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April 17, 2007
Responsible Rabbitry: You Bought A Bunny, Didn't You...
Belated Easter Tidings.
Just about every year, in some form or another, I post dire warnings about not buying your kid a bunny for Easter. Instead, I plead with you to get them a chocolate bunny instead. Unfortunately, this year I was out of town and I didn't get around to posting my tirade. I just know you did it. You went out and got yourself a bunny. And now you have no idea what to do with it. So this year, as a responsible rabbit-owner I'm going to post a couple of hints for you.
A Dozen Tips For Responsible Rabbitry
- Adult Rabbits Are Easily Trained (Check Out: House Rabbit Society)
- In Rabbits, Positive Reenforcement Works, Negative Reenforcement Doesn't
- Rabbits Love Bananas, Greens Like Fennel, Carrots Not So Much
- Rabbits Stomp or Thump To Warn Friends (Including Owners) of Danger
- Cedar/Pine Shavings Are Poisonous, Recycled Newsprint Pellet Cat Litter Isn't
- Rabbits Are Easy To Hypnotize - Useful For Nail-Clipping, Injuries & Meds
- Rabbits Must Munch - Give Munchables like Paper Towel Rolls As Toys
- Pet Rabbits Should Not Live Outside Due To Diseases, Among Other Things
- Rabbits Live Much Longer When Fixed
- Rabbits Are Happier In Mated Pairs
- Rabbits Love Treats, But Have Their Own Preferences
- Rabbits Dance When They Are Happy
Oh, and one last thing. Do not pick up a rabbit by its ears or even the scruff of the neck. You should always scoop them up under their belly. If they're struggly, put a hand over their eyes to calm them and then pick them up. Bunnies are best held in your arms like a baby. If you're worried about getting nibbled (biting is the sign of a scared or unhappy rabbit), then hold the bunny with its head up on your shoulder, against you, as if you're burping a baby. This way the bunny can see around it and you can control its wiggling.
Posted by sorsha at April 17, 2007 2:36 PM
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Comments
One of the biggest things that was driven in to us was to never, ever let the bunnies go outside. This obviously means that you can't have them in a hutch of any sort outside. Why?
I know one bunny that died of disease by being outside. Only lived 3 or 4 years because of that. Last summer, a number of bunnies of some friends died from heat by being outside, even with plenty of water available.
There are many other reasons, too. Bunnies are at the bottom of the food chain, so they have some strange natural reactions to perceived threats. Even when in a cage, a dog barking can cause them to die from heart attack cause by pure fear.
On a more subtle note, we had also been told to always give them water in bowls because the drippers were bad for their teeth. Later on we learned that the bowls, unless cleaned out with soap and water two or three times a day, were actually worse for them due to various illness and disease that they could cause. We now use drippers that are up high enough so they don't have to crook their necks. At over ten years old, their teeth are doing just fine, too.
And yes, in captivity, they often live that old or longer if raised in a healthy environment to begin with, fixed, and not taken away from their mother too early.
Posted by: Shane Conder | April 18, 2007 1:01 PM