Housing / Cages ~ The size and type of cage required will depend on first which breed of bunny you want to have.  For instance, a junior does fine in a 18 X 24 cage and a mini lopdoes well in a 24 X 24 inch cage.  I prefer to have my english lops in a 30 X 30 inch cage for more stretch room.  Cages should be cleaned at least once a week.  Do NOT use cedar shavings or cat litter as bedding because they are toxic.  Use pine shavings or any other "green" bedding they have out now. 

 

Cage Placement ~ Rabbits tolerate cold better than heat.  They need to be placed out of drafts and kept dry.  Proper ventilation is also very important.  Make sure to keep them in the shade during summer months if housed outside.  Also insure your outside hutch is safe from predators such as dogs, cats and wild animals.  If kept inside make sure they are safe from any inside pets as well. 

 

Cage Accessories ~ It is recommended to have a resting board so the bunny can have relief from the cage wire floor.  The cheapest place I have found is at bunnyrabbit.com but you can also get them at your local pet store.  You can give your bun relief from boredom by giving them simple inexpensive toys to play with.  Cardboard paper towel rolls or toilet paper rolls are good and they are not harmful if chewed on.  Empty Vienna sausage cans are also fun for rabbits to toss and role around their cages. You can also use golf balls but check often to make sure your bunny is not chewing on it.

 

Food & Water ~ Always provide you bunny with fresh clean drinking water.  There are plenty of different types water bottles and crocks to choose from.  It really doesn't matter which you use as long as it is readily accessible to your bunny at all times.  Your bunny's main diet should be rabbit pellets.  It is not necessary to buy the kind with fancy colors etc.  Plain pellet food sold at a local Co-op or Tractor Supply is sufficient.  I use Manna Pro Rabbit Feed that I get at Tractor Supply.  I will give you a small bag of pellet food to take with you when you purchase a bunny from me. If I forget to give you this please remind me.  Mix the feed I give you with the new feed you buy and slowly change the bunny's diet over to the new feed to avoid any tummy upset.  I recommend 10 oz for mini lops.  If you have access to hay, it is good to give them a small handful every day.  Limit treats to only once a day.  Very small pieces of apple or carrot are good.  Remember a fat rabbit is not healthy.  Please do not overfed your rabbit.

 

Health Care / Sickness~ Rabbits are usually pretty healthy.  They do not require any shots or visits to the vet under normal circumstances.  Do trim your bunny's nails regularly as you would a dog or cats.  The easiest way to do this is to flip your bun over on his/her back and hold the foot with one had and clip with dog clippers or regular toe nail clippers.  Be careful not to clip to far and get into the quick.  If you do and it does bleed, just hold for a few seconds until the bleeding stops.  If you bunny stops eating and drinking completely, offer some dry Quaker oats in a separate bowl.  You can also offer a piece of pineapple or put some pineapple juice in their water.  Since bunnies clean them self constantly, fur balls can form and stop them up.  Pineapple juice helps break up the fur ball so everything can flow naturally again.  You can also put some yogart in their mouths with a spoon or straw.  This helps put good bacteria in their digestive system.  Probiotics and benbec have being known to help as well.  You can get this at your local pet store, Co-op or TSC.

 

Other info ~ Rabbits are not social creatures.  They do just fine on their own without company from another rabbit.  You can put two same sex bunnies in the same cage when they are young however they may fight when they mature.  Do not leave a male and female in the same cage or you will have lots of baby bunnies. It is also not good on either doe or buck to do this as it is stressful for them.  Two bucks will eventually fight as they mature.  I have kept two sisters together until adulthood.  If they do fight, just separate them into different cages.

 

I hope this answers some of your questions regarding pet bunny care.  I will most likely add to this page as I think of things or as I get asked questions. 

thanks,

Amy