Rabbit Quick Care Guide

Soft, cuddly and sociable, these clever companions are true honey bunnies. 

Did you know?

  • Rabbits can live for up to ten years.

  • Rabbits’ teeth never stop growing.

    They need lots of fresh hay every day because chewing it wears the teeth down. Keeping a wood block or fruit branch in their enclosure also helps.

  • They love a chance to kick up their heels.

    Fence off an area in the garden to watch them sprint around..

  • Rabbits can form strong bonds with humans and most will be affectionate pets.

  • They also form strong bonds with each other.

    It’s a bad idea to ever separate two rabbits that have lived together.

  • In a natural environment they do a lot of pushing and digging.

    A pet rabbit with a sand pit nearby would be a lucky rabbit indeed.

  • They can be trained to come when called and to return to their hutch.

  • To express happiness rabbits sometimes ‘binky’ or leap and twist in the air.

    They also make honking or buzzing sounds when happy.

  • A rabbit will sometimes nudge their human to get their attention or to get them out of their way

Gear

  • Hutch – at least 1830 x 610 x 610 mm with an attached run of at least 2400 x 900 x 900mm for one or two rabbits

  • Water bottle

  • Grass hay: Timothy of meadow hay

  • Fibre-rich pellets

  • Heavy ceramic food bowl

  • Treats and chew toys

Care

  • Place hutch away from rain, wind and direct sunlight

  • Layer bedding hay over an absorbent base like shredded ink-free paper, cat litter or wood shavings

  • Offer a bundle of feeding hay (timothy or meadow hay) that’s about the size of your rabbit’s body each day, plus a handful of suitable greens and a tablespoon of fibre-rich rabbit nuggets.

  • Give occasional rabbit treats

  • Change water daily to keep fresh

  • Remove droppings, wet spots and uneaten vegetables daily

  • Replace bedding hay weekly

  • Allow exercise in a large fenced area

  • Handle gently and frequently. Pick up with both hands, one under the front legs and the other supporting the hind legs

  • Hold a rabbit close to the body

  • Never hold a rabbit on its back

Beware

  • Overgrown teeth. Provide a gnawing block if needed

  • Overweight rabbits

  • Wood shavings from cedar or other fragrant woods — they can be poisonous

  • Giving access to things that shouldn’t be chewed, like electrical cables

  • Dropping the rabbit from a height. Place it gently back to the ground

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