Basic rabbit care for new owners
Are you thinking about buying a pet rabbit? Or you already have and are having problems. Well, I’m here to help you discover basic rabbit care, that will get you and your rabbit living in harmony. However, ignoring basic care will give you problems and may cause the death of your pet rabbit.
meet the author
Hi I’m Philjay, a rabbit owning enthusiast with a passion for sharing knowledge. Especially with new pet rabbit owners, to help them provide the best possible care for their bunnies.
My blog is a growing resource covering all aspects of pet rabbit ownership. Starting with basic rabbit care, including diet, housing and health. Along with other general and advanced topics.
So, whether you’re a new, or an experienced rabbit owner, you’ll find practical articles and advice, as well my rabbit stories to enrich your rabbit care journey.
My mission is to create a complete source of rabbit care information. Where pet rabbit owners can find solutions and help with these often misunderstood pets.
So, join me in exploring the nature and needs of rabbits and discover how to give your bunnies the long, happy and healthy life they’re entitled to.
Beginners Guide
Buying Babe and Bob I found easy and affordable. But basic rabbit care is challenging, and they need the care of adults. While meeting the needs of pet rabbits is costly. So, ensure they are the right pet for you and your family. Then provide a safe environment, beyond the typical garden hutch with a small run. As well as, a suitable diet and veterinary care. So, if you’re interested, these are the topics to explore.
rabbit keeping
Establishing a safe and nurturing environment for your rabbits is crucial to their wellbeing. Whether you are a new or experienced rabbit owner. Therefore, our continuously expanding knowledge base offers some practical general rabbit care topics, and tips that you may find beneficial. As well as, suggestions for enhancing their living environment into a safe space where they can run, jump, and forage.
My Pet Rabbits
My pet rabbits not only filled my life with work, fun, and laughter. But altered my belief that they are easy to keep, children’s pets that would be content living alone confined to a small space in my garden. Hence the blog posts you will find in this category are true stories of the problems I needed to solve. Before, being able to enjoy life with two happy and affectionate long eared house mates.
basic rabbit care requires Space
When keeping bunnies indoors or outside, giving them enough space is essential to basic rabbit care.
However, new rabbit owners don’t think about how much room a rabbit actually needs. But wherever you choose to keep them, space is essential to basic rabbit care and their health. That’s why Babe and Bob agree with the animal welfare recommendation of at least six square meters of space. For up to two bunnies. So, they might see it as cruel to have less space than they recommend. Therefore, you can’t keep them in a hutch or cage anymore!
Will they be happy living their whole life in such a small area? Are you kidding? It’s hard for bunnies to behave naturally in a small area. They can cover three meters in a single jump and run at 30 mph. So, they’ve got what it takes to beat the fastest human sprinter. Also, when they play, they love to run, jump, and twist in mid-air.
So, Trust me, confining pet rabbits in a small space won’t keep them healthy or happy.
basic rabbit care for keeping rabbits outside
Rabbits can live outdoors all year but will need extra care, because the weather will affect their wellbeing. To clarify, in the wild, rabbits live in large groups in a series of interconnected burrows, known as a warren. But, it will be wrong to assume your pets can survive outside, as they do in the wild. Because, living underground provides wild rabbits with a cool, ventilated environment in summer. While in winter, sharing body heat in large numbers helps them survive at low temperatures. Whereas, one or two living above ground without the proper care, will suffer and die in high and low temperatures.
basic rabbit care for Keeping rabbits indoors
Rabbits are easily litter trained, and when free to explore one or more rooms, make the best pets. Because they are happier, healthier and part of the family. Which makes owning a rabbit far more rewarding! Hence, keeping free roaming house rabbits is gaining in popularity. However, bunnies need to keep their fast growing teeth short by chewing. As a result, your wooden furniture and soft furnishings may suffer. Unless you provide them with some alternatives to help control this annoying trait. For example, woven grass mats, cardboard and wooden toys, apple sticks or hay tunnels. All of which I Have found to be helpful.
basic rabbit care: diet and feeding
Babe and Bob explain why your pet rabbits need a high raw fibre diet to keep them healthy.
