Projects - Caring for Rabbits :: PathtoFreedom.com ::

Nature's 'chippers' and fertilizers, rabbits are a valuable addition to the family garden as well as precious and friendly pets. Being little furry eating machines, these animals can easily convert garden clippings into rich manure which can be put directly on a plant.

Before bringing home a cute bunny, make sure you research everything you can about them. Prepare a secure place for them to live -- whether it be in the house or in a large sheltered area outside. Most ready-to-buy rabbit hutches are too small. In its natural habitat, the wild rabbit moves swiftly and may cover several miles in a day. To confine the domesticated pet rabbit to a small hutch with little opportunity for freedom is unnatural and may cause unnecessary suffering. Wire flooring in the bottom of the hutch is easy to keep clean but isn't comfortable to a rabbit's feet and will eventually cause painful sores.

Rabbits are easily housetrained too. Naturally, they will choose a corner of their living area to soil. This makes it ideal for these wonderful creatures to become indoor bunnies. They are also fastidious cleaners and will spend a great deal of the day grooming themselves.

A right diet is primarily the most important part of a bunny's care. Rabbits need a diet consisting almost entirely of vegetable matter. Variety is essential and the food offered must be fresh. Pellets are available from pet shops and form a good base for the diet but is not the sole nutrients. A rabbit's meal must include "greenstuff" - i.e. dandelions, dock leaves, cabbage, cauliflower and lettuce. Vegetables such as carrots, turnips, cooked potatoes and cooked peelings; fresh fruit such as pears and apples. Some foods can only be fed in moderation as most rabbits have a sweet tooth and will gouge on sugary fruits. And, some greens may be toxic to these animals. Be sure to read more about what to feed your pet.

Careful handling is essential and will protect your rabbit from injuries and fractures. By close interaction, you will be able to understand your bunny and know when it is not feeling well or is sick and that is important to a rabbit's survival.

Rabbits are social animals and in their natural state will be found in family groups. One lone animal may not thrive. Two or three young female rabbits could be a good choice, or a female and a neutered male. Two male rabbits can also live happily together, provided they are from the same litter and are neutered. Un-neutered male rabbits over the age of 3 months will almost certainly fight.

It's important to understand the behavior of your bunny. This is almost as important as proper care and will result in your gaining something remarkable - the affectionate trust of your new animal. Rabbits are shy creatures but they will enjoy to the companionship of a human. This is something quite remarkable to be a part of since all natural instincts for a prey animal is to fend for itself and not trust anything as large as a human.

As with all animals, rabbits require a commitment. Domestic rabbits will rely on you for its every need and care. Study their habits and ways and you will surely enjoy having a healthy and happy rabbit for many years to come.

CITY RABBITS & 'CONDO-BUNNIUM'

	The bunnies' hutch {aka 'condo-bunnium') was built to ensure their comfort while protecting them from all dangers. Though the bunnies will often be allowed free run in the house and also out in the garden (in protected runs), we needed a safe place for them to live and sleep. The design of this hutch was created after careful consideration for our pets. It's easy to clean and roomy with approximately six sq. ft. per rabbit. This allows for the
rabbits to play while in their hutch. The hutch is built in several different parts. The cage is removable and light so we can place it into the garden. The roof of the cage is also removable and is built separate from the 'living space'. The 'living space' disassembles with just a twist of a few bolts so that cleaning or re-arranging will be a snap. Their living-space was created with a rabbit's natural habitat in mind and to ensure our pet's enjoyment. Rabbits tend to like different compartments to hop in and out of and places to hide when they feel insecure. These space-conserving rooms are built like an upside down 'burrow'. By attaching the compartments to the roof, we made the best possible use of the limited space.
Each room is lined with indoor/outdoor carpeting and has adequate ventilation and cooling for the summer. We added a plexiglass window in one of the rooms so the bunnies can look out at the world and we can look in and see them sleeping. Also, we made a hinged plexiglass door in the wooden roof so we can reach in if we need to or do some quick maintenance. The complete living-space can be removed from the hutch by itself and taken into the house if necessary.
	To further conserve space, as well as for ease of maintenance, we mounted all the feeding 'stations' outside of the cage. The water is provided with a typical small animal ball-tube bottle which can be found at most pet stores. The food trough is fashioned from a plastic ice cube holding tray with two squares cut out for the rabbits to put their heads through. By cutting the wire of the cage and mounting the ice-cube tray there, we
created a food container that can be filled or emptied from the outside. A wire lid prevents the rabbits from crawling out or anything else crawling in. The top roof which protects the entire hutch from the elements was recycled from some old plastic canvas and allows the sunlight in while keeping rain and direct heat off the bunnies. Since the hutch is situated against a wall and near the garage, we felt it might not get much light if we built the top roof out of plywood. This makes the hutch look airy and bright and does the job quite well. We are planning to attach worm bins below the hutch so the rabbit manure can automatically be funneled into the worm bins. From there, the worms will convert the droppings into rich soil. This will also make the hutch virtually maintenance free. Since we live in the city, we strived to create an "southern california style" outdoor bunny home that looks nice, can be displayed in a city backyard, and yet be comfortable and safe for a pair of dwarf rabbits to live in. The attractive looks of this hutch proves that it's possible to bring a bit of the countrylife into the city.

More pictures of our new rabbits can be viewed here

Recommended References

� Bunny Rabbits R Us - A small directory of links

� Pet Place - Information on keeping a rabbit.

� Herbal Rabbit - A mailing list for rabbit owners to discuss natural/herbal alternatives for health care.

� The Rabbit Hutch - Informative site of a rabbit owner.

� Petalia - Caring for your rabbits.

� Pets & Small Animals - Extension directory of caring for small animals.

� Rabbits & Bunnies - A list of discussion groups and forums.

� Extended Years - A healthy lifestyle for your pets.

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