Rabbit Care help!!

[BobwhiteQuailLover]

I will trust me!!! Thanks!!!!

 

[mom2jedi]

Ok, so everyone has suggested google, shows, breeders, vets, and books. All excellent suggestions. I will add, DO NOT go on the advice of anyone at a pet store. While they are all well intentioned I'm sure, please remember most of them deal with cats and dogs and are college students (it's a generalization not trying to offend anyone who works in a pet store). There are times when you will find someone that actually knows what they are talking about but that would be the exception not the rule.

That said, I will offer up my own advice. There are a few questions to answer before you actually get your rabbit. (Well, tons really but these will help with your research.)

1) Is your rabbit going to be indoors or out? Very different housing requirements for each of these.
2) What are you getting one for, just a pet or for meat?
3) How big are you wanting your rabbit to be?
4) What type of personality would you like? (Do you want a big, floppy love bug or small and more of a 'just pet me' pet?)

Food requirements are pretty straightforward as far as the minimum is concerned. Good quality pellets and some variety of grass hay. I feed mine Purina Rabbit Chow (just switched to that one and they seem to like it better) and timothy hay. Some people only feed pellets once a day but I believe in the "free feed" system for all my animals so they have pellets and hay available all the time. Rabbits love treats but you want to make sure they are the right kind. I posted a treat list a while back, this is the thread for it - https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=4440953#p4440953 The only treat not on there that I didn't realize was good for them till recently was BOSS (black oil sunflower seeds), makes their coats nice and shiny. Not sure on the quantity though maybe half a cup or so?

As for housing, rabbits need lots of exercise so the more space the better. If you want your rabbit inside a C&C cage is the cheapest (and certainly one of the best) way to go. This site explains what a C&C cage is and how to make one, they started out for guinea pigs but they work very well for all other kinds of small animals. http://www.guineapigcages.com/cubes.htm This one shows you some examples for rabbits, you just have to look around a bit. http://www.guineapigcages.com/photos/showgallery.php?cat=531&password= They will still need "floor" time, basically time out of their cage to just be a rabbit. However, leaving a rabbit unsupervised is not a good idea unless you've completely rabbit proofed the room. They will chew any wire they can get to. If you go with the outside option, they still need playtime so they can run around a bit. Outdoor hutches vary tremendously, the pet store ones are really expensive but easy. If you're handy with tools, you can make a larger/better one for less than that.

One of the main things to know about rabbits is that they are territorial. That's not to say they won't get along with another rabbit (especially if they are raised together) but they don't need a buddy if they have enough interaction with you. If you do end up with more than one, they each need their own cage and if they are fixed (don't want more rabbits) they can be let out for floor time together. Even unspayed females can have problems with each other.

Ok, so the last piece of knowledge I will pass on is that they do very well in the cold but can succumb to heatstroke when the temps get high. Frozen water bottles (2L or Gal) work very well to keep them cooler, they will lay against the bottle to keep their temp down.

Good luck! If you learn as much as you can before you get your rabbit, you will be much happier and less surprised by something later on. And, of course, post pictures when you end up getting it!

 

[BobwhiteQuailLover]

Quote:
Outdoors,pet,show,and breeding, a dwarf, big floppy love bug!!

 

[Heartlandrabbitry]

I think before you get a rabbit you need to do more research on them. Rabbits are a easier animal to take care of but they still need proper care. You need to clip their nails, clean their vents, groom them, feed them and give them fresh water. If you are housing them outside you need to make sure their cage will be free of any drafts. You know rabbits teeth are always growing? That's why they need wood to chew on, all my rabbits have pine blocks in their cages, if you don't care for their teeth then that can cause serious problems, like Malocclusion. So before you jump into getting a rabbit, you need to do more research.

 

[vicki2x2]

Here is the American Dwarf Hotot Rabbit Club http://www.adhrc.com/ it has some breeders listed too.

 

[TLWR]

Quote:
Just my opinion here - but big floppy love bug and outdoor bunny don't really go well together from what I've seen - basically because outdoor bunnies don't get the human interaction they want/need, especially if they are by themselves. People put their rabbit outside and seem to provide basic care and that's it. And poor big floppy love bug becomes big, not so happy bug.

 

[Heartlandrabbitry]

Quote:
Just my opinion here - but big floppy love bug and outdoor bunny don't really go well together from what I've seen - basically because outdoor bunnies don't get the human interaction they want/need, especially if they are by themselves. People put their rabbit outside and seem to provide basic care and that's it. And poor big floppy love bug becomes big, not so happy bug.

My rabbits are housed in their own 'house' outside, they are happy bunnies. That's probably because I'm out there almost 24/7

but I do agree, some people just throw rabbits outside and barely pay attention to them. Which isn't right.

 

[mom2jedi]

Quote:
Ok, so I still would do a ton of research yourself before you get one. From what I've experienced, the smaller the rabbit the more timid they are. The exception to this being Holland Lops, those guys are just super friendly. I had a ND years ago and she was not exactly nice. Wasn't horrible, just not very social. I bred her to a HL and her two babies were much more mellow but still a little high strung.

I read on your other threads that you are looking at a Hotot. Never had one of those so I have no advice there.

 

[RabbitMage]

If you want something that's easy for a newcomer to show, breed, and handle, you're probably not looking for a dwarf. They tend to be more active, and in my experience at least, a little nippy. They are also difficult to breed and highly competitive.

For an okay Netherland, for example, you might expect to pay $30-$40. This rabbit probably won't have any disqualifications, but won't be well-typed or well balanced. If all you want to do it a couple of 4-H or local fair shows that might be okay, but you're probably not going to win with an animal like that.

For a good Netherland you will probably be paying $50+. I have friends with Netherlands and other popular dwarf breeds who think nothing of putting out $75, $100, or even $150 for a single good animal. This rabbit will hopefully show well and win something for you, but....

Then you have to buy or borrow a suitable mate. Dwarf rabbits of any breed have smaller litters (3-4 is pretty average). Because of the nature of the dwarfing gene, not all of your rabbits will be proper dwarfs. Statistically, about a quarter of your babies will inherit no dwarf gene and be too big to be shown. A quarter of your babies will get a double copy of the dwarf gene, which will lead to them dying after less than a week. Of the 50% of your litter you have left, you still have to cull for type, size, ear length, fur, color, temperament...

If you have your heart set on a dwarf you need to find a breeder who is HONESTLY interested in helping you out. Don't find someone who will sell you a "4-H Quality" animal. Find someone who will mentor you. Someone who will teach you what you need to know about the breed, someone who will get you a good rabbit, and someone who will continue to offer you advice and support. Actually, this is good advice no matter what breed you start with.

My personal opinion is that it's good to start with a small-medium size breed that is neither rare or very popular. No dwarf gene, and no marked breeds. Find a breed that has an even temperament and good mothering abilities. In a year or two if you would still rather have a dwarf breed, you'll have more experience under your belt.

 

[Heartlandrabbitry]

You don't have to pay $75.00+ for a good quality animal. You could pay $30.00 and you may win BOB. It's all about the judge's opinion! I bought a $30.00 feed store rabbit who first time showing won reserve in show. You could buy an expensive rabbit and win BOB first time and then not even win anything second show.... it's all about the judge's opinion!!!