BELOW IS A LIST OF USEFULL INFORMATION AND TIPS.
FIRST QUESTION WHEN CHOOSING A RABBIT IS, BUCK OR DOE?
I FIND THAT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT A BUCK MAKES A BETTER PET, BUT THERE REALLY ISN'T A LOT OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO SEX'S.
NEW OWNERS NEED TO BE AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING, BOTH BUCKS AND DOES MAKE WONDERFULL PETS BUT YOU MUST REALISE THAT THESE ANIMALS HAVE HORMONES WHICH INCREASE WHEN THEY REACH SEXUAL MATURITY, AND CAN LEAD TO UNDESIREABLE CHANGES IN THEIR PERSONALITY'S , AS ALL OF THEM ARE INDIVIDUALS ITS NOT POSSIBLE TO PREDICT HOW THEIR HORMONES WILL EFFECT THEM, SOME WILL SHOW VERY LITTLE CHANGE, SOME A SLIGHT CHANGE , AND OTHERS A MASSIVE CHANGE.
SO MANY RABBITS END UP IN RESCUE CENTRES BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NOT TOLD THE FACTS WHEN BUYING A RABBIT MOSTLY PET SHOPS ARE TO BLAME FOR THIS.
SOME OF THE BEHAVIOURS THAT CAN OCCUR ARE -
BUCKS - URINE SPRAYING, HYPER ACTIVITY, AGGRESSION, MOUNTING OBJECTS AND OTHER ANIMALS, HUTCH AGGRESSION ( THIS IS WHEN THEY BECOME TERRITORIAL OF THEIR HUTCH AND CAN LUNGE, BITE ETC WHEN YOU TRY PUTTING YOUR HAND IN )
DOE'S - MOOD SWINGS, AGGRESSION, URINE SPRAYING,PHANTOM PREGNANCY'S, HUTCH AGGRESSION.
ALL THAT SAID, IT IS VERY UNLIKELY ANY RABBIT I SELL WILL HAVE ANY AGRESSION ISSUES, THIS IS DUE TO ME ONLY HAVING THE BEST BRED RABBITS WHICH ARE LOVING AND FRIENDLY, THIER TEMPERAMENTS WILL FOLLOW THROUGH TO THEIR OFFSPRING. NONE OF MY BREEDING STOCK HAVE ANY AGRESSION ISSUES, SO ANY BABIES BORN HERE HAVE THE BEST CHANCE OF GROWING UP LIKE THEIR PARENTS.
THE BEST SOLUTION TO STOP ANY UNWANTED BEHAVIOUR IS TO BE A RESPONSIBLE PET OWNER AND HAVE THEM SPAYED OR NEUTERED AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.
THIS WILL HELP ELIMINATE THE ABOVE BEHAVIOURS, AND ALSO MEANS THE RABBIT CAN LIVE A HAPPY RELAXED LIFE WITHOUT THEIR HORMONES GIVING THEM THE STRONG DESIRE TO BREED , AND LASTLY A NON SPAYED DOE HAS A 80% CHANCE OF GETTING UTERINE CANCER FROM AGE 2 YEARS AND UP.
NEXT QUESTION ONE OR TWO RABBITS ?
IF CHOOSING A SINGLE BUNNY I WOULD RECOMMEND EITHER AS A HOUSE RABBIT PERMANENTLY ,OR INDOORS IN THE WINTER OUTDOORS IN THE SUMMER, YOU WILL NEED TO PROVIDE THEM WITH NEW CAGE TOYS AT REGULAR INTERVALS, AND THEY WILL NEED LOTS OF ATTENTION TO PREVENT LONLINESS, IF POSSIBLE IT IS BETTER TO BUY TWO RABBITS, BUT IF THIS ISN'T POSSIBLE IT IS ALWAYS AN OPTION TO GET ONE OF THE OPPOSITE SEX AT A LATER DATE , AND BOND THEM IF YOU FEEL YOUR SINGLE BUNNY IS LOOKING LONELY AND DEPRESSED.
IF YOU DECIDE YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE TWO RABBITS THEN THE BEST COMBINATION IS A BUCK AND DOE, SECOND BEST COMBINATION IS TWO DOE'S, AND LASTLY TWO BUCKS.
