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Judge's Park Rabbit Care Guidelines
Piper, a Netherland Dwarf cross
Feeding:
Unlimited Timothy Hay (however much they want; it should constantly be in their cage).
Only give occasional snacks of alfalfa hay (unless they are under 6 months, then you give them as much Alfalfa as they want along with Timothy hay).
Constant source of water from a heavy water crock. Bottles can be used but are not as reliable. Both need cleaned out regularly to prevent algae and dirt buildup.
For adults: 1/8 to 1/4 cup of pellets a day based on weight. The average is 1/4 cup of pellets per 5 pound bunny but can vary according to whether your bunny is underweight or overweight.
- Timothy based pellets are best for adults. Alfalfa pellets for those below 6 months.
- The best brands include Oxbow, Small Pet Select, and Sweet Meadow.
- Do not use grocery store/chain store based pellets which involve too many extras like corn and other fatty foods.
- Do not feed pellets with added nuts, seeds, and fruits. These are bad for rabbits and can cause gastric problems.
Adult rabbits can have 2-3 servings of vegetables per day (before they are 4 months of age or if they have never had veggies before slowly introduce different veggies to their diet to avoid stomach problems)
- Give mainly vegetables, especially greens like parsley, spring and baby mixes, romaine, dandelion and radicchio, peppers, cucumbers, broccoli, radishes, etc.
- Fruits and other sugary veggies like carrots can be fed sparingly (usually once or twice a week), including apples (cores removed, seeds are poisonous), berries, bananas etc.
-Avoid cabbage, beans, iceberg lettuce, onions and any people food.
-Use Spinach and Kale sparingly, as lettuces high in oxalates can cause bladder stones.
Treats should be given minimally. Stores bought treats with seeds, nuts, dried fruits and other additives can be very bad for rabbits. Stick with all natural, hay based treats that do not have ingredients you cannot pronounce. If you wouldn't eat it, don't give it to your bunny!
Housing:
As large as possible cage (minimum 4 x 2 for a single rabbit) or indoor 4' x 4' puppy pen. Cages should have a solid plastic bottom to prevent foot sores caused by wire.
If using a pen, put down something to protect your flooring and then a blanket. If they eat the flooring or blankets they can get sick, so always be careful
-In cages, bedding should be black and white newspaper based or some other sort of recycled newspaper. Wood based bedding is only okay if it is dust free Aspen. Pine and Cedar are proven to be poisonous to bunnies. Do not use cat litter as it can cause sickness and blockages. Rabbits will go to the bathroom where they eat so you can litter train a rabbit by putting their hay in or right near their litter box.
All rabbits should be housed indoors for their health and safety! It is required by Judge’s Park and our animals will not be adopted out as outdoor pets! There are too many dangers outside including but not limited to: predators, fly strike (where maggots burrow into the rabbit's skin), temperature changes (which can cause sickness), etc.
Medical Care:
Rabbits must be spayed or neutered. Female rabbits have a very high risk of ovarian, uterine, and mammary cancer without being spayed, potentially cutting short their life by many years. There are behavioral issues as well. Rabbits, when unspayed or un-neutered are driven by their hormones which can cause rabbits to be very difficult animals to live with. They pee and poop everywhere, spray their urine, and possibly can become aggressive. When you neuter a male, all those territorial/breeding behaviors are eliminated or greatly reduced which makes them a wonderful, cuddly, housetrained pet. Females are, along with being healthier, much calmer and more likely to be a friendly, housetrained companion.
Though rabbits are not required to have shots, we recommend a yearly visit to the vet for a wellness check. Rabbits can hide their symptoms if they are sick, so watch closely for nasal discharge, issues breathing, sneezing, not eating or other signs that all is not well. If a rabbits stops eating they can die within 24 hours! Rabbits can get deadly gastric blockages so they must be watched closely and kept on a strict rabbit friendly diet. If they stop eating, take them to a vet ASAP!
Suggested websites:
www.busybunny.com www.bunnybytes.com
www.rabbit.org www.oxbowhay.com
www.ohiohouserabbitrescue.org
www.petfinder.com
Suggested Reading:
The House Rabbit Handbook by Marinell Harriman
Rabbits for Dummies By Connie Isbell
Stories Rabbits Tell By Susan E. Davis and Margo DeMello
When Your Rabbit Needs Special Care by Kathy Smith & Lucille Moore
Rabbit Health in the 21st Century: A Giude For Bunny Parents By Kathy Smith
Connor in his puppy pen