Rabbits are unique animals, with special needs, but are not difficult to care for. Please read through the care tips below before purchasing a bunny.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. You can
email me at amberhall1980 @yahoo.com
Or feel free to call or text (404)431-1874
Suggested Websites:
http://thebunnybasics.com/
- Pellets - We feed all of our bunnies ADM Rabbit Pellets with 15 % protein. We purchase our pellets from West Walton Feed and Tack, located in Oxford, GA. Baby bunnies receive unlimited pellets until they reach 4 months of age. Between 4-6 months of age their feed should be gradually reduced to 1/2 cup of pellets daily. At 6 months of age bunnies should be given half a cup of feed each day. Pellets will go stale and lose their nutritional value, so if you buy a large bag, you should store the pellets in a plastic container to maintain freshness. Once you pick a particular pellet, be sure to stick with it. Bunnies have very sensitive digestive systems and should NOT be fed different brands of pellets from time to time. If you want to switch your particular brand, always transition them to the new brand over time.
- Timothy Hay - More important than feeding pellets is Timothy Hay. Bunnies should always have access to hay at all times. This is essential to their diet as their life depends on it. They can get “wool block” from licking their fur and could die. Rabbits lack the ability to cough up a hairball like a cat would. The Timothy Hay helps to prevent this. Hay also helps to wear their teeth down.
- Chewing - Bunnies need to chew. Their teeth grow continuously and without some wood to chew on, the teeth could grow into their skull. You may have access to some “free wood” for them to chew
on. Wood from the trees of apples, pears, willow trees, etc. are all good. Bark and leaves from trees that produce a fruit with a solid pit (peaches, cherry, plum, etc) are toxic to rabbits! Just remember
that because the fruit is edible, doesn’t mean the bark and leaves are safe. They also love to chew paper – which is okay for them. We give our bunnies empty paper towel and toilet paper rolls to chew on and play with. Also, watch your electrical cords or anything on the floor – they will chew it!
- Fresh vegetables – Bunnies should have about a cup of fresh vegetables every day. They
love carrots, kale, cilantro, parsley, basil, turnip greens, collard greens – most green leafy vegetables. You should avoid all types of lettuce as its water content is very high and could cause diarrhea which is fatal to rabbits! They also love apples and bananas (most fruits) but avoid the seeds as apple seeds contain small amounts of cyanide which could kill your bun! Again, watch how much “watery” fruits you give them (watermelon, etc.) There are extensive lists of bunny safe
foods on the internet and I recommend you Google to see what is safe or toxic to bunnies. If you’re not sure, it’s best not to give it to them!
- Exercise – your bunny needs time outside of its cage. At least an hour a day is recommended but many people choose to litter train their rabbit and give them more time outside of their cage, than inside the cage. Just make sure that the area that your bunny will be spending most of his time it bunny-proofed.
- Bedding – Do not use wood shavings in your bunny cage. They emit gases which are toxic to most small animals and can cause respiratory illnesses. Most people recommend wood pellets made
from soft wood. These can be bought in hardware stores and are known as wood stove pellets or you can get them from a store like Tractor Supply which sells them as Equine Pine. Some other recommended beddings are Yesterday’s News, Feline Pine, and Carefresh. Please note: do not use
cat litter, your bunny will try to eat it and it can cause severe internal blockage that may result in death.
- Bunnies will poop where they eat so they should be fed in or near their litter box.
- Bunnies are pretty low maintenance. The only real maintenance required is clipping of their nails. They do not require yearly vaccinations.
- Bunnies love to burrow. This need can be fulfilled by giving them a stack of newspaper or a magazine.
- Bunnies have their own unique way of communicating with you. They will bump their head into your foot to nudge you when they want attention. They have “happy hops” and they flatten themselves and put their ears back when they’re scared. They will also thump when they feel they are in danger.
- If your bunny gets sick, you should take him/her to the vet right away. Many illnesses are life threatening to bunnies and what may appear to you as being a common cold could potentially kill your rabbit. Symptoms to look out for are sniffles, ear scratching (ear mites) and most importantly a decreased appetite. Rabbits naturally hide their illnesses to avoid being eaten in the wild by predators. Your bunny could be sick for weeks before showing signs. If your bunny stops eating and drinking, get it to the vet immediately.
We take our bunnies to the following vet:
Oakhill Vet
5274 Highway 20 South
Covington, GA
(770)728-9976
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. You can
email me at amberhall1980 @yahoo.com
Or feel free to call or text (404)431-1874
Suggested Websites:
http://thebunnybasics.com/