YOU WILL NEED TO GET THE BUCK NEUTERED AT AROUND 14 - 16 WEEKS OLD AS THIS IS WHEN HE WILL START BECOMING SEXUALLY ACTIVE, I WOULD ALSO RECOMMEND THAT YOU GET THE DOE SPAYED ASAP AFTER THE BUCK HAS BEEN DONE FOR THE REASONS SAID IN THE FIRST CHAPTER, BUT MOST VETS ADVISE WAITING UNTILL 6 MONTHS OF AGE FOR DOE'S AS ITS MUCH MORE OF A RISKY OPERATION. IF WANTING TWO DOE'S, OR TWO BUCKS THEY WILL STILL NEED TO BOTH BE SPAYED/NEUTERED TO PREVENT CANCER ( DOE'S ONLY ) AND THERE IS ALSO A 60% CHANCE THEY WOULD FIGHT WHEN SEXUAL MATURITY IS REACHED AT AROUND 5 - 7 MONTH'S OF AGE ( BUCKS AND DOE'S ) .
SO IN SHORT GETTING TWO RABBITS BUCK AND DOE, OR TWO DOES/BUCKS CAN BE QUITE AN EXPENSIVE OUTLAY, THE AVERAGE COST TO NEUTER A BUCK IS £49.00 AND £80 FOR A DOE, THIS IS WHAT MY VET CHARGES SO IT'S BEST TO SHOP AROUND AS PRICES DO VARY, PLEASE CONSIDER THIS WHEN DECIDING TO PURCHASE A RABBIT OR TWO.
THAT SAID ONCE THIS HAS BEEN DONE YOU WILL HAVE A PET/S THAT ARE STILL A LOT LESS EXPENSIVE THAN SAY A DOG OR A CAT, DO NOT REQUIRE A VAST AMOUNT OF LOOKING AFTER, AND CAN INTERACT WITH YOU AND GIVE YOU MANY YEARS OF FUN.
YOUNG RABBITS HAVE VERY DELICATE STOMACHES AND SHOULD BE TREATED WITH CARE. DO NOT GIVE A RABBIT WHO IS UNDER THE AGE OF 4/5 MONTHS ANY FRUIT OR VEGETABLES AS THIS COULD CAUSE THEM TO HAVE DIARRHEA, WHICH IN RABBITS CAN BE FATAL.
ALSO THE CONSUMPTION OF GRASS SHOULD BE KEPT TO A MINIMUM.
HEAT STROKE IN A RABBIT CAN BE FATAL, YOU SHOULD POSITION THE HUTCH IN A SHADED AREA, IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO FREEZE WATER IN PLASTIC BOTTLES AND KEEP THEM IN THE FREEZER, SO WHEN THE WEATHER HOTS UP YOU CAN PLACE ONE IN THE RABBITS CAGE SO IT CAN LIE AGAINST IT TO KEEP COOL.
ANOTHER GOOD TIP IS TO BUY A BLACKOUT ROLLER BLIND WHICH ARE RELATIVELY IN-EXSPENSIVE AND TAKE OFF THE INNER CARDBOARD TUBE AND PLACE THE BLIND OVER THE HUTCH, THIS HELPS TO KEEP THE INSIDE DARK AND COOL AND IS ALSO SHOWER PROOF.
COLD WEATHER IS ALSO NOT GREAT FOR YOUR RABBIT, IF THEY HAVE BEEN BRED INDOORS THEN THEY SHOULD BE KEPT INSIDE OVER THE REST OF THE WINTER AND PUT OUTSIDE IN SPRING , THEN THEY WILL GRADUALLY BECOME USED TO THE CHANGING TEMPRETURES AND BE READY FOR THE FOLLOWING WINTER.
YOU SHOULD USE THICK BLANKETS WITH A WATER PROOF COVER OVER THE TOP, OR A GOOD IDEA IS A SHEET OF INSULATING BUBBLE WRAP, WHICH CAN BE FOUND AT ANY D.I.Y STORE.
IF YOU ARE WANTING TO CHANGE YOUR RABBITS FEED, THEN THIS SHOULD BE DONE GRADUALLY SO AS NOT TO UPSETT THEIR TUMMIES.
