What You Need to Know Before Purchasing a Rabbit

Within the nearly ten years that we have been breeding Netherland Dwarf rabbits, we have learned what a rabbit needs to thrive in its new home through research, talking with other breeders, and our own experiences.  We want to share this information with you to give you a boost as you look to purchase a rabbit.  Our goal is to make the transition process for you and your new rabbit smooth and enjoyable.  First, here are the supplies you will need!

One of our sweet Netherland Dwarf rabbit babies

Cage.  We keep our rabbits in outdoor hutches that we have built.  If you plan to keep your rabbit outside, it is best to provide them with a hutch that will keep them off the ground, since they are more susceptible to diseases and internal parasites when in contact with grass and the soil.  They have the ability to dig out, too!  You will also want to make sure that your outdoor hutch is sturdy and secure enough to withstand predators.  However, rabbits live longer when they are kept indoors.  There are many excellent indoor rabbit cages offered by Petsmart and Tractor Supply!  We recommend your rabbit's living space to be around 33 inches long, 32 inches wide, and 24 inches tall.

Our rabbit hutches

A good indoor rabbit cage

Another good indoor rabbit cage

Bedding.  The best and safest bedding for rabbits is pine shavings.  They can be found at most pet stores and feed stores.  If you are looking to train your rabbit to use a litter box, pine shavings are the best option for litter, too.  Never use cedar shavings--they bother rabbits' sinuses!

Pine shavings

Food.  We feed our rabbits Non-Soy Rabbit Pellets from Dawson Gap Naturals (we get this shipped to us, so contact us if you are interested in joining our co-op!).  It comes in a fifty-pound bag, so it may not be practical for you to purchase that amount at a time.  WalMart, Petsmart, and Tractor Supply all sell quality rabbit foods in smaller quantities.  We recommend that you always look for an organic or all-natural food, as these will promote your rabbit's overall health.  We provide a small amount of our rabbit food for our new rabbit owners to take home with them so they can slowly change their new rabbit over to the food of their choice.

The rabbit food we use

Food & Water Bowls.  We prefer using ceramic or stainless steel bowls for our rabbits' food and water because they are the easiest to keep clean.  We usually purchase our bowls from the Dollar Store!  Plastic bowls are not safe to use because rabbits will chew on them and ingest the plastic.

Our rabbits' food and water bowls

Hay.  Rabbits do need hay as a source of roughage.  Grass hays, like Timothy and Bermuda, are the best for them.  Alfalfa hay is too rich for rabbits, so never give it to them!  Petsmart and Tractor Supply sell Timothy hay in small packages.

Timothy hay

Hay Feeder.  We love our hay feeders because they prevent our rabbits from wasting or contaminating their hay!  You can find them at Petsmart or Tractor Supply.

One of our hay feeders

Apple Cider Vinegar.  We keep 1/2 teaspoon of organic, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar per 1 cup of water in our rabbits' water bowls.  They love the way it tastes!  Apple cider vinegar is excellent for keeping their immune system strong and helping them pass fur balls.  It is easy to find in any grocery store (WalMart, Kroger's, Publix, etc.).

Apple Cider Vinegar

Nail Trimmers.  It is important to trim your rabbit's nails once a month.  We have found that these scissor-like nail trimmers are the easiest and safest to use.  They are sold at Petsmart and Tractor Supply.

Rabbit nail trimmers

Treats.  We love to give our rabbits treats!  To help keep their teeth trimmed, we give each of them at least two mini carrots daily.  We only give them treats that rabbits would naturally find in the wild, and it is what they like best anyway.  Apples, carrots, celery (in moderation), radishes, romaine lettuce (in moderation), strawberries, and spinach are some safe treats.  We always try to purchase these organic to avoid harmful pesticide residues.

Mini carrots are great treats for rabbits!

Toys.  Many rabbit owners enjoy providing their pet with toys, but toys are not a necessity.  The best toys for rabbits are ones they can safely chew on, like wood chews or Pumice blocks.  Petsmart and Tractor Supply provide many great choices!  Never give rabbits stuffed toys, as they can ingest the stuffing and die of suffocation!

Safe rabbit toys

Does my rabbit need a companion?  In the wild, rabbits are solitary animals, and even in domesticity, they prefer to be by themselves.  They are actually very territorial to each other.  One of our clients bought two brothers from us when they were only eight weeks old and decided to keep them together.  Several months later, she told us that they woke up one morning to find that one had killed the other.  Even females cannot share the same cage.  The more dominant one will constantly bully her cage mate (we have seen this occur).  Rabbits feel the safest and happiest when they have a cage all to themselves.

Can I take my rabbit places?  Rabbits are naturally prey animals, so they prefer to stay in one general vicinity (your home, for example).  However, once they have bonded to their owner, they are not as concerned when brought to new places.  We recommend that our clients not take their new pet anywhere outside of their home for a minimum of four weeks.  This gives the rabbit time to adjust to its new environment and bond with its new owner.  We had a client who started taking her rabbit everywhere with her the day after she brought it home.  Unfortunately, the rabbit had such a hard time adjusting to the constant changes that it started acting aggressive.  Rabbits feel the most secure when left in the same area and taken to new places as infrequently as possible.

Are there personality differences between male (buck) and female (doe) rabbits?  When female rabbits reach maturity (around six months old), they can become moody and nippy when they are cycling.  This is easily fixed by getting them spayed.  Some female rabbits never exhibit this behavior--it really depends on their individual personality.

We hope this helps you get started as a new rabbit owner!  Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions!