What is the ideal cage for a bunny?
For small to medium rabbits like a Dwarf or Dutch rabbit, the enclosure should be at least 24 inches wide by 24 inches high by 36 inches long. For larger breeds like the Flemish Giant, the enclosure should be at least 36 inches wide by 36 inches tall and up to 120 inches long.
Generally speaking – No, keeping a rabbit in a cage is not cruel. But it depends on the cage. In fact, it is usually the opposite. It is cruel to leave our pet rabbit outdoors in an open space, unsupervised and at risk of being injured or attacked by predators.
As a general rule, the cage should be at least four times the size of the rabbit. A guide is 24" by 36" for smaller rabbits (less than 8 lbs.) or 30" by 36" for larger rabbits. A two-story condo with a ramp joining the levels seems popular with rabbits too.
Give Them Daily Roaming Time
To keep your rabbit happy and healthy, let it out of its cage at least once a day, giving it time to roam. Though at least one hour is necessary, aim closer to three or four. As a rule, never keep your rabbit cooped up for 24 hours at a time.
Rabbits should have 4 to 5 hours outside of their cage or enclosure for exercise every day. Ideally, this will be in the morning and evening since that's when rabbits are most active. This time will help your rabbit stay happy and healthy, while also giving them the opportunity to socialize.
A rabbit's bedding must keep them safe, comfortable, and warm. Rabbits often eat their bedding, so it cannot be toxic. Shredded paper, Aspen shreds, specialist litter or pellets, and hay are all safe options.
Rabbits shouldn't be kept in small cages
"They should be able to run back and forth, and have separate spaces to sleep, eat, and use the bathroom." Rabbits that are held in small cages often become depressed, and a lack of exercise can lead to health problems such as obesity and muscle weakness.
If the rabbit being handled shows any signs of stress, you should stop the interaction (signs may include struggling, aggression, or hiding). The only exception to this is when a rabbit must be taken to the veterinarian or is being examined/treated by the veterinarian.
Some rabbits will also get upset with you if you touch their stuff. Cleaning out the rabbit enclosure or rearranging their furniture can lead to an upset bunny. They may try reorganizing on their own to get everything back to normal, or they might just sulk for a while until they get over the change.
A dog crate makes an excellent and cheaper alternative to a rabbit cage. A large dog crate will cost around half the price of a similar size rabbit cage. Dog crates are wider than most cages making the floor area roughly equivalent to a 6'x2' cage.
What weather is too cold for rabbits?
Temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit may be too cold for rabbits and you will need to take some extra precautions to keep your rabbit comfortable outdoors at these temperatures.
Do rabbits get cold at night? Of course, everyone does! But bunnies have thick fur that can protect them from chilly temperatures. They're fine at 30°F, but if you have outdoor rabbits, keep your hutch at about 100°F during the night.
If rabbits live in small hutches with nothing to do and no space to move, they get bored. Boredom can cause some serious health problems: Bored rabbits will fill their time by eating. If they eat too much and don't move around they'll put on weight.
It is fine to cover more of the hutch during the night but you should still leave a small area open for ventilation. Add extra bedding for your bunny to snuggle into. This can be lined underneath with newspaper for increased insulation.
Rabbits are amazing pets that can be great companions if we let them. They can race around our homes and spend time with us as they show their unique personalities. Letting your rabbit roam free in your home is an excellent way to make them a part of your family and an integral part of your life.
The signs of an unhappy rabbit
Pulling at their fur and over-grooming - or not grooming at all. A change in feeding or toilet habits. Drinking a lot more. Repeated circling or pacing up and down.
At a minimum, you should spend at least an hour with your rabbit every day. However, 3-5 hours (or even more) are ideal. You do not have to be giving your rabbit undivided attention during this time, but instead, make yourself available to interact with them if they want to.
Objects to play with or throw - such as untreated straw, wicker, sea-grass mats and baskets, balls and plastic flower pots. Solid plastic baby toys such as 'key rings', rattles, stacking cups and some robust cat and parrot toys can make good rabbit toys.
Rabbits will typically sleep through the darkest parts of the night. My rabbits go to sleep after me but seem to settle down around 11 pm. Most rabbits will go to sleep between 10-12 pm. They'll sleep until it's time to wake up in the morning and start a new day.
“Although they are cute, rabbits are NOT good pets for children. They are prey animals who hate being picked up from the floor and cuddled. Rabbits do not have flexible spines like cats, so improper handling can cause serious or fatal injuries,” Greetis told INSIDER.
Do rabbits like to be held?
Most rabbits love to be cuddled and stroked when approached in the right way. Few like being held or carried as being so high up from the ground makes them feel insecure, however, many will happily sit on your lap or snuggle up next to you for a cuddle.
Carrots and apples are fine as occasional treats in small amounts, but don't feed any other treats, as these may harm your rabbit.
Squeal. If your rabbit nips or bites you (sometimes rabbits nip when they want something or want your attention - it's not always aggressive): give a high-pitched squeal as soon as she nips or bites you. This will let her know that she hurt you and she should not nip or bite you.
