Raising Rabbits the Right Way to Avoid Costly Mistakes
by: berg0101a
Total views: 188
Word Count: 694
Rabbits live about 10 years, so you have to make a long term commitment if you¡¯re interested in raising a baby rabbit until adulthood. One of the first questions you will have is whether or not the rabbit should live inside or outside. The answer is inside. Domestic rabbits, unlike their wild cousins, cannot tolerate the heat and weather of the outdoors, even when kept in an enclosure. The stresses of outdoor environments such as dogs and other loud noises are very damaging for rabbits and can make them very nervous.
Whether you keep your rabbit in a cage part of the time or let them roam free, be sure to ¡°bunny safe¡± your home. This means keeping electrical cords that they might chew out of the way, covering electrical outlets, and keeping items which can poison them if chewed out of the way. This includes chemicals such as ordinary household cleaners as well as certain plants.
If they will spend most of their time in a rabbit cage, make it comfortable and roomy. Make their living space at least five times larger than the rabbit is, and tall enough so he can stand up on his hind legs without hitting his head. Your rabbit should also be able to stretch out completely when he lays down. Your rabbit should also be given a comfy surface on the bottom of the cage, whether it¡¯s cardboard, a blanket, or an old towel. Don¡¯t use wood shavings, as these can cause organ damage or allergic reactions.
Wire enclosures need to have wood or cardboard on the bottom to protect your rabbit¡¯s delicate feet. Cover your cage during the rabbit's lounging times or provide him with a shelter inside the cage to retreat to when he rests. Limit their caged time and give them some exercise each day. Have fun playing with your bunny during this free time.
For pottying, rabbits may use a litter box like a cat with the proper training. Unlike pet cats, rabbits might also lay in their litter box, and may require multiple boxes throughout the house if they have a large area in which they are allowed to roam. Use an organic kitty litter instead of a clumping one, which may harm some rabbits, and include a bit of grassy hay in the box for your rabbit to nibble on. Be sure to ask when buying hay which kind is right, as not all kinds are healthy for rabbits.
When feeding your rabbit, take care to ensure that they receive the correct diet. Leafy dark green vegetables like lettuce are a good source of food for rabbits. Feed a large variety of greens and vegetables to keep the rabbit's diet healthy. For a treat you might want to also allow your rabbit to munch on fruits like apples, berries, plums, pears, melons, bananas, grapes or raisins. Rabbit pellets can be used to supplement their diet as well, given in small amounts. Rabbits need a lot of water too. Avoid feeding your rabbit people foods and sweets such as chocolate. Provide them with a wood block, cardboard toilet paper roll, or other pet store approved chewing device to keep them from chipping away at your furniture or other items in your home.
Be very gentle with your rabbit, and especially stress this to your kids. Teach them to hold the rabbit carefully and not to squeeze them or play roughly with them. Rabbits like to be touched lightly and stroked, so it¡¯s okay to rub their heads and bodies in a calm way. Most importantly, take your rabbit to the vet and have them receive the right medical treatment just like you would with any other animal. Buy a few books or search the Internet for other appropriate rabbit care, rabbit breeding, or rabbit rearing tips.
Article Source: http://www.ArticleStreet.com/profile/berg0101a-12565.html
About the Author
Kristen Paterson has been raising rabbits for over 15 years and she is an expert at rabbit care and breeding. Discover her rabbit raising secrets at: http://www.raising-rabbits-guide.info
Rating: Not yet rated
Latest articles contributed by "berg0101a"
1: Why You Need Oakland Self Storage During Home Renovation?2: Solve All Your Storage Problems With Kansas City Storage Units
3: Simplify the Task of Dressing up with Adaptive Clothing
4: Improvised Facilities - Increased Business Opportunities for Self Storage Owners - moving
5: Finding a moving truck - business
6: Self Storage Facilities relieve the stress of moving - logistics
7: Using a self storage facility
8: The Storage
9: Truck rental and storage companies: Answers to frequently asked questions
10: Get Rid Of That Migraine Pain