"Pearls of Wisdom" Rabbit Advice

I thought this might be a cool way to collect some good advice for rabbit keepers in a short, pithy format. Please try to keep your entries to one sentence each -- two at the most. We can expand on them later, if necessary.

Post as many as you wish, just keep them short and sweet.

Here are a few of mine:

:arrow: When your doe is overdue and you're sure she didn't take, leave that nest box in her cage for five more days.

:arrow: Chilled kits that seem to be dead are "not dead until they are warm and dead."

:arrow: Start off as you mean to continue and give kits access to momma's food, even greens, from the beginning, so that they will develop the gut flora they need to digest it gradually and naturally.


Okay, who's next?

The cleaner the better - fewer places for bacteria to grow the better.

know how exactly how much you feed ,so you can tell asap if a rabbit is "off feed"
when in doubt throw it out, never feed questionable feed.

Always have a method of culling rabbits before you start breeding rabbits, just in case. Hopefully you never have to use it!

Great thread, MaggieJ!

:arrow: Always check the nest/babies regularly. Dead kits or nestbox eye can happen almost overnight.

While not infallible, I have a few buyers tips.

:arrow: The breeder you buy from is more important than the breed you choose.

:arrow: Try to purchase from someone who raises rabbits similarly to how you intend to raise them.

:arrow: Along the same lines, try to buy from people who's purpose for them is similar to yours.
If you want show rabbits, buy from someone who actively shows, or has a history of it.
If you want a pet bunny, buy from someone who appreciates rabbits as pets. ( ++ if they actively cull for temper!!)
If you want meat rabbits, buy from someone who enjoys the taste of rabbit.

Rabbits can deal with cold a lot better than heat! Make sure to give them shade and possibly a fan or frozen water bottles

Avoid changing feed brands/types overnight. Change slowly, over a week or so if you can.

New greens/veggies should be introduced slowly, in small amounts. And one at a time so you can monitor reactions.

When getting a new bun from a breeder, note whether they use bottles or crocks for water. You might have to use both for a while to get it acclimated.

Quarantining new additions is always a good idea.

start out small and grow bigger as market increases, the learning curve is much less painful when you only have a few rabbits. <br /><br /> __________ Tue Mar 06, 2018 8:40 am __________ <br /><br /> If a rabbit looks like they are off feed check the waterer immediately

BREED for what you want! If you want easy going healthy bombproof rabbits dont' keep ANYTHING that doesn't meet those standards.

Quarantine, quarantine,quarantine. Rather be safe than sorry. Always quarantine new rabbits for a minimum of 3-4 weeks.I do 6 weeks if the rabbit is of unknown origins(purchased from a pet shop/shelter, or shipped from a breeder that you haven't met).

Keep surplus feed in the freezer to prevent mold.

If your rabbits won't cooperate to breed, try breeding in a neutral area. Also some rabbits won't breed when the weather is overcast.

Exercise is beneficial! Install a rabbit run and let each rabbit get 10-15 minutes of exercise at least a few days a week. Keeps them fit and healthy. Not necessary but I think it's helpful.

If you plan on breeding your doe, breed her before she is a year old, and then at least twice a year. Internal fat buildup can cause issues.

If your doe has false pregnancy, has all DOA kits, pulls excess fur, or is heavily molting,etc... keep the extra fur. You never know when you might need it. You can use it in nests for hand-raised kits, for does who don't pull enough fur, for padding in bandages for sore hocks, etc.

Old-fashioned oatmeal is amazing! Feed it for upset stomachs, weaning kits, finicky eaters, or when changing feed. Credit to MaggieJ for this one.

Do health checks often, and know your rabbits so that you can tell when something is not quite right. The earlier a problem is detected, the better the chance of recovery.

You never stop learning! Always do new research and find new ideas! However, it is best to get several opinions on ideas that have to do with healthcare, feeding, and breeding,just in case. The person you get advice from should be reputable and experienced.