Rabbits can be wonderful pets but it is important to be prepared as they have specific needs for their housing and diet.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
They are a pet that needs a lot of attention and care so that they become socialised properly.
Many rabbits are left to roam free around the house but often a cage is needed to confine them either when the owners are out or for rest time.
If the pen is only used for rest then a smaller cage is fine but if the rabbit needs to spend the majority of their time in a pen then a larger pen (ideally 2m in length) that is tall enough for the rabbit to stand on their hind legs is required.
Getting the correct diet is very important for rabbits. Rabbits are hind-gut fermenters, which means they need a lot of fibre to keep their digestive tract healthy.
A large percentage of health problems in rabbits is because they are not fed the correct diet.
The ideal diet for a rabbit consists of 80 per cent fresh hay. Oaten hay is the best hay on offer. It is easily available and very tasty for rabbits.
This is high fibre and also makes the rabbits chew therefore ensuring they keep good dental health.
Around 15-20 per cent of the diet should be green leafy vegetables. These include carrot tops, dandelion leaves, grass, Asian greens (eg Bok choy) and milk thistle as some examples. Broccoli and Cauliflower can be given as well.
Around 1-5 per cent of the diet should be treats. This includes fruit and pellets. It is easy to feed a lot of pellets to rabbits but they are lower in fibre and can cause rabbits to become unwell with changes to their intestinal tract.
Some foods never to feed your rabbit include lettuce, due to its high water content and low calories, meat or fish biscuits or bread.
As with any new pet, it is important to do a bit of research prior to obtaining the pet so that you can ensure a healthy, happy start.
