If you're thinking of adding a rabbit as your brand-new family pet, it's important to do your research first. Rabbits can make wonderful pets, but they require a lot of care and attention Rabbits can also live up to 15 years, so it's very important to understand what you are committing to beforehand. In this guide, we will discuss the basics of rabbit care, including feeding, bedding, and space requirements. We'll also talk about how to handle your bunny safely and effectively. So if you're ready to learn everything there is to know about rabbit care, keep reading!
We should first start this article with a Wallington's pet safety announcement.
Rabbits DO NOT make a good pet for young children, this could be anyone under the age of 13. Rabbits have very fragile bones and are often skittish around the erratic behaviour that toddlers and young children often display. We understand they don't mean to harm the rabbits, but accidents can happen and it's safer for everyone involved if rabbit owners are over the age of 13 and understand how to be responsible pet owners. For more active children, a puppy makes for a much better family pet.
Rabbits are also NEVER a good idea as a gift for someone who is not prepared or have done their research. Almost always getting someone else a pet is a terrible gift idea but with Easter just around the corner, it's so important that anyone seeking to buy a rabbit does the correct research and has a complete understanding of how to properly care for them.
Finally, Rabbits are very much herd animals. They prefer to be in groups or at least a bonded pair. Single rabbits are prone to loneliness and depression. When considering buying a rabbit, keep this in mind and we will discuss how to correctly bond a pair of rabbits further in this article.
Rabbits can make fantastic companions when all things have been taken into consideration. Rabbits require a lot of time and attention, so it's important to consider your own personal commitments before looking to purchase rabbits.
Rabbit owners should be prepared to set aside at least an hour a day to spend with their rabbits. Their form of affection is grooming and playing so spending time with them will make them feel loved!
All that aside, let's talk about what you can do with your new pet rabbit.
What Should I Feed My Rabbit?
Rabbits are herbivores and their diet should consist of hay, fresh vegetables, and a small number of pellets. Their diet should roughly be 80% grass/hay, 10% greens and 10% pellets. It's important to provide your rabbit with 24/7 access to hay, as it is the most essential item for their digestive health, it is also so important to have unlimited access to hay, Rabbits need to consume hay most of the day in order to keep their digestive system working correctly. Despite other food options, Rabbit's digestive systems shut down, they need to be constantly eating hay to prevent this. If your rabbit has not eaten anything hay over a 12 hour period, you need to seek vet medical attention immediately!
When looking at hay types. Oaten Hay or Timothy Hay are the best options. Straw should not be used as food for rabbits however, it is better suited for bedding or bathroom areas.
If you would like to give your rabbit a fresh treat, it's good to stick to greens such as dark leafy lettuces and fresh fruits. However, please do not give rabbits iceberg lettuce, they are unable to digest it due to its water content and can cause diarrhoea. Make sure to avoid giving them too many starchy vegetables and please avoid green potatoes and tomato leaves at all costs as these are actually toxic to rabbits.
Great Options
Cos Lettuce, Coriander, Parsley, Spanish, Kale, Capsicum and Cucumber.
Horrible Options
Potatoes and Peels, Seeds, Grains, Iceberg Lettuce, Broccoli, Cauliflower and Cabbage in large amounts.
What Should I Put In My Rabbit's Cage?
When choosing comfortable bedding for your rabbit, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. First, the bedding needs to be absorbent so that it can soak up urine and faeces. Second, it should be non-toxic and safe for rabbits to eat if they happen to seek out a late-night snack and ingest some. Finally, it should be soft enough so that your rabbit can snuggle up in it. Some great options for bedding include pine shavings, straw, and Carefresh products.
Rabbits are big diggers, so when looking at cages it's important to prep the areas beforehand. We suggest digging a large area beneath where you plan on placing the hutch. Make sure to bury a large pannel of chicken wire under the whole area. That way your rabbit can dig but they will be unable to dig past the chicken wire and get away. The Bainbridge hutch is a fantastic option as the base does not have any wire so the rabbits can stand comfortably on the grass.
It's also important to have a hide available for your rabbits, especially when they are feeling frightened or on those hotter summer days. Make sure you have at least 1 hide per rabbit in your hutch in order to curve bunny arguments and issues. It's also a fair idea to have an indoor hutch option as Australia can have some of the most brutal summers and they can cause heatstroke in rabbits. It doesn't have to be a full hutch, but a nice enclosed circle fence with plenty of hay and water access should be perfect.
Do I Need A Big Yard For My Rabbit?
Rabbits need plenty of space to run around and explore. The recommended minimum size for a rabbit's home is six square feet. However, if you can provide your bunny with more space, the better! A large backyard or pen will give your rabbit plenty of room to explore and play. It's important that they have plenty of space to bounce around during the day and enough space to separate if they want to. It's VERY important to keep any structures or fences maintained as rabbits could easily catch themselves on a loose wire or broken piece of wood.
