Mary Allen
Dwarf rabbits are particularly popular pets. In order to offer the animals a particularly happy life, you should inform yourself carefully before buying. Here you can find out everything you need to know about keeping and caring for dwarf rabbits.
Appropriate Husbandry
Dwarf rabbits are sociable animals and only feel comfortable in a group. Even if you can spend a lot of time with your animal, dwarf rabbits should never be alone. At least kept in pairs, they feel comfortable. Male animals should always be castrated when kept in groups. In this way, in addition to breeding, territorial fights and disputes over the hierarchy are avoided. Either a small group of exclusively castrated bucks or one of the following combinations is recommended.
- Two to three females and a neutered male
- Two to four females and two neutered males
Due to the aggression potential of female dwarf rabbits, an all-female group should not be kept.
Dwarf Rabbit Cage: Equipment and Furnishings
The urge to move about in dwarf rabbits is particularly pronounced. The common cages that can be purchased in stores usually do not offer enough space. A species-appropriate dwarf rabbit in a cage is almost impossible. Even daily exercise cannot compensate for a cage that is too small. Even staying overnight in a cage that is too small can lead to muscle damage and behavioral disorders. Rabbits often express their displeasure with the cage that is too small. The absolute minimum size for a dwarf rabbit cage is 2-3 m2 per animal. As with any animal cage, the following applies here: the bigger, the better.
Rabbits love caves and a house as a hiding place and sleeping place, which should be approximately 20 x 30 x 20 cm. Please note that each animal in the cage needs its own house. To stay busy, rabbits need something varied. Small branches to nibble on, tubes to walk through, or elevations to climb. Keeping an eye out is very popular with long-eared people.
Newspapers, bark material, and hay are suitable for the floor of the enclosure. Sawdust or peat are not suitable. Sawdust in particular can cause unpleasant eye irritation. The enclosure must be cleaned regularly. In particular, the litter around the toilet corner must be renewed at least once a week. Dwarf rabbits only feel comfortable in a clean and hygienic environment.
The Location of the Rabbit Hutch
The position of the rabbit hutch is at least as important as the equipment. Rabbits don’t like it when their home can be seen from all sides. The stable should therefore not be free in the room but should be well protected. Positioning the stall by the window and in the immediate vicinity of the heating is also unsuitable. If you have other pets such as dogs or cats, you must make sure that the rabbit cage is not in their reach. A recommended room temperature of 18 to 20 degrees Celsius is recommended.
Dwarf rabbits can also be kept in the garden all year round. At the beginning of the warm season, you should put your animal companions in the outdoor enclosure and get them used to the climatic conditions in this way. In this case, too, your dwarf rabbits need sufficient hiding places. Shade places, covered feeding places, a weatherproof sleeping place, and employment opportunities. So that the enclosure is burglar-proof, you should cover it and anchor it firmly in the ground.
Daily Free Run
Regardless of whether you keep your rabbits indoors or outdoors, daily exercise is a must. Before you let your furry friends run around the home or in the garden, there are a few precautionary measures to take. Electrical appliances and cables should be inaccessible to rabbits. Otherwise, gnawed power cables can quickly become a fatal hazard. The jumping power of a rabbit makes it possible to overcome obstacles with a height of 70 cm without any problems. When running free on the balcony, care should be taken to ensure that the rabbit cannot hop over the parapet. When running in the garden, the property must ideally be demarcated with a fence. By the way, there is also a great sport for rabbits: rabbit hop – a kind of agility for long ears. Give it a try!
Dwarf Rabbits Feeding
Rabbits are classic herbivores that feed on fresh and dried parts of plants. The basis is hay, which should always be available to the animal. You can also feed fruits and vegetables, such as:
- Apples, pears, and carrots,
- Spinach, broccoli, lettuce, and fennel
In any case, make sure to only feed unsprayed fruits and vegetables and peel them before feeding. Withered green fodder and cabbage do not belong in the food bowl. You can also find varied and healthy rabbit food in stores. Don’t forget to always provide the animals with fresh drinking water.
The Purchase
Young animals should be at least nine weeks old when they are released. Younger animals are often very scared and can retain enormous psychological damage due to the early separation from the mother. Buying dwarf rabbits means work and a lot of responsibility. The animals live to be 8 to 10 years old on average and need a lot of attention and love. So keep in mind that the little long ears are not toys that are fun for on the side. You need enough space, friends to cuddle and play with and a healthy and varied diet. If you can offer them all this, nothing stands in the way of the purchase and your dwarf rabbits will have a long and beautiful life with you.