After The Rain Rabbitry

Pet Rabbit Care

Some tips to get you started with your new pet bunny!

Basic Supplies

1. Cage or rabbit hutch
These are sold at PetSmart, Petco, Tractor Supply, and many stores online. We purchase ours online from Quality Cage Company, and we LOVE them.

2. Water bottle
You will want a 32 oz. bottle (rabbits drink a lot!). It is very difficult to find a water bottle that doesn't leak after a few weeks or months. We went through many different brands and types, and the only one we have ever found that truly never leaks is the Edstrom Water Buddy. Unfortunately it has recently been discontinued, however there may still be some available at www.bunnyrabbit.com. They have also recently started selling imitations of the Water Buddy, and while we haven't tried them yet, they may work just as well. We love that the Water Buddy has a flip-top for easy filling.

3. Food dish
Our recent discovery - EZ Crocks. They work wonderfully! They are available online at many different stores.

4. Rabbit pellet feed
We highly recommend Manna Pro (or Manna Sho) feed, available at Tractor Supply Company. There are TSC stores all over Virginia and many other states. See their website to find one near you.

5. Timothy hay
You can buy timothy hay at pet stores or from local farmers. Do not use alfalfa hay, as it is too high in calcium.

6. Wood or paper bedding
Bedding must be non-aromatic, such as Aspen or CareFresh. Do not use Cedar! Some rabbits are also sensitive to pine.

7. Litter pan for rabbits
This is optional but a good idea if you are planning to keep your rabbit indoors.

8. Baking soda for deodorizing cage tray or litter box Rabbit Litter Pan
This is a great way to reduce smell. Just mix some baking soda in with the wood or paper bedding.

9. White vinegar, Vanodine, and/or other pet safe cage cleaner
White vinegar is the only cleaner we have found that removes the white calcium build-up on trays, litter pans, etc. Very useful for rabbit owners. Vanodine is a pet-safe disinfectant and works very well to kill bacteria and germs. We use a combination of vinegar and Vanodine solutions for cleaning.

10. Slicker brush for grooming

11. Pet nail clippers

12. Toys

Feeding Your Rabbit

Growing Bunnies 8 weeks to 5 months old: Feed an unlimited quantity of good quality rabbit feed and timothy hay every day. We feed our growing rabbits 1/4 to 2/3 cup (depending on how much they will eat) of Manna Pro mixed with 1 tsp. of Calf Manna daily, along with a handful of timothy hay (all of which are available at the Tractor Supply Company). We also mix in some rolled oats for extra carbohydrates to keep the bunnies growing. Avoid giving young rabbits any fruit or vegetables until they are older, since their digestive systems are still developing and can be quite sensitive. Treats you can offer younger rabbits (on occasion) include parsley, dandelion leaves, and nibbling on pesticide-free grass if you let them out on the lawn.

Timothy Hay Rabbits 5 months and older: Limit the amount of feed they receive per day so they do not get overweight. Smaller breeds like Netherland Dwarfs may only require 1/4 cup feed. Most of our other breeds will need 1/2 or 2/3 cup per day. We still recommend Manna Pro, but without the Calf Manna or rolled oats. Continue to provide plenty of timothy hay. At this point you can gradually add in a vegetable or fruit treat once or twice a week -- a slice of carrot or apple is a good place to start. Some other safe treats include spinach, banana, kale, parsley, broccoli, cucumber, grapes, green pepper, peach, pear, strawberry, zucchini, cantaloupe, rolled oats and basil leaves.

Tips:

We will provide you with a small bag of the rabbit feed that we use (Manna Pro – mixed with Calf Manna and rolled oats if the bunny is 5 months or younger). If you decide to use a different kind of feed, please transition them over to the new kind slowly. Rabbits' digestive systems are very sensitive!

Try to avoid the "colorful" rabbit food you can find in many pet shops. Colorful feed looks more appealing but generally contains dyes, flavor enhancers and preservatives than can be harmful to your bunny. It is also likely too high in carbohydrates and too low in protein. What's more, you will end up paying more for it than quality feed like Manna Pro.

Manna Pro has all the salt your bunny will need. You will not need to provide your bunny with a salt-lick.

Pet stores charge a small fortune for timothy hay. If you live anywhere near a farm, check to see if they harvest any timothy hay, and then stock up when it's in season. We have saved hundreds of dollars this way.

For a fun chew toy, try stuffing timothy hay into empty toilet paper rolls or cereal boxes.

Make sure your bunny has clean, fresh water at all times!

