Rabbit care and other ?s

[NotTheMomma]

We have two dwarf bunnies now. A male and a female. Not together in the same cage, but they can see each other and smell each other.

I have an aviary that was initially suppose to be for quail, but that plan didn't materialize. The rabbits take turns being in the aviary, and running about. There is a dog wood and a burberry bush planted in there for shade. Lots of yummy pasture grasses, clover, dandelions, etc. Not sprayed with any chemicals, and only mowed once in the last 6 months. Some tall stuff, and mostly less than 6 inches.

Anyway, the first bunny (male) was raised by my daughter's friend, and loved, and tamed. It was given treats of fruits, grasses, veggies, etc., and feed pelleted food. Kept in a small cage, but allowed out in the yard to hop around on the weekends that the friend was home with her Dad.

The second one was bought from a lady that breeds them, and sells them in her own pet store. Female bunny is NOT tame, scares when you touch her, has a strong kick, and would really rather you put down the pellets and leave! She's caught and handled daily. Put into the aviary to run around, and be a bunny daily. She is learning to eat grasses, hay, etc. At first she would only eat pellets, and shove anything else into a corner away from her. I'm hoping once the male bunny is fixed, and they can be in the same aviary, and cage, she'll learn to eat more things.

Now, what is the best diet plan for them? For some reason, in the back of my mind, I keep hearing that an all pellet diet is NOT the way to go. That pelleted diets were forumated to feed the meat rabbits, and not pets that you want to live a long time. I've read that iceburg lettuce is not good as it's mostly water, and no nutrional value, but that the other greens are OK for them. We raise a garden, and this year I planted a pkg of mixed salad greens. The chickens LOVED IT!, and so did Thumper (the male). Broccoli leaves were a huge hit as well.

Do they NEED these other things? OR just keep them on a pellet diet? Do they need the salt/mineral licks? How about hay? Other than keeping hay in the nesting boxes, especially for winter to keep them warm.

What worries about their care should I be concerned about? Right now they are in the house because it was in the high 90's for a few days, and they were obviously too hot.

What diseases? Are their vaccinations they need? How often are you worming yours? Cocci a big problem?

 

[annie3001]

Hi, due to the high temps, can you bring them inside to cool down? i have had house rabbits for many years, my oreo (hes 5 years old) is housed trained, today it reached over the 90's and he sat in our ac in the house. just a thought on the hot hot days?
as for food, i spend extra money and get a product called "bunny basic" its got timothy hay in the pellets. its a bit pricy, but my bunnys happy very happy indeed.
I also give him a treat, yes everyday i cut up fresh carrots, celery and apples, and sometimes different fruit, depending what i have on hand.
I have been doing the same thing for years. just wanted to share! i would love to see pics of your buns? good luck to you.

andrea-

 

[annie3001]

Oh and i have never vaccatinated any of my buns? but others may because they are outside?

 

[PitterPaws]

I feed Pellet food, and a handful of Timothy Hay per bun daily, They have a mineral block to lick when they need it, Water daily.
It is Very important for them to get Timothy Hay it keeps them going "Regular"

They get a Carrot daily, and in the summer when dandilions are around I give them the greens and the flowers, they love them, just be sure they are from a non sprayed area No Weed Killers. Yes they can have lettuce from the garden, They can have a small slice of apple only once in awhile it is very fattening.

In the Summer - I put a big plastic frozen water bottle in with them they lay against it to keep cool, change as needed they usually last a long time (I use the frozen bottles only when it get very hot).
You will need to decide weather you want them to be indoors or outdoors bunnies, it's very bad for their health to bring them in and out it is a shock to their systems, temperature wise.

In the winter- I put alot of straw in their sleeping area, they love it!
For water in winter I use a Metal Bowl takes longer to freeze up and you don't have to worry about frozen down spouts in the water bottles, Also when the Metal Bowl Freezes it's much easier to just pop the frozen block out of the bowl.

I have not vaccinated them, or wormed them, they are over two years old and seem very healthy, You do need to keep their toe nails trimmed.

Have Fun and Post Pictures!

 

[ozflock]

yes, clean hay is essential to long term good health.

A pellet only diet is very fattening for bunnies. Hay is good to keep the intestines moving all the time and also the extra fibre will help to prevent scouring when you are feeding other greens.

Long fibres in hay also catch and drag out bunny fur that tends to end up in the stomach through normal grooming. Without hay a bunny is more likely to end up impacted with fur, especially important for a dwarf as their tummies are so tiny.

Frozen water bottles are great on a hot day. Lettuce is ok and helps to hydrate in the summer, however it is very important to introduce green feed gradually - especially for babies. Cabbage and lettuce are the worst for causing bloat and scouring.

Something else to consider is wood such as Willow or fruit tree prunings for chewing and wearing their teeth down.

 

[NotTheMomma]

Thank you all so very much!!

I've been giving them a branch of apple or pear tree each day. The trees need pruning, so this way the branches are being used.

Once the male is fixed, will they do fine together? We want one litter, and then have him fixed.

We did bring them inside when the weather was high 90s and low 100s. They enjoy going outside in the evenings when it's a bit cooler. They seem much more active when in the house though. Their large cage should be completed either today or tomorrow. DH is building one that is 6 ft long for them. Double decker so they can be separated, but be near each other as well.

We have horses, so of course hay is always around. Have been giving them some but they aren't fond of eating it right now. Could be because the pellets have timothy hay in it, and our pastures were sown with pasture grasses, so they get the timothy when it's green. Thumper likes dandelions, and the plantian leaves, and some clover blooms. Reminds me of watching "Bambi", just the blossoms! LOL! OF course we dont' feed just the blossoms. Plus in the aviary they can get what grasses they want.

Ok, so sounds like so far we're on the right track. Other than bringing them in. I did have frozen bottles in the cages with them, but it wasn't helping a lot on those really hot days. Kylanne was scared of the bottles, and Thumper played with them. He plays with things all the time. Pushes his bowl around, carries around toys. Funny character! My daughter has been keeping their nails trimmed. Again Thumper seems to enjoy it, where Kylanne fights it.

I'll try to get picts!

Thanks again everyone!

 

[Soccer Mom]

The boys are just sweeter than the girls.

That isn't to say that some girls aren't sweet, but the boys just seem to be easier to handle.

 

[PitterPaws]

My Male rabbit also likes to Push and toss things around, I think he's showing off for his girl

 

[Soccer Mom]

Mine love to push and toss, but I don't have any girls for them to show off for. I think it's just how they play. Their favorite toys are cardboard boxes. I take old oatmeal boxes and fill them with hay or fresh goodies. My boys love ripping their way into "goody boxes." They also love a paper sack filled with that fluffy bedding they sell for rabbits. They dig and burrow and throw stuff out and make an unholy mess with it, but the can spend an entire day with those.