Our Rabbits

Our breeding rabbits are primarily our pets and are treated as such. They are given daily cuddles and attention and will never be bred from if they are not in tip-top condition. Please feel free to browse the breed pages to get to know some of our bunnies a bit better. If you would like to arrange a visit so you can meet some of our rabbits in person then please get in touch.

Our adult rabbits need to trust and feel comfortable with us in order for us to handle and check their babies. A relaxed and sociable doe will always produce relaxed and sociable babies as baby rabbits learn 90% of their behaviour from their Mothers. This is why we spend so much time with our rabbits in order to ensure that any babies leaving Sunflower Nursery are friendly and tame and will remain so as long as you continue to treat them with the love and attention they were brought up with.

We also spend a great deal of time with our boys. Dads also need to be tame and relaxed in order for their trait to pass on to their offspring.

To find out about all our rabbits see the following pages:

We also breed a small number of Guinea Pigs in our favourite breed called Teddy. You can find out more about our Guinea Pig friends by going to their page. Currently we have three Teddy Guinea Pigs we have worked hard to make them some of the tamest Guinea Pigs you will ever see as such they are sure to come over to teh front of the cage to greet you when you visit our Nursery.

Mini Lops

Miniature Lops are the smallest breed of lop rabbits available. Lop rabbits in general are very laid back, relaxed rabbit that love their cuddles and lots of attention. Mini lops in particular are very laid back and placid and are ideal pets for children or families. They are extremely easy to house train and so are becoming more and more popular as house rabbits. They are fairly low maintanence rabbits and all they ask is for a good homes with plenty fo cuddles and attention from you, and lots of things to do when you are now there. They are also very sociable with other rabbits and love company if you have room for two or more bunnies.

Mini Lionheads

Lionheads get their name from the extra fur that grows around their head and bodies. This fur forms a 'mane' making them look like a lion. Despite this extra fur lionheads do not need a huge amount of grooming as a lot of people would expect. They are very good at maintaining their own coats and a full groom just once a week is more than enough - although they do very much enjoy to be groomed which can be a great way to bond. Lionheads have cheeky little personalities, they are friendly and outgoing and also can make ideal house pets. They love toys, particularly anything that can be thrown around the cage!

Dutch

The Dutch rabbits are very slightly bigger than the Mini Lop and Mini Lionheads. They are too are friendly and outgoing rabbits but are less suited to very small children due to their energetic and playful natures. Dutch rabbits are beautiful rabbits with very standardised markings and come in colours including black, chocolate, yellow, agouti, lilac and blue. They have a very striking appearance and very cheeky little faces. They enjoy lots of space to run and stretch.

Guinea pigs

Guinea pigs are very different animals to rabbits. They much smaller which many people think makes them easier to handle. Although this can be the case, guinea pigs need a lot of attention and care in order to prevent them from becoming scared and timid. Once this work has been put in, though, and your guinea pigs have learnt not to shy away when you go to their cages, they make very good little pets and their constant chatter to each other can amuse you for hours on end. They love their food and love nothing more than fresh, gree vegetables. We have found from experience that the Teddy breed of guinea pigs tend to be slightly more out going and less timid than some other breeds. This is the main reason for us keepig their breed as they are always at the front of the cage to great you - usually looking for a piece of food or a treat!

Our rabbits and guinea pigs are all kept in a sheltered and secure brick garage or wooden shed. They rear their young in here, which can be reserved from 4 weeks onwards for rabbits and 2 weeks onwards for guinea pigs, and enjoy the space of a large, secure garden to play in. Babies enjoy coming outside in nice weather to play in a fenced in playpen area and adults like to socialise with each other whenever possible (males stay separate at all times).

Each rabbit has its own cage to bring up their young so that they feel safe and sound with no disturbance from anyone else. Guinea pigs live in a large pen in small groups where they will bring up their babies together - a wonderful trait of guinea pigs that we can't help but admire.

The garage is heated in the winter and has fans switched on constantly in the summer in order to help to keep them confortable. Mums will live in the garage whilst pregnant and for 4 weeks after they have given birth. They have a constant supply of straw and hay and due to the warmer conditions of the garage in winter and cooler condition in summer their babies florish under this environment.

Once the babies have reached 4 weeks both Mum and babies are moved to a large cage in the shed. Here they will live until they are 8 weeks old and ready to go. Visitors to Sunflower Nursery will visit the shed to veiw any babies that are reserved for reserving. The shed has nice large windows allowing for lots of natural light and large, double doors that stay open in nice weather. These double doors are protected with a second set of doors lined with a fly net - this is vital in order to allow fresh air into the shed whilst still keeping flies and cats out.