If your rabbit ever stops eating or experiences diarrhea, call a vet immediately.

Shopping for Cages

Most rabbits are kept in cages at least part of the time. We highly recommend cages with wire-grid floors and pull-out pans. They are very easy to keep clean. If you are looking to buy from a pet store, PetSmart or Petco has a good selection. Our favorite cages (and the kind that house all of our rabbits) are from Quality Cage Company in Oregon (we order them online). Their cages are well-built, easy to put together, stackable without the hassle of leg kits, come in many different sizes, and have urine guards on 3 sides with baby-saver wire on the front. We like everything about them except the trays. We order our trays separately from Martin's Cages. They offer deep 2.5" plastic trays in compatible sizes.

Tips:

A cage measuring 24" x 24" is typically big enough for any of the rabbits we breed. Of course, bigger is always better.

If the cage you buy doesn't come with urine guards, consider investing in them... you'll be glad you did (your floor will be too!). Urine guards can be purchased online and in some pet stores.

Adopting More Than One Bunny

Baby bunnies usually get along very well with each other. It is adorable to watch them snuggle, groom each other, and hang out together. However, we do not recommend housing two (or more) rabbits together over the age of 3 or 4 months unless you have both rabbits altered (spayed or neutered). Despite their cute, friendly personalities around humans, mature rabbits are territorial and prefer to have their own space when it comes to other rabbits. If you want to try bonding two bunnies, it is best if they are in the same age-range, and they will most likely need to be altered when they reach sexual maturity (3-5 months) in order to live peacefully with each other. Ask your local small animal veterinarian if they offer alteration services for rabbits. You might also consider checking with your local spay-neuter clinic for lower rates.

Making Cleaning Easy

Garden Hose Cleaning your rabbit cage is really not as big of a deal as you might think, especially if you use a litter pan and/or a cage with a pull-out tray underneath for catching droppings.

Since the cages we use have slide-out trays, we just pull out the tray, dump the old wood shavings into a trash bag, hose the tray off, scrub it with some vinegar and Vanodine solutions, rinse, spread some fresh bedding over it, and then sprinkle some baking soda over the wood shavings to keep things smelling nice. We also spray and scrub the cage with the same vinegar and Vanodine solutions and hose it off to cleanse and disinfect. The whole process takes less than 20 minutes (for one rabbit) and it only needs to be done about once or twice a week.
Sponges
Alternatively, you can litter train your rabbit. This is usually very easy to do (especially with older rabbits) and we highly recommend it for indoor bunnies. Simply sprinkle a litter pan specially designed for rabbits with a little bit of wood bedding (layered with baking soda if you wish), add a small scoop of your rabbit's old waste for scent, and place it in the corner of the cage your rabbit has designated as its "bathroom corner." You might also add a little hay surrounding the litter pan to encourage your bunny to "go." Your rabbit will gradually grow accustomed to using the litter box faithfully. This is especially true of rabbits 5-6 months or older. Rabbits can be house-trained by placing at least one litter box in each room and helping them learn to use it.

Indoors vs. Outdoors

We prefer that all of our bunnies are adopted to indoor homes. Keeping rabbits indoors means that they will have year-round climate control and will typically receive more attention than outdoor rabbits. However, sometimes it is more convenient and less messy to keep them outside. As long as you house them in a proper location and give them plenty of attention, the choice is yours whether to house in them indoors or out.

As a general rule, you should avoid keeping rabbits in temperatures below 40 degrees (F) or above 80 degrees (F). On the coldest days in the winter, drape a blanket over part of the cage, provide a heating pad designed for rabbits or a nesting box they can huddle in.
Fan
With their thick coats and inability to sweat, rabbits overheat much easier than they freeze. If you are keeping your bunny outdoors, pay special attention to keeping them cool in the summertime. Make sure he or she is kept away from direct sunlight, and consider setting up fans blowing in their general direction or providing them with frozen water bottles to lie next to in their cages. You can also mist the cage (and your bunny's ears!) down with cool water throughout the day. In all seasons, ensure that they are sheltered from wind and rain. And regardless of where your rabbit is kept, be sure the area is well ventilated at all times.

Grooming Your Bunny

Lionhead and Lionlop rabbits have long fur with an even longer mane, and should be brushed regularly to avoid lumping and knots. It's very easy to do and doesn't take long at all. Your rabbit will love the attention. Use a slicker brush designed for small animals and rabbits, available at any pet store. Brush them gently 2-5 times per week, or as needed. No-Mane Lionheads, Netherland Dwarfs, Holland Lops and Mini Rex typically only require weekly brushing unless they are molting.

