basic rabbit care

Are you thinking about owning a pet rabbit, or maybe already do and having problems. Well, I’m here to help you discover some basic rabbit care. The Information that you will need, to make the best decisions from the start.

Hi I'm Philjay welcome to my blog.

I’m 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.

While, 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.

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owning a rabbit requires Space

Keeping bunnies indoors or out side, 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 and happy.

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, they live in large groups in a series of interconnected burrows, known as a warren. Now, we assume pets can survive outside, as they do in the wild. However, 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 will suffer in high and low temperatures. Read More about keeping rabbits outside.

Keeping Rabbits outside

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. As a result, free roaming them is gaining in popularity. Which makes owning a rabbit far more rewarding. For this reason, I now share my home with two cute, affectionate, adorable and well behaved standard Dutch rabbits. 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 things for them to play with, and destroy! For example, woven grass mats, rabbit safe cardboard, wooden toys and sticks. Read more about keeping rabbits indoors.

indoor rabbit care

Basic rabbit care: Diet and Feeding

Babe and bob explains 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.

owning a rabbit Veterinary Care: Neutering

The most important reason for neutering is to prevent 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, produces an average of 30 kits a year. But neutering does more than prevent breeding! In short, neutered rabbits are less aggressive, and easier to manage.

owning a rabbit Veterinary Care: 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.

owning a rabbit Veterinary care: Health Checks

Annual health checks are good for both you and your rabbit. These checks ensure your rabbit is in good health and can help catch any health issues early. Moreover, these checks provide a time for your vet to offer advice on the overall care for 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 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.

Owning a Rabbit 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

It’s important that pet rabbits bond and form a trusting relationship with their owners. With a kind hand, soft quiet voice, and hand feeding, rabbits will in time form a bond with their owners. Whereas, providing a quiet space with food, water, and regular checks without handling, for the first 24 hours in its new home. May have a bunny wanting your company. For example, my first rabbit, Babe, stayed in my entrance hall until the following morning. When on opening the door to check her, she ran to greet me. As a result, we bonded. Hence, bonding with a single bunny can be quick. Whereas bonding with a pair may take longer.

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 that requires 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 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.

Join my mission for better rabbit care

Babe and bob offers information and advice based on personal experience and knowledge. Hence, dedicated to the care and wellbeing of your pet rabbits.