Bunny Care

Congratulations on your new bunny.

We  are  excited  you  decided  to  add  one of our bunnies  to  your  family. There is lots of wonderful information available on bunny care. This is just a few helpful things to get you started.

*ARBA is a rabbit club that has lots of helpful information online.

What to buy before bringing bunny home

*safe housing away from drafts and secure from predators. 

*A food and water bowl-I like to use bowls that clip onto the cage walls.

*Quality hay- we get hay from a local farmer meant for horses. Timothy hay or a timothy meadow mix from the pet store is an option many people like

*Quality pellets-. Avoid feed with coloured bits and extra “fun” pieces. 

*If planning on litter training- make sure to have a  litter pan  as soon as possible.  I find the litter pans with a tray that sits above the pan to be practical. Sometimes young bunnies will sit in a litter box as a bed. I recommend horse bedding pellets for the litter pan but you can use pine shavings or chopped straw. I like to avoid paper bedding. Do not use any cedar or scented bedding

*Fleece blanket to protect surfaces. Fleece’s short fibres are less likely to cause issuers if your bunny chews the blanket, I find fleece is snuggly and can help repel fluids if bunny has a potty accident.

*toys-unbleached paper towel rolls stuffed with hay make great toys

*Resting mat or Tile or wood block of untreated wood is using a wire bottom floor

• A note to Parents 

 Having  a pet  is  a  wonderful learning and memorable  experience for  children. Bunnies can make great family pets but they are sensitive to noise and rough handling.. I recommend letting small children sit down and practice holding and petting a pretend bunny on one of their stuffed animals. It will give them more confidence and may allow for an easier bond with their bunny.

Helpful Tips

*Bunnies feel safer when they are being held with their back end supported. Please don’t pick up your rabbit by the ears or legs. A scared rabbit can leap and twist easily breaking their back.

*Candles, Air freshener, Chemical cleaners, strong perfumes can be harmful to rabbits

*Rabbits have sensitive stomachs.  Slowly transitioned a bunny to new food by adding the new food into their current food, They should not get treats until after 6 months. When given treats, start with tiny bits to introduce them to a new thing, They have small stomachs and treats should not be a big part of their daily diet. 

*If you want to potty train your bunny, Start by keeping your bunny in a small space with the litter pan next to the hay and feed. Each time they eat, they will poo into the litter  pan. Slowly expand the boarders of their cage and play area. 

*When bringing bunny home, do not let them run around your home the first day, avoid putting a hide in their cage right away. Make sure you handle them daily and hang out in the same space with them so they get used to your smell,  your voice and mannerisms.

More to come…..