Your New Bunny Care Sheet | cliffordridgerabbits

Congratulations on welcoming home your new bunny! Owning rabbits is a wonderful and rewarding experience. We wish you many years of joy and memories with your new friend. If at any time you need guidance or have a question, please don’t hesitate to contact us at cliffordridgerabbits@yahoo.com. We will do our best to help!

In order to help make both you & your new friend’s transition as easy as possible, we at Clifford Ridge have comprised a few tips on your first days together, starting with the trip home.

Please bring a small pet carrier or cardboard box with timothy hay on the bottom to transport your rabbit home in. Rabbits are prey animals and are therefore very different from cats & dogs. Even though bunnies can be affectionate and playful, a newly acquired bunny may need time to become acquainted with & trust you. A frightened rabbit may attempt to run or jump, which can injure the rabbit and cause an unsafe driving situation. Your lap is not the place for your bunny’s first ride home!

Please allow your new bunny quiet time to get acclimated to his new surroundings. Noisy areas, barking dogs, or curious cats may all stress out your new friend. Bunnies need time, quiet and space to adjust to their new surroundings. Learning your specific bun’s proclivities and being patient will go a long way with your new friend. Just sitting quietly with your bunny and talking to him gently works wonders for bonding. Bunnies are prey animals and as such are instinctively skittish of new people and places-- chasing or running after your bunny may make him run away! Please make sure your initial interactions are within a safe place for your bun where he can’t get away from you & get lost or hurt. Bonding with your pet bunny may take time & patience, but it’s worth it!! Please do not mistake your bun’s initial nervousness as anti-social behavior and leave your rabbit caged and alone for long periods of time. Bunnies need time (at least 1-2 hours minimum) to run and play outside of their cages each day.

Your bunny has a complex and very delicate digestive system. Changing your bun’s diet drastically can cause severe digestive distress and even death. Fortunately, this is easily avoided-- you will be sent home with a small amount of the pellets your bunny has been eating. At CRR we feed Purina Rabbit Chow Complete Natural AdvantEdge Rabbit Food. This is an excellent pellet, and we highly recommend it. This can be found at Tractor Supply Co., and a $50 pound bag is a very economical $18.99. Should you choose to feed a different brand, please gently transition your new pet by adding a small amount of their new food, and gradually increasing the amount you add over a few weeks until you are completely using the preferred feed. Reputable rabbit breeders will advise to steer clear of the commonly offered feed mixes at pet stores. They are often $8 to $12 for only a measly pound or two of food, and are pellets mixed with dried corn, fruits, various seeds and colorful mystery kibble. These added “extras” are too fatty and starchy for a rabbit’s delicate digestive system and can cause harm. Please choose a simple, quality pellet comprised of mostly timothy hay. Regardless of the pellet brand you choose, please remember that 80% of your bun’s diet should be timothy hay. It is necessary to keep their digestive system moving, clear of groomed hair, and imperative in keeping their teeth trimmed and in good shape. Though pet shops often sell alfalfa hay too, it’s too high in calcium to feed to rabbits as their regular hay. Please do stick to Timothy or another quality grass hay.

Treats are another aspect of bunny care that frequently have a learning curve. Very young rabbits under 6 months of age should not have any treats at all! This includes carrots and fresh vegetables. Their digestive systems are not developed enough. Another surprise? MOST ALL commercial bunny treats are not very healthy for rabbits. This includes the sugary dried fruit mixes, yogurt drops and seed bars sold at pet stores. The best treat for your rabbit is a baby carrot, safe/untreated dandelion greens & flowers, celery, dark leafy greens, or a tiny piece of banana or apple. Rabbits should never be fed iceberg lettuce. Additional information and a comprehensive list of safe fresh foods can be found at: http://rabbit.org/suggested-vegetables-and-fruits-for-a-rabbit-diet/

Veterinary care is something to consider for your new friend as well. It should be noted that rabbits do not have vaccines or required annual exams as part of their care regimen. However, certain procedures like a spay or neuter are highly recommended for your bun. Not only does this prevent unplanned litters in bunny pairs, but it is essential in avoiding reproductive cancers in your rabbit, and also ensures the calmest possible demeanor in your bunny. In addition, should your rabbit ever become ill, he will need to be seen by a vet dealing with “exotics”. It is a good idea to investigate veterinary clinics near you that treat rabbits should the need arise. I’ve had pet rabbits vetted before at the Mattapoisett Animal Hospital, and the Firehouse Veterinary Clinic in Sagamore Beach will also alter rabbits.

Basic care for your rabbit includes unlimited access to fresh water and plentiful hay, as well as pellets and a clean, dry and draft-free home. This should include litter and a litter box or area. Your bunny will also need weekly brushing (at least; perhaps more during shedding seasons in the fall and spring), and will need her nails trimmed, on average every 4 to 6 weeks. This is fairly easy to do-- pet stores sell small nail scissors for rabbits, and one need only make sure they don’t cut below the nail quick. As long as you cut safely, I find most rabbits sit quietly for this. If for some reason it makes your rabbit nervous, wrapping him in a towel can help him feel safer.

Vacation may be all you ever wanted, but for your pet rabbit, it often won’t hold the same appeal. Show rabbits are used to making trips to judging events, and can do fine if used to the routine. However, the traditional companion rabbit is usually not a fan of long trips or new places. If you do need to travel with your bun, please make sure he has access to fresh water at all times, and doesn’t get too hot or cold. In addition, please consider your rabbit’s toileting needs and how it may impact your travel plans (no one wants a toppled litter pan in the back seat of the car!). Pet sitting may be a preferred alternative. Clifford Ridge does offer pet sitting services for rabbits at a rate of $10 per day. Guests must bring their own cage, litter and feed for the duration of their stay.

Bunnies love to play! My buns love to toss things to get my attention. They also love to run around in circles carrying toys. Many people can get their rabbits to play ball or even fetch things with time and practice. New bun owners often ask what types of toys they might get for their rabbits. Rabbits chew, so it is important to ensure that anything you offer is safe for them. Common favorite bunny playthings include: plain paper bags or cardboard, toilet paper or paper towel tubes, untreated wicker baskets, untreated wood pieces, dried apple wood sticks, pine cones, shredded paper, and plastic jingly cat balls. As with any pet, please discard any plaything that appears unsafe or overly worn. Bunnies can also learn tricks via clicker training and even compete in agility & jumping events!

HAVE FUN!!! New rabbit ownership can be full of new information to learn, but it is also an exciting and fun time for you and your new pet to bond and enjoy each other. With proper care, you can expect 10-12 years or longer with your furry friend.