Raising a Bunny

Rabbits makes awesome companions! They are just as loving, just as loyal and loves to cuddle. That is, only if you raise them right :)

Holland Lop

Before getting a bunny, think about it, would I have time to keep them company? Do I have the patience to train them and help them learn how to trust me? Do I have the money to keep them healthy? Would I be able to let them run around the house a few times a week?

Holland Lop

THIS IS IMPORTANT: YOU MUST HAVE A LOT OF PATIENCE WHEN INTERACTING WITH BUNNIES. THEY ARE A PREY ANIMAL, THEREFORE MOST HAVE ISSUES WITH TRUST. However, I know lots of people who got their bunnies at a early age, and did not have trust issues. 

Here are some tips I find useful when getting a bunny:

Getting the Bunny

Before bringing you bunny home, set up the house! a bunny needs a (preferably) spacious cage. Inside their homes, there should be the following:

• Bedding (I would recommend paper bedding, wood bedding can be dangerous...I hear many stories of how there are sometimes NAILS that are mixed in with the wood.) 

• Pellets (personally, I don't feed Jesse pellets)

• Fresh Veggies :DO NOT feed them vegetables that had been gone bad.

• Fresh hay (Timothy Hay) :The bunny should get unlimited amount of hay

• Some toys~(bunnies are silly, if you put a mirror in the cage, they might even think they're never alone!)

• Water bottle

• A tunnel or a "cave"

• Litter box (If you do plan to train your bunny to use litter box)

When I got Jesse (Lion head rabbit), she was REALLY scared, because of the new, unfamiliar environment. She didn't start eating properly until after two days. I was beginning to get worried, until she began eating like a piggy on the third day~So, try to make his/her new home as comfortable as possible :D

Now, Jesse is almost 3 years old! 

Jesse the cute lion head bunny~

Training a bunny is not as hard as it sounds.(Well, for me anyways). Rabbits are not idiots! they can be just as intelligent as dogs! XD 

I don't teach my bunny to do tricks, because I don't feel the necessity. However, I have litter trained by bunny so that I could change the litter box everyday to keep the house smelling okay (Whereas if a bunny is not litter trained, you would have to literally change THE ENTIRE CAGE >_< and Jesse's cage is HUGE!) 

I use training litter, which are round 

Super pet critter litter (7.99 CAD)
I used this for a while until Jesse became familiar with where he does her business.

HOWEVER, I heard many really bad reviews on this, since the pearls turn into a paste afterwards...I did not notice the problem, since I change the litter box either once per day or once per 2 days!

Some recommends ferret pellets!

Be careful when buying a litter box!!! I bought a bunny litter box, but Jesse quickly outgrew it!! I had to buy a cat litter box the second time!

Put some hay beside the litter box, since bunnies tend to eat hay while doing their business XD

Treats

I give Jesse many different kinds of treats occasionally. I love seeing her munching on bananas and yogurt drops >_<~ SO CUTE! 

I occasionally feed her fruit (bananas, apples, strawberries, carrots...etc) 

Jesse ESPECIALLY loves bananas and yogurt drops~ Every time I open the treat packages, she hears it and runs up the the side of the treat, run around happily while doing bunny binkies~ 

Bunnies loves to be pampered~

What can't bunnies eat? 

DO NOT FEED THEM ICEBERG LETTUCE! THIS IS IMPORTANT!

Iceberg lettuce has practically NO NUTRIENTS! It's basically FULLY OF WATER! And since it's so watery, it will upset their stomach and affect their digestion! sometimes even cause death!

and of course, do not feed bunnies human foods such as chocolates, cakes...etc. This should be obvious. Rabbits should be limited to vegetables and fruits. 

However, do not feed fruits everyday, since it's just too rich. Feed fruits only as treats, they will love it!~

How to treat your bunny

Interacting with a bunny can be a bit stressful in the beginning, people can lose patience and yell at bunnies. 

DO NOT:

• Scold and hit your bunny: rabbits are prey animals to begin with. This will cause the bunny to be even MORE afraid of you (whereas the dog, wants attention, even if it's scolding). 
• pick up your bunny: this may vary, most bunnies do not want to be picked up! don't force them to do something they don't want to do!
• Punish them. Bunnies are different, it doesn't make a difference if they think they're the boss instead of you. 
• Keep them locked up in a cage at all times: bunnies like to run around, and a cage, no matter how big it is, is just NOT going to satisfy them. 

When you first approach your bunny, be gentle and calm. Don't make any sudden movements that will scare them. Let them approach you first, let them sniff you and get use to your scent. Sit on the ground (preferably) when interacting with your bunny to make them think "oh, you're just like me" and they will think you're just "another REALLY BIG bunny." BE PATIENT! THIS WON'T WORK MAGICALLY OVERNIGHT!

Once you have earned their trust, you will find that it is so worth all the hard work!!!!

Grooming

You would need to keep your bunny well groomed. They do not need to be bathed, however they do need a weekly/daily brushing. (depends on the breed of your bunny) My bunny has short hair, so I groom Jesse once a week.

Bunnies' nails must be trimmed once per two weeks i would say, because I don't trim too much off all at once. I use the same clippers that are used for cats and they work just as good. If you are uncomfortable doing this, please contact a local veterinarian or maybe even take them to the pet store (some pet stores does grooming.) 


If you have decided to do them yourself, then be careful when trimming. The pinkish part of the bunny's mails is the blood supply.(the quick) Be really careful because if you cut into the blood supply, the bunny will bleed...and it will hurt them. Usually they will tend to the wound themselves, but I keep some flour beside me just in case, if I do accidentally cut too much.


When nail trimming, I would flip Jesse over on to her back, and wrap a blanket around her sso she feels more comfortable. Then, I would put her body on my lap and start trimming. A lot of bunnies are not comfortable doing this, so you might have to trim their nails while they are sitting.

Bunny in trance state



Spaying/Neutering

Rabbits needs to be spayed/neutered. If this is not taken care of, they cancer on their reproductive parts. It costs around 200-300 dollars or maybe cheaper. It all depends on where you live and everything. Once a bunny is spayed/neutered, he/she can live up to 10 years!! if a rabbit is not spayed/neutered, it can develop cancer and die early. About 80% of females that are not spayed, develops cancer.

A rabbit, just like a dog, will behave a lot better  if he/she is spayed.neutered.

Click HERE to read more about spaying and neutering




Rabbits and other pets?

Dogs and cats are always curious when they see a rabbit. Sometimes a rabbit may get scared and run away (it is a prey animal after all), some rabbits may even fight back!

It doesn't mean different animals CAN'T be friends







Overall, I would say, if you do have a dog/cat or any other pets, don't let them near the rabbit unless they have a history growing up with small animals, otherwise they will see the rabbit as a prey.

If a rabbit gets too scared, it will have a heart attack that could possibly lead to DEATH.



I hope you do consider a bunny as a pet, because they are quite fun to have around, and they make great cuddling companions. As long as they are treated properly.