The whole bonding process can take as little as one day or up to several months – it all depends on your rabbits. Usually, it's a few weeks before your bunnies will be living happily together but it is well worth the wait.
Anything longer than 24 hours is an unacceptable level of time alone for a rabbit. By the time day two rolls around, your pet will be growing anxious. She will wonder why you've not visited. A rabbit locked in a hutch for a weekend will also not be able to exercise.
Rabbits do not require routine bathing and in fact frequent washing, either with or without shampoo, strips the rabbit's fur of its natural oils, which helps to keep the rabbit's coat in good condition. Bathing is also extremely stressful for rabbits and has many potential and serious dangers.
All rabbits will drop poops around their cage to mark it as their own. This is not a failure to be litter-trained.
Rabbits will remember the people that they spend a lot of time with, and this includes their owners and caretakers. As prey animals, they have neurologically developed with a strong long-term memory for places and routines. You can use these associations to help strengthen your rabbit's memory of you.
For indoor pet rabbits, bedding is not necessary to include in your rabbit's habitat as long as your rabbit has access to soft flooring. Outdoor rabbits will require bedding for insulation to help them stay warm in the night and during the cold months of the year.
Never use a puppy pad in your rabbit's litter box! Try newspaper instead.
Why does my rabbit growl at me?
Growling/hissing/grunting
Your rabbit is angry, feels threatened and is showing disapproval. Your rabbit may, for example, be saying 'Leave me alone' if he doesn't want to be handled, or if he wants to protect his territory – such as his cage or food – from a human hand or another rabbit.
Use Silver backed beach mats to insulate the hutch and run. Put wind breaks up around the hutch and run. Line sheds to create a double wall and an extra layer of insulation. Add Perspex sheets to the front of hutches and runs to keep them weather proof but allow the bunnies to see out.
Can pet rabbits live outside in winter? Yes, they can. Rabbits have adaptations that help them survive the cold, such as thick fur coats and fur pads on their feet.
In the wild, rabbits live in big groups and they enjoy being with friends who will play with them, groom them, understand them and look out for them. So if these sociable animals are kept on their own, they may become bored, depressed, and very lonely.
"Carrots should be fed sparingly, as they are very high in carbohydrate and may upset GI bacterial flora." Particularly good vegetables include the dark leafy greens like romaine lettuce, bok choy, mustard greens, carrot tops, cilantro, watercress, basil, kohlrabi, beet greens, broccoli greens, and cilantro.
Bunnies don't sleep at night and stay up during the day like humans do, either. They are crepuscular. Yup, there's that word again! It means they're most active at dusk and dawn.
Rabbits like to play and need plenty of exercise to stay healthy and happy. Ideally you want to provide them with up to 4 hours daily of supervised time out of their cage. Rabbits are subject to depression and poor health if they're not provided with daily interaction and mental stimulation.
Pellets can be good for rabbits in small quantities, but they are not a necessary part of a rabbit's daily food intake. If pet rabbits are given a balanced diet with grass-based hay and a variety of leafy green vegetables, they can still be healthy on a pellet-free diet.
Rabbits can live quite happily indoors and they should be provided with secure accommodation where they can feel safe, sleep, use a particular area as a toilet, and be confined to when unsupervised.
Rabbits need a contrast of light and darkness. A rabbit that lives in constant light can experience stress. In addition, their eyes can be damaged, and they'll gain weight. Provide a dark area for your bunny to sleep and relax within.
Are rabbits noisy at night?
Most of the time rabbits are very quiet pets. They can't bark loudly like a dog or incessantly meow at you like a cat. However, rabbits that are kept in a bedroom can still keep you awake at night by thumping, actively racing around and playing, or loudly rattling the bars of their enclosure.
We recommend a good quality soft straw as the ideal bedding for warmth and comfort, particularly for outdoor rabbits. It's warm because the hollow strands trap warm air and it's also absorbent. It's important to understand the difference between hay and straw.
Rabbits poop a lot. Once you have a pet rabbit, this becomes all too apparent when you find their little cocoa puff poops scattered around your home. Most rabbits can be litter trained relatively easily. However, some rabbits are a little more stubborn and will continue to leave their poops outside their litter box.
If you're a new rabbit owner, try to make the first few interactions with your rabbit as positive as possible which means lots of gentle petting, treats and quiet bonding time. This way they'll grow more comfortable with you - and you'll be able to pick them up and hold them with better success.
Did you know you can house train rabbits? These clever house pets will happily use a litter tray, so long as it is well set up and they have been shown how to use it. You can start litter training your rabbits as early as you like but you can litter train a rabbit at any age.
One guideline to go by is at least 8 square feet of enclosure space combined with at least at least 24 square feet of exercise space, for 1-2 rabbits, in which the rabbit(s) can run and play at least 5 hours per day.
Do rabbits like multi-level cages? Yes, rabbits do appreciate a good multi-level cage, although it's not a requirement.
All rabbits require a cage large enough for them to hop or leap 3-4 times and stretch out completely. As a general rule, rabbits require a rabbit cage size four times their own size; thus, a Holland Lop should have a cage of at least 24 square inches.