CARE SHEET
Thank you for buying a rabbit from Laikiki’s Rabbitry! You will love having a Lionhead bunny! Here are just a few tips to ensure a successful transition from our rabbitry to your home, we want this transition to be a wonderful one for both you and your new pet! With regular handling, your bunny will get used to you and become very tame and bonded to you. When first bringing your baby bunny home, he or she may be very shy and timid at first, please handle your new bunny a lot, have his cage set up in a nice quiet corner and you can place a blanket over half of the cage. He may or may not not eat or drink a lot the first day, which is normal but keep an eye on him and make sure he eats and drinks more the next day. You will need to make sure your bunny has nice round firm dropping and is urinating.
FEEDING YOUR BUNNY
Laikiki’s Rabbitry will send you home a small bag Producer's Pride purchased at the tractor supply store 16% feed pellets. Similar Alternate feed for your rabbit is Purina brand rabbit pellets. To transition your rabbit to you feed, mix half of your feed with half of My producers pride brand rabbit feed until you run out of it and continue your brand. You
will need to slowly transition your rabbit off of my feed and onto yours. Do not buy a different brand each time. Do not buy rabbit pellets with treats in it, they will only pick out the treats and will not eat their pellets. Switching their feed without transitioning them slowly can cause
diarrhea. Diarrhea causes dehydration and can sometimes cause fatal consequences.
How much to feed: You need to always have feed pellets available for baby bunnies until 6 months of age. After 6 months of age feed 1 cup of pellets per day. Baby bunnies should NOT be restricted with a limited amount of feed, they are growing and it is important for them to get all they need.They also need unlimited Timothy Hay. This is CRITICAL to their digestive system.
Rabbits 6 months and older:
Fruits and vegetables can be fed in small amounts 1-2 times a week, but shouldn't be used more than this. ALWAYS make sure you do your homework to make sure the fruits and vegetables you are going to give your bunny are safe. There are many fruits and vegetables that can be dangerous to your bunny!
Your bunny is use to drinking from a water bottle. You will need to make sure it is always full of fresh clean water.
Remember, rabbits do eat their night feces. This is a normal and vital part of the rabbit's diet, which ensures the animal gets the correct vitamins and bacteria for healthy digestion. You may see your rabbit doing this in the early morning. These droppings look a little different. They are called cecatropes. Do not confuse these with diarrhea.
HOUSING:
Your rabbit should be kept in a wire floor cage (make sure it is atleast 24x24). Wire cages keep your bunny clean, you can place a resting mat so your rabbit is not constantly sitting on wire, which can cause sores on their feet over time. Please use pine or white shavings or compressed wood pellets for bedding, in dropping tray only or this will get stuck in your rabbits wool. The shavings are only to absorb the urine. Keep the cage cleaned a few times a week or it will start to smell and the ammonia and a dirty cage over time is harmful to your rabbit. If your rabbit will live outside, a wood hutch provides great protection from the elements. Please be aware that the summer months can be extremely dangerous to your rabbit. Having your rabbit indoors is best, however, if this is not an option, please do everything you can to protect your rabbit.
Litter box training
You can litter box train your bunny very easily! Get a small plastic litter box and put it in a corner of their cage(you can use compressed wood pellets in the litter box, DO NOT USE cat litter!), I usually put the litter box in one corner right next to their food dish and water because when they eat and drink they tend to use the bathroom at the same time. If they choose
to use another corner to use the bathroom, place their litter box there. They will usually get the hint and will take to litter box training very easily!
Handling your bunny
Bunnies are friendly, but don't often demand attention. They have sharp claws and will use them if they don't feel they are being held securely. I find it easiest to pick up my rabbits with one
hand under the front arms and the other supporting the rear. Never leave the rump of a rabbit hanging loose, because if it struggles, it could scratch you out of fear it will fall. You can grab the scruff of the neck, gently, without pinching or grabbing the ears, and then support the rear. Quickly tuck the rabbit close to your body. If the rabbit struggles, tuck it's head under your arm and it will settle down as it will feel more secure. The rabbit should be held firmly, but not so tight that it can't breathe or is uncomfortable. Put rabbits back in their cage bottom first. Bunnies don't jump if they can't see where they are going to and you are less likely to get your arms scratched.
Nail trimming.
Keep your rabbit's nails trimmed every 6-8 weeks. Use human toenail clippers(or dog clippers)and take off the sharp points. On a white toenail you can see the pink 'quick'. Don't cut this or the nail will bleed! If you do cut the quick by accident, styptic powder can be put on the spot. This can be purchased at a pet store. Or if you need something right away you can use flour and just use a q-tip and apply pressure to the tip of the bleeding nail. I wrap the bunny in a towel or blanket and gently take out one paw at a time to clip their nails.
Teeth
Your bunny loves to chew! This helps curb their boredom and aids in filing down their teeth. It is a good idea to keep a piece of 2 X 4 in their cage to chew on (this will also help save on your hutch). They also love chewing on apple tree branches. (Caution: Do not feed branches from cedar, apricot, cherry, peach, plum and redwood trees, which are toxic to your bunny). Timothy hay and pellets also help keep teeth ground down to some extent. My bunnies also love to chew on cardboard or chew toys at the pet store.
SUPPLIES YOU WILL NEED:
*Your new baby bunny!
*A cage/bunny hutch
*Bunny Pellets
*Water bottle
*Timothy Hay (available at your local feed store)
*A piece of 2 X 4 wood for your rabbit to chew/scratch on to help keep teeth/nails healthy
*A resting mat/piece of cardboard for bunny to sit on
*Litter pan (optional)
*Nail Clippers
*Brush
*Bedding
please note that this is all from personal experience and is just a helpful tool for you to reference! If you need professional advice I strongly urge you to a licensed professional. Thank you!
