Care Information
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Rabbit Information/ Care Sheet
-You have to make adjustments to a rabbit’s environment to protect it from weather as it changes. Wrap outside hutch with tarps or plastic in the winter (please allow for ventilation) and stuff cage/house with straw. Avoid drafts in cool/cold weather. Make sure it is in a shady cool spot in the summer. -Rabbits won’t eat if they cannot drink. Make sure the ball bearings of your rabbits water bottle are not stuck. Its suggested to have 2 water bottles in the winter. You can replace a frozen bottle for a fresh one while the other thaws. Walmart has the cheapest water bottles around (about $3 for 32oz.bottle). Crocks can also be used but not recommended, due to them easy spilling and hassle of cleaning hair out. Always use room temperature water all year round. -Iceberg lettuce is not the lettuce of choice for rabbits, especially young ones. Don’t feed any lettuce or watery vegetable (celery, watermelon, cucumbers etc.). They can get diarrhea. Kale, collard greens, carrots, bananas, & grapes are much better veggie/fruit treat for them. They MUST be at least 6MONTHS OLD to be fed fruits or veggies. Remember MODERATION is the key. -feed store rabbit pellets are generally fresher and more nutritious than pet store pellets. We suggest SHO Formula Rabbit Food or Manna Pro® Select Series™ PRO Formula Rabbit Food. Pellet feed should have at least 16%or more of crude fiber. Corn should NOT be the first ingredient on the list. Never buy rabbit food at the supermarket. That stuff in the boxes is Junk! You should keep your rabbits food in an air tight container to keep fresh and pest free. -don’t overfeed treats, especially those containing sugar, the sugar is bad for rabbits digestive system. A small amount 1 or 2 times a week is more than enough. Carrots are high in sugar content, as are bananas, so limit them. We suggest a handful of cheerios, fruitloops, or applejacks. You can also buy treats from the store ( Hamster & Guinea pig treats are ok). Give treats in moderation. Rabbits UNDER 6 months of age can be given the above mentioned cereals as treats on an extremely limited basis. Remember NO fruits or veggies until over 6 months of age. (his DOB is march 31, 2014) -Rabbits do not need salt block/spool. They get the right amount of salt in there pellets. The only thing the salt spool will do is rust your cage 10 times faster, they are for hamsters, and gerbils NOT rabbits! -Check your rabbits fur and skin on a weekly basis, look for any lumps, growths, ticks, or abnormalities. -Most locales have an emergency nighttime veterinary service. What is yours and where do you have it posted? Please make sure that your vet is rabbit knowledgeable. You can also call us; we are experienced at rabbit health care. -Rabbits don’t usually get dandruff. It is likely to be fur mites. Use kitten flea powder for this. -Mounting behavior is not uncommon even among neutered or same sex animals. It helps establish a dominance rank order. -High temperatures/humidity is more likely to cause a rabbits death than low. Mist their ears with cold water. You can also freeze water bottles (make sure to remove the label), it works just like an air conditioner which radiates cool air even know they aren’t close to it. I also like to fill an ice tray up with water and drop a blueberry or so and freeze it. And given as a frozen treat. - Anything near or around the rabbits cage or run-a-round, such as plastic bags, foam,& and other items is a necessitating risky and expensive vet bill. Keep all chew-able objects away from them (they will try their hardest to chew something up). Golf balls and toilet paper tubes make good toys for them. If they eat the paper tube it won’t harm them and golf balls are indestructible. -Timothy hay given to your rabbits help to keep their systems clean of fur-balls, keeps their teeth in good shape, and they love it. A rabbit needs hay at least once a week. Every day when their molting! Hay has no calories so they can have as much as they want. Alfalfa hay is ok but it has a lot of minerals in it that rabbits can’t absorb, so the minerals tent to pass right through the rabbit making an extremely strong odor to the urine. Since the main ingredient o pellets is alfalfa we suggest using the timothy hay instead. Use hay racks so that the rabbit doesn’t eat the hay that they’ve urinated on, as it could make them sick. - Rabbits teeth never stop growing, it’s important to provide them with a piece of wood of something hard to chew on so that their teeth stay filed down. -Always be sure your rabbit is kept in a dry and clean because they can get sick if exposed to a moist, damp, or dirty environment. -Never use cedar shavings as litter. Don’t use cat litter in a litter box because if the rabbit ingests it, it will make them ill. We suggest Yesterday’s news, feline pine, woody pet, or similar products. Any bedding with chlorophyll will turn their feet green. -Unlimited amount of stress can make your rabbit sick or even cause it to have an untimely death. Be sure that your rabbit isn’t exposed to continual stresses. -Dried papaya or fresh pineapple can help move fur balls through the rabbits system. You can also use vegetable or mineral oil. Give the rabbit an eye dropper full 1-2times a day until you see normal amount (and shape) of feces. Rabbits with fur blockage may have feces strung together with fur (like a poop necklace). Plenty of hay will also do the trick. -Pay close attention and be proactive with questions or aid to abnormal behavior in your rabbit. The sooner the problem is treated, the better chance of survival