Okay, you don't have to take them for a walk or to the park for their exercise, but they are not a low -maintenance pet. Rabbits, like all animals, have specific needs when it comes to their housing, handling, food, and activities.
Handle with care
Domestic rabbits are social animals, but they are also small, delicate and can be injured or stressed if not handled correctly. Children should always be supervised when interacting with rabbits (let's face it, It's like their favourite stuffed toy has come to life, so they might be a little over excited).
Rabbit buddies
Rabbits do not thrive when they are on their own as they are incredibly social and will be bored and lonely.They should always have a buddy and the best combination is a male and female, both desexed (or you could find yourself with more than you planned for!).
A hutch is not a home
Imagine having to spend your whole life inside your house and never be let out. A common misconception about rabbits is that they stay in a hutch all the time. Untrue! A hutch should be seen as the equivalent to a bedroom - somewhere to spend some time and a safe place to sleep. The hutch should have an attached 'run' with plenty of space for them to jump, sit/stand upright, and exercise. Your rabbits will also need at least a few hours a day of exercise outside of their hutch and run, in a safe area under supervision.
The hutch should be located somewhere that is rain-proof, in the shade and has netting that can keep out flies and mosquitos.
Rabbits can also be kept indoors and can be toilet trained!
Not just carrots!
Only cartoon rabbits live on carrots! For starters, you should provide a constant supply of good quality fresh grass and grass hay, which should make up about 80% of the overall diet.
The rest should mostly be fresh leafy greens and vegetables. As a guide, feed around two packed cups of leafy greens per kilogram of body weight per day. Good vegetables include broccoli, celery, Brussel sprouts, spinach leaves, bok choy and herbs such as coriander, basil, dill and mint.
Treats, such as root vegetables and capsicum may be offered in small quantities – think one to two tablespoons per rabbit per day. Fruit should only ever be offered as a treat, if at all.
Also include one tablespoon per kilo of body weight of high-quality rabbit nuggets per day. Avoid high starch and fatty foods, like beans, bread, cereals, chocolate, corn, nuts, oats, peas, refined sugar, seeds, wheat, or any other grains.
Always have unlimited fresh clean water available. Rabbits prefer open dishes (bowls) over bottled drinkers as lapping from a dish is more natural and encourages greater water intake. Use low, shallow dishes that can’t be easily tipped over, and provide one plate per rabbit, plus a spare. This helps to prevent squabbles over food.
Cool rabbits
It is important to keep your pet rabbits cool on hot days, especially if they are living outside. Make sure you provide plenty of water and vegetables and ensure that the hutch is not in full sun and has plenty of shade throughout the day. You can also give them frozen water bottles to lay against.
Source: rspca.org.au
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