This system allows us to keep all tiny babies (less than 4 weeks old) and expectant Mothers in a quiet, private environment that does not get disturbed by anyone other than ourselves. We feel that this stops Mums becoming stressed but still allows people to visit the Shed and view any babies that they are able to reserved.

All of our Dads are kept in large wooden hutches outside in the garden. They enjoy the fresh air and room out there and get to nosey at everything that goes on. Keeping the boys outside means that the girls aren't constantly getting the whiff off a mature male, sending their hormones crazy and causing them to display mating behaviours before they are ready to. This allows us to give the girls a nice long break between litters.

We spend a lot of time outside in the garage, shed and garden and can often be found out there when people come to visit. We give all of the animals plenty of exericise time in the garden when the weather in nice and allow them exercise time inside both the house and garage when the weather isn't so nice - which is more often than not here in sunny Manchester! All of rabbits are cleaned out several times a week and have a constant supply of hay and straw both for their siet and for nest building when needed. Our guinea pigs enjoy the run of a nice pen and have lots of nice hidey houses and tunnels to feel safe.

Visitors are always welcome and we will happily show you are beloved pets. Rabbits will only be reserved from 4 weeks onwards unless in unusual circumstances. Guinea pigs can be reserved from 2 weeks onwards and will separated into groups of boys and girls just before 4 weeks old.

Don't forget that if you are going away on holiday we are always happy to look after your rabbits or guinea pigs, or other small animals, just get in touch to find out if we have any availability. See our Sunflower Hotel page for more details:

We believe it is very important for perspective owners of rabbits to buy from a breeder. This said not all breeders are the same and some can be more trusted than others. Sunflower Nursery uses techniques from the most recent and trusted research to provide rabbits which are good natured, friendly and tame. Please consider the information provided on our Socialisation and Habituation Page, it will tell you more about why our rabbits are equipped with skills and kindness to benefit both yourself and the rabbit in future life. It is worth checking with any other breeder you contact if they have a Socialisation and Habituation programme before considering any rabbit for obvious reasons.

We have litters planned ready to leave only on the following dates:

Mini Lops

Tia will have babies ready for collection 13th - 16th June 2010

Maria will have babies ready for collection 22nd - 25th June 2010

Isabella has babies ready between 23rd - 26th June 2010.

Gracie will have babies ready for collection 10th-14th July 2010.

Elphie will have babies ready between 20th-23rd July 2010.

Mini Lionheads

Treacle will have babies ready for collection 20th-23rd July 2010.

Dutch

Galaxy has babies that will be ready between 21st - 24th June 2010.

It is important that you have researched and understood the care and commitments that owning a new rabbit can take. Sunflower Nursery is happy to help answer any questions you may have and we have provided care sheets to help you with this preparation. Once you are certain you will be able to give one of our rabbits a loving home we would love to hear from you and help you find your perfect new family friend. We only breed rabbits which are suitable for children, that are easy to handle and enjoy human companioship.

Should you need advise about rabbit products such as hutches and food we are only a phone call or e-mail away and our experience in the pet supplies trade allows us great insite - we are also able to supply you with all the essentials you will need to make your new rabbit healthy, happy and hopping.

We provide ongoing after care once you take your new rabbit home. As we are always happy to answer any questions you are never alone should you find that you need advice. We also guarantee that we will take back any rabbit that you are not able to continue looking after to avoid our rabbits from ending up in rescue centers if your circumstances change. Don't be afraid to get in touch with us if you are unsure of anything and remember, if you are going away on holiday we are able to take care of your pets here in our own home whilst you are away, giving you peace of mind that they will be well cared for and looked after, allowing you to enjoy your holiday.

With years of experience, we are always happy to offer advice to anyone. In the past we have helped with unplanned litters caused by rabbits from pet shops wrongly sexed, housing, nutrition and general advice about rabbit care. We recieve e-mails on a daily basis asking for help or advice and you need never feel alone. We always encourage people to gather as much information as possible so they can help their rabbit live a long and happy life - even if you are not adopting a rabbit from us.

Everyone is welcome to e-mail or phone us. All we ask is that if your rabbit is ill you seek the immediate attention of a vet who is 'rabbit savy' rather than seek our advice.

Click Here to Download our Care Sheets or Contact Us

Feel free to browse our website and make use of any information we have on here. You will find pictures and information on all our own rabbits, which are primarily our much loved pets. You will also find information on up and coming litters and babies that are currently in the nest and being looked after by their Mums. Once babies are reserved this will be viewable on the Nursery pages so you can always check which babies are still available. Our care pages provide lots of useful information that you will need to know before buying a pet rabbit and if you contact us in person we are happy to email you care sheets and give any other advice you may need. As well as rabbits we occassionally have a small number of guinea pigs available also, but as these are few and far between they do get reserved quickly so feel free to get in touch and request to be put on the waiting list in advance.

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