Care & Information
BRINGING YOUR PET HOME
INTRODUCTION…
It is important to allow your bunny some time to itself to settle in and get used to its new surroundings. There are sooo many new things to get used to…
- New smells
- Sounds
- People
- Other animals
- Environment
- Food
- A new house
Rabbits are more sensitive than humans and it can take them up to 1 week to adjust, depending on how much they need to adjust. Just be aware that if your bunny seems a bit scared and stand offish at first, it probably just needs more time to get used to you. Do not immediately start sticking your hand, as this could frighten the animal. It is best to sit near the cage and talk softly and calmly to them. They will become familiar with your voice and learn to recognise you; it can even have a calming affect if they become stressed.
Treats are a good way to encourage your rabbit to come up to the cage, because it will associate you with pleasant experiences (remember not to use too many treats or you could make your bunny sick). Regular handling and human contact will help you establish a bond with your pet, and they will become more used to human contact. However make sure you are aware of any behaviour that might indicate your bunny is distressed or may not want to be handled in a particular way (e.g. running away, grunting, thumping, kicking or bulging eyes).
When introducing your rabbit to other pets we recommend being vigilant and not leaving them unsupervised. Introduce them slowly; a good way is supervising your bunny in a pen while your dog investigates from the outside (ensure you dog is on a leash t all times). This way it minimises any risk or injury to your new pet.
If you are concerned with the way your bunny is acting or you think your new friend isn’t settling in well, contact the breeder you purchased the rabbit from or your rabbit savvy veterinarian for further advice and assistance
WHAT DO WE RECOMEND …?
The age old question with almost every animal:
Which gender would make a better pet?
Well with rabbits we usually recommend a buck. And we will tell you why. A buck is generally…
- Less aggressive
- More friendly
- Cannot have babies (but can still PRODUCE babies)
- More energetic
- They are also cheaper to desex
Whilst a doe generally…
- Gets hormonal at breeding age (usually 6 months, can be earlier or later)
- More expensive to desex
- CAN FALL PREGNANT
However, this is not to say that a lovely doe won't make a great pet. Suitability largely depends on the personality of the individual rabbit. An animal's behaviour has 3 major contributing factors- genetics, environment and learning. This is why it is important to discuss with a breeder what qualities you are looking for in a pet, so the breeder can suggest suitable candidates to suit you and/or your family. Desexing your pet at a young age will also help decrease the occurence of unwanted behaviour.
DOES MY BUNNY NEED A FRIEND?
A common misconception that pet owners have, is that rabbits cannot live happily alone. Well the truth is that most rabbits enjoy living by themselves and having you all to themselves!
Housing 2 rabbits together can be very dangerous, however not impossible. In most instances 2 rabbits, whether 2 bucks, 2 does or one of eaach sex will fight (sometimes to the death). If you really must try to house two bunnies together it is best to have a DESEXED male and female pair. Two siblings tend to get on for a prolonging period of time if they were raised together, however we always separate our bunnies otherwise one of them will usually get bullied and possibly loss weight from being outcompeted.
Our advice is DON’T DO IT......unless you are prepared to house them separately if altercations do occur. When housed separately you still maintain the experience of having more than one furry friend and there is no risk of them hurting each other or breeding.