Rabbit care

Rabbits are a very common pet for young children and often are bought without taking into consideration what it takes for them to be well looked after. It is often too much to ask for a young child to be solely responsible for taking care of their pet rabbit(s) so please bare this in mind and be willing to do the more difficult tasks for them ie. cleaning out. We are only looking for loving homes for our babies. It is essential that you have researched and fully understood the needs of your new baby rabbit both now and for when it is older and fully grown.

Having said that, if you follow some simple rules then rabbits are easy to pets to care for and it doesn’t take a lot to keep them happy, healthy and friendly. We have put together this page in order to help you understand bunnies a little bit better and we hope you find it useful in gaining an idea of what its going to take to look after your new pet properly. For more advice see our downloadable Care Sheets. We are always happy to answer your questions so please get in touch if you think we can help.

Sunflower Nursery Diet

Our rabbits are fed on a good quality pelleted rabbit food called Argo Rabbit Pellets. This food is high is protein and vitamins and they do not need to eat bowl after bowl in order to get their daily requirement of minerals. This is the rabbit food we recommend, however, we have been pleased in the past with Wagg Optimum Premium Pellets which is easy to get hold of. Rabbits have a sensitive digestive system and getting the right balance can be difficult so once you have chosen a food to use stick to it.

To accompany the twice daily feed our rabbits are given fresh hay in abundance and fresh water. Fruit and vegetables are given daily as part of our rabbits diet. Each rabbit, as you will find with your own, has a preference on which vegetables and treats it likes the most. Our favourite fruit and vegetables to offer include: carrots, swede, broccoli, sprouts, cabbage, apple and grapes. Some of our rabbits also like crusts off bread, weetabix and crackers from time to time. We choose not to feed our rabbits lettuce as this has caused some rabbit owners problems, cabbage is a good alternative in small amounts. A good varied diet will keep your rabbits healthy and adds interest to their day.

Tips

Always give fresh hay and water daily when feeding your rabbit.Offer fruit and vegetables as part of your rabbits diet.Try to feed your rabbit the same brand of food, and seek one which your rabbits likes and so will not selectively feed, another way to stop selective feeding is to use a pellet food.Some herbs and grasses can add an interesting addition to your rabbits diet as a treat.

Select at least 2/3 kinds of vegetables daily. A variety is necessary in order to obtain the necessary nutrients, with one each day that contains Vitamin A, indicated by an *. Add one vegetable to the diet at a time. Eliminate if it causes soft stools or diarrhoea.

Alfalfa, radish & clover sprouts, Basil, Beet greens (tops)*, Bok choy, Broccoli (mostly leaves/stems)*, Brussels sprouts, Carrot & carrot tops*, Celery, Cilantro, Clover, Collard greens*, Dandelion greens and flowers (no pesticides)*, Endive*, Escarole, Green peppers, Kale (!)*, Mint, Mustard greens*, Parsley*, Pea pods (the flat edible kind)*, Peppermint leaves, Raddichio, Radish tops, Raspberry leaves, Romaine lettuce (no iceberg or light colored leaf)*, Spinach (!)*, Watercress*, Wheat grass

(!)=Use sparingly. High in either oxalates or goitrogens and may be toxic in accumulated quantities.

Housing

Rabbits are energetic creatures and need as much space as possible in order to thrive. A rabbits cage, whether indoors or outside, should be tall enough for them to stand up on their hind legs and should be long enough for them to lay down fully stretched. A large hutch will mean a happy bunny, the bigger the better. An adjoined exercise area that they can have access to freely will also mean that they stay entertained, exercised and ultimately happy. If you cant have a run added onto the cage permanently then please ensure their cage is big enough and that they are let out in a separate run area at least once a day.

