spayed or neutered. Males can get overly amorous with you, this includes biting and they will spray and become territorial. Females don’t tend to do these type of behaviors but will develop uterine cancer later in life if they aren’t fixed.

Rabbits are a lot of work but if you are a rabbit person like me, AND you have someone   to help, its worth it. I wouldn’t trade my bunnies for anything. I’ve even taught them to do tricks, B.B stands up for treats, Mr. Bunny begs from the table. They are very lovable animals.

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