Dwarf Bunny Care

A lot of people are pet lovers, and go beyond the regular dogs and
cats for pets. If you are looking for exotic pets, then dwarf bunnies
are for you. They are cute, cuddly creatures, and as the name
suggests, simply smaller versions of rabbits. This species requires
care that is different from the regular cats and dogs. Of course,
every pet requires good amount of attention, but the care requirements
for each pet also differs. As such, knowing the kind of pet you will
be bringing home is essential before you decide to have a dwarf bunny
as a pet. Presented here are some facts about dwarf rabbits, and how
you should take care of them.

Dwarf Bunny Care

Experts suggest that the best time to buy dwarf bunnies is when they
are three to four months old. If you are getting a male dwarf bunny,
ensure that it is spayed or neutered. Do not fathom keeping two males
together as they view each other as competition, even in the absence
of a female of the species. On the other hand, you may keep a pair of
two female dwarf bunnies as pets. Finally, among the various breeds of
this species, the Netherland dwarf bunny is the most docile breed to
choose from. The other breeds are known to be more aggressive. With
the knowledge of choosing these furry little creatures as pets, here's
a look at some tips on caring for them.

Dwarf bunnies require to be caged, as leaving them loose around your
house is definitely not a good idea. A wire cage that is 4 feet wide
and 2 feet deep and long is ideal for them. The base of the cage
should either be covered with a piece of wood, some hay, or a piece of
cardboard, and should never be left bare as it can harm your pet's
feet.

• The cage of a dwarf bunny should always be kept indoors, in the
shade. They are very susceptible to developing health conditions from
exposure to direct sunlight or heat. Furthermore, if kept in sight of
a visible or perceived predator, dwarf bunnies can even have heart
attacks.

• Dwarf bunnies require litter boxes too, but ensure the ones you
provide for them are lined with newspaper or timothy hay. This litter
box needs to be cleaned daily in order to avoid the odor it gives out.

• Apart from a litter box, your little pet will require a box where it
can dig and hide as it is a burrowing animal and the love for dark
spots is inherent in its nature. It will also require something to
chew on (phone books, chew toys, etc.) as this is another one of its
natural traits.

• The diet of dwarf bunnies mainly consists of as much hay as they
like. Timothy hay is the best type for them. Along with hay, they
require good quality rabbit pellets. These they can consume in
unlimited amounts when younger, while 1/4 cup is suitable for fully
grown rabbits. Fresh greens are essential for them, and 2 cups of any
such greens such as carrot tops and dark lettuce can be given to them
daily. Fruits such as apples and bananas can be provided as an
occasional treat. Finally, water is important and a fresh supply is
required daily.

• Though dwarf bunnies require to be caged, it is essential to ensure
they get a good amount of exercise for a few hours on a daily basis.
These pets cannot be left loose without supervision, so ensure you are
always monitoring their activities. Keep wires, curtains, and other
chewables out of their reach. When outdoors, the space they can play
in should be enclosed well, and they should not be allowed to dig too
many burrows lest they escape thereon. No potential predators should
be in sight.

• When letting a dwarf bunny out of a cage, do not ever lift it by its
ears as this affects them emotionally. Let them come out on their own,
and hold them with both hands cupped. This shows a lot of affection
and gives them the attention they need. Children may be prone to
scratches and bites from dwarf bunnies if they do not handle them
carefully. As such, make sure your kids are never left alone with
them.

• As mentioned earlier, it is possible that dwarf bunnies may develop
certain health conditions, symptoms of which they may not show
immediately causing the condition to get worse over time. You must
really be tuned with their personality and nature to be able to notice
any changes in their behavior and point out health problems.

• A Netherland dwarf bunny weighs only up to 2 pounds when full-grown.
The life span of a dwarf rabbit ranges anywhere between 7-10 years,
though some have known to exceed this range and live up to 13 years.
Simply put, the amount of care and affection dwarf bunnies receive is
essential in determining their life span.

Rabbit Habitat

Is it just me or does the rabbit (any rabbit) make one go all awwww
(for the lack of a better term) at their cuteness? Rabbits are some of
the cutest species, if the article picture is anything to go by. If
you live in the city, the chances are that you've probably seen them
only at zoos. It's only those who have farms (and who keep rabbits)
who know what the habitat of a rabbit is all about. Now there are two
reasons why you would want to know about the rabbit habitat. One, for
general knowledge and two, if you are thinking of getting one as a
pet. For reasons we just mentioned, let us learn something more about
the habitat of rabbits in the following sections.

Habitat of a Rabbit

In connection with the habitat of rabbits, it could be taken in
connection with two scenarios - one, the habitat in captivity and two,
the habitat in the wild. Let's give you the details of the same in the
sections that follow.

Habitat in the Wild
A rabbit habitat is one in which the rabbit naturally exists and
lives. Rabbits prefer to live in places that have a moderate climate.
Rabbits who live in their natural surroundings and habitats live in
meadows, forests, grasslands, sagebrush, woods and dense thickets.
These are places that are ideal for a rabbit because they allow a
rabbit to create burrows, where they feel safe and protected, as well
as allows them the opportunity to explore their surroundings. In
addition to that, all these places are out in the open and therefore
they allow a rabbit plenty of space for running. This is an essential
feature of the habitat of a rabbit because it helps the rabbit to keep
fit.

In the wild, the rabbits build warrens for housing. These are
essentially burrows which have several tunnels that interconnect them.
These warrens have spaces and areas that are especially designated for
varied purposes like sleeping or raising the young. They have a very
small opening so that once the rabbit escapes into the burrow, his
predator will not be able to attack him. Another purpose that it
serves is that it allows the rabbits protection against the heat and
cold in the summer and winter seasons respectively. The rabbits spend
most of their time in the burrows where they feel secure and protected
and are only seen to come out during dawn, early morning and dusk.

Habitat in Captivity
When creating a housing area for a pet rabbit, it is important that
you remember all the features of the habitat in the wild so that you
can duplicate the same. This is necessary because it helps the rabbit
to adjust to the created habitat better. That does not mean that you
simply re-create the physical structure of the burrows and warrens,
but understand why the habitat of a rabbit is important for it. The
habitat of the rabbit needs a particular structure (like the
interconnected tunnels) to keep the rabbit occupied and engaged.

If one is able to create a housing area that closely resembles the
natural habitat of the rabbit in the wild, then it will be easier for
the rabbit to adjust, and you will have no trouble with an
ill-adjusted pet rabbit.

Rabbit Condos Essentials
Condos are multi-storied cages that are especially built to re-create
the same effect of the warrens. These work best if you have more than
two rabbits for pets.

There are several ways in which you can create a condo. Use natural
substances to form the basic structure or remodel already existing
cages by placing them one on top of the other and then getting rid of
the walls. The idea is to create shelves and tunnels. Fill the cages
with mud and plants to give it a more natural feel. While modeling a
burrow for the rabbit(s), make sure to include a small box that is
filled with hay so that the rabbits can escape into this whenever they
feel the need to feel safe and protected.

How you decorate the cage is entirely your choice - like if you do not
want to clutter the cage with mud and plants, but instead want to keep
it plain; or fill it with a stray toy here and there. If you're not
the creative type, you can buy a ready-made cage from the store just
as well. Here are some things that you should keep in mind when going
in for, or creating a condo.

Each rabbit requires about four times the space of its size. Make
sure that you have this factor planned for.
Do not use grids in the cage that are bigger than an inch. A
rabbit might want to explore the area and get its head stuck in one of
the grids, thus causing it harm.
Be absolutely sure that you check the safety of the cage while
building it and do a re-check once it's done. Make sure there are no
screws, nails or other things left in the cage.
Be careful with the kind of material you use to build the condo or
the things that you keep in the cage. Nothing that can be chewed upon
or is toxic should find its way there.
The placement of the cage is just as important because rabbits
tend to get startled very easily. Place the cage in a quiet area where
there is not too much activity happening to disturb them. Speak out
loud as you approach the cage to prepare the rabbit for your arrival,
thus preventing it from getting startled.
Do not handle the rabbits often and keep them away from small kids
who might be too rough with them.
It is essential that the rabbit gets at least 3 hours of exercise
everyday. So do the needful and let it out of its cage everyday for 3
hours.
Some people who have the privilege of space, like a garden or
farm, build a coop or a rabbit hutch to house the rabbits. This is
more humane and allows the rabbit to have more space and freedom.
Some house them in these coops for the day and get them in for the night.