Mary Allen
From the German giant to the dwarf rabbit: rabbits in all weight classes, colors, fur, and ear lengths hop through households. It is not without reason that they are among the most popular small animals. If their demands are met, rabbits are frugal, clean, entertaining, and can be very busy with one another. And all of this without having to rely on human company. Zoologically, they belong to the rabbit family but differ in many areas from their relatives. Hares, for example, are loners, while rabbits live in large family groups.
The Phoenicians discovered the ancestors of our domestic rabbits 3000 years ago on the Iberian Peninsula. Breeding in today’s sense began around the 20th century.
How Do Rabbits Live in Nature?
Rabbits are real civil engineering experts. In nature, they create complex corridor systems into which they “dive” in case of danger. A rabbit tunnel can be up to 40 meters long. The entire system often extends over several hectares. They are lightning-fast and reach top speeds of 40 km / h. Their rate of reproduction is enormous: As prey animals, rodents compensate for their rate of loss with high fertility. Litters with ten young animals are not uncommon. In addition, rabbits live in hierarchical family groups, they are dependent on the group.
How Do I Keep My Rabbit Species-Appropriate?
For a happy life as a pet, long-eared animals, therefore, need company of their own kind and plenty of exercise. So please choose at least two animals. But be prepared: rabbits live in a strict hierarchy. When there is a disagreement, the tatters fly. Wrangling is part of their normal social behavior. As a person, you should only intervene in emergency situations. The potential for conflict can be reduced by keeping bulls and females or siblings together. In addition, male rabbits should always be neutered, while groups of pure girls tend to have “catfights” during the rut.
What Does a Balanced Diet for Rabbits Look Like?
The digestive tract of a rabbit makes up about a fifth of its weight and only functions if the animal is constantly ingesting food. Good rabbit food contains a high fiber content of around 30 percent. It should largely consist of fresh feed (grasses, wild herbs such as dandelion, marigold, chamomile, vetch, daisies, yarrow, and many others) and hay. In the winter months, wild herbs are hard to come by. Then you can fall back on dried feed variants. For example, leafy vegetables and herbs such as spinach, kohlrabi leaves, carrot greens, or iceberg lettuce are also suitable. Hay must be available around the clock. You can also offer rabbit feed mixes in small quantities. Rabbits also love vegetables like fennel, cabbage, and carrots. Apples, pears, and berries are allowed in small quantities as treats.
The Question Now Is: Outdoor or Flat – Which is Better?
Rabbits need a lot of space and exercise. If feasible, the rabbit should be allowed to stay outdoors at least temporarily. Year-round outdoor housing in a suitable stable is ideal. The outdoor area is considered to be the best solution for the health and wellbeing of the rabbit. If the animals are used to being kept outside in the warm months, they will adapt well to the weather. Very important: Rabbit pens at the outdoor location must be weatherproof.
The stable hut should have a footprint of at least 40 x 40 centimeters (per animal), be nibble-proof, isolated, or insulated. It is important to have a covered area as a shade because rabbits avoid staying in the blazing sun. Good ventilation also plays a major role in animal welfare. The outdoor enclosure should be secured against predators such as martens and birds of prey and have a frost-free zone so that water does not freeze and the food bowls are protected. In the open-air enclosure, there should be opportunities for retreat and at least 3 to 4 square meters of space per rabbit.
Rabbits kept in the apartment can be separated into an appropriately large enclosure in a suitable room. In principle, this is a better solution for the animals than keeping them in cages. You calculate with around 2 square meters of floor space per animal. Indoor rabbits also need to run freely. It is important that the premises are rabbit-proof, i.e. that furniture is protected against nibble attacks and that power cables are not accessible. In case of doubt, the “allowed” zone can be secured with special fence elements.
Does a Rabbit Get House Trained?
Rabbits are clean and use a “toilet corner” for their leftovers. If you offer a rabbit toilet, you have less effort with the daily cleaning of the enclosure. This can be, for example, a flat plastic tub with wood pellets, hemp, or corn litter. However, it is typical behavior of rabbits to place scent marks on excretions and scent glands. Communication about smells is very important for the animals. It is therefore not possible to get used to it.
What Does the Rabbit Shelter Look Like?
The most important piece of equipment is a nibble-proof hay rack in which the hay stays clean. There are also food and water bowls as well as (non-toxic!) Branches and twigs that can be nibbled on for dental care. The specialist trade offers the necessary accessories for rabbits: little houses made of wood and cork with a flat roof can be used for sitting in and on top and for hiding. You can use tubes and ramps to create a varied course that the active rodents like to use. In every rabbit enclosure, there should also be a digging corner: a box with hay or a small sandpit.
How Can You Keep Your Rabbits Busy?
Sufficiently busy long ears remain agile and fit. Animals that are bored suffer and develop behavioral problems. In addition to rabbit toys, the rodents can be animated with everyday things such as cardboard boxes or hiding food. Intelligence toys for small animals are suitable for this. You will be amazed: rabbits quickly get the hang of it. In nature, they also spend a large part of their time looking for food. With patience (and treats), you can teach young rabbits tricks like males or jumps over small obstacles. The Kaninhop sport is also a great activity opportunity.
Rabbits as Cuddly Toys?
Whether and how tame your little friend becomes depends on the character of the animal and its relationship of trust with you. Some rabbits stay shy, while others cannot get enough pats. Please do not forget, however, that rabbits fear predators and that every rash lifting is stressful for them. So you shouldn’t carry rabbits around without adversity.
What Care Do Rabbits Need?
Rabbits are easy to care for animals. If necessary, the claws are to be shortened. Regular dental checks are very important because teeth that are too long prevent food intake. So make sure that your rabbit has enough opportunities to grind down its ever-growing biters. Regular health checks by the vet are also recommended.
Short-haired breeds of rabbits usually get along with grooming themselves; The animals spend a large part of the day grooming themselves. Even so, you should always watch out for tangles. Long-haired breeds occasionally need a haircut – trimmers are available from pet stores. You are only allowed to bathe your rabbit in exceptional cases, for example, if it is infected with parasites or if it is extremely dirty.
Which Rabbit Good for Me?
Once you have chosen rabbits as pets, the question arises as to the breed: dwarf rabbits, lions’ heads, or German giants? Of course, that always depends on the space available. You can get rabbits in the pet shop or at the breeder, but many are also waiting in the animal shelter for a loved one.