It's time for another "Facts Friday" (*cough, Sunday, who's counting)! I decided this time to stray away from the ARBA veterinary articles to do something more simple. This time around I'm sharing a couple excerpts from a book I've had since a kid (so it's a little dated, but still good info). I think I'll also start writing my own thoughts on the subjects at hand from here on out ^^
BEGINNER'S TIPS
I don't have much to add to this one as I personally agree with the points the author made here. However, it's important to that rabbits and small children are not usually super compatible. Rabbits are prey animals and typically don't love being handled so that's something to keep in mind ^^
FINDING A REPUTABLE BREEDER
If you decide to get a rabbit through a breeder, these are all very important points to keep in mind! It's more difficult now between covid and RHDV2, but if you're able to, I recommend visiting the breeder's rabbitry if you can before purchasing. This can help you get a better idea of the health and care they put into their rabbits.
SUPPLIES
This is the one where I would like to add my own opinions the most. While I'd say most of these points are good and helpful ones, there are a few things to be added. The first one being the water bottle vs bowl debate. Obviously no animal in the wild drinks from a bottle, but rather a stream, lake, puddle, etc. So a bowl is going to be a more natural way for your rabbit to drink. However, in my years of experience I've noticed not all rabbits are compatible with bowls and not all rabbits are compatible with bottles. I personally like to provide both for (most of) my rabbits so they have the option. Bowls tend to require a bit more effort to keep clean and some rabbits LOVE to flip and spill their bowls, which equals even more mess. My English lop for example, doesn't get a bowl because his ears are so long and he always ended up with them in the bowl, soaking his ears. My personal opinion is that you should observe your rabbit and see which option is best for that individual bun. If you're able to use a bowl with your rabbit though, I recommend it!
The other note on this that I'd like to make, is that while blankets do make good bedding, I wouldn't recommend straw or Aspen shavings personally as neither are very absorbent and will end up making more of a mess than anything. Pine SHAVINGS can be harmful to a rabbits sensitive respiratory system and eyes due to the dust, but pine pellets are an excellent option for bedding. Paper pellets, shredded paper, and crumpled paper are all great options as well. I like to keep hay in my rabbits' litter boxes at all times as well. Rabbits tend to poop where they eat so this is both a great way to help their litter box manners, and hay is more absorbent than straw as well.
NEVER use cedar shavings or anything made from cedar wood with your rabbits at any time. Cedar is very toxic to rabbits.
One last little note, angoras do better being combed rather than brushed. If you're planning on getting an angora rabbit, a proper comb is key. But I can always talk about that another time :wink:
Have any questions? Feel free to comment them or message me, I'm happy to answer!
Also feel free to let me know if there are any particular subjects you'd like to see me post about in the future!
All of the things I've written here are from my own personal experience of owning/ raising rabbits for over 16 years.
Excerpts are from this book:
Comments (19)
I wanted to ask something that I can't find much information about.
So there are many rabbit owners that take theyr rabbits outside with a harness or in an ex pen. So my question is: can you take your rabbit to the mountain with you. And if you take it out in the snow (not in the mountain) for how long can it stay outside. Of course after the bunny is vaccinated, spayed/neutered and trained with the harness.
Depending on weather conditions, you can take your rabbit out on the harness for as long as you'd like (and the rabbit is willing). Rabbits can play in the snow for a little bit and lots of them like to dig in it. But I'd say as a rule of thumb, once they start to get damp from their body heat melting the snow would be the time to remove them and dry them off as you want to avoid getting your rabbit very wet. Also if the temperature is very low, touch their ears every now and then. The ears are the main place rabbits regulate temperature so if at any point the ears start to feel extremely cold or if the rabbit scrunches themselves into a ball (to preserve heat) I'd say it's probably be a smart idea to get your rabbit to a warmer location at that point ^^
Hopefully that helps! And sorry for the late response!
Reply to: Jaylynessa (Semi-Hiatus)
Thank you very much. I will have it in mind. I just couldn't really find much information in the internet so this is very helpful. :heart: :relaxed:
Reply to: Tedi
Glad I could help!
Hey Jay!
Can you give more information on a rabbit savvy-vet?
Reply to: Tᴴᴱ Wᴴᴵᵀᴱ Rᴬᴮᴮᴵᵀ
Ohhh okay. So your average veterinarian is usually only mostly trained on cats and dogs, they know a bit about other animals of course but they aren't typically trained on rabbits unless they specialize in them or small/exotic species. At least in the United States, I can't speak for other countries. So if you were to take your rabbit to a regular vet you might get either turned away, or often times the rabbit will be treated basically in the same way they'd treat a cat. Which is sometimes effective depending on the situation, but can be dangerous to the rabbit if it's a serious issue or involves surgery (including spay/neuter). Any vet that's been specifically trained on and is knowledgeable about rabbits would be considered rabbit savvy.
Rabbit savvy vets aren't uncommon necessarily but it might depend on where you live too; you're likely to have more options in a larger city vs a small town. As for finding them, I guess my best advice is to research any veterinary clinics local to you and see if they have anyone trained on rabbits. If you know other rabbit owners in your area or are able to a group on Facebook of local rabbit owners, that's where I've personally had the best luck finding recommendations.
Hopefully that all made sense and helps answers your questions!!
Reply to: Jaylynessa ~semi-hiatus~
Thank you very much for the explanation! Think I watched a video on something like that too. I called all the vet clinics a bit ago to see if they could neuter a rabbit. I think I’m going to call again here soon :)
Reply to: Tᴴᴱ Wᴴᴵᵀᴱ Rᴬᴮᴮᴵᵀ
Oh I see, good luck!
Honestly I would never give my rabbit just a water bottle. Not because that are really bad. I dont judge anyone for using them. I use one. but I also have a water bowl. The only reason I would never only use a water bottle is because their have been cases where the bottle malfunctions somehow and the rabbit cant get a drink. My rabbit doesn't have a problem with the water bowl but for ones who do I would use a water bottle and add a bird water bottle(pic below) that way incase of a malfunction but that is just my opinion :rabbit2:
And that's a totally valid and popular opinion! I personally prefer bowls for the rabbits I'm able to use them for ^^ but as long as you keep them clean, check for leaks and vlogs frequently, and keep fresh water in them, bottles are able to be a completely viable option for rabbits that might not be compatible with bowls ^^
Excuse me but fact Friday will never work
Reply to: :rainbow: Jaylynessa #BLM
The name F͟r͟i͟d͟a͟y͟ but just forget what I said I was joking
Reply to: °☆♡Olive♡☆°
Well :sweat_smile: :sweat_smile: I was just wondering your opinion on why it would never work heh. I'm still working on a name since I don't like to claim them as facts because, yeah. So honestly if you have a better name idea, let me know because that's the best I could come up with :joy: :sweat_smile:
Reply to: :rainbow: Jaylynessa #BLM
Ok :joy: