This page was made to share some information on the Breeds we specialize in breeding. As well as helpful tips, tricks, and general Bunny care info.
General Information about Rabbits
Bunnies can live to be 10+ years old. They need their nails trimmed once a month. Bunnies are extremely active at night and are very social animals. A rabbit’s main form of communication is body language. They have an extremely good sense of smell and hearing. Rabbits teeth constantly grow. They are also amazing diggers and love to burrow. The bunnies that we breed are typically 2-4 pounds. Rabbits also have different ear shapes depending on their breed. Their ears can be lopped and floppy erect, or have “airplane ears” one up, one down, or they can have ear control with both ears.
What to feed your Rabbit
Research is key to providing a safe and happy environment for your new family member! Before feeding anything new please start out slow and in very small amounts to avoid bloat and GI stasis. Keep in mind veggies and fruits should be given after 6 months of age. Rabbits are designed to consume grasses, flowers, fruits, veggies, and herbs.
Hay is considered the most important part of a Rabbits diet and should be provided 24/7. Examples of hay include timothy, meadow, and oat. Alfalfa hay can be given to young baby bunnies, but alfalfa is sweet and high in sugar content and may be hard to ween them off. Hay helps keep the GI tract moving at all times which helps prevent bloat and GI Stasis. Rabbits teeth constantly grow and hay helps keep them wore down.
Pellets are the second most important part of your bunny’s diet (aside from water). Keep in mind only feeding pellets will not wear their teeth down and can cause teeth to be overgrown and can cause other unwanted issues.
Herbs are a great way to add additional nutrition. Rabbits are natural foragers and can be fed fresh or dried basil, oregano, parsley, mint, lavender, thyme, sage, rosemary, dill, fennel, dandelion, chamomile, tarragon, lemon balm, cilantro, and plantain to name a few.
Fruit and Veggies are also a good way to expand your bunny’s diet but should only be given in small amounts. Bell peppers, cucumbers, carrots, Lettuce are a few veggies that are considered safe to feed to your rabbits. Bananas (even the peel), blueberries, strawberries make for an excellent treat! Make sure to give in small quantities as too much sugar is not good for them. .
Avoid gassy veggies such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, brussel sprouts. These are known to cause bloat. Yogurt Treats should be avoided because rabbits naturally do not have the right bacteria to digest Milk.
Water should be provided 24/7 either in the form of a non tippable bowl or a bottle.
Rabbit Housing
A rabbit’s cage should allow them to stand up on their hind legs without hitting their heads. The cage should have space for a litter box and a resting spot.
Your bunny will need daily exercise to stay healthy, and to prevent physical or behavioral issues. Exercise prevents boredom and obesity. Rabbits should be let out in a larger exercise area to run. Such as a X-pen to jump, binky, and move around for a few hours every day.
Outside exercise pens are a great way to allow your Rabbit access to forage and play. Never leave them outside unsupervised. Rabbits are amazing escape artists and love to dig and burrow. Make sure to add a cover above to outside pen to avoid flying predators.
If you are planning to free roam in your house you need to bunny proof the area. Cover or block all electrical cords. You can also cover your furniture to protect it them from chewing.
Rabbits are considered easy to litter train. At first keep your bunny in a small area and place a litter box in the corner. If you notice your bun prefers a particular spot to potty this would be the spot to place the litter box! Place your Rabbits droppings in the litter box to encourage the bunny to use it. Hanging the hay above or putting it directly in the litter box as well as the pellets will help because bunnies like to poop and eat at the same time. Use a pelleted litter or non clumping non toxic kitty litter.
Toys and Chews should be provided daily and new ones should be added frequently. These help wear the teeth down as well as prevent boredom and unwanted chewing. Some safe all natural chews are pinecones, apple sticks, and willow sticks.
Handling and Grooming
Rabbits should never be scruffed or picked up by their ears. Brace the bunnies back legs or hold them similarly to how you would hold a puppy. While you’re learning how to handle/hold your rabbit, it’s better to practice close to the floor so that if the rabbit jumps out of your arms, it won’t be a big fall. It also may help to wear long sleeves or a sweatshirt until you have desensitized them.
Rabbits generally molt or shed every three months. They should be brushed once or twice a week. Bunnies with longer hair should be groomed more frequently than bunnies with shorter fur. Specialized breeds such as the Mini Plush Lop and Mini Rex are considered hypoallergenic and only shed or molt twice a year.
Rabbits love to be clean and self clean like cats do. Sometimes they can get matted or dirty if kept in a not so clean environment. Do not wash your bunny unless absolutely necessary as bathing them can cause pneumonia. Spot clean with a non toxic wipe, make a paste out of baking soda and water (similar consistency of tooth paste) spread over small area of coat, let dry and brush it out. If matted carefully cut the hair balls off and avoid pulling up while doing so as a bunny’s skin is extremely thin and can be nicked easily.
Rabbits have scent glands under their chin and right by their anus. When the anus scent glands build up, the rabbit can have an unpleasant odor. Cleaning the scent glad is rather easy, Dip a Q-tip in warm water and hold your Rabbit in a safe hold that gives you access to the genitals. Locate the two slits on either side of the Rabbit’s genitals. Take the Q-tip and carefully swab away the brown buildup.
Information On Different Rabbit Breeds
Mini Lops – Mini Lops have a compact body type and is among the smaller rabbit breeds. They are about 6 pounds. They do not require much grooming. Mini Lops are a great option for a companion! They come in all colors.
Lionheads – Lionheads are a small and compact. They are instantly recognizable by the longer mane of fur around their heads, giving it the resembling appearance of a Lion mane. They are becoming increasingly popular in both show and pets. Lionheads are generally are lively, sociable, friendly, smart, and good natured. Lionheads require a bit more grooming than a normal furred Rabbit.
Mini Rex – Mini Rex are small and compact breed that has a very plush undercoat and extremely soft, velvety feeling fur. They are considered hypoallergenic. They tend to have a calm and easy going nature. Mini Rex are a good breed for those who are not experienced in raising and or showing rabbits. They make good pets, and are very popular at shows. Mini Rex come in all colors.
Holland Lops – Holland Lops are America’s number one owned Bunny breed. They are a small, compact breed which has a short, stocky body, a broad head, with a well defined crown, and small ears that are lopped. Holland Lops typically weigh between 2 – 4 pounds. They are very popular and known for having sweet temperaments. Holland Lops come in all colors.
Mini Plush Lops – Mini Plush Lops are a newer breed that has a very plush undercoat and extremely soft velvet fur. They are about 3 – 4 pounds when fully grown. They are considered a hypoallergenic breed. Mini Plush Lops are a combination of the amazing lop eared bunny personality with the rex fur. They come in all colors and are becoming an extremely popular breed.