Waterless Shampoo You will need to trim your rabbit's nails (with a small animal nail clipper) about once every month or two. Just be careful to only cut the tip of the nail and avoid the quick.

Finally, it is important to keep your bunny's scent glands clean to prevent odor and infection. Using a Q-tip that has been dipped in warm water or mineral oil, gently swipe out any residue that might be present in the scent glands surrounding the anus and vent. This should be done at least once a month.

Rabbits do not require "baths" and should never be entirely submersed in water unless it is an emergency (it may stress them to the point of shock or heart failure). Like cats, rabbits tend to keep themselves very clean. If necessary, you can spot clean their fur with waterless rabbit shampoo spray (available at pet stores or online).

The Essentials of Exercise

Rabbit Pen Ideally, rabbits should be let out of their cage to exercise daily for at least fifteen minutes, if not for an hour or two. If you do this in your home, be sure the room or house is bunny-proofed (they may chew on cords or try to get underneath furniture). It is also helpful if your rabbit is properly litter-trained to avoid unnecessary messes. If you have a yard outside that your bunny can play in (with pesticide-free grass), consider purchasing a small animal pen or rabbit run so your bunny can get outdoor exercise and nibble at the grass. Be sure to always place the pen in a shaded area. You can also take your bunny for a walk -- just make sure he or she is securely fastened to a leash specifically designed for rabbits (available at pet stores or online).

Tips:

Never leave your rabbit unsupervised when it is out of its cage.

Never let your rabbit roam free outside -- it will run away!

An Abundance of Toys

Wicker Balls Rabbits love to chew on things, bump things around with their noses, and carry things from place to place. Make sure your rabbit has at least one or two toys in their cage at all times. Some great toy ideas include paper shopping bags, cardboard boxes, toilet paper rolls, untreated wicker or willow baskets, tennis balls, unwaxed paper cups, hard plastic cat toys, wooden blocks and boiled/baked branches (healthy woods include untreated willow, apple, pine).

There is a great selection of healthy rabbit toys online at Binky Bunny and Drs. Foster and Smith.

Play With Your Rabbit

Bunnies are smart animals and will learn to recognize you as their owner. With time, your bunny can easily develop a bond with you, and it's important to spend time with them often so they will get to know you and feel comfortable around you. Be sure to hold, pet, cuddle and play with your rabbit daily! You are his or her best friend and they need your continual love and attention :)