FIRST QUESTION WHEN CHOOSING A RABBIT IS, BUCK OR DOE?
I FIND THAT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT A BUCK MAKES A BETTER PET, BUT THERE REALLY ISN'T A LOT OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO SEX'S.
NEW OWNERS NEED TO BE AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING, BOTH BUCKS AND DOES MAKE WONDERFULL PETS BUT YOU MUST REALISE THAT THESE ANIMALS HAVE HORMONES WHICH INCREASE WHEN THEY REACH SEXUAL MATURITY, AND CAN LEAD TO UNDESIREABLE CHANGES IN THEIR PERSONALITY'S , AS ALL OF THEM ARE INDIVIDUALS ITS NOT POSSIBLE TO PREDICT HOW THEIR HORMONES WILL EFFECT THEM, SOME WILL SHOW VERY LITTLE CHANGE, SOME A SLIGHT CHANGE , AND OTHERS A MASSIVE CHANGE.
SO MANY RABBITS END UP IN RESCUE CENTRES BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NOT TOLD THE FACTS WHEN BUYING A RABBIT MOSTLY PET SHOPS ARE TO BLAME FOR THIS.
SOME OF THE BEHAVIOURS THAT CAN OCCUR ARE -
BUCKS - URINE SPRAYING, HYPER ACTIVITY, AGGRESSION, MOUNTING OBJECTS AND OTHER ANIMALS, HUTCH AGGRESSION ( THIS IS WHEN THEY BECOME TERRITORIAL OF THEIR HUTCH AND CAN LUNGE, BITE ETC WHEN YOU TRY PUTTING YOUR HAND IN )
DOE'S - MOOD SWINGS, AGGRESSION, URINE SPRAYING,PHANTOM PREGNANCY'S, HUTCH AGGRESSION.
ALL THAT SAID, IT IS VERY UNLIKELY ANY RABBIT I SELL WILL HAVE ANY AGRESSION ISSUES, THIS IS DUE TO ME ONLY HAVING THE BEST BRED RABBITS WHICH ARE LOVING AND FRIENDLY, THIER TEMPERAMENTS WILL FOLLOW THROUGH TO THEIR OFFSPRING. NONE OF MY BREEDING STOCK HAVE ANY AGRESSION ISSUES, SO ANY BABIES BORN HERE HAVE THE BEST CHANCE OF GROWING UP LIKE THEIR PARENTS.
THE BEST SOLUTION TO STOP ANY UNWANTED BEHAVIOUR IS TO BE A RESPONSIBLE PET OWNER AND HAVE THEM SPAYED OR NEUTERED AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.
THIS WILL HELP ELIMINATE THE ABOVE BEHAVIOURS, AND ALSO MEANS THE RABBIT CAN LIVE A HAPPY RELAXED LIFE WITHOUT THEIR HORMONES GIVING THEM THE STRONG DESIRE TO BREED , AND LASTLY A NON SPAYED DOE HAS A 80% CHANCE OF GETTING UTERINE CANCER FROM AGE 2 YEARS AND UP.
NEXT QUESTION ONE OR TWO RABBITS ?
IF CHOOSING A SINGLE BUNNY I WOULD RECOMMEND EITHER AS A HOUSE RABBIT PERMANENTLY ,OR INDOORS IN THE WINTER OUTDOORS IN THE SUMMER, YOU WILL NEED TO PROVIDE THEM WITH NEW CAGE TOYS AT REGULAR INTERVALS, AND THEY WILL NEED LOTS OF ATTENTION TO PREVENT LONLINESS, IF POSSIBLE IT IS BETTER TO BUY TWO RABBITS, BUT IF THIS ISN'T POSSIBLE IT IS ALWAYS AN OPTION TO GET ONE OF THE OPPOSITE SEX AT A LATER DATE , AND BOND THEM IF YOU FEEL YOUR SINGLE BUNNY IS LOOKING LONELY AND DEPRESSED.
IF YOU DECIDE YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE TWO RABBITS THEN THE BEST COMBINATION IS A BUCK AND DOE, SECOND BEST COMBINATION IS TWO DOE'S, AND LASTLY TWO BUCKS.
