Rabbits are excellent pets that are both entertaining and affectionate. They are highly independent, which makes them slightly more low maintenance like pets such as cats and dogs. However, this does not mean that there is no maintenance involved.
Keeping your rabbits happy and healthy requires regular care, including daily cleaning, regular interaction and a nutritious diet. In this guide, we’re exploring some of the steps you will need to take in order to keep your rabbits happy and healthy all year round.
Regular care and maintenance
Rabbits live in a hutch and will spend a lot of their time in this space. This means you will need to commit to daily cleaning to keep the hutch free from old food and droppings. You’ll also need to make sure that you deep clean the hutch once a week and attend to any repairs as they arise.
Before you head into the winter months, it’s important to check the hutch for signs of wear and tear so that your rabbit doesn’t have to deal with cold draughts and leaks.
High quality hay
Rabbits love to nibble on hay and this will make up the bulk of their diet. Offering fresh hay on a daily basis will help to ensure they have enough food and stimulation to keep them happy. Some hay is too rich for rabbits so you’ll need to pay close attention to the type of grasses used.
Rabbits tend to prefer wheat, oat and timothy grasses over hay made from clover and alfalfa grasses. Visit a specialist pet store to find the ideal hay for your rabbits.
Varied diet
Alongside hay, you can also provide a mixture of vegetables, weeds, herbs and treats to help keep your rabbit happy. Too much of anything can be bad for your rabbit, so these additional items should be fed less frequently as a way to keep their diet varied and interesting. Sticking to a feeding schedule will help to ensure you give your rabbit a mixture of vitamins and minerals while also keeping them stimulated.
Regular play and grooming
Rabbits enjoy human interaction and will often play with their owners. Regular handling will help to keep them entertained and prevent them from becoming bored in their hutches. You can also use this opportunity to groom your rabbits which will help to keep them healthy.
While long haired rabbits will enjoy the biggest benefits of grooming, short haired rabbits will also enjoy the attention. Grooming your rabbits helps to remove excess hair and will help to stop your rabbit suffering from hairballs.
Provide fresh water
Fresh water is essential for keeping your rabbits healthy and happy. You can choose between rabbit water bottles that are suspended from the side of the cage or a water bowl. Some rabbits like to have a combination of the two and might prefer to have their water in different locations.
Whatever you choose, make sure that it does not lead to a build up of mould or bacteria by cleaning and sterilising the vessel regularly. In the winter, check that the water doesn’t freeze in the bottle, and in the summer, top up the water regularly to help keep your rabbits hydrated.
Measure your food pellets
It’s common for pet owners to guess the amount they should be feeding their pets and this can lead to overfeeding and overweight animals. When supplementing feed with pellets, make sure that you check the packaging and give the right amount of food for the size of the rabbit. Using a measuring cup will help to ensure you give the right amount of food pellets every time.
