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"What To Expect When You Are Expecting...The Rabbit Version"
Our rabbits have been eating PrimeLine rabbit food. PrimeLine is only sold in 50 pound bags via a distributor so you will need to find a different food. Oxbow is a great alternative and is sold at most pet stores in smaller bags and at some feed stores. We would suggest that you find a food that is easily accessible where you live and is sold in small quantities. Purina, Manna Pro, and Oxbow are ones we recommend. I also sell gallon bags of our feed to anyone who would like to continue on the feed. You want to make sure the food you buy contains only pellets and no other filler foods like seeds, colorful puffs, dried veggies, and things like that. Think of those kinds of foods as Lucky Charms for rabbits and are very hard for rabbits to digest. A basic alfalfa pellet is best and the most healthy. My rabbits also receive black oil sunflower seeds and rolled oats as part of their daily intake.
Our rabbits are used to having unlimited access to Timothy Hay or Orchard Hay and your new rabbit will be expecting that at your house, also. Some people view hay as an option. It is not. It is the most important part of your rabbit's diet and should not be avoided. Make sure the hay smells fresh and looks clean. We buy our hay at our feed store in 50 lbs bales for about $18. You can buy it at pet stores but you can also purchase your hay from www.smallpetselect.com.
Rabbits 6 months and under should not have fruits or veggies because their stomachs have a hard time digesting it. The only greens my rabbits get are fresh grass, clover, and dandelions from our yard because we have ample access and never run out. These are not as hard on their digestive systems. When your rabbit is 6 months, introduce dark, leafy greens one at a time to make sure he's digesting without issues.
Treats-Be careful of what pet stores sell as treats. Most are not very healthy. Babies should NOT get treats until they are 6 months. Most treats are made of seeds which are not digestible. The only seed that is good for bunnies is Black Oil Sunflower Seed. This can be offered as a treat. No shelling required. They are good for their skin and coat. Also, small amounts of uncooked, rolled Quaker Oats are a fine treat. Make sure it's not the Minute Quick Oat kind. Oxbow brand treats are trustworthy, but still, do not give them to babies under 6-months-old.
Depending on the mother that your baby is coming from, he/she may already be used to a litter box. If not, it is not hard to get them to adjust and start using one. Place the litter box in the corner of the cage that your baby is choosing to potty in. They will choose one. If it's not the corner you'd like them to use, let them be successful first and then slowly start moving the box to where you'd like it. If he potties outside the box, soak up the pee with a paper towel and place the paper towel in the litter box. Clean the pee spot thoroughly. We get lots of emails from people who say their baby isn't being very successful. Remember, your baby is a baby. Mistakes will happen much the same as a toddler potty training. But they will catch on...faster than a toddler!
Toys- Cat balls, toilet paper rolls filled with hay, concrete tube forms from Home Depot for them to run through, baby keys are all wonderful toys for rabbits to play with. Cardboard boxes and tubes help with their tunneling urges and natural chewing tendencies.
Though our rabbits live in our rabbitry, they receive lots of attention and play time daily. We feed our rabbits twice a day so that we can monitor their food intake. If we see they did not eat, we take note. We do not free feed and we highly suggest that you don't either. Feed a certain amount twice a day so that you can tell if they aren't eating. This could be the first sign of a health issue. Our Holland Lops are fed 1/4 cup twice a day. Our Netherland Dwarfs receive 1/3 a cup split up twice a day. These amounts also will vary with the age of the rabbit. Under 6 months, my rabbits get unlimited food, though I use these amounts as a general guideline. They may eat more of less depending on their growth spurts. If they are finishing all the food each time, then I will feed them more. Likewise, I will feed less if they aren’t finishing their food. Once they reach 6 months old, I stick with the regulated amounts.
Our rabbits also receive daily supervised exercise in the yard.
We have people ask all the time, "How are your rabbits with kids?" The better question is, "How are your kids with animals?" Rabbits don't see age in humans. They just know who treats them sweetly and appropriately. We highly recommend if you are buying a rabbit and you have children, to research rabbit behavior so you and your children know what to expect from a rabbit. They aren't like puppies and kittens. Saying that, our rabbits are loved on and cared for by our family which includes children. The children have been taught the appropriate way to hold and care for a rabbit. The rabbits have also been around our well-behaved dogs and cats. It is up to you to make sure your other animals are well-behaved around your rabbit, and then the rabbit will have no issues with them.
Rabbits are not a tool and should not be used to teach your child responsibility. Please don't use them as such. A rabbit should be a welcomed furry family member by ALL members of the family. And parents, WE DO NOT SELL BUNNIES TO KIDS. We sell them to adults. Please make sure that if you are buying a rabbit for your child, you are buying a rabbit for yourself also, and that you are fully invested and prepared to take on the full responsibility.
