How to take good care of your rabbit
First, I would like to say thank you for taking a look at how to care for a rabbit(s) today. They are wonderful pets and not very hard to take care of.
Make sure when you get your rabbit(s) home you already have their cage ready for them and spend at least 30 mins with them so they don’t stress out. A stressed rabbit can die. A lonely rabbit will stress out. I have seen rabbits come home to new owners and die overnight because the new owners just "didn't have the time" to make sure the rabbit was comfortable and familiar.
Find out the breed of your rabbit. Each breed has different needs and likes.
1. Feed each rabbit 2-4 oz of food once a day only. (4oz for younger or for larger ones.) Rabbit feed can be found in the pet section of your local grocer or feed store. (Wal-mart, Giant, Tractor Supply Company, for example) It is a perfect blend that every rabbit needs. We use Producer's Pride 50 lbs bag from Tractor Supply. Plenty to last about a month for 13 rabbits.
Find out how old your rabbit is. 6 months old is when they reach their sexual maturity and considered adults. Also, do not feed them fruit or vegetables before they are 6 mos. They can get sick.
2. Make sure they do not run out of water. In the summer, change out the water daily with cool water. In the winter, outdoors, water will freeze so have multiple water bottles ready if one is frozen or breaks (never fill to full or it will break). We attempted to put thick socks over the water bottles to keep them from freezing and it sorta worked. The rabbits chewed the socks.
3. Give them hay/alfalfa daily (especially when sick). Rabbits like to eat all day. So make sure they have hay/alfalfa to munch on. It will not put weight on your rabbit. Rabbits over 6mos can also eat fresh grass and flowers and the like.
NEVER FEED RHUBARB LEAVES TO ANYONE
(IT IS POISONOUS)
4. If a large/giant breed give them a 36x36 size cage.
If a medium breed give them a 30x30 size cage.
If a small breed give them a 24x24 size cage.
Cages can be bought in your local Tractor Supply. If you are having rabbits share a cage make sure you allot the proper amount of space. You can cage two females, but not two males, they will fight. And if you’re making them co-ed, be sure you know, you’ll constantly have babies. Two females should know each other, but I haven't heard any bad stories, but I keep mine separate.
5. Keep out of full sun to prevent them from getting sunburned. Put in a frozen water bottle when it gets too hot so your rabbit can keep cool.
In the winter, keep them out of drafts and snow. (we covered the cage with blankets each night or during a snowfall) But best of all keep them under a shelter of some kind.
6. Put something cardboard or wood in their cage so their hocks (feet/heels) won’t get sore. Clementine crates are great for that. It will also give them something to chew. Rabbits chew everything. So make sure nothing is around you don’t want ruined.
7. Change out their dropping pan weekly to prevent flies and other bugs. And it will prevent the flies from laying their eggs on your rabbit; which can lead to sickness or death. NEVER PUT CEDAR IN WITH ANIMALS. Woodchips or newspaper is recommended.
It sounds gross, but it’s okay if your rabbit eats some of its droppings. It keeps the balance correct in their intestines.
Here is our routine with our rabbits, for example.
Mornings, we go out and give them their food, hay and water. Pet all of them and giving full attention to each one individually.
Afternoons, we just check on them to look at their water…(gone in heat/or frozen in winter)
Evenings, check again on their water and give them hay for the night.
They are in a shelter so they are safe from the elements.
Twice a week in summer and once a week in winter we change out the dropping pans. They get fresh woodchips put in the pans to aide in absorption of waste.
I hope this was helpful and informative. If you know better, give me some advice.
http://www.rabbitweb.net
http://www.rabbit.org
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