Caring for your rabbit - How to make your rabbit a happy bunny

Please think very carefully before you decide to have a rabbit as a pet - they are hard work to look after and children often get bored after the first few months. It is mum and dad who will be responsible for the cleaning and handling on those dark, cold winter nights! Rabbits enjoy company and will always be happier with a friend.

HOUSING YOUR RABBIT Rabbits should be provided with as large a cage as possible in which they can comfortably stand on their hind legs without their ears scraping the ceiling. They should be able to take at least 3 hops in their hutch and be able to stretch out to relax. An outside hutch should be sturdy and waterproof. It should be raised off the floor by about 25cm and placed in a sheltered position or inside a shed. Rabbits must be protected from wet, windy and cold weather as well as strong sunlight. A hutch cover, blanket or piece of old carpet will offer added protection on cold nights. House rabbits are often kept in cages similar to those used for hamsters, only much larger. These should be placed in a cool room and out of direct sunlight and draughts. A secure caged area should be provided when you are not present. It is important to protect electrical cables from chewing and to avoid poisonous house plants. All rabbits benefit from access to a pen or run in the garden. Avoid using pesticides nearby your rabbits enclosure and run and ensure that the enclosure is secure enough to keep the rabbit in as well as other animals out. BEDDING AND HUTCH MAINTENANCE A hutch or a cage should have a layer of shavings on the floor with plenty of hay provided for nesting. Any shavings or bedding that become wet should be removed daily along with uneaten fresh foods. Hygiene is extremely important, particularly in summer. If not kept clean, the hutch will attract flies and other pests which can cause illness and death to your rabbit (see the Poorly and Rainbow Bridge page for details of bunny ailments). As a general guide, the hutch should be cleaned out thoroughly at least once a week with a weak solution of soapy water. FEEDING YOUR RABBIT A vast number of health problems in rabbits are related to incorrect diets; for example, overgrowth of teeth, upset tummies, obesity, boredom and aggression, hairballs, etc. Rabbits need to spend a lot of time eating, 4-6 hours daily, in order to keep their teeth wearing down at the correct rate. This is easily achieved by feeding you rabbit ad lib quantities of good quality hay or providing access to grazing in warmer weather. A dried rabbit mix, although not essential, can be added in very small quantities daily - preferably scattered amongst the hay. The best dried mixes available are those which are pelleted 'all-in-one' to stop the rabbit from selectively eating only the pieces it wants. It is OK to feed fresh cut grass (within half an hour of cutting), dandelions, chickweed etc and fresh vegetables small amounts of fruit can also be provided. RABBIT TOYS TOILET ROLL TUBES. Rabbits love throwing these about and chewing on them. It is very important that your rabbit has a lot of things to chew on as their teeth are constantly growing. Toilet roll tubes provide a safe and non-destructive object for this. Furthermore, you can make these even more fun for your rabbit by stuffing them full of different foods: one with hay, one with straw, others with different vegetables... then you can stack these up, or hide them, and it will provide your rabbit with an extra task. CARDBOARD BOXES are great for rabbits. Smaller ones, such as cereal boxes, serve as a chew-toy again. With bigger ones you can cut doors and windows. Move them around and pair them up to make fun hiding places for your rabbit. LOGS & TWIGS from certain trees are a great treat. Make sure the wood you provide is safe for your rabbit (such as an apple tree) and untreated with chemicals. These not only relieve your bunny's boredom but provide a tasty way to keep your bunny's teeth worn down. SMALL FLOWER POTS CONTAINING HERBS are a great way to keep your rabbit occupied. Grow herbs or plants that are safely edible for rabbits (such as parsley and marigolds) in small flower pots. Move the pots around to create alley ways for your rabbit to explore, and when they get hungry they can reach up and have a nibble. You can buy a cheap piece of plastic or terracotta pipe, to create a TUNNEL for your rabbit. Your rabbit will love running in and out of it, and often will chose it as a place to have a doze as it will feel as though they are in a burrow. This is a very good thing to have for out-door rabbits, because if they are every startled, they will feel safer running into a tunnel.

An excellent book that we recommend is ''Rabbit Lopedia'' and can be ordered from all good book stores.

Be inspired but please do not steal!

Created by Taylor Made

voice of the voiceless