caring

Cage Space:
          At the minimum, a Dutch rabbit should have a cage that is 18�x24�x16� and a brood doe should have no less than 24�x24�x16�.    Wire bottom cages with a slide pan are the easiest to clean and make for less hutch stain than solid bottom cages. Some rabbits may require a resting mat on all wire floors to prevent sore hocks. If you are keeping a Dutch rabbit as a pet only, try to get the largest cage you can afford and your home space allows.

Feeding:
         On average, an adult Dutch rabbit needs only � cup of quality pelleted feed per day, combined with all of the hay that they can eat.
         Bunnies under 12 weeks do best on an unlimited pellet ration with unlimited hay. At 12 weeks they should slowly be reduced, over two weeks or so, to the � cup ration.
         16% protein is good for Dutch pets and show animals. A high production doe, one that is bred back before her litters are weaned, will, however, require 18% protein.
         The best hay is timothy or oat hay. A timothy mix is often best as the rabbits are inclined to eat more and it can be found at most feed stores. Avoid using bagged hay from pet stores, it is usually stale and is much more expensive than buying a whole bale from a feed store.
         Many people also give their rabbits veggies and fruit. To learn more about an alternative diet go HERE. For a list of safe veggies go HERE. For safe fruits click HERE. For things that are dangerous for bunnies to eat, go HERE.

Grooming:
         For the most part, rabbits groom themselves, sometimes, however, they need some help. The best grooming tool is your hands. A damp hand run the wrong way through your Dutch rabbit�s coat every day will remove the loose and dead hairs better than any brush. Some people choose to use a moist towel.
         For stains on the pretty white markings there are two things that can be used. The first is an unscented baby wipe or a cloth with a mild rabbit cleanser. Pinch the hairs that need cleaning with the cloth and wipe up the shafts of hair. Do Not wipe across the marking as it will likely spread the stain. For particularly tough stains on white, use a cotton ball with hydrogen peroxide. This will bleach out the ugly brown or yellow urine stains.
         Brushes aren�t all useless. I like to keep a slicker brush and a cat size shedding blade handy. The slicker brush is good for a once over after other tools are used. The shedding blade comes in the most handy during molting time to remove large amounts of dead hairs faster.

Toys:
         Rabbits get bored too. A happy rabbit tends to be healthier than an unhappy one. Giving your rabbit toys to play with helps keep them from being too bored. Suitable toys are; paper towel or toilet tissue tubes, any toy suitable for a large parrot (remove any bells), and hard plastic cat toys (again, make sure the bells can�t come out). There are tons more. To see the House Rabbit Society list go HERE.