A larger backyard or hutch set-up is SO IMPORTANT when dealing with multiple rabbits in one location. It is ideal to have at least two rabbits if you are somebody who works away from the home but bonding rabbits can be very difficult. When looking to bond a pair, it's important that all rabbits have been desexed in advance. The ideal situation would be pairing a male and female but you can absolutely pair the same gender rabbits, just make sure they are both desexed in advance.
If you are only looking to get a single rabbit, It's ideal to have a plush toy or something resembling a companion to help curve your little friend's loneliness while you are at work each day.
How Should I Handle My Rabbit?
When handling your rabbit, always make sure to keep them safe and secure, the lower to the ground is best so try not to carry them too much if possible. If you need to carry them outside of a pet carrier, here is how you do it. First, hold them close to your body with one hand supporting their bottom and the other hand supporting their chest, as seen in the graphic below. When carrying your rabbit, make sure that they have enough room to breathe and aren't suffocated in any way, but also can not easily slip and fall or attempt to jump from your arms. If holding rabbits isn't for you but still want some bunny love on your lap try using a Rabbit Harness instead! These are a great way to have your rabbit stay close by without having to hold them at all. It is however NOT recommended to get a collar for your rabbits. This is highly dangerous and can result in accidental death. It's best to stick to a harness that is designed for a rabbit.
It is also important to note that rabbits DO NOT need regular baths! Rabbits, like cats, are self-cleaning animals and do not require bathing like dogs. If you do however need to clear your rabbit for any reason, we suggest using a damp cloth and gently stroking the rabbit's fur in one direction to get any mud or dirt off. Never dip or dunk a rabbit in a body of water, their undercoats are very hard to completely dry and could lead to major health issues and even death from hypothermia.
What Should I Do If My Rabbit Gets Sick?
If your rabbit is exhibiting strange or irregular behaviour, has a loss of appetite, is lethargic and not moving around much or if they are showing any signs of pain. It's important to take them to the veterinarian immediately. Rabbit illness can progress rapidly so it's always best to be safe than sorry! It's always a great move to also prevent illness before it can occur. You can use spot-on parasite treatments on their necks, just make sure the brand states that their item is safe for use on rabbits first. Your vet should be able to recommend treatments to help prevent any illnesses for your rabbits. It is also very important to look at getting our rabbits spayed or neutered as soon as they are old enough, most places like GAWS will do this before you can adopt them. Rabbits are known to breed.. well like rabbits. So it's best to stop that before you have a small fluffle of them.
Now you have a clear understanding of all things you should need to know before buying, let's prepare for your new fluffy friend.
Before you collect your rabbit, you should invest in the perfect rabbit set-up. It's ideal to have everything in place before you collect your rabbit as they will need a few days to get familiar with its surroundings, which can be difficult if you keep adding new things right away.
- A cage or hutch - It's best to look for a cage option that can open at ground level so they can explore while you are outside with them or you can use a large pet fence to make them an outdoor area. Avoid roof opening units as these are not ideal for rabbits. They do however make great cages for guinea pigs, mice, rats and ferrets.
- Litter tray - Most places will suggest looking into getting a corner litter box for your rabbits, these however are not ideal as they are usually too small for your rabbit to fully use. We suggest looking into a cheap cat litter tray and cutting a lower entry into it. Be sure to sand the cut or cover with a fabric edge. This will prevent injury from getting in and out of the tray. You can use straw or litter for this unit, just avoid cat litter products. Go for more natural items like hay or newspaper.
- Hides and bedding boxes - Rabbits need a place to hide from the elements sometimes. A box or hideaway makes for a great roof over their heads during the colder months.
- Feeding accessories - Ceramic bowls and hay mangers are essential for a good cage set-up. These give you rabbit unlimited access to clean water at all times. The hay manager will also keep the cage clearer for longer by keeping it together. You can look at getting a hanging bottle but there are more susceptible to bacteria build up over time.
- A smaller pet carrier. You are going to need something to carry your rabbit home in. It is downright dangerous and irresponsible to drive with a loose animal in your car. Small pet carriers are great for getting from point A to point B. They are also handy for when you need to take your bunny to the vet.
Finally, what should you expect over the first few days of having your rabbit at home? It's very normal for rabbits to hide and seem frightened by you. It's important to let them relax in their new home for a while without touching them, instead, you can try talking to them gently so they are able to get comfortable with your voice. It can be scary to be moved from a familiar place so give them some space to get comfortable. Our bonding experts suggest finding a small room and closing the door. Sit down and read a book, give the rabbit a chance to explore the room and come up to you. Try and avoid chasing them or holding them while doing this unless they seek you first. This will help build a bond between you and the rabbit instead of them seeing you as a threat. Soon enough you and your new pet will be curled up on the couch enjoying some movies in no time.