your rabbit has. -Rabbits love to chew on electrical wires, which should be out of reach before an indoor play day. -Soft grinding of their teeth, purring, or a buzzing sound is a sign of contentment and happiness, really hard grinding of their teeth means they’re in pain or danger. - When you pick up a rabbit or if it kicks while holding it, cover its eyes with your hand and talk gently to help calm it down. NEVER pick them up by their ears! Scoop them up supporting the hind end and tuck them close to your body. -Don’t over feed your rabbit. A fat rabbit has a hard time hopping around and cleaning itself where it needs it the most. It’s also hard on their hearts. English spots should get about 6oz a day. - The English Spot is an active rabbit needing an hour or two to run around each day. They are most active in the morning and night and sleep during the day. With an active lifestyle, comes a hearty appetite. Like the majority of rabbits, the most important component of the diet of an English Spot rabbit is hay, a roughage that reduces the chance of blockages and malocclusion whilst providing indigestible fiber necessary to keep the gut moving. -Stress breaks down a rabbits immunity system. - A rabbit that stares straight ahead, doesn’t move or eat and is quiet is probably in pain or sick. -Check the soles of your rabbits feed often to be sure there aren’t any cuts or sores. Your rabbit may need a rest board to prevent this problem. With sores you can always put Vaseline on it daily until gone. -Rabbits need their nails clipped approximately every 6 weeks- give or take. Over grown nails can be painful and dangerous for a rabbit. You can buy cat nail clippers at Wal-mart or you can use human nail clippers. If you do clip their nails and start bleeding use either flour or Splenda on the tip of nail with a paper towel and little presser. -You Do not need to bathe your rabbit, they clean themselves like cats do! Unless urine, poop or yellowing of feet, you can fill your tube up just about 2-3 in of water and a little peroxide will do the trick. NEVER submerse them! -Dehydration in a rabbit can put it into shock. If your rabbit wont drink try Gatorade in their water bottle. We suggest only a few ounces (because of the sugar) then switch back to regular water. A rabbit is a big responsibility. They require daily care and socialization. If you don’t interact with them a on daily basis then they wont be friendly and will not be suitable for a small child. You must be prepared to have this animal for 5 to 10 years. This is NOT a short-term pet. |
Here are some helpful websites:
riseandshinerabbitry.com/2012/06/09/medicinal-herbs-for-rabbits/
riseandshinerabbitry.com/2012/06/09/medicinal-herbs-for-rabbits/
Belgian Hares
Bringing your New Hare home
It is important that you quarantine the rabbit for at least a week or so. Letting them relax from the high stresses of a new environment. During this time of high stress, they are more susceptible to pathogens, both those to which they already have some degree of immunity and to new ones. During this time please leave them alone: don't handle them, don't let the kids play with them, and don't try to breed them.
Then slowly introduced them into your rabbitry that they may not have developed immunity to. Gradually mix in greater proportions of your feed in with the food we supplied you with doing so over a period of several days. Belgian hares will require a large cage with at least 24 x 48 inch solid floor (not wire), because the 1/2 x 1 inch wire flooring will not support the their front feet and can lead to broken toes as well as broken toe nails. Unexpected noises or voices will startle them excessively and can set off a panic in the barn that can lead to injuries. A radio playing 24 hours a day or a noisy exhaust fan help get used to noise and helps avoid panic. Before throwing open the door to the barn in the morning, it's always good make some noise to announce your arrival so that they will not be surprised by your walking in the door. English spots have some of the same traits but not as extreme.
If you have any other questions shoot us a text (my number is in the contact tab) just make sure to let me know who i am talking to.
It is important that you quarantine the rabbit for at least a week or so. Letting them relax from the high stresses of a new environment. During this time of high stress, they are more susceptible to pathogens, both those to which they already have some degree of immunity and to new ones. During this time please leave them alone: don't handle them, don't let the kids play with them, and don't try to breed them.
Then slowly introduced them into your rabbitry that they may not have developed immunity to. Gradually mix in greater proportions of your feed in with the food we supplied you with doing so over a period of several days. Belgian hares will require a large cage with at least 24 x 48 inch solid floor (not wire), because the 1/2 x 1 inch wire flooring will not support the their front feet and can lead to broken toes as well as broken toe nails. Unexpected noises or voices will startle them excessively and can set off a panic in the barn that can lead to injuries. A radio playing 24 hours a day or a noisy exhaust fan help get used to noise and helps avoid panic. Before throwing open the door to the barn in the morning, it's always good make some noise to announce your arrival so that they will not be surprised by your walking in the door. English spots have some of the same traits but not as extreme.
If you have any other questions shoot us a text (my number is in the contact tab) just make sure to let me know who i am talking to.