NEW BUNNY OWNER’S GUIDE

New Bunny Owner's Guide

Congratulations on your new bunny! We raise our rabbits with love and excellent care, and ask that our new owners to do the same. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Below find the basics to get you started with your new pet.

⦁ #1 Rabbits must have Timothy hay and water 24/7. They can also have pellets. I recommend 1/4 cup per day. Never feed your rabbit alfalfa hay, it's not recommended.

⦁ Rabbits may have carrots, dandelion greens, apples, bananas and other fruits after 6 months of age only. Also, no pet store treats until they are over 6 months of age, as their digestive system is sensitive as they develop. 

• Rabbits must have natural wood to chew on in their cage. A wooden hideaway would work or wood chews you can get at the pet store. Even natural sticks from the backyard will work.

⦁ Your bunny has been raised indoors and must be kept as an indoor pet. Netherland dwarfs do not do good as outside bunnies and can die from the extreme temperatures. Rabbits should never be left in extreme temperatures. Not too cold and not too hot. The number one cause of death in rabbits is heat stroke. 

⦁ Watch your bunny's stool regularly for the first few weeks. Loose, mushy poops can happen and are normal under times of stress. Poop that puddles or smells really bad is not normal and your rabbit should be taken to a vet immediately as this is very serious and life threatening. If the bunny stops producing poops, or stops eating or drinking this is also life threating and bunny must see a vet immediately to avoid death.

⦁ Feed your bunny Old fashioned Quaker Oats raw if bunny gets soft stress poops. 

⦁ Your bunny is currently eating Poulin Grain pellets, which you can get at select Agricultual stores. If you wish to change to the pellets of your choice, you'll need to mix 50/50 with your new food for about a week.

⦁ Playpens are excellent accessories for your rabbit. Rabbits should have between 1-4 hours of time out of their cage per day for exercise and for the rabbit's overall health and wellbeing. Just like humans, they get frustrated and depressed if they are cooped up in their cage for too long without exercise.

⦁ Rabbits mature at 6 months of age, at which you can switch their pellets from "young" to "adult" feed.

⦁ Rabbits never need vaccinations and only need to see a vet if they become sick.

⦁ Your rabbit is not spayed/ neutered. It is not necessary to have the rabbit spayed/neutered but is your choice.

⦁ Most rabbits do best alone, as pairing rabbits will cause them to fight. Male and female can never be paired as they will mate immediately, unless you have them neutered and spayed, which is also not a guarantee that they will not fight. Two very young females can be paired however again it's not a guarantee that they will not fight as well. Siblings from the same litter also, can work as pairs.

⦁ Rabbits, just like cats and dogs need their nails trimmed regularly. This is something you can do yourself. The nails will bleed if cut too short, so always best to trim less than more.

⦁ Rabbits are fragile. They are prey animals-- so don't scare them. No yelling, jumping, or rough housing near the rabbit, or bunny may get frightened. Also never sneak up on them, call their name as you come into the room, so they don't spook. 

Remember rabbits are prey animals and can stress very easily. If the rabbit presents as extremely frightened or is showing signs of overly stressed (bugged eyes, kicking franticly, stamps rear legs), it’s best to leave them quite in their cage. Rabbits can die from stress.

Rabbits can be litter trained. They usually potty in a corner. Watch where they have been going and place the litter box filled with cat litter in that spot. If they are still having accidents, soak up the urine and collect the stool and place it in the box. The rabbit will smell it and get the hang of that's where to go.

If you have children, please consider enrolling them in your local 4-H club. 4-H is a wonderful 

organization that educates youth about their animals, and teaches life skills through animal 

husbandry. In Essex County, we have Great Scott's 4-H Rabbit & Cavy Club, which meets in the 

Youth Building on the Topsfield Fairgrounds in Topsfield, MA the third Friday of every month at 

7:00 PM. If you'd like more info on Great Scott's 4-H Club, please call: Bonnie McLaughlin 603-

642-8216

As always, if for some reason you can no longer keep or care for your bunny, we will take bunny 

back at any time no questions asked, just give us a call!

Emily Johnson

Peabody, MA

617-697-9066