Taking Care of Rabbits

Rabbits are widely-accepted as pets and it is evident from the fact that there are around twelve million of different rabbit breeds, which are raised as pets in the United States, each year. They are not fussy, but the owner must have a basic idea regarding its needs, like food, shelter, handling, etc. Unlike pet dogs and cats, rabbits are very sensitive creatures. You may think that taking care of rabbits is a difficult task. But this is a misconception. The task can be easy, only if you are aware of certain facts about rabbits. Let us take a look at some of the facts regarding how to take care of rabbits.

Preparations to Raise Rabbits
Once you plan to take care of a rabbit, decide the specific breed you want and the color. Other pets, like cats and dogs, can pose a threat to your pet rabbit. You have to solve this problem, before bringing the rabbit home. You must do some research to find out the needs of the specific pet rabbit breed, especially, its food requirements and other factors related to taking care of rabbits. Decide whether you want to keep it indoors or outside the house. The most important factor is food, as proper feeding is necessary for the health of the rabbit. These creatures have a very sensitive gastrointestinal tract, and any wrong food can be fatal for them. Above all, you must know the proper method of how to take care of rabbits, before you bring the pet rabbit home.

Rabbits as Pets
Rabbits are very different from other types of pets, like cats and dogs. These animals are not good as pets for children, because improper handling is not advisable. Mishandling can break their bones or cause damage to their internal organs. Another fact about rabbits is that they can get frightened easily. Children are notorious for making loud noises and such noises can frighten these rabbits to death. So a home with too many children or other kinds of pets are not suitable for raising rabbits. They need a peaceful and secure atmosphere and proper shelter or housing.

Home for Rabbits
The first and foremost factor regarding rabbit keeping is whether you want to keep these pets indoors or outdoors. You can provide them with a home, which is called a 'hutch', which has a solid roof and a wooden nesting box, but the bottom and the sides are made of wire. These rabbit homes were traditionally used for outdoor rabbit keeping. You can integrate one inside your house, or keep it outdoors with some provisions to make it weather-proof. It is not a good idea to allow your rabbits to roam around the house, as they have a habit of gnawing anything that comes their way. This habit can create problems. So if you want to keep them indoors, it is better to reserve a room for them, which is devoid of anything you want to protect from their gnawing, especially, electrical wires. You can fix a baby gate to the door of the room, in order to prevent them from entering other parts of the house. A wire cage is best for rabbits, but there must be provision for water and you must provide sufficient hay to provide them with warmth. These small creatures need clean cages with sufficient light and ventilation.

Rabbit Food
The most important part of rabbit keeping is its food. As they have a very sensitive digestive system, a proper diet is necessary for its healthy growth. Your rabbits must get an uninterrupted supply of hay, which provides adequate fiber to aid digestion. The preferred one is Timothy grass hay, but alfalfa hay can also be given to adult rabbits. You can include some dark green leafy vegetables such as lettuce leaves, endive, romaine, escarole, arugula, dandelion greens, etc. Vegetables should be given in small quantities daily. An occasional treat of starchy vegetables, like, carrots and fruits can be given. However, rabbits should not be fed with the following food items - potatoes, beans, bamboo, cabbage, iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, corn, peas, beets, onions, rhubarb, seeds, grains, etc. You must not feed your pet rabbits with any food meant for humans, especially chocolate, candy, or anything moldy. Nowadays, pellets meant for rabbits can be used to supplement the diet of these pets. Above all, they must get a good supply of fresh water. Make sure that you change the water on a daily basis.

You can keep some untreated wooden blocks or cardboard boxes for their amusement. As they have the habit of chewing, these things can be of interest for them. But make sure to remove any staples or tape attached to these items and never use objects with sharp edges. Above all, rabbits are so fragile that you must handle them carefully to avoid fractures. Never lift the rabbits by their ears or stomach. If not properly handled, a struggling rabbit can break its bones. So it is better to conduct a detailed study regarding how to care for a rabbit, before trying to raise them as pets.