Some tips to get you started with your new pet bunny! Basic Supplies 1. Cage or rabbit hutch These are sold at PetSmart, Petco, Tractor Supply, and many stores online. We purchase ours online from Quality Cage Company, and we LOVE them. 2. Water bottle You will want a 32 oz. bottle (rabbits drink a lot!). It is very difficult to find a water bottle that doesn't leak after a few weeks or months. We went through many different brands and types, and the only one we have ever found that truly never leaks is the Edstrom Water Buddy. Unfortunately it has recently been discontinued, however there may still be some available at www.bunnyrabbit.com. They have also recently started selling imitations of the Water Buddy, and while we haven't tried them yet, they may work just as well. We love that the Water Buddy has a flip-top for easy filling. 3. Food dish Our recent discovery - EZ Crocks. They work wonderfully! They are available online at many different stores. 4. Rabbit pellet feed We highly recommend Manna Pro (or Manna Sho) feed, available at Tractor Supply Company. There are TSC stores all over Virginia and many other states. See their website to find one near you. 5. Timothy hay You can buy timothy hay at pet stores or from local farmers. Do not use alfalfa hay, as it is too high in calcium. 6. Wood or paper bedding Bedding must be non-aromatic, such as Aspen or CareFresh. Do not use Cedar! Some rabbits are also sensitive to pine. 7. Litter pan for rabbits This is optional but a good idea if you are planning to keep your rabbit indoors. 8. Baking soda for deodorizing cage tray or litter box This is a great way to reduce smell. Just mix some baking soda in with the wood or paper bedding. 9. White vinegar, Vanodine, and/or other pet safe cage cleaner White vinegar is the only cleaner we have found that removes the white calcium build-up on trays, litter pans, etc. Very useful for rabbit owners. Vanodine is a pet-safe disinfectant and works very well to kill bacteria and germs. We use a combination of vinegar and Vanodine solutions for cleaning. 10. Slicker brush for grooming 11. Pet nail clippers 12. Toys Feeding Your Rabbit Growing Bunnies 8 weeks to 5 months old: Feed an unlimited quantity of good quality rabbit feed and timothy hay every day. We feed our growing rabbits 1/4 to 2/3 cup (depending on how much they will eat) of Manna Pro mixed with 1 tsp. of Calf Manna daily, along with a handful of timothy hay (all of which are available at the Tractor Supply Company). We also mix in some rolled oats for extra carbohydrates to keep the bunnies growing. Avoid giving young rabbits any fruit or vegetables until they are older, since their digestive systems are still developing and can be quite sensitive. Treats you can offer younger rabbits (on occasion) include parsley, dandelion leaves, and nibbling on pesticide-free grass if you let them out on the lawn. Rabbits 5 months and older: Limit the amount of feed they receive per day so they do not get overweight. Smaller breeds like Netherland Dwarfs may only require 1/4 cup feed. Most of our other breeds will need 1/2 or 2/3 cup per day. We still recommend Manna Pro, but without the Calf Manna or rolled oats. Continue to provide plenty of timothy hay. At this point you can gradually add in a vegetable or fruit treat once or twice a week -- a slice of carrot or apple is a good place to start. Some other safe treats include spinach, banana, kale, parsley, broccoli, cucumber, grapes, green pepper, peach, pear, strawberry, zucchini, cantaloupe, rolled oats and basil leaves. Tips: We will provide you with a small bag of the rabbit feed that we use (Manna Pro – mixed with Calf Manna and rolled oats if the bunny is 5 months or younger). If you decide to use a different kind of feed, please transition them over to the new kind slowly. Rabbits' digestive systems are very sensitive! Try to avoid the "colorful" rabbit food you can find in many pet shops. Colorful feed looks more appealing but generally contains dyes, flavor enhancers and preservatives than can be harmful to your bunny. It is also likely too high in carbohydrates and too low in protein. What's more, you will end up paying more for it than quality feed like Manna Pro. Manna Pro has all the salt your bunny will need. You will not need to provide your bunny with a salt-lick. Pet stores charge a small fortune for timothy hay. If you live anywhere near a farm, check to see if they harvest any timothy hay, and then stock up when it's in season. We have saved hundreds of dollars this way. For a fun chew toy, try stuffing timothy hay into empty toilet paper rolls or cereal boxes. Make sure your bunny has clean, fresh water at all times! If your rabbit ever stops eating or experiences diarrhea, call a vet immediately. Shopping for Cages Most rabbits are kept in cages at least part of the time. We highly recommend cages with wire-grid floors and pull-out pans. They are very easy to keep clean. If you are looking to buy from a pet store, PetSmart or Petco has a good selection. Our favorite cages (and the kind that house all of our rabbits) are from Quality Cage Company in Oregon (we order them online). Their cages are well-built, easy to put together, stackable without the hassle of leg kits, come in many different sizes, and have urine guards on 3 sides with baby-saver wire on the front. We like everything about them except the trays. We order our trays separately from Martin's Cages. They offer deep 2.5" plastic trays in compatible sizes. Tips: A cage measuring 24" x 24" is typically big enough for any of the rabbits we breed. Of course, bigger is always better. If the cage you buy doesn't come with urine guards, consider investing in them... you'll be glad you did (your floor will be too!). Urine guards can be purchased online and in some pet stores. Adopting More Than One Bunny Baby bunnies usually get along very well with each other. It is adorable to watch them snuggle, groom each other, and hang out together. However, we do not recommend housing two (or more) rabbits together over the age of 3 or 4 months unless you have both rabbits altered (spayed or neutered). Despite their cute, friendly personalities around humans, mature rabbits are territorial and prefer to have their own space when it comes to other rabbits. If you want to try bonding two bunnies, it is best if they are in the same age-range, and they will most likely need to be altered