Before you select a pet bunny, you need to know a little bit about them. Rabbits have different needs than dogs and cats, and they behave differently, too. Bunnies can live from five to ten years on average. Of course, there are a few who will live even longer, and some that won't live quite so long. When you take proper care of your rabbit, they will live as long as they are able to.
Before you bring your rabbit home, he needs to have a place to live once he gets there. If you are keeping your rabbit outdoors, a nice hutch that offers protection from the sun, wind and rain is perfect. This allows your bunny to enjoy the fresh air and sights and scents in your yard. An outdoor rabbit must be protected from predators, too. These may be dogs, cats, raccoons, opossums and other creatures.
If you'd rather keep your pet bunny indoors they will still need a cage or hutch where they can go to feel safe when needed. A sturdy wire cage with a tray that's easily removed for cleaning can be the ideal place for a pet rabbit to call home. When out of the cage, always supervise your bunny who will exhibit normal bunny behavior including chewing on just about anything they can. Wires, carpeting, woodwork, furniture, shoes, books, toys or whatever is within nibbling distance will be fair game for your pet bunny so be sure to keep them and your home protected.
No matter where your bunny lives, he needs a good rabbit pellet to eat every day. Pellets can be found at pet supply and feed stores. If you open a bag of pellets and they are not a nice bright green, they have gotten old and have lost some nutrition your bunny needs. If you are buying pellets in the bag the manufacturer put them in, look at the tag. It should have the manufacturing date on it. Pellets that are six months old are too old to feed to your rabbit. Timothy or grass hay is appreciated by every rabbit. It provides fiber and entertainment. Treats like dandelion leaves, blackberry leaves and clover are perfect as long as they have not been treated with fertilizer or weed sprays.
Your bunny also needs fresh water every day. Some people use a ceramic crock for water in the rabbit's cage, while others prefer to use a pet water bottle that hangs on the outside of the cage. Both work equally well, but you will need to monitor the crock more often to make sure it has not been spilled. In the winter, both need to be checked frequently for outdoor bunnies in case the water has frozen.
Although quite common as house pets, rabbits aren't required to be vaccinated in the U.S. and some veterinarians aren't experienced treating this type of animal so be sure to research the subject before getting a pet bunny. Besides routine veterinary care, rabbits that will not be used for breeding should be spayed or neutered to ward off diseases such as uterine cancer.
Bunnies will also need grooming as several times a year they will molt and shed their hair. Brushing your rabbit frequently to remove the excess hairs will help to prevent the formation of hair balls. Also, a bunny's nails will need to be clipped and trimmed on a regular basis as they can grow rather quickly.
Find out more about rabbit hutches and caring for your pet rabbit at http://rabbit-hutches.net
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