Choosing a Rabbit Rabbits make good pets and they can live indoors or out. Before you buy a rabbit you should be sure you are going to have the time to look after it properly. Rabbits usually live for between 5 and 8 years. If you are a small person remember that you will find it easier to hold a small rabbit than a big one. It may be worth paying that little bit more and getting a smaller breed. Two's company - Rabbits are very sociable creatures and love to live with other rabbits as they enjoy each other's company and can be unhappy if kept on their own. Neutered rabbits of opposite sexes can be housed together. When you go to buy a rabbit you should make sure that the rabbit is well. We think you should make sure that the rabbit is over 9 weeks old as before this age they should still be with their mother. The rabbit should be well and lively and you should check that it has a dry nose, clean teeth and ears, short claws, and a clean and shiny coat. You should not buy a rabbit if it has diarrhoea or a runny nose and sneezes. The hutch Buying a hutch is an important starting point for your new pet. This will be its home for most of its life so it is vital to get a sturdy, high quality large hutch that will provide a comfortable, spacious home. We have an excellent range of quality Rabbit Hutches to choose from in different sizes and designs Choosing The Right Size Hutch You should try and purchase the biggest hutch you can because rabbits can grow quite big. Ideally a 6ft x 2ft x 2ft hutch with an attached 6ft x 3ft run to allow them to sit up straight and look around would be great. We have a new range of bigger Rabbitshack Rabbit Hutches on our site. The roof of the hutch should be sloping so that the rain water will run off the back and there should be a closed-in sleeping area for warmth and privacy and a play area with wire mesh over the front so that the rabbit can see out. It is best if the rabbit hutch has legs to keep the damp out and it should have a latch on the front to keep it shut. A rough guide is to buy a rabbit hutch that is at least 4 times the length of your rabbit and high enough for your rabbit to stand on his hind legs without touching the top. A 3ft rabbit hutch is only suitable for one average or two small Guinea Pigs. A 4ft hutch would be the minimum requirement for one small Rabbit. Remember, the bigger the hutch the better.
Environment A rabbit hutch can be very dull and boring for your rabbit if it left bare. Place things in the hutch that he can play with such as clay pipes or large plant pots laid on their side which will give him additional places to hide and rest. Logs of wood will give him something to gnaw on and help keep his teeth in trim and you can also purchase things from the pet shop. The rabbit hutch should be placed in a sheltered spot as rabbits can suffer from the cold weather or get heatstroke in the hot weather. The rabbit hutch should have lots of straw in the sleeping area, and sawdust or cat litter in the bottom. You can also put paper in the bottom as this makes it a lot easier to clean out. At least once a week the hutch should be completely cleaned out and wiped with disinfectant. Food Rabbits tend to tip their food bowl over, so it is probably a good idea to get a heavy bowl.... A rabbit should be given fresh water every day. Some people like to use a special bottle that you can get from pet shops. Rabbits also like a piece of wood or a stick to chew on, and they love to eat hay. As rabbits' teeth never stop growing, they need to grind them down as they eat. A diet of 80-90 per cent hay is essential, with only a small quantity of pellet food and vegetables. Rabbits are very greedy and can get very fat, so don't give them to much for dinner. Rabbits only eat plants or special rabbit food and they like to spend all their time munching so try to give them lots of different vegetables to eat. If they don't like it they won't eat it...so don't worry to much. Rabbit Run Give them space! - Believe it or not, rabbits need as much exercise as a small dog! Ideally, their accommodation should have a sheltered sleeping area (hutch) of at least 6ft x 2ft x 2ft with an attached 6ft x 3ft run to allow them to sit up straight and look around Some of our rabbit hutches have a rabbit run attached so the rabbits can go for a stroll whenever they like. The rabbit run is covered in completely with wire, but if they are frightened they can always run back into their hutch. It is important that rabbits have a place to run and jump in, but its also important that they have a place to hide in, if they are frightened. Some people buy a separate rabbit run and take the rabbits out of the rabbit hutch and put them into the run. Make sure you don't forget about them as they will need to go back into their hutch if it rains or at night time. Handling your rabbit You should always remember to be gentle and try not to be too loud. You might startle them. You should not pick your rabbit up by their ears...it hurts them. You should use both hands - one should hold the rabbit around the 'scruff' of it's neck (the 'scruff' is the bit of neck behind the ears and there is lots of spare skin there.) Your other hand should support the rabbit's bottom. You should scoop up the rabbit and hold it firmly, close to your chest. If the rabbit struggles you should put it down as rabbits have very strong back legs and could hurt you or themselves. You should talk quietly to your rabbit while you are holding it. Poorly rabbits Poorly rabbits often hide in the corner of their hutches. They may also look dirty and have a dull coat and they might be off their food. If you think your rabbit is poorly you should contact your vet immediately. Sometimes rabbits get diarrhoea from eating too many greens or drinking too much water. As rabbits can't 'burp' they end up with a bad tummy ache. Make sure your rabbit's diet is well balanced and ask your vet or breeder for advice before purchasing. If your rabbit starts sneezing you should take it to the vet, as there is a disease which makes rabbits sneeze that can make them very poorly. Don't just assume its got a cold.. CLICK HERE To Go Back To Rabbit Hutches & Runs
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