Description: Rabbits can make wonderful small animal pets. They have gentle natures, are relatively clean and easy to care for, and they're soft and cuddly. There are many domesticated breeds of rabbits to choose from. The Dutch and Mini Lop make good companions for children. They are smaller in size and have very social natures.
Size: The size and space need to keep rabbits depends on the breed. Smaller breeds can weigh in the neighborhood of 2 to 3 pounds. The Flemish Giant is regarded as the largest breed in the world and may grow 3 ft. in length and weigh up to 24 pounds.
Compatibility: Does (females) can often live amongst each other peacefully. Bucks (males) will fight if housed together. Rabbits can sometimes be kept successfully with Guinea pigs, but should be kept away from cats, dogs, and other small animals.
Appeal: Rabbits make popular pets for a number of reasons. They are friendly and social and will live happily indoors, in apartments or in an outdoor hutch. If properly trained, they will hop along on a lead (slowly) and can learn to use a little box. They need less exercise, can be left alone during the day (with proper housing) and they won't disturb the neighbors.
Drawbacks: To keep a rabbit indoors, the house must be sufficiently rabbit-proofed. Electrical cords, carpet, and wooden furniture are all in danger of being chewed. Fireplaces, tall furniture and certain houseplants can all pose serious dangers. Rabbits shed. A rabbit's coat, nails, and ears all need regular grooming and attention and they need a supply of fresh foods to stay healthy.
Diet: Rabbits need a diverse diet that includes commercially prepared pellets, hay, root vegetables, greens, and some fruit.
Problems & Health Issues: Rabbits are susceptible to various digestive problems. They are also vulnerable to serious viruses like myxomatosis and VHD. They need to have their teeth checked regularly, and if spending time outside need to be vaccinated for fleas and other pests and from diseases spread by wild rabbits.
Lifespan: A rabbit's longevity depends a lot on genetics and the care it receives. Typically, a rabbit can expect to have a lifespan that averages 6-7 years, sometimes longer.
Interesting Facts: Rabbits use their whiskers like antennae, especially at night. The whiskers feel and remember the tunnels and walls of a familiar burrow and that information is stored in the rabbits memory. A rabbit put in an unfamiliar burrow will instantly panic because it doesn't "feel" right. Most rabbits will run for cover when being pursued rather than escaping down an unfamiliar burrow.
This page contains the following solutions.
Here are some fun facts about rabbits and raising rabbits. Do you know that rabbits are capable of having 13 litters a year?
Bunnies will eat anything. Tonight I was getting ready to put the parrot in his cage for the night. I always give him fresh water and pellets at night.
Preparing for your new rabbit means you need a place for your rabbit to live! The hutch is essential even for indoor rabbits, so they have a secure place to sleep. Make sure your hutch has a door that latches so your bunny can't escape his home.
I had a cage that was in good condition and had lasted through several small pets. When my rat died of old age, I decided to adopt from the local animal shelter.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I have a female rabbit that lives outside in our homemade rabbit hutch. It is at least 8-10 foot long and can house two rabbits. I am thinking about getting another rabbit, maybe when it warms up a little more. But I don't know what kind or gender.
I am not breeding my female. She's getting to the age where she shouldn't be bred. I am also not planning on putting them together. They can still smell each other and stuff, because the screen and a door is between them. What kind of rabbit, gender, and age do you think would be good? I am thinking a younger one would be good so that they would get used to being held.
By Des
I would definitely advise getting another rabbit, because rabbits are communal animals, especially since the one you have is separated from you most of the time. They will snuggle and groom each other and then, eventually, become a bonded pair.
There are definitely some tricks to introducing them, though and I suggest you read up on it a bit. Oh, also, be sure to have them spayed and/or neutered. It will extend the life of your current female by many years and may help with potential behavioral problems down the road.
OK, where can I find a breeder near me. I don't know about getting a rabbit from a pet store because there not use to being outside and I don't know how healthy they are and they cant hardly sex them either at the pet stores. Thanks!
Get another female. You will drive the male crazy and he may hurt himself. If you look in your paper or classified magazine (in NY we have Want Ad Digest) you will probably be able to find a breeder.
Be careful when introducing a new rabbit. You should know that your female may not take well to another rabbit regardless if it is male or female. Female rabbits tend to be territorial of their cages/hutches. Do not just put them in a cage together.
I got some young rabbits about 8 weeks ago. I have them in an outdoor cage. They keep dying on me and I can't understand why. They have clean fresh water two to three times a day, I have pallets in there for them all the time and I have being give them timothy hay.
Can someone please help me I don't want any more to die? What am I doing wrong for them to die on me?
I have a 16 week old rabbit. Two days ago I noticed a sore on the side of his nose. I have looked endlessly on the internet to see what it might be. I have gone to two vets and they don't know if it's an infection or just a sore. It's an indoor rabbit and is not in contact with any other rabbits.
By Daphney
I have 3 rabbits. My rabbits are 2, 5 year old Lop Ears and a 1 year old Lionhead Dutch mix. There is 1 male Lop and 1 female Lop and the Lionhead who is a female. I need to know how to make toys and stop their water from freezing so easily. I need toys to entertain them while I am at work. Please help me. Thanks.
By bunny_puppy_animal lover from MI
The boy toy will find the girl toy if you don't do something about that, like now. Please do not breed. Thousands of rabbits go to the pound. Many are euthanized.
Yeah. I don't breed them. I got the 2 lops from someone who didn't play with them or take good care for them for 5 years. I do not breed them because it just is too much work.
Our rabbit has a wart/cyst on his ear. It doesn't seem to bother him but I would like to know how to remove it. A hunter that we know says wild rabbits get them but they fall off in the winter. However he is a inside spoiled rabbit. Thanks.
A vet would be the best one to remove it.
I have 2 male rabbits, they love to dig and have managed to get out on a few occasions by digging holes in the neighbour's yard. Since they have gotten out we (my neighbour mostly) has completely blocked them into their own yard and territory. I have noticed that there are new holes being dug next door through the night right next to the fence into my yard. My neighbour believes that the local feral rabbits are trying to get into my yard. Why would they want to get to my rabbits and how do I stop them without killing them?
By Nathan S.
