Rabbit Basics
- Finding Your Rabbit
- Housing & Temperature
- Feed & Water
- The Rabbit Medicine Chest
- Fun Rabbit Facts!
- Worth Reading
- Rabbit Terminology
Finding Your Rabbit
So, you've decided which breed is right for you, and have read all you can on the care of rabbits and now have everything ready for it's arrival? The next most important task is finding a healthy rabbit. Breeders can be located through A.R.B.A, shows, breed clubs and our Directory. When you find a breeder with stock available, make an appointment to visit their rabbitry.
Make sure you feel comfortable with what you see on your visit. Things don't need to be shiny or fancy, but it must be clean, provide proper housing, offer easy access to clean water and food, with healthy looking rabbits. If you aren't comfortable, maybe that isn't the rabbitry for you. Try another!
Buy the best quality stock you can afford, but at the very least, always obtain healthy stock. And then keep it that way by providing and maintaining healthy surroundings, low stress levels, good feed and plenty of water. Once you've brought your rabbit home, spend time with it everyday, observe, learn... enjoy!
All information presented here is our opinion and to the best of our knowledge, gained from experience and research by Two Hunnyz Rabbitry. It is not meant to be a substitute for veterinary care. Use of any information is at your own risk. THR claims no responsibility. Products and brand names mentioned are not endorsements. Though THR is an A.R.B.A. Registered Rabbitry, the views and opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of A.R.B.A.
Make sure you feel comfortable with what you see on your visit. Things don't need to be shiny or fancy, but it must be clean, provide proper housing, offer easy access to clean water and food, with healthy looking rabbits. If you aren't comfortable, maybe that isn't the rabbitry for you. Try another!
Buy the best quality stock you can afford, but at the very least, always obtain healthy stock. And then keep it that way by providing and maintaining healthy surroundings, low stress levels, good feed and plenty of water. Once you've brought your rabbit home, spend time with it everyday, observe, learn... enjoy!
Disclaimers:
All information presented here is our opinion and to the best of our knowledge, gained from experience and research by Two Hunnyz Rabbitry. It is not meant to be a substitute for veterinary care. Use of any information is at your own risk. THR claims no responsibility. Products and brand names mentioned are not endorsements. Though THR is an A.R.B.A. Registered Rabbitry, the views and opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of A.R.B.A.
Housing & Temperature
Proper housing contributes to the health and happiness of your rabbits. Good rabbit housing must have adequate space for the specific breed, a secure roof to keep out rain, snow and possible predators, and be easy to clean.
It is vital to provide shade, yet air circulation. Just keep direct winds off you rabbit. Rabbits have few sweat glands so have difficulty eliminating excess body heat. They have little tolerance for temperatures above 85 degrees Fahrenheit; their comfort zone being between 50 and 69 degrees. They can, however, tolerate low temperatures. You can help them stay cool- take a plastic soda bottle, fill with water 2/3 full, freeze, then place in the cage with them. Your rabbit is likely to lay against it to cool down, or at least play with it! Freeze a few bottles to replace as they thaw. It is not advised to use a wet towel with ice cubes. This method can soak the rabbit too deeply, leaving it susceptible to flystrike.
Cages should have wire floors that allow droppings and urine to fall through to a tray or the ground. All-wire cages are easy to thoroughly clean; regular sanitation is critical to the health of your rabbits.
If your rabbit is a house pet, it can be litter box trained. Always supervise it's play time in the house! They are very curious and love to chew, even on electrical wires, an obvious danger, but also on furniture and anything else they can find.
It is vital to provide shade, yet air circulation. Just keep direct winds off you rabbit. Rabbits have few sweat glands so have difficulty eliminating excess body heat. They have little tolerance for temperatures above 85 degrees Fahrenheit; their comfort zone being between 50 and 69 degrees. They can, however, tolerate low temperatures. You can help them stay cool- take a plastic soda bottle, fill with water 2/3 full, freeze, then place in the cage with them. Your rabbit is likely to lay against it to cool down, or at least play with it! Freeze a few bottles to replace as they thaw. It is not advised to use a wet towel with ice cubes. This method can soak the rabbit too deeply, leaving it susceptible to flystrike.
