Rabbits are often seen as an easy pet to keep but you may not know they are also one of the pets most subject to a sad life due to a lack of understanding about their basic needs.
They need exercise and stimulation like a dog or a cat, also their diet is not just a bowl of muesli type food and the odd carrot!
Housing……..A hutch must be big enough for the rabbit to stand up on their back legs and with enough floor area to allow 3 or 4 hops in any direction. Wild rabbits are very active and the same is true for their domesticated cousins.
Runs……..Make sure the run is secure so your pet can't escape. Move regularly to fresh grass and always make sure water is available and protection from the weather...even the sun.
Bedding………soft woodchips will absorb urine and make the hutch much more comfortable.
Water……..A good sized drinker is essential. make sure your rabbit has access to clean water at all times.
Diet………You may be surprised that hay and grass should form the bulk of your rabbits diet. Hay should always be considered a food and not just for bedding. A rabbit needs two types of fibre, digestible and indigestible.
So most of your rabbit’s daily food should be hay or grass, followed by a good food. One of the pellet or nugget ones are best as they stop selective feeding. Topped up with fresh vegetables and fruit.
Boredom……….Rabbits are prone to this so cheer your bunny up with some treats or toys. Willow sticks or balls also help to wear down teeth.
There are a variety of treats, including ones with wild herbs and flowers to emulate a wild rabbit diet.
Hand feeding treats helps the bond between pet and owner and is a welcome diversion for your rabbit. Remember that treats form part of the diet not an extra!
Food can be hung in a specially designed basket so the rabbit has to work for its treats. In fact there are a huge array of toys to stimulate your rabbit and make them happy.
Fly Strike……..is a serious condition that occurs during summer months. It is caused by flies attracted to damp fur, urine, faeces or the odour of rabbit scent gland. They lay their eggs on or around the rabbit's rear end where they hatch within hours into a seething bunch of maggots that eat into the rabbit's flesh, eating it alive and releasing toxins in the process. If you find maggots on your rabbit then take it to the vet immediately a rabbit can get ill from fly strike very quickly.
Check your rabbit twice a day in warm weather and make sure the hutch is as clean as possible to prevent it. You can also put fly netting over the front of the hutch or run.
They need exercise and stimulation like a dog or a cat, also their diet is not just a bowl of muesli type food and the odd carrot!
Housing……..A hutch must be big enough for the rabbit to stand up on their back legs and with enough floor area to allow 3 or 4 hops in any direction. Wild rabbits are very active and the same is true for their domesticated cousins.
Runs……..Make sure the run is secure so your pet can't escape. Move regularly to fresh grass and always make sure water is available and protection from the weather...even the sun.
Bedding………soft woodchips will absorb urine and make the hutch much more comfortable.
Water……..A good sized drinker is essential. make sure your rabbit has access to clean water at all times.
Diet………You may be surprised that hay and grass should form the bulk of your rabbits diet. Hay should always be considered a food and not just for bedding. A rabbit needs two types of fibre, digestible and indigestible.
- Digestible: provides essential nutrients but doesn't give them all up first time through the rabbit. You may have seen your rabbit eating its own droppings? These are the caecotrophs ( Cecals) or sticky droppings that need to go through again to release their goodness.
- Indigestible: keeps the digestive system moving and importantly grinds down teeth (which never stop growing). Feeding hay (ideally from a hay rack to keep it clean) will help save you trips to the vet to have your rabbits teeth trimmed.
So most of your rabbit’s daily food should be hay or grass, followed by a good food. One of the pellet or nugget ones are best as they stop selective feeding. Topped up with fresh vegetables and fruit.
Boredom……….Rabbits are prone to this so cheer your bunny up with some treats or toys. Willow sticks or balls also help to wear down teeth.
There are a variety of treats, including ones with wild herbs and flowers to emulate a wild rabbit diet.
Hand feeding treats helps the bond between pet and owner and is a welcome diversion for your rabbit. Remember that treats form part of the diet not an extra!
Food can be hung in a specially designed basket so the rabbit has to work for its treats. In fact there are a huge array of toys to stimulate your rabbit and make them happy.
Fly Strike……..is a serious condition that occurs during summer months. It is caused by flies attracted to damp fur, urine, faeces or the odour of rabbit scent gland. They lay their eggs on or around the rabbit's rear end where they hatch within hours into a seething bunch of maggots that eat into the rabbit's flesh, eating it alive and releasing toxins in the process. If you find maggots on your rabbit then take it to the vet immediately a rabbit can get ill from fly strike very quickly.
Check your rabbit twice a day in warm weather and make sure the hutch is as clean as possible to prevent it. You can also put fly netting over the front of the hutch or run.