October 4, 2012

• Rabbits

  The book I read to research this post was Rabbits by Monika Wegler which is a very good book which I bought from a secondhand shop. The Romans kept rabbits for their meat & in the sixteenth century it's known they had bred different coloured rabbits. In the early twentieth century most distinct breeds were developed. The males and the big breeds tend to be more docile than other rabbits. If you have a large breed you will need a bigger hutch. Most people keep rabbits in pairs as they are quite social or sometimes they share their cage with guinea pigs. Male rabbits will try to shag guinea pigs, if they are not neutered at an early age. If you keep a male and female together be prepared for them breeding like crazy if you don't neuter the male. If you keep 2 males together fights will break out if you don't neuter them and introduce them at an early age. Rabbits love being stroked and cuddled. You can normally find proper rabbit food at your local pet shop. This sometimes takes the form of vegetation or pellets. If it's vegetation some rabbits will eat the fattening stuff and leave the rest. If this happens try them on pellets. In addition to their food you should give them fruit and vegetables which contain more nutrients if they are fresh. They also love hay which they also use for bedding. Often a greengrocer will give you a box of remnants from what he sells sometimes for free. They need lots of exercise and you should have a rabbit run outside so they can't escape. Don't forget they can dig their way out so they might need a wooden floor and you should keep an eye on them. If they exercise indoors watch they don't chew electrical wires. 

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