Starry Sky Farm

Starry Sky Farm

Instructions : New Bunny Tips

Here are some tips on caring for your new rabbit! These instructions are geared towards small rabbits, so if your breed is larger than four or five pounds, you would need to increase food and cage size acccordingly.

THE FIRST FEW DAYS - For the first few days try not to handle your bunny a lot. It needs time to get used to the new surroundings and will be scared and stressed at first, and a lot of handling will add to that stress. A little is fine, but be quiet and move slowly. If your bunny will be a house rabbit, it's best to wait until she is comfortable with you and the new surrounds before she gets to run around freely.

FOOD - Your bunny should get about 3 ounces of pellets daily. You can feed as much as is eaten while the bunny is growing, but around six months start limiting feed to 3-4 ounces a day. Do not continue to "free-feed" or you will end up with a very fat rabbit! I feed Blue Seal brand feed (Bunny 16), but there are other good feeds out there. Don't buy the stuff you see in the grocery store or pet store; stick with the feed stores, such as Blue Seal, Agway or Tractor Supply Company. In general these stores carry better and much more inexpensive feeds. If you switch to a new brand do it gradually over a week or two by mixing the new food into the old - a little bit of the new at first and then a bit more each day until you have switched over completely. You should also provide some hay (timothy or grass hay) on a daily basis. This can be purchased at feed and pet stores. If you notice your bunny had loose stools, give him a little dry oatmeal (the old fashioned kind). Fresh, clean water should be available at all times.

TREATS - It's best to wait until your bunny is five months old to give him treats. Keep portions small to avoid stomach upset. They like Apples, Bananas, Pears, Carrots and dry Oatmeal. Dark green leafy vegetables are fine, but NO light green ones like Iceburg lettuce, celery, cucumbers, etc. (the water content is too high and will upset the digestive tract). You can also let your bunny eat a little grass if he is on the ground. Just make sure there are no chemicals or fertilizers on it. A cat harness (they are a figure eight shape) and leash or an exercise pen will let your bunny enjoy a little exercise and fresh grass.

CHEWING - Rabbits teeth grow throughout their lifetime and they need to chew to keep them at a good length. They have a strong gnawing instinct and will chew on wood, plastic, even fabric. I cut small branches off our apple trees for our rabbits, but there are still a few that would rather chew the wood of the cage frame. Provide something for chewing so your bunny doesn't need to find things on her own. Also, if your bunny is inside pay special attention when she is around electrical cords. There is a product called Bitter Apple that can be sprayed on things you want to discourage your bunny from chewing on, and your bunny should be in its cage when you are not at home.

HOUSING - Rabbits can live outside (even year round) or inside . The best kind of cage is made of wire, so the droppings can fall through. When it comes to cages the bigger the better, but a 24 x 36 or 30 x 30 cage is fine for a small breed. Your rabbit's feet need a rest from the wire sometimes, so make sure your rabbit has a piece of wood or a plastic "resting mat" (available through rabbit supply stores) to sit on if it wants to get off the wire. If your bunny lives outside it should have a hay filled box or house. If your bunny uses his box for a bathroom, take away/block off the box until he establishes another spot to use as a bathroom.(the exception to this is an outside rabbit during the winter. In that case, just make sure to clean it out every couple of days).

WEATHER - Rabbits adjust well to the cold, but heat can be very dangerous. In the summer keep your rabbit in the shade and make sure it has water at all times. You can lay a wet towel out in its cage for it to lie on or mist it with a spray bottle (some enjoy this; others hate it!). Also, you can put a ceramic floor tile in the fridge and give it to your bunny to lie on. Or freeze a liter soda bottle full of water and give it to your bunny to lie against. In the winter make sure your bunny can stay warm and dry. We staple plastic sheeting over the wire sides of the cage and have a tarp that can be secured down over the front of the cage when it is snowy or windy. Also make sure the bunny's house is stuffed with hay so he can burrow into it. I also increase the food for my outside bunnies by during extremly cold weather. Water should be unfrozen twice a day.

CARE - You will need to clip the bunny's nails every few months. I find this to be the easiest method: Sit in a chair. Turn the bunny over on its back and gently wedge it between your legs, so that all its paws are sticking up in the air. Then clip the using a cat nail clipper, making sure not to go into the pink part, which is the quick. If you do end up clipping too far and it starts to bleed, just put pressure on it until it stops, or use a styptic pencil. Your bunny will not enjoy this procedure, but it must be done!

LITTER BOX TRAINING - I don't agree with everything The House Rabbit Society says, but they have an excellent page on litter box training.

You may want to groom your bunny when it is molting (shedding). The best way to get loose fur out is to wet your hands and run them over the rabbit's back. When you rub your fur covered hands together, the fur will roll up and fall off. Do this a couple times a week during molting season and you will reduce your bunny's risk of developing a fur blockage in its stomach.

If your bunny stops eatings, seems listless or just sits in the corner, has diarrehea or a noticable decrease in stool production, you may want to visit a vet. I suggest an exotic animal vet if you can find one Weare Animal Hospital and Ponemah Veterinary Hospital are two I recommend.

Rabbits can be spayed or neutered. Although it is not necessary, it will in some cases extend the lifespan of your rabbit by reducing the risk of reproductive cancers. It will also stop a male from spraying.

If you are looking for rabbit supplies, I suggest www.bunnyrabbit.com.

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