Cages should have wire floors that allow droppings and urine to fall through to a tray or the ground. All-wire cages are easy to thoroughly clean; regular sanitation is critical to the health of your rabbits.
If your rabbit is a house pet, it can be litter box trained. Always supervise it's play time in the house! They are very curious and love to chew, even on electrical wires, an obvious danger, but also on furniture and anything else they can find.
Feed & Water
Commercial pellets are the easiest way to provide complete nutrition for your rabbits. Some feeds are better than others. Check to see what brands are available in your area; talk to local breeders. We have found Purina Mills rabbit feeds to be good, all without any added hormones, antibiotics or steroids. Daily feed amounts will vary according to brand, so be sure to read recommendations on the label of your brand. In low temperatures, feed consumption increases so the rabbit can maintain body temperature. This, in turn, means water consumption also increases. Self-feeders help keep the feed clean and minimizes loss due to tipping of bowls.
Hay is terrific for rabbits, too. It adds extra roughage to help keep the digestive tract functioning properly. Besides, they really love it! Do not feed fresh greens or vegetables until your rabbit is at least 5 months of age. Young rabbits have very sensitive digestive systems and can readily develop diarrhea, which can lead to death.
Water is a rabbits most important nutrient. A rabbit will not eat if it doesn't have enough fresh water. And an adult rabbit drinks a lot- up to 16 ounces a day! Water bottles are convenient and easy to keep clean.
Feeding time is important for more than just providing food and water. It is an important time to also check your rabbits health. Look for these situations: eyes look dull, not bright; eating or drinking less than normal; jelly-like droppings; trouble breathing; wet fur; lumps on the body; need for extra feed or water due to weather; cages in need of repair; etc.
The immune system, feed and stress levels are all inter-related. If you start with healthy rabbits and provide excellent care, you should have very few health problems. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
Hay is terrific for rabbits, too. It adds extra roughage to help keep the digestive tract functioning properly. Besides, they really love it! Do not feed fresh greens or vegetables until your rabbit is at least 5 months of age. Young rabbits have very sensitive digestive systems and can readily develop diarrhea, which can lead to death.
Water is a rabbits most important nutrient. A rabbit will not eat if it doesn't have enough fresh water. And an adult rabbit drinks a lot- up to 16 ounces a day! Water bottles are convenient and easy to keep clean.
Feeding time is important for more than just providing food and water. It is an important time to also check your rabbits health. Look for these situations: eyes look dull, not bright; eating or drinking less than normal; jelly-like droppings; trouble breathing; wet fur; lumps on the body; need for extra feed or water due to weather; cages in need of repair; etc.
The immune system, feed and stress levels are all inter-related. If you start with healthy rabbits and provide excellent care, you should have very few health problems. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
The Rabbit Medicine Chest
Items we like to keep on hand:
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Olive Oil
- Triple Antibiotic Ointment
- Campho-Phenique
- Kwik-Stop/cayenne powder
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Sterile gauze pads & strips
- Masking tape
- Latex gloves
- Plastic dropper
- Nail trimmer
- Small blunt-tip scissors
- Penicillin G (for emergencies)
- Syringe and needles
- Sterile saline solution
- Cotton balls and swabs
- Toweling- paper and cloth
- Black Pekoe tea
- Various herbs
- Rabbit Nutri-Drench
- Bach Flower Rescue Remedy
- Distilled white vinegar
- Colloidal Silver
- Vanodine V.18
Worth Reading
- "The Essential Rabbit" - Betsy Sikora Sund
- "House Rabbit Handbook" - Marinell Harriman
- "Housetraining Rabbits" - S.T. Percan
- "Rabbits for Dummies" - Audrey Pavia
- "Rabbits USA, Latest Annual Edition" - Fancy Publications
- "Raising Better Rabbits and Cavies" - ARBA
- "Backyard Livestock: Raising Good, Natural Food for Your Family" - Steven Thomas
- "Your Rabbit: A Kid's Guide to Raising and Showing" - Nancy Searle
- "Rabbit Production: Eighth Edition" - McNitt... Cheeke
- "Domestic Rabbits and Their Histories" - Bob D. Whitman
Join A.R.B.A.- they have a wealth of information!
