| RoyalScot Rabbitry pets and care page |
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| If you get a rabbit and cannot keep him please be responsible and find a foster or new permanent home. The rabbit on the left is a typical wild rabbit - he blends in to the background much more than the typical pet. They are adapted to foraging for food. The one on the right is obviously a domestic rabbit - although there is plenty of grass in the picture this rabbit has no protection. The white coat stands out for predators to see and give chase easily. The rabbit can eat what is in front of her but never learned to forage for food or find shelter because that has always been provided. |
| Rabbits are hardy animals easy to care for but they do have basic *needs*which must be met. They must have shelter from heat and rain. A rabbit that is confined in sunshine can die from heat stroke in a short amount of time. They do *not* need free choice food. A pet rabbit is much different in many ways than a producing breeding animal...and as such their nutritional needs are different. There are many commercially available pet feeds available by major manufacturers. Pellets contain many things important to your rabbit's good health but should not be overdone. In general feed about an ounce per pound of bunny...a 4 pound rabbit gets about 4 ounces per day (less than a can of tuna fish!). A fat rabbit is not healthy...you should be able to feel (but not see) ribs and there should be a good flesh condition along the rabbit's back. Keep in mind different rabbits have different looks. An English Spot is a longer leaner build - and should never be kept in a body condition of a New Zealand or Dutch! Aside from good pellets - provide some hay for your bunny to chew on. If you cannot find a bale of clean hay from a farmer check a feed store for alfalfa cubes...these are as the name implies cubes of hay giving the bunny something to chew (and wear his teeth on) as well as needed fiber. A good diet prevents many nutritional diseases. Many look at lettuce as a rabbit food...but limit this to a handful a couple times a week. Too much can result in diarrhea and other digestive problems. Be sure to provide your bunny something to chew on -- a piece of untreated 2X4 lumber, rose bush prunings (unsprayed), unsprayed berry bush trimmings or fruit tree trimmings. Occasional (be sure these are *unsprayed*) treats of plantain, dandelion leaves, carrot or many other vegetables are enjoyed by rabbits - again limit these to a maximum of a handful -- these are not as watery as lettuce so can be fed daily when you have access to them. These are in addition to, not instead of, a good pellet. Other treats - rolled oats (such as quick oats - limit to a tablespoon per day) as well as a variety of human breakfast cereals (avoiding those drenched with sugars). You might fix up a "bunny granola" of rolled oats, raisins, sunflower seeds (black oil in the shell are fine) and other goodies - limit to a couple tablespoons 3 or 4 times a week. |
| One of the maintenance chores you will need to do on your pet rabbit is trimming nails on occasion. How often depends on the rabbit. It is better to do a little bit often than a large amount at one time. If you have a rabbit with light colored toenails you can see where the "quick" is. You will need a pair of toenail clippers - those for dogs work fine but in a pinch human ones work too! Be sure to have on hand - in case you accidently cut too short - some QuickStop or - in a pinch - cornstarch or flour - to put on a bleeding nail. Hold the rabbit on your lap and simply go from one foot to another. Many times show rabbits will lie on their back in your arm. |
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| Easter time is often a time of many people buying rabbits without being properly prepared. You will need a cage, feeder, waterer, some form of cleaning up after the rabbit and housing.The rabbit is a long term pet project...if you are not truly interested in having a pet long term please do not buy a rabbit at Easter or any other time. A stuffed toy can sit on the shelf and doesn't need tended to. If your child must have a bunny consider renting one (email RoyalScot for info) so that after a couple weeks the rabbit is returned and you don't have to dump him out to fend for himself nor are the parents stuck with caring for an animal they don't really want. This also keeps some animals out of the shelters. If at the end of the two weeks you truly want to keep the animal a small additional fee gives you ownership of the rabbit. There is no excuse for abandoning an animal you got on impulse. There are animals who need a permanent home. |
| If you would like a display of rabbits at a wedding within 60 miles of Peoria IL contact us to see what is available. A pair of white or white with dark points can be arranged - other colors possible. |
| Scroll down for Easter info |