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For an easy guide to caring for rabbits, click the file on the left. For deeper information, scroll down. |
FEEDING
Give him about a half a cup of pellets every day. Usually in the winter I increase my feed about a quarter of a cup to keep their weight on in the cold and to give them extra energy to keep warm since I keep my Mini Rex's outdoors.
A good way to tell if rabbits are getting enough to eat is to remember: they should be rattling their door, but not trying to tear it off the cage. If there is still food in the bowl from one feeding to the next, they are probably getting too much. His backbone should feel smooth like small marbles, or firm and well muscled. Rabbits should look trim like this one when moving naturally, not flabby and round.
I feed Purina Chow, which can be found at almost any local feed dealer, or fam and garden stores*
WATERING
Water should be provided at all times in a bottle or heavy bowl. I use heated stanless steel watering bowls, which can be found at almost any local livestock feed dealer, or farm and garden stores*
OTHER DAY-TO-DAY FEEDING SUPPLEMENTS
Grass hay is also a good dietary staple. As it is usually quite expensive, I feed it about once a week, but I know of people who let their rabbits have as much hay as they want. I like buying hay in bulk, or at some rabbit shows companies give out good-sized free samples if you will take a survey to tell how well it benefits your bunnies.
I am also in favor of having a salt or mineral block/lick for each rabbit's desposal, as, just like humans bunnies need the supplementary value of salt in their diet. These can be found at almost any local livestock feed dealer, or farm and garden stores*
TREATS
Rabbits love greens such as clover and dandelions. Lettuce and cabbage gives most rabbits diarrhea, so stay away from these. Do not feed your rabbit greens until he is at least three or four months old. Start feeding greens very gradually. Rabbits love carrots. You can give him a slice every day. Wait until he is at least three or four months old. You can see my Yummy Recipies! page for more healthy treats for your pet.
GROOMING
Once a month or so, the rabbit will need his nails clipped. Do not get too close to the quick. Use some small animal nail clippers. If you do get too close to the quick it will bleed. If this happens, use some styptic powder. Corn starch or flour can be used if you don’t have styptic powder. Just dip the claw in the powder and it should stop bleeding.
WEATHER
In the summer, heat is hard on outdoor rabbits. Keep him out of direct sunlight. If he is in a building that doesn’t get a breeze you will need to move his cage to a shady, breezy area on hot days. Check on him often in hot weather. Try filling a pop bottle with water and freeze it. Give it to him on hot days and he will lay by it to get cool. The rabbit will need shelter from rain in all weather. In the winter, your rabbit will need a place to be out of wind, rain, and snow. A box filled with hay that he can burrow into will help him to stay warm during cold temperatures.
These are only the basics on rabbit care. If you would like more detailed information, please refer to Toni's Coneys rabbitry for furthur information. www.tonisconeys.webs.com
*Orchelns, Tractor Supply, Bomgaars, or Earl May
Give him about a half a cup of pellets every day. Usually in the winter I increase my feed about a quarter of a cup to keep their weight on in the cold and to give them extra energy to keep warm since I keep my Mini Rex's outdoors.
A good way to tell if rabbits are getting enough to eat is to remember: they should be rattling their door, but not trying to tear it off the cage. If there is still food in the bowl from one feeding to the next, they are probably getting too much. His backbone should feel smooth like small marbles, or firm and well muscled. Rabbits should look trim like this one when moving naturally, not flabby and round.
I feed Purina Chow, which can be found at almost any local feed dealer, or fam and garden stores*
WATERING
Water should be provided at all times in a bottle or heavy bowl. I use heated stanless steel watering bowls, which can be found at almost any local livestock feed dealer, or farm and garden stores*
OTHER DAY-TO-DAY FEEDING SUPPLEMENTS
Grass hay is also a good dietary staple. As it is usually quite expensive, I feed it about once a week, but I know of people who let their rabbits have as much hay as they want. I like buying hay in bulk, or at some rabbit shows companies give out good-sized free samples if you will take a survey to tell how well it benefits your bunnies.
I am also in favor of having a salt or mineral block/lick for each rabbit's desposal, as, just like humans bunnies need the supplementary value of salt in their diet. These can be found at almost any local livestock feed dealer, or farm and garden stores*
TREATS
Rabbits love greens such as clover and dandelions. Lettuce and cabbage gives most rabbits diarrhea, so stay away from these. Do not feed your rabbit greens until he is at least three or four months old. Start feeding greens very gradually. Rabbits love carrots. You can give him a slice every day. Wait until he is at least three or four months old. You can see my Yummy Recipies! page for more healthy treats for your pet.
GROOMING
Once a month or so, the rabbit will need his nails clipped. Do not get too close to the quick. Use some small animal nail clippers. If you do get too close to the quick it will bleed. If this happens, use some styptic powder. Corn starch or flour can be used if you don’t have styptic powder. Just dip the claw in the powder and it should stop bleeding.
WEATHER
In the summer, heat is hard on outdoor rabbits. Keep him out of direct sunlight. If he is in a building that doesn’t get a breeze you will need to move his cage to a shady, breezy area on hot days. Check on him often in hot weather. Try filling a pop bottle with water and freeze it. Give it to him on hot days and he will lay by it to get cool. The rabbit will need shelter from rain in all weather. In the winter, your rabbit will need a place to be out of wind, rain, and snow. A box filled with hay that he can burrow into will help him to stay warm during cold temperatures.
These are only the basics on rabbit care. If you would like more detailed information, please refer to Toni's Coneys rabbitry for furthur information. www.tonisconeys.webs.com
*Orchelns, Tractor Supply, Bomgaars, or Earl May