Preparing your Rabbit's Home
Many of you ask what is needed to care for a bunny. On this page we have listed what we find useful. We have also listed helpful hints for first time bunny owners.
When your rabbit comes home for the first time, give it a few days of calm to adjust to his new surroundings and smells. Avoid doing anything upsetting for these first few days, such as vacuuming or letting something or someone chase the rabbit. Bunnies little hearts are fragile and too much fright can cause a heart attack.
To begin bonding, an easy trick is to lay down on the floor and let them come up to you and crawl on you. Move slow, offer treats, and pet the side and top of their head. If you hear their teeth chattering (rabbit version of purring), they begin licking you, or marking you as their territory with a chin rub, you have bonded!
When your rabbit comes home for the first time, give it a few days of calm to adjust to his new surroundings and smells. Avoid doing anything upsetting for these first few days, such as vacuuming or letting something or someone chase the rabbit. Bunnies little hearts are fragile and too much fright can cause a heart attack.
To begin bonding, an easy trick is to lay down on the floor and let them come up to you and crawl on you. Move slow, offer treats, and pet the side and top of their head. If you hear their teeth chattering (rabbit version of purring), they begin licking you, or marking you as their territory with a chin rub, you have bonded!
Food and Water
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Fresh water should be available at all times. We add 1 to 2 Tbsp of apple cider vinegar per gallon of water and add this mix to the water bottles. The apple cider vinegar helps promote healthy digestion.
Our rabbits eat Oxbow essentials adult rabbit food, which is great nutritionally and uniform in content. If you buy rabbit food with a lot of variety, rabbits tend to pick out their favorites and waste the rest.
Rabbits should have fresh hay available at all times. Timothy or Orchard grass are great choices. We use Orchard grass since we have allergies to Timothy grass. Bales from Murdoch's are the most economical, smaller quantities are found in pet stores and online (Amazon.com, Chewy.com).
Things to Avoid with hay:
Whatever food you chose, make sure to introduce a new food slowly by mixing it with the current food. Also, give treats and new foods in moderation. One of the big health risks for rabbits is GI stasis. Rabbits are physically unable to vomit and new foods can be compacted in their system. Taking these steps will keep your rabbit healthy!
Our rabbits eat Oxbow essentials adult rabbit food, which is great nutritionally and uniform in content. If you buy rabbit food with a lot of variety, rabbits tend to pick out their favorites and waste the rest.
Rabbits should have fresh hay available at all times. Timothy or Orchard grass are great choices. We use Orchard grass since we have allergies to Timothy grass. Bales from Murdoch's are the most economical, smaller quantities are found in pet stores and online (Amazon.com, Chewy.com).
Things to Avoid with hay:
- Make sure the hay never gets moldy.
- Do not feed rabbits alfalfa after 6 months of age. Alfalfa is too rich for their kidneys and can build up in their systems and cause harm.
Whatever food you chose, make sure to introduce a new food slowly by mixing it with the current food. Also, give treats and new foods in moderation. One of the big health risks for rabbits is GI stasis. Rabbits are physically unable to vomit and new foods can be compacted in their system. Taking these steps will keep your rabbit healthy!
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Safe rabbit treat choices:
Romaine or dark leaf lettuce Carrot tops Collard greens Kale Celery & Celery leaves Asparagus Squash Cucumbers Bok choy Clover or Dandelion leaves & flowers Mustard greens Herbs like basil, cilantro, dill, mint, parsley Watercress |
Foods not safe for rabbits:
Rhubarb Avocado Nightshade plants Cauliflower Corn Apple seeds Nuts and nut products Iceberg lettuce Dairy Meat Eggs Grains and carbs Junk food Chocolate Popcorn |
Indoor Habitats
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Indoor living is best if you want to form a close bond with your rabbit. We recommend a large cage where they have room to play. We let our rabbits free roam in the house when we are with them. If your rabbits free roam, cover any accessible electrical cords with a chew proof cover (linked here). Rabbits love to chew cords. Rabbits also like to have some type of enclosure to play and relax in. A play tube or playpen is a great choice.