YOU WILL NEED TO GET THE BUCK NEUTERED AT AROUND 14 - 16 WEEKS OLD AS THIS IS WHEN HE WILL START BECOMING SEXUALLY ACTIVE, I WOULD ALSO RECOMMEND THAT YOU GET THE DOE SPAYED ASAP AFTER THE BUCK HAS BEEN DONE FOR THE REASONS SAID IN THE FIRST CHAPTER, BUT MOST VETS ADVISE WAITING UNTILL 6 MONTHS OF AGE FOR DOE'S AS ITS MUCH MORE OF A RISKY OPERATION. IF WANTING TWO DOE'S, OR TWO BUCKS THEY WILL STILL NEED TO BOTH BE SPAYED/NEUTERED TO PREVENT CANCER ( DOE'S ONLY ) AND THERE IS ALSO A 60% CHANCE THEY WOULD FIGHT WHEN SEXUAL MATURITY IS REACHED AT AROUND 5 - 7 MONTH'S OF AGE ( BUCKS AND DOE'S ) .
SO IN SHORT GETTING TWO RABBITS BUCK AND DOE, OR TWO DOES/BUCKS CAN BE QUITE AN EXPENSIVE OUTLAY, THE AVERAGE COST TO NEUTER A BUCK IS £49.00 AND £80 FOR A DOE, THIS IS WHAT MY VET CHARGES SO IT'S BEST TO SHOP AROUND AS PRICES DO VARY, PLEASE CONSIDER THIS WHEN DECIDING TO PURCHASE A RABBIT OR TWO.
THAT SAID ONCE THIS HAS BEEN DONE YOU WILL HAVE A PET/S THAT ARE STILL A LOT LESS EXPENSIVE THAN SAY A DOG OR A CAT, DO NOT REQUIRE A VAST AMOUNT OF LOOKING AFTER, AND CAN INTERACT WITH YOU AND GIVE YOU MANY YEARS OF FUN.
YOUNG RABBITS HAVE VERY DELICATE STOMACHES AND SHOULD BE TREATED WITH CARE. DO NOT GIVE A RABBIT WHO IS UNDER THE AGE OF 4/5 MONTHS ANY FRUIT OR VEGETABLES AS THIS COULD CAUSE THEM TO HAVE DIARRHEA, WHICH IN RABBITS CAN BE FATAL.
ALSO THE CONSUMPTION OF GRASS SHOULD BE KEPT TO A MINIMUM.
HEAT STROKE IN A RABBIT CAN BE FATAL, YOU SHOULD POSITION THE HUTCH IN A SHADED AREA, IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO FREEZE WATER IN PLASTIC BOTTLES AND KEEP THEM IN THE FREEZER, SO WHEN THE WEATHER HOTS UP YOU CAN PLACE ONE IN THE RABBITS CAGE SO IT CAN LIE AGAINST IT TO KEEP COOL.
ANOTHER GOOD TIP IS TO BUY A BLACKOUT ROLLER BLIND WHICH ARE RELATIVELY IN-EXSPENSIVE AND TAKE OFF THE INNER CARDBOARD TUBE AND PLACE THE BLIND OVER THE HUTCH, THIS HELPS TO KEEP THE INSIDE DARK AND COOL AND IS ALSO SHOWER PROOF.
COLD WEATHER IS ALSO NOT GREAT FOR YOUR RABBIT, IF THEY HAVE BEEN BRED INDOORS THEN THEY SHOULD BE KEPT INSIDE OVER THE REST OF THE WINTER AND PUT OUTSIDE IN SPRING , THEN THEY WILL GRADUALLY BECOME USED TO THE CHANGING TEMPRETURES AND BE READY FOR THE FOLLOWING WINTER.
YOU SHOULD USE THICK BLANKETS WITH A WATER PROOF COVER OVER THE TOP, OR A GOOD IDEA IS A SHEET OF INSULATING BUBBLE WRAP, WHICH CAN BE FOUND AT ANY D.I.Y STORE.
IF YOU ARE WANTING TO CHANGE YOUR RABBITS FEED, THEN THIS SHOULD BE DONE GRADUALLY SO AS NOT TO UPSETT THEIR TUMMIES.