FEEDING YOUR BUNNY
Laikiki’s Rabbitry will send you home a small bag Producer's Pride purchased at the tractor supply store 16% feed pellets. Similar Alternate feed for your rabbit is Purina brand rabbit pellets. To transition your rabbit to you feed, mix half of your feed with half of My producers pride brand rabbit feed until you run out of it and continue your brand. You
will need to slowly transition your rabbit off of my feed and onto yours. Do not buy a different brand each time. Do not buy rabbit pellets with treats in it, they will only pick out the treats and will not eat their pellets. Switching their feed without transitioning them slowly can cause
diarrhea. Diarrhea causes dehydration and can sometimes cause fatal consequences.
How much to feed: You need to always have feed pellets available for baby bunnies until 6 months of age. After 6 months of age feed 1 cup of pellets per day. Baby bunnies should NOT be restricted with a limited amount of feed, they are growing and it is important for them to get all they need.They also need unlimited Timothy Hay. This is CRITICAL to their digestive system.
Rabbits 6 months and older:
Fruits and vegetables can be fed in small amounts 1-2 times a week, but shouldn't be used more than this. ALWAYS make sure you do your homework to make sure the fruits and vegetables you are going to give your bunny are safe. There are many fruits and vegetables that can be dangerous to your bunny!
Your bunny is use to drinking from a water bottle. You will need to make sure it is always full of fresh clean water.
Remember, rabbits do eat their night feces. This is a normal and vital part of the rabbit's diet, which ensures the animal gets the correct vitamins and bacteria for healthy digestion. You may see your rabbit doing this in the early morning. These droppings look a little different. They are called cecatropes. Do not confuse these with diarrhea.
HOUSING:
Your rabbit should be kept in a wire floor cage (make sure it is atleast 24x24). Wire cages keep your bunny clean, you can place a resting mat so your rabbit is not constantly sitting on wire, which can cause sores on their feet over time. Please use pine or white shavings or compressed wood pellets for bedding, in dropping tray only or this will get stuck in your rabbits wool. The shavings are only to absorb the urine. Keep the cage cleaned a few times a week or it will start to smell and the ammonia and a dirty cage over time is harmful to your rabbit. If your rabbit will live outside, a wood hutch provides great protection from the elements. Please be aware that the summer months can be extremely dangerous to your rabbit. Having your rabbit indoors is best, however, if this is not an option, please do everything you can to protect your rabbit.
Litter box training
You can litter box train your bunny very easily! Get a small plastic litter box and put it in a corner of their cage(you can use compressed wood pellets in the litter box, DO NOT USE cat litter!), I usually put the litter box in one corner right next to their food dish and water because when they eat and drink they tend to use the bathroom at the same time. If they choose
to use another corner to use the bathroom, place their litter box there. They will usually get the hint and will take to litter box training very easily!
Handling your bunny
Bunnies are friendly, but don't often demand attention. They have sharp claws and will use them if they don't feel they are being held securely. I find it easiest to pick up my rabbits with one
hand under the front arms and the other supporting the rear. Never leave the rump of a rabbit hanging loose, because if it struggles, it could scratch you out of fear it will fall. You can grab the scruff of the neck, gently, without pinching or grabbing the ears, and then support the rear. Quickly tuck the rabbit close to your body. If the rabbit struggles, tuck it's head under your arm and it will settle down as it will feel more secure. The rabbit should be held firmly, but not so tight that it can't breathe or is uncomfortable. Put rabbits back in their cage bottom first. Bunnies don't jump if they can't see where they are going to and you are less likely to get your arms scratched.
Nail trimming.
Keep your rabbit's nails trimmed every 6-8 weeks. Use human toenail clippers(or dog clippers)and take off the sharp points. On a white toenail you can see the pink 'quick'. Don't cut this or the nail will bleed! If you do cut the quick by accident, styptic powder can be put on the spot. This can be purchased at a pet store. Or if you need something right away you can use flour and just use a q-tip and apply pressure to the tip of the bleeding nail. I wrap the bunny in a towel or blanket and gently take out one paw at a time to clip their nails.
Teeth
Your bunny loves to chew! This helps curb their boredom and aids in filing down their teeth. It is a good idea to keep a piece of 2 X 4 in their cage to chew on (this will also help save on your hutch). They also love chewing on apple tree branches. (Caution: Do not feed branches from cedar, apricot, cherry, peach, plum and redwood trees, which are toxic to your bunny). Timothy hay and pellets also help keep teeth ground down to some extent. My bunnies also love to chew on cardboard or chew toys at the pet store.
SUPPLIES YOU WILL NEED:
*Your new baby bunny!
*A cage/bunny hutch
*Bunny Pellets
*Water bottle
*Timothy Hay (available at your local feed store)
*A piece of 2 X 4 wood for your rabbit to chew/scratch on to help keep teeth/nails healthy
*A resting mat/piece of cardboard for bunny to sit on
*Litter pan (optional)
*Nail Clippers
*Brush
*Bedding
please note that this is all from personal experience and is just a helpful tool for you to reference! If you need professional advice I strongly urge you to a licensed professional. Thank you!
Please do not use any photos without asking my permision, thank you.
Content copyright 2007. All rights reserved. Laikiki's Rabbitry
Content copyright 2007. All rights reserved. Laikiki's Rabbitry