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GENERAL RABBIT CARE

| Basic Information | Handling | Housing | Cleaning | Rules to Remember | (anchors)

THE BASICS

Rabbits live an average of 6 years. However, with good care a life span of 10 years is not unusual, which makes owning a rabbit a long-term commitment. Rabbits are quiet and inexpensive to house and maintain. Rabbits grow very quickly and will be fully grown by 6-8 months of age. Each unaltered rabbit should be housed seperately. Most do not get along well once they reach sexual maturity. If you are looking for an alternative to a dog or cat because of living conditions, a rabbit may be just perfect for you.

HANDLING

A rabbit should never be picked up by the ears. Not only can it be painful to the animal, but it can also damage the ear tissues. You can pick up a rabbit by the fold of skin above the shoulders and one hand supporting the hind quarters.

HOUSING

Making sure your rabbit is in an adequate cage is very important. The following table shows the minimum requirements for rabbits of different sizes. If you can afford it, a larger cage is better.
Indoor wire cages are best with mesh bottoms, allowing the waste to fall through to a solid litter pan. 50% of the cage floor should be solid to prevent sore hocks.

CLEANING TIPS

Being larger animals, rabbits eat, defecate and urinate more than other caged animals do,so the bedding should be changed often. Free standing water bowls are not advisable because they can easily tip over and wet bedding. Self-sip water bottles are designed to prevent dripping and overall messiness. It also makes it easier to see if your rabbit is drinking enough water. If you rabbit is going to use an open water dish, make sure it is secured to the cage wires.


RULES TO REMEMBER

  1. Bunnies under 6 months old are growing rapidly, it is not necessary to give them less food just because they are smaller. He will keep eating as long as there is food there. And always keep plenty of fresh water available.
  2. Don't let your rabbit run on chemically treated lawns. Be careful of tree spraying, . Cover your hutch when the area is being sprayed and bring your rabbit indoors.
  3. Rabbits do better in cold weather than they do in the heat. They can withstand temperatures below 0 degrees as long as they are protected from drafts.
  4. In the summer months, the hutch should be well ventilated, and should not be in direct sunlight.
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