Welcome!
Welcome to the wonderful world of rabbits! I'm glad to be teaching you all the knowledge that I have accumulated over the past 11 years that I have owned, showed and bred rabbits.
Housing
I highly recommend keeping your rabbits outside in a hutch or in a barn, shed, garage, ect. They are very stinky and unless their cage is completely cleaned every day they will smell. The size of your cage depends on the size of your rabbit. You should allow about 4 square inches of cage space for every pound your rabbit weighs. A sturdy, well taken care of hutch will last for 10 years plus. The hutch needs to be about a foot or so off the ground so the rabbits will not be bothered by animals. They should be in a place out of direct sunlight and out of the wind. These are all the things you should think about when deciding where your rabbit will live. Rabbits are shy creatures and prefer to be away from noise and busyness. They should always have a place to rest their feet off the wiring of the cage. This can be accomplished by putting in an easy-feet or a piece of plywood. giving your rabbit's feet a rest from the wire helps to keep them from getting sore hocks, a very painful ailment.
Feeding
Rabbits have one of the most delicate digestive systems in the animal kingdom. I feed a high quality brand of pellets that I purchase inexpensively at a feed store. You have to experiment with the amount. If you run your hand over you rabbit's back and feel the back bone sticking out then you need to feed more and if you have trouble feeling the back bone you need to feed less. I also feed hay. Timothy hay is the best to feed your rabbit but a Timothy/Alfalfa mix is also acceptable. Rabbits should get as much hay as they want. And who doesn't like treats? Good treats for your rabbit include: carrots, any leafy greens, non-medicinal herbs, bananas, strawberries, and apples. These are just a few of the foods that your rabbit can have as a treat. But remember, just like humans treats need to be given in moderation.
Grooming
Dutch: Dutch rabbits require very little grooming. It is important to keep their nails short. I use dog nail clippers and I clip their nails every two months. You may need two people to accomplish this task. When your rabbit is molting (shedding out its coat) you can help them along by using a slicker brush to remove loose hair.
English Angora: English Angoras require much more grooming than Dutch. This is something to think about before purchasing one. They need to be brushed no less than twice a week. I use a slicker brush and have found that this works the best. They need to be plucked every three months. This is to help keep wool block at bay. Also they need to be shaved in the summer (unless you have them in air conditioning). Angora wool is seven times warmer than sheeps' wool! They can get heat exhaustion very easily so have them shaved in the summer takes some of the worry away.
English Angora: English Angoras require much more grooming than Dutch. This is something to think about before purchasing one. They need to be brushed no less than twice a week. I use a slicker brush and have found that this works the best. They need to be plucked every three months. This is to help keep wool block at bay. Also they need to be shaved in the summer (unless you have them in air conditioning). Angora wool is seven times warmer than sheeps' wool! They can get heat exhaustion very easily so have them shaved in the summer takes some of the worry away.
Play Time
Rabbits love to get out of their cages and stretch. It is important to handle them often. This will make them friendly, it will be easier to clip their nails and the judges at shows love a rabbit that doesn't kick and bite them. I like to get mine out once a week to run around in a pen that I put in my front yard. This is very fun for rabbit and owner.
Seasonal Care
Summer
In the summer make sure they have cool water to drink at all times, and my personal favorite is to freeze water bottles so that they can lay against them.
Winter
Rabbits do very well in winter. The only thing I do is provide them with straw when it gets very cold.
In the summer make sure they have cool water to drink at all times, and my personal favorite is to freeze water bottles so that they can lay against them.
Winter
Rabbits do very well in winter. The only thing I do is provide them with straw when it gets very cold.
Common Rabbit Illnesses
Snuffles:
Sore Hocks:
Wool Block:
Ear Canker:
Wool Mites:
Sore Hocks:
Wool Block:
Ear Canker:
Wool Mites: