Harley, just
lounging
Rabbits
Hmm there is so much to say and yet where do I start?
Where to get a rabbit ??
I would recomend that the the first place that you go is a shelter or a rabbit rescue society near you. Here on vancouver island we have the SPCA. I got my first rabbit at the SPCA, my second two from a pet store (a big no no) and the last one from someone who was desperate to find a home for him. I think that it is important for people to understand that there are lots of rabbits that need homes and by getting a rabbit from a pet store you are just helping to increase the problem. You never know where the rabbits in a pet store come from. They could come from an establishment that works like a puppy mill breeding rabbits constantly for profit. Those that they do not sell go to more breeding or are killed.Another problem with rabbits in pet stores is that the workers may sell you a pregnant animal or an animal that is not of the sex that you would like. Sexing rabbits at a young age is not easy and I was sold 3 females from a store and was amazed when at 3 months 2 of them had turned into males.
What to feed a rabbit
There are lots of foods on the market you want to look for something that is in the middle price range. Cheap foods are just that, cheap foods, they are not good quality. You do not want to food to be crumbly you want something solid with a fairly high protein content. You get what you pay for. Your rabbit also needs hay , it is not a wise idea to feed your rabbit alfalfa instead as it is a lot more rich and may cause diarhea. You also want to feed your rabbit some fruits and vegetables. Buy dark green leafy vegetables like spinach and romaine lettuce, you can also feel them apples and pears but be sure that you treat these as treat foods only and not a staple.
Spaying and Neutering
I recommend that people get their rabbits spayed or neutered. Spaying is more important because rabbits are very prone to ovarian cancer. I have two of my rabbits fixed one of my males who was particularily aggresive and a female(for health reasons).Spaying and neutering also tends to decrease the amount of chewing and agressive behavior in animals that are fixed early enough.
Company for Rabbits
I believe that most rabbits are happier with company! Two of my rabbits live together and they are very happy this way. Rabbits and guinea pigs get along really well most of the time. I have found that it is easier to introduce a rabbit and a guinea pig than a rabbit and a rabbit. If you are going to introduce two rabbits be sure that one of them is spayed or neutered. It is possible to introduce two unspayed rabbits but it is a lot more difficult . It is also wise to introduce either two very young rabbits or two adults, generally an adult and a youngster will not get along very well.
My Rabbits
I have 3 rabbits right now and they are the first rabbits I have had since I was about seven years old. I got sprocket in April of 2000 at the SPCA and I really got to like her. My original plan was to take her to the place that I worked and adopt her out, this would give her a chance to live out her life with a new family.......but I got attached and decided to keep her. This led to a second rabbit named willow. I got willow at the begginning of the summer of 2000. I got her as a friend for sprocket but sprocket didn't like her so willow got a friend(her brother) named pepsi. They told me pepsi was a female but he isn't and I really suggest to people that they make sure that they know what sex their rabbit is before the age of 3 months so that they do not end up with bunnies. However I was lucky and made sure of their sexs and by the time they were 3 months I had separated them.By the time willow was mature I decided to try her again with sprocket and luckily after a few days they got along wonderfully. Unfortunately about a month later Sprocket died and willow was left by herself. Into my life came another rabbit named Harley. He was a French lop and his owner was desperate for a home for him as her son was allergic to him. I decided that at some point all my bunnies were going to live together and I moved into a one bedroom apartment with three rabbits, a puppy and two rats. Now Harley and Willow are fixed and pepsi is still full. Pepsi and willow live together again as I am sure I won't get babies and harley now has a guinea pig friend and he is an indoor bunny.
finally this is my brother
and sister Pepsi and Willow