How to Raise a Pet Rabbit
Rabbits are not all that easy to care for. Although they can be trained to use the litter box and some people have given them the run of the house, rabbits can be destructive and wreak havoc if you are not sure how to handle them. Furthermore, rabbits have sharp claws and teeth and can hurt relatively delicate human skin. Rabbits are not easy to hold, as they tend to jump out of your arms, thereby injuring themselves in the process. Think twice before getting a rabbit as a pet.
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Instructions
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Rabbits are highly sociable animals and should be kept indoors. Select a hutch (rabbit cage) to house a pet rabbit. Do not put this social animals outdoors. A good rabbit hutch will be approximately 4 feet wide, two feet deep and two feet tall, recommends the ASPCA, for an average sized rabbit. Also, about one third of the rabbit hutch should have a solid bottom and walls to ensure the comfort of your pet rabbit, and a roof for the entire cage. Hay makes a wonderful bedding and insulation for the enclosed part, you can use an old towel as well. Select an area for your pet rabbit that is safe from curious household animals.
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Agouti rabbits, such as the one seen here, make good companions. Place the water bottle on side of cage and fill it with fresh water every day. A stone crock makes a good food bowl for your pet rabbit, as it's harder to knock over and they can't chew through it. You can also use the feeders that attach to the side of the cage for ease of use. Both are easy to attach to your rabbit hutch.
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Use care when holding your bunny, if she gets scared she may try to bolt. Feed a pet rabbit on plain rabbit pellets sold at pet supply or feed stores. A good thing to add to this is plain rolled oats, it's nutritious and they like it. Alfalfa squares are a good treat for your pet rabbit, as their teeth always grow, so they need to chew to wear them down. You can get alfalfa in loose form, but add something to the rabbit hutch they can chew. A scrap piece of wood works, or even a carrot They also like the salt blocks to lick, and some come fortified with minerals and vitamins. Most rabbits need about a half cup of food per day. Check to see if your breed needs more or less.
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Spend plenty of time playing with your pet rabbit. The more human interaction they receive, the more tame your pet rabbit will be. This can be through play, grooming, or even just petting. Most pet rabbits can be litter trained and make excellent indoor pets.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not house your rabbits together if they are not sterilized or you will contribute to the already booming pet overpopulation problem.
Avoid leaving your pet rabbit in direct sunlight in the heat.
References
Resources
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Comments
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prism
Nov 28, 2008
Excellent information. We've thought about getting a bunny but haven't yet.
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Virginia Allain
Nov 04, 2008
Rabbits are indeed excellent 4-H projects. Children learn to properly care for an animal with these.