Rabbits are very clean animals and can easily be taught to use a litter tray. As a result rabbits are being kept as house pets more and more. A house bunny will become very sociable and is a great alternative to a dog or cat if you don’t have a lot of space. Rabbits can have free run of your house or flat whilst you are there, meaning they get lots of exercise time, but please have somewhere safe and secure for them to go whilst you are out in order to avoid any nasty accidents.

Sunflower Nursery Tip: TOYS

Provide your rabbit with toys to play with when you are not around. A great idea is a Treat Ball which you can fill with food and treats - the rabbit has to roll the ball around to get the treats out. This type of toy is around £4 and is a must - our rabbits love to play with them and the mental stimulation is wonderful.

Toys are entertaining - They help alleviate boredom while your bunny is confined to his cage, and help prevent bunnies from getting into the wrong things while out playing in your house (such as chewing cords, going behind furniture, etc.) Toys can extend your rabbit’s life by allowing him to constantly learn, explore and grow.

Toys provide exercise - Rabbits need safe activities to keep their bodies and minds healthy. Healthy outlets must be provided to bunnies for indulging their desire and need to chew, dig, climb, fling, hide, hop and run. Without these outlets, your rabbit can become overweight, depressed or destructive.

Toys are a diversion - They can be used to redirect a bunny from damaging furniture, carpeting and household objects that appeal to him. Providing your bunny with a safe, appealing variety of toys is one of the most effective methods of bunny-proofing your home. A great free toy for your rabbit is an empty toilet roll tube stuffed with hay – this provides fun, stimulation and an exciting way for them to nibble on their favourite snack.

Keeping Your Rabbits Warm in Winter:

Ensuring that your rabbits stay warm during the cold winter months is very important. Keeping your rabbits outside over winter is fine as long as they have had plenty of time to get used to gradually colder weather. Make sure your rabbits cage or hutch is kept in a sheltered area of the garden away from winds. If possible move the hutch into a shed or unused garage. Weather proof covers can be bought for most hutch types and these help to keep your rabbit extra warm and extra dry.

Giving your rabbit plenty of bedding gives them something warm and dry to snuggle into at night if they live alone. Straw is preferred for bedding as they tend to eat hay if that is used. Rabbits can even be brought into the house over winter if you have room for this.

Keeping Yours Rabbits Cool in Summer:

Heat stroke is very common in rabbits during hot summer days so making sure they stay cool is vital. Moving their cage into a shadey area of garden can help, make sure they are out of direct sunlight. Your rabbit need to have some shade to sit in at all times, especially if you have put them out in the run for some exercise as they will get hot and need somewhere to cool down.

A great way to cool rabbits down is to put a bathroom tile into the freezer. Once cool pop it into your rabbits cage and watch as they will love to sit on it to cool down their bellies. If you don't have a spare bathroom tile then the same affect can be had by filling an empty bottle with water and freezing this.

We all love ice lollies in the hot weather, and your rabbits are no different. Putting carrots into the freezer makes a great, tasty treat that will keep them cool.

Ensure your rabbits cage stays clean in hot weather as a dirty cage will attract flies. A dirty cage, and therefore a dirty rabbit, can lead to Fly Strike - a condition in which flies lay eggs on your rabbit and in their cage which then hatch into maggots. This is often fatal for rabbits and needs to be prevented. A fly strike spray can be bought which can aid fly deterent.

Handling your rabbit:

In order for your rabbit to stay as friendly and tame as possible it is very important to handle him/her as much as you can, especially during the first few months of having him. A baby rabbit can quickly learn that being handled isn't something to be scared about as long as this is done early on and often. Neglecting your rabbit in a hutch at the bottom of the garden will lead to a nervous, withdrawn rabbit that does not enjoy human attention.

Positive handling of your rabbit can be reinforced by hand feeding treats during contact. Giving treats as a reward is the quickest way of telling your rabbit that you a good thing and not something to worry about.

Get everything right in terms of housing, food, handling and toys and you will have a happy healthy rabbit that will be with your for you to enjoy for many years.

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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