when they reach sexual maturity (3-5 months) in order to live peacefully with each other. Ask your local small animal veterinarian if they offer alteration services for rabbits. You might also consider checking with your local spay-neuter clinic for lower rates. Making Cleaning Easy Cleaning your rabbit cage is really not as big of a deal as you might think, especially if you use a litter pan and/or a cage with a pull-out tray underneath for catching droppings. Since the cages we use have slide-out trays, we just pull out the tray, dump the old wood shavings into a trash bag, hose the tray off, scrub it with some vinegar and Vanodine solutions, rinse, spread some fresh bedding over it, and then sprinkle some baking soda over the wood shavings to keep things smelling nice. We also spray and scrub the cage with the same vinegar and Vanodine solutions and hose it off to cleanse and disinfect. The whole process takes less than 20 minutes (for one rabbit) and it only needs to be done about once or twice a week. Alternatively, you can litter train your rabbit. This is usually very easy to do (especially with older rabbits) and we highly recommend it for indoor bunnies. Simply sprinkle a litter pan specially designed for rabbits with a little bit of wood bedding (layered with baking soda if you wish), add a small scoop of your rabbit's old waste for scent, and place it in the corner of the cage your rabbit has designated as its "bathroom corner." You might also add a little hay surrounding the litter pan to encourage your bunny to "go." Your rabbit will gradually grow accustomed to using the litter box faithfully. This is especially true of rabbits 5-6 months or older. Rabbits can be house-trained by placing at least one litter box in each room and helping them learn to use it. Indoors vs. Outdoors We prefer that all of our bunnies are adopted to indoor homes. Keeping rabbits indoors means that they will have year-round climate control and will typically receive more attention than outdoor rabbits. However, sometimes it is more convenient and less messy to keep them outside. As long as you house them in a proper location and give them plenty of attention, the choice is yours whether to house in them indoors or out. As a general rule, you should avoid keeping rabbits in temperatures below 40 degrees (F) or above 80 degrees (F). On the coldest days in the winter, drape a blanket over part of the cage, provide a heating pad designed for rabbits or a nesting box they can huddle in. With their thick coats and inability to sweat, rabbits overheat much easier than they freeze. If you are keeping your bunny outdoors, pay special attention to keeping them cool in the summertime. Make sure he or she is kept away from direct sunlight, and consider setting up fans blowing in their general direction or providing them with frozen water bottles to lie next to in their cages. You can also mist the cage (and your bunny's ears!) down with cool water throughout the day. In all seasons, ensure that they are sheltered from wind and rain. And regardless of where your rabbit is kept, be sure the area is well ventilated at all times. Grooming Your Bunny Lionhead and Lionlop rabbits have long fur with an even longer mane, and should be brushed regularly to avoid lumping and knots. It's very easy to do and doesn't take long at all. Your rabbit will love the attention. Use a slicker brush designed for small animals and rabbits, available at any pet store. Brush them gently 2-5 times per week, or as needed. No-Mane Lionheads, Netherland Dwarfs, Holland Lops and Mini Rex typically only require weekly brushing unless they are molting. You will need to trim your rabbit's nails (with a small animal nail clipper) about once every month or two. Just be careful to only cut the tip of the nail and avoid the quick. Finally, it is important to keep your bunny's scent glands clean to prevent odor and infection. Using a Q-tip that has been dipped in warm water or mineral oil, gently swipe out any residue that might be present in the scent glands surrounding the anus and vent. This should be done at least once a month. Rabbits do not require "baths" and should never be entirely submersed in water unless it is an emergency (it may stress them to the point of shock or heart failure). Like cats, rabbits tend to keep themselves very clean. If necessary, you can spot clean their fur with waterless rabbit shampoo spray (available at pet stores or online). The Essentials of Exercise Ideally, rabbits should be let out of their cage to exercise daily for at least fifteen minutes, if not for an hour or two. If you do this in your home, be sure the room or house is bunny-proofed (they may chew on cords or try to get underneath furniture). It is also helpful if your rabbit is properly litter-trained to avoid unnecessary messes. If you have a yard outside that your bunny can play in (with pesticide-free grass), consider purchasing a small animal pen or rabbit run so your bunny can get outdoor exercise and nibble at the grass. Be sure to always place the pen in a shaded area. You can also take your bunny for a walk -- just make sure he or she is securely fastened to a leash specifically designed for rabbits (available at pet stores or online). Tips: Never leave your rabbit unsupervised when it is out of its cage. Never let your rabbit roam free outside -- it will run away! An Abundance of Toys Rabbits love to chew on things, bump things around with their noses, and carry things from place to place. Make sure your rabbit has at least one or two toys in their cage at all times. Some great toy ideas include paper shopping bags, cardboard boxes, toilet paper rolls, untreated wicker or willow baskets, tennis balls, unwaxed paper cups, hard plastic cat toys, wooden blocks and boiled/baked branches (healthy woods include untreated willow, apple, pine). There is a great selection of healthy rabbit toys online at Binky Bunny and Drs. Foster and Smith. Play With Your Rabbit Bunnies are smart animals and will learn to recognize you as their owner. With time, your bunny can easily develop a bond with you, and it's important to spend time with them often so they will get to know you and feel comfortable around you. Be sure to hold, pet, cuddle and play with your rabbit daily! You are his or her best friend and they need your continual love and attention :)
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