Outdoor Habitats
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Outdoor habitats are more natural for a rabbit and can be a good choice for those who have the land and want a more independent, self-sufficient pet. Rabbits love the chance to frolic in the grass on a nice day. Make sure your yard is fenced-in well and protected from natural predators (hawks, skunks, raccoons, cats, dogs, etc.) Place something solid under the hutch so the rabbit is unable to dig out. They can dig incredibly fast. We use a dog crate mat, available at Murdoch's or Amazon.com. Make sure the mat can drain so water doesn't pool below the hutch.
Cold Weather:
Lionhead rabbits do quite well in cold weather, even to below zero. Make sure the rabbit has a dry area out of the wind and rain with plenty of hay or straw to bed in. The cold becomes dangerous if the rabbit gets wet or the weather drops below freezing and the rabbit can't burrow in hay to keep warm. If you live in colder areas, we suggest an animal safe heating pad and heated water bottle for those nights below freezing. A heavy-duty tarp can also help keep the hutch warm and out of the wind. We use hay for bedding, straw is another good choice.
Hot Weather:
Rabbits are more susceptible to heat than cold due to their thick fur. When the temperature reaches 80-85 degrees or higher, make sure your rabbit has shade to lay in. Place a stone tile and frozen water bottle in a shady spot of the hutch. Your bunny will love to lay on the tile and against the frozen water bottle to stay cool.
Cold Weather:
Lionhead rabbits do quite well in cold weather, even to below zero. Make sure the rabbit has a dry area out of the wind and rain with plenty of hay or straw to bed in. The cold becomes dangerous if the rabbit gets wet or the weather drops below freezing and the rabbit can't burrow in hay to keep warm. If you live in colder areas, we suggest an animal safe heating pad and heated water bottle for those nights below freezing. A heavy-duty tarp can also help keep the hutch warm and out of the wind. We use hay for bedding, straw is another good choice.
Hot Weather:
Rabbits are more susceptible to heat than cold due to their thick fur. When the temperature reaches 80-85 degrees or higher, make sure your rabbit has shade to lay in. Place a stone tile and frozen water bottle in a shady spot of the hutch. Your bunny will love to lay on the tile and against the frozen water bottle to stay cool.
Litter and Grooming
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An economical choice for litter is Purina Yesterday's News unscented litter in the cat section. It is the same product marketed for rabbits, but less expensive.
Buy a litter box that fits easily in the corner of the rabbit's cage. Rabbits are territorial and rather easy to litter box train. To begin litter box training, place the litter box next to the food dish. Rabbits like to use it when they eat. Once the litter box has been established as the bathroom area, you can move it to a more convenient location. The rabbit may also have an opinion on this and move it for you!
Our Lionhead rabbits have learned to love being groomed. Since the Lionhead manes are longer, you will want to brush their fur to prevent matted hair. Grooming is also a good way to spend quality time with your rabbit and begin bonding.
Rabbit's claws may need to be clipped every 4-6 weeks, depending on their activity. Trim only the tip, being careful not to cut the kwik. There are many helpful YouTube videos on how to go about this.
Buy a litter box that fits easily in the corner of the rabbit's cage. Rabbits are territorial and rather easy to litter box train. To begin litter box training, place the litter box next to the food dish. Rabbits like to use it when they eat. Once the litter box has been established as the bathroom area, you can move it to a more convenient location. The rabbit may also have an opinion on this and move it for you!
Our Lionhead rabbits have learned to love being groomed. Since the Lionhead manes are longer, you will want to brush their fur to prevent matted hair. Grooming is also a good way to spend quality time with your rabbit and begin bonding.
Rabbit's claws may need to be clipped every 4-6 weeks, depending on their activity. Trim only the tip, being careful not to cut the kwik. There are many helpful YouTube videos on how to go about this.
Hope this helps. Thanks for visiting our site. Wishing you many happy rabbit days ahead!
