Rabbit Husbandry
Rabbits have a number of specific needs that you should be aware of in order to keep your animals healthy, lively and comfortable.
Since rabbits and guinea pigs are very social animals that live in groups in the wild, it is absolutely necessary to get two (or even better several) animals. A single animal feels lonely and gets sick.
Even a guinea pig cannot replace social contact with conspecifics! As a rule, female animals from the same litter get along best. Nevertheless, incompatibilities can occur, so the animals must be observed very closely at the beginning. Male animals must be neutered to avoid rank fights on the one hand and to prevent unwanted offspring on the other hand.
Attention: Sexual maturity can occur in small breeds as early as the tenth week of life!
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Run and Stable
Rabbits are very active and active animals that need enough space to feel comfortable. The cage/pen must therefore be as large as possible.
For two dwarf rabbits (these are animals that do not reach more than approx. 2 kg when fully grown), the largest commercially available small animal cage/pen should be chosen if possible.
Alternatively, it is possible to use a two-storey cage where the floors are connected by a ramp. Outdoor enclosures for indoors and outdoors are also available in the shops, which you can put up against the open cage or hutch door.
Larger animals must be offered more space. In any case, the cage/pen must be high enough for the animals to stand up ("man up") and use elevated resting areas.
Here you will find a large selection of hutches, enclosures and accessories for your rabbits:
Cage
Cage equipment:
But space is not everything! Rabbits need a varied cage landscape with retreats (hutches) and raised resting areas on which the animals like to stretch out and rest.
In addition, other hiding places (e.g. grazing bridges) should be offered, which the animals can also explore and gnaw on. Your rabbits like a lot of bedding so that they can at least begin to dig. Straw pellets, corncob granules or wood shavings are suitable bedding materials. Never use cat litter!
A hay rack protects the hay from contamination. Only hayracks with a cover should be used for rabbits, otherwise the animals can jump into the rack and injure themselves.
Cage location:
Rabbits like it light and airy, but do not tolerate heat. The cage should therefore not be placed in the blazing sun or in the immediate vicinity of a radiator. The comfortable temperature is 15 to 22 degrees. Rising cold and draughts are harmful and can make your rabbits ill.
In addition, rabbits are typical escape animals and tend to panic if someone leans over the cage from above. The cage should therefore be placed at a minimum height of 60 cm.
Although rabbits are sociable animals and can become very tame, commotion near the cage (e.g. people passing by) and noise cause stress for the animals. The cage should therefore be placed in a quiet area; there should be no sources of noise near the cage (e.g. hi-fi systems, TV sets or noisy pets).
Rabbit nutrition and care
Rabbits do well on foods rich in crude fibre, such as grass, hay or vegetables. However, since domestic rabbits, unlike their free-living relatives, cannot choose their own food, it is important to ensure that the ration has a good balance of energy, protein and minerals.
Dust- and germ-free hay forms the main feed and must be freely available at all times. Depending on the energy requirements, the basic feed is supplemented with cereal and protein components.
Lactating females or males in the breeding phase have a very high requirement, animals in the breeding pen a lower one. A well-balanced mineral feed in combination with a freely accessible salt lick rounds off the daily menu.
General feeding instructions:
- High-protein, fresh hay can lead to digestive disorders. Therefore, only feed hay that has been stored for at least 8 weeks.
- Avoid sudden changes in feed
- Feed at regular times
- Hay & fresh, clean water must always be available
Varied feeding options, suitable drinkers and much more...
Caring
Rabbits are very clean animals and therefore only feel comfortable in a well-kept home! Foul-smelling, damp bedding and dirty drinking troughs can also lead to illness.
Harsh cleaning agents not only disturb the rabbits' sensitive sense of smell, but can also burn their skin and mucous membranes. Therefore, only water or suitable cage cleaning agents should be used for cleaning.
To prolong the life of the hutch, you should treat the wood with suitable paint. The best location is under a canopy on the side facing away from the weather. When choosing the right size, pay attention to the country-specific animal welfare standards!