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Bringing your rabbit home

A few tips for introducing a new rabbit to your home or backyard:

  1. Always ask the breeder/owner of your new rabbit if they can give you a small bag of pellets to mix in with your own pellets to help your rabbit with its food transition.

  2. Have the rabbits' cage prepared before bringing it home.

  3. Don't bother your rabbit for the first day or two so it can adjust, as riding in a car and being placed in a different home can be very stressful.

  4. Monitor your rabbit carefully to make sure there are no signs of illness during its first few weeks home.

  5. GO SLOW. Some rabbits get aggressive out of fear when they are put in a new environment. When you are interacting with your new rabbit respect its space and allow the rabbit to decide if it wants to be pet or not.

  6. Once your rabbit has adjusted, have fun!

What you need to buy before getting a rabbit

  1. PELLETS - rabbit pellets contain all of the nutrition your rabbit needs including vitamins, minerals, and protein among other things, which means your rabbit will not need a mineral or salt block (a common myth). Salt blocks can actually make your rabbit dehydrated and cause it to get sick. Get pellets with 15-17% protein, 1.5-2.5% fat and about 18+% fiber in them for maintaining a healthy rabbit. 

  2. HAY - hay is a key source of fiber which is vital for a healthy digestive system. Many stores sell Timothy hay and Alfalfa hay. Alfalfa hay is very high in calcium and should only be fed to young rabbits and nursing does. I would recommend getting Timothy hay, Oat hay, Orchard grass hay or any other locally grown grass based hay. 

  3. CAGE or HUTCH - Your rabbit will need a safe place away from threats and elements. A shelter should always be provided even if your rabbit will be free roaming in your house.

  4. FOOD ACCESSORIES - you will need a place to put your rabbits' pellets, water, and hay. This could include a water bottle, a metal/plastic/ceramic dish, a metal pellet hopper, a water crock, a hay rack, or a homemade solution. 

  5. LITTER BOX - if you have a litter box it will need to be large enough for your rabbit to fit it's entire body in it and it will also need litter. Litter can include paper shreds, kiln dried wood shavings, paper pellets/crumbles, equine pellet bedding or fleece pellets. Bedding to avoid: corn husks, cedar wood shavings, cat litter, and straw.

  6. OTHER ACCESSORIES - other things you may need are chew toys like empty toilet paper rolls or pieces of wood (make sure they don't have dyes or chemicals in them), a flea comb (flea combs have finer teeth which make the task of brushing its fur more efficient),  nail clippers (small animal or dog/cat clippers work fine), treats (always use fruits and veggies as treats instead of store bought treats as they contain unnatural and sometimes toxic ingredients which are not good for your rabbit!)

Pellet Brands we recommend: 
Oxbow
Sherwood
Science Selective 
Kaytee
Heinold
Purina
Vitaplus



      
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Your Rabbits' Home

 There are many ways to house a rabbit. Some ways include play pens, wooden hutches, all wire cages, houses on the ground or off the ground and houses inside or outside. Pick a house for your rabbit that is best for your situation. For example I use wooden hutches off the ground with wire floors outside. This is best for me because I have family members who are allergic to animals, the wire floor makes the cages sanitary and easier to clean up, and the wooden frame keeps the cages sturdy and warm during the winter.

 

 Even though there are many different types of houses for rabbits they all contain very similar items. Also, a good rule of thumb when considering cage space is 1.5 sq. foot per 2 lbs of rabbit, full grown weight, at the smallest. Bigger is most always better! Keep in mind that your rabbit will chew on almost anything and that their house needs to keep the rabbit safe from the elements and predators including other pets.

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