Before taking a bunny home, make sure you have hay and its current brand of nuggets. Because, its diet is basic to rabbit care and sudden changes may be fatal. But once your new rabbit has settled in, you can start to transition their diet, making changes, one food type at a time, slowly over 14 days.
However, bunnies less than 1 year old need junior nuggets. Which provide the minerals they need for growth during their first year. But, on reaching one year old, they should be transitioned to adult nuggets!
Rabbits eat mostly grass. So, giving them hay, fresh water, and a few leafy greens and nuggets every day will keep them happy. But feeding these pets isn’t that simple! Therefore, understanding how they digest their food is essential and covered in my post on feeding rabbits.
vaccinations
There are three fatal viruses that affect rabbits. These viruses pose a threat to the health and well-being of your bunny. Therefore, Babe and Bob stress the importance of owners being aware of these viruses and vaccinating to protect their pets. Because, these viruses are highly contagious, and with no available cure, will be fatal. However, with one simple injection, you can protect your bunnies, and ensure their safety and wellbeing.
neutering
The most important reason for neutering is to stop them breeding. To begin with, a doe can breed at 3 to 6 months old. Then, give birth to an average litter of 5 to7 kittens 28 days later. However, she can become pregnant again within hours of giving birth. So, she can produce an average of 30 kits a year. But neutering does more than prevent breeding! In short, both male and female rabbits are less aggressive and easier to manage when they are neutered.
heath checks
Annual health checks are good for both your rabbit, and bank balance. These checks ensure your rabbit is in good health and can help catch any health issues early. Which can save you money in the long run! Moreover, these checks provide a time for your vet to answer questions and offer advice on the overall care of your rabbit. So, by taking the time for these annual visits, you are prioritising the long term health of your bunny.
basic rabbit care: signs of illness
Owning a pet rabbit means you have to care for its health and welfare, just like any other pet. However, they are adept at hiding health issues that are life threatening, with the only sign being a change in behaviour. For example, lethargy, hiding away and not eating. All of which need urgent veterinary help!
But there are others, such as, watering eyes or a running nose. So being aware, and acting on any unusual changes in your bunny, is an essential part of basic rabbit care. My bunnies Babe and Bob have both stopped eating, the most common sign that something is wrong, Bob more than once. Resulting in costly visits to the vet for treatment with two injections and some oral daily pain relief. Since they’re both well taken care of, I cannot find the cause.
However, if you commit to owning a pet rabbit, you also commit to the cost of ensuring its wellbeing.
Socialisation and interaction
Rabbits are social creatures that benefit from living in pairs, another for grooming, playing and sharing body heat. Owning a bunny living on its own in the minimum space will become a problem for its owner. By becoming stressed, bad tempered, and difficult to manage! However, owning pet rabbits in pairs with extra space will help with their mental and physical health. As a result, they will be happier, relaxed and willing to form a trusting relationship with you and your family.
Bonding with your rabbit
A gentle approach is key when bonding with rabbits. Using a kind hand, speaking softly and quietly. While hand feeding a few treats can help rabbits gradually build trust with their owners. When introducing a rabbit to its new home, provide a calm, quiet space with fresh food and water. Then carry out regular checks without handling the rabbit during its first 24 hours. This method will encourage the rabbit to look for company by bonding with its new owner.
rabbit care's A long term commitment
Owning a pet rabbit is not just about having a cute, cuddly child’s pet. A bunny is a long term commitment which requires knowledgeable adult care! Rabbits can live for ten years or more, which means you’re signing up for a decade of care. This includes providing them with a safe habitat, a balanced diet, regular health checks and vaccinations. Therefore, Babe and Bob will help you to understand their welfare needs. While rabbits thrive in environments where they can exercise and explore. A small cage simply won’t keep them healthy and happy. So, really think hard before you commit to a life of fun and dedication to these cute, hairy, hopping pets.