Our rabbits have been eating PrimeLine rabbit food. PrimeLine is only sold in 50 pound bags via a distributor so you will need to find a different food. Oxbow is a great alternative and is sold at most pet stores in smaller bags and at some feed stores. We would suggest that you find a food that is easily accessible where you live and is sold in small quantities. Purina, Manna Pro, and Oxbow are ones we recommend. I also sell gallon bags of our feed to anyone who would like to continue on the feed. You want to make sure the food you buy contains only pellets and no other filler foods like seeds, colorful puffs, dried veggies, and things like that. Think of those kinds of foods as Lucky Charms for rabbits and are very hard for rabbits to digest. A basic alfalfa pellet is best and the most healthy. My rabbits also receive black oil sunflower seeds and rolled oats as part of their daily intake.
Our rabbits are used to having unlimited access to Timothy Hay or Orchard Hay and your new rabbit will be expecting that at your house, also. Some people view hay as an option. It is not. It is the most important part of your rabbit's diet and should not be avoided. Make sure the hay smells fresh and looks clean. We buy our hay at our feed store in 50 lbs bales for about $18. You can buy it at pet stores but you can also purchase your hay from www.smallpetselect.com.
Rabbits 6 months and under should not have fruits or veggies because their stomachs have a hard time digesting it. The only greens my rabbits get are fresh grass, clover, and dandelions from our yard because we have ample access and never run out. These are not as hard on their digestive systems. When your rabbit is 6 months, introduce dark, leafy greens one at a time to make sure he's digesting without issues.
Treats-Be careful of what pet stores sell as treats. Most are not very healthy. Babies should NOT get treats until they are 6 months. Most treats are made of seeds which are not digestible. The only seed that is good for bunnies is Black Oil Sunflower Seed. This can be offered as a treat. No shelling required. They are good for their skin and coat. Also, small amounts of uncooked, rolled Quaker Oats are a fine treat. Make sure it's not the Minute Quick Oat kind. Oxbow brand treats are trustworthy, but still, do not give them to babies under 6-months-old.
Depending on the mother that your baby is coming from, he/she may already be used to a litter box. If not, it is not hard to get them to adjust and start using one. Place the litter box in the corner of the cage that your baby is choosing to potty in. They will choose one. If it's not the corner you'd like them to use, let them be successful first and then slowly start moving the box to where you'd like it. If he potties outside the box, soak up the pee with a paper towel and place the paper towel in the litter box. Clean the pee spot thoroughly. We get lots of emails from people who say their baby isn't being very successful. Remember, your baby is a baby. Mistakes will happen much the same as a toddler potty training. But they will catch on...faster than a toddler!
Toys- Cat balls, toilet paper rolls filled with hay, concrete tube forms from Home Depot for them to run through, baby keys are all wonderful toys for rabbits to play with. Cardboard boxes and tubes help with their tunneling urges and natural chewing tendencies.
Though our rabbits live in our rabbitry, they receive lots of attention and play time daily. We feed our rabbits twice a day so that we can monitor their food intake. If we see they did not eat, we take note. We do not free feed and we highly suggest that you don't either. Feed a certain amount twice a day so that you can tell if they aren't eating. This could be the first sign of a health issue. Our Holland Lops are fed 1/4 cup twice a day. Our Netherland Dwarfs receive 1/3 a cup split up twice a day. These amounts also will vary with the age of the rabbit. Under 6 months, my rabbits get unlimited food, though I use these amounts as a general guideline. They may eat more of less depending on their growth spurts. If they are finishing all the food each time, then I will feed them more. Likewise, I will feed less if they aren’t finishing their food. Once they reach 6 months old, I stick with the regulated amounts.
Our rabbits also receive daily supervised exercise in the yard.
We have people ask all the time, "How are your rabbits with kids?" The better question is, "How are your kids with animals?" Rabbits don't see age in humans. They just know who treats them sweetly and appropriately. We highly recommend if you are buying a rabbit and you have children, to research rabbit behavior so you and your children know what to expect from a rabbit. They aren't like puppies and kittens. Saying that, our rabbits are loved on and cared for by our family which includes children. The children have been taught the appropriate way to hold and care for a rabbit. The rabbits have also been around our well-behaved dogs and cats. It is up to you to make sure your other animals are well-behaved around your rabbit, and then the rabbit will have no issues with them.
Rabbits are not a tool and should not be used to teach your child responsibility. Please don't use them as such. A rabbit should be a welcomed furry family member by ALL members of the family. And parents, WE DO NOT SELL BUNNIES TO KIDS. We sell them to adults. Please make sure that if you are buying a rabbit for your child, you are buying a rabbit for yourself also, and that you are fully invested and prepared to take on the full responsibility.