Getting Started
If you are considering getting a pet rabbit, then you will need these basic bunny facts up front. These are by no means a comprehensive guide,but they do give a brief overview of a bunny's needs. This articles is designe to give you an idea of what you'd be getting yourself into or what you may have alredy gotten into if you are new to rabbit keeping.
How much does it cost to keep a rabbit ?
Rabbits are relatively inexpensive to keep, other then another pet
* Food : Rabbit Pellets : 25 lb $ 6 - 7, 50 lb bag $ 11 - $16 dls
* Cage or Hutch : $ 40 -$ 50 +
* Feed & Water Bowl $ 2 - $ 3 Each. Other thing you migth need
* Timothy Hay : $ 3 - $ 4 a bale * Grooming Carpet: $ 1 - $ 3
* Brushes : $ 3 - $ 5 up
* Harness and Leash : $ 3 -$ 4
* Housing *
Most rabbits require a cage/hutch that is 5-6 time the size of the rabbit. A outdoor hutch should have 3 side protection,a solid back and side. It is also good idea to place a box in the hutch that can be further protect the rabbit from weather , from loose dog, or wild animal, -many people had their rabbit eaten by dogs.
Your rabbit need protection from wind, rain, and Sun. Rain, Snow and Wind will stress out your Bunnie .
The Sun on a hot day can kill your rabbit even faster.
Most rabbits handle cold weather very well, they have a excellent fur coats. However, their fur coats can cause them to become overheated once the temperatura reaches 90 F. They should never be placed where the sun hits the cage/hutch.
* FOOD *A good quality pellets made from alfalfa forage and a good quality grass hay is all that they need.
Some rabbits need a lowers protein then other. Rabbits pellets are available in 16 %, 17 %, 18 % and 20 % protein. 16 and 17 are the most common. Ask for a starter supply of food where you purchase your bunny and be sure t o get the name and protein content used. We use PURINA COMPLETE... visit www.rabbitchow.com to find your nearest food suply. Swiching feed on you Rabbits sometime will cause diarrhea. Your rabbit should also have hay or straw available often to push hair through it 's system to prevent hairballs. Rabbits love treats such as celery, dandelions, parsley, carrots etc. These veggetables are a great treat for bunnies but never replace pellets or hay. Never give your bunnie,lettuce, cabbage or brocoly. These foods can bring diarrhea that can kill your bunnie. They love apples,bannanas,apricots, etc, but all fruits should be treated as candy and should never be given to any rabbit under 4 month of age. Cherrios, Oat meal and Steam rolled oats make great treat for nursing doe's, babies and growing rabbits that need to gain weight. |
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* WATER *
A rabbit can live for quite a while without food but it can not live without water.
Lost of fresh water should always be available. Changes in water sometime can upset a young bunny's tummy. It is not necessary to use bottle water but just to be aware that changing from well water to chlorinated city water or vice versa can take a little getting used it.
Lost of fresh water should always be available. Changes in water sometime can upset a young bunny's tummy. It is not necessary to use bottle water but just to be aware that changing from well water to chlorinated city water or vice versa can take a little getting used it.
* GROOMING *
Rabbits are clean animal like cats and so they don't need bath like dogs (unless they get into something that they shouldn't have )
You can clips their nails if u wanted, this only need to be done every 6-8 weeks. Before you cutting their nails you need to find the Quick to prevent cutting to low, hold the claw at the quick with you finger and clip just above, for dark colored rabbits you may need more light to find the quick as they havedarker nails.
HAIRBRUSH : Always use a soft brush on a rabbit for shedding hair. Rabbits shed every other month with a heavy shedding every 3 month. Don't be alarmed by bald spot since they are common in some rabbits. If the bald spot is cause by shedding, it will fill back in within a couple of weeks.
Flea products are toxic to rabbits.... please inform more before use it.
You can clips their nails if u wanted, this only need to be done every 6-8 weeks. Before you cutting their nails you need to find the Quick to prevent cutting to low, hold the claw at the quick with you finger and clip just above, for dark colored rabbits you may need more light to find the quick as they havedarker nails.
HAIRBRUSH : Always use a soft brush on a rabbit for shedding hair. Rabbits shed every other month with a heavy shedding every 3 month. Don't be alarmed by bald spot since they are common in some rabbits. If the bald spot is cause by shedding, it will fill back in within a couple of weeks.
Flea products are toxic to rabbits.... please inform more before use it.
* LITTER BOX TRAIN *
Rabbit litter training is generally the first thing you want to know when you have a house rabbit. It's quite easy to do, especially since rabbits are clean animals and tend to go to the toilet in the same corner or area even without litter training.
Visit http://www.wikihow.com/Litter-train-a-rabbit. for more information.
Visit http://www.wikihow.com/Litter-train-a-rabbit. for more information.
