Rabbit Information
For the right person a rabbit can make a great pet. Rabbits are friendly, inquisitive, playful and are more than happy to be stroked or held. By giving your rabbit the correct diet and care you and your rabbit will have a long and happy life together which could last up to 12 years.
Housing Your Rabbit
Rabbits can live comfortably indoors or outdoors but should always be kept out of harsh weather conditions and extreme temperatures. When choosing a home for your rabbit it is essential that you select one that is the correct size and style to meet your rabbits requirements.
Rabbit Hutch Information
- Size
The hutch should be high enough inside to allow your rabbit to stand on its back legs and offer enough floor area to allow at least 3 to 4 hops in any direction. If you intend on having more than one rabbit in a single home then you will require a larger hutch.
- Layout
Your rabbits hutch should offer the rabbit a separate room for eating and another to use as a toilet, if you have more than one rabbit it is advised that the hutch also has a separate room for them to be alone.
- Lining
The floor of the rabbits hutch should be lined with newspaper, this newspaper should be replaced regularly for maximum hygeine and cleanliness.
- Bedding
Once you have placed the newspaper on the hutch floor you should cover it with hay, barley straw or dust-free wood shavings. This will help to absorb the urine and keep the hutch comfortable.
- Toilet
Rabbits are clean animals by nature, it is therefore recommended that you offer a separate litter area which should be deep-sided and lined with newspaper and hay. This should be cleaned out regularly.
- Hutch Location
The rabbit hutch should always be dry, well ventilated and kept cool. Excessive heat can be fatal to a rabbit. If your rabbit is going to be living indoors then avoid placing the rabbit hutch or home near to any radiators. When placing the rabbit hutch outdoors always avoid south-facing walls and direct sunlight. During the colder winter months add extra bedding to your rabbits hutch and consider placing it indoors.
- Cleaning
Rabbits will leave scent markings which extreme cleaning can remove. This may cause the rabbit stress but hygiene is important to the rabbits wellbeing. It is recommended that you spot clean soiled areas when needed but change the bedding and clean the hutch thoroughly every two to three days. When cleaning your rabbits hutch always leave a corner untouched so it smells familiar, this will reduce the risk of your rabbit becoming stressed.
- Other Tips
For outdoor rabbits it is important to rat-proof the area where they are living. Rabbits are easily stressed and this can be caused by predators such as dogs, foxes and birds of prey. Where possible you should minimise the risk of your rabbit coming in to contact with any of these creatures. It is advisable that at night you cover your rabbits hutch with a suitable ventilated cover so it can not see any predators that may enter your garden.
- Garden Runs
Whether your rabbit lives indoors or outdoors it is important that they get plenty of outdoor exercise. The safest way to offer this is to provide your rabbit with a run in your garden. Always ensure that your rabbits rub is positioned in an area that is free of plants found to be poisionous to them.
Companionship
Rabbits are social animals and it is therefore recommended that you always have more than one. If possible ensure that they are both of a similar size to reduce the risk of bullying. Rabbits who are of the same litter tend to get on well but should always be neutered to avoid inbreeding. Unrelated females will generally tolerate each other providing you give them enough space. Unrelated males will almost always fight and this is likely to end with nasty injuries. Never keep rabbits with chinchillas or guinea pigs, they have different food and housing needs which could cause them to fight.
Exercise and Play
Rabbits are extremely playful animals so make sure they have plenty of toys. Play is very good for rabbits because it helps to keep them physically active and healthy but more importantly it can help to prevent behavioural problems like fur plucking that often arises if they get bored.
Recommended toys for rabbits include plastic tunnels,
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