Care for Dwarf Rabbits
Dwarf rabbits can require a lot of work as they are very fragile and delicate. If you need more information on how to care for your dwarf rabbit, this is the guide for you.
Contents
Steps
Housing
- Buy an indoor cage. Some people like to let their rabbits roam freely in their home. This may not be an option for you, however. Either way, your rabbit will need a cage. This cage should be a place where it can be safe, and not interrupted. Your cage can have a plastic or wooden bottom, but wire will hurt your dwarf rabbit's feet. This cage should be filled about {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} deep with bedding. Carefresh and Yesterday's News are good brands. In the cage should be a litter box, a hideaway box, a food bowl, hay rack, and a water bottle.
- Build an exercise pen. You can put the pen outside if your lawn isn't fertilized and doesn't have other animals using it. Otherwise, you can designate an enclosed area in the house to let your dwarf rabbit to play. However, if you build a pen indoors, you should read how to rabbit proof your home.
Diet
- Feed them hay. Hay is the main part of any rabbit's diet. Your dwarf rabbit should always have a fresh, unlimited supply of hay available to him at all times. Do not feed your rabbit alfalfa hay as it is bad for them. Feed them timothy hay or some kind of grass hay.
- Feed them pellets. Choose a good quality rabbit brand that doesn't contain extra seeds or sugar. You should feed 1/4 a cup of pellets per 5 pounds of rabbit. Timothy hay is good for rabbits over 7 weeks old.
- Give them fresh fruits and vegetables. 2 cups a day of greens should be fed to your rabbit. A piece of carrot, apple(without seeds), banana, or strawberry are a great treat for your dwarf rabbit. Make sure you research what fruits and vegetables are safe for your rabbit to eat as some can be toxic.
Toys
- Buy hard plastic baby toys or rabbit toys. Not the kind for teething, but hard ones they cannot chew apart like keys and rattles to hang on the top of their cage.
- Collect cardboard tubes. You can fill a cardboard toilet paper tube with hay or simply just place the tube in the cage and let your dwarf rabbit have a go at it. You can also make a rabbit hideaway by cutting the bottom off of a cardboard box and cutting doors and windows.
- Make a rice filled egg. Here's an idea: take a plastic Easter egg, fill it with dry rice, and hot glue it shut. Simple, and your dwarf rabbit will love to rattle it around. Just make sure to take adorable out the toy at night- your dwarf rabbit will most likely wake you up!
Tips
- Be careful when holding your Dwarf Rabbit, be sure you are holding it correctly, for improper handling can upset them, and cause them to kick.
- Don't make really loud noise near them. They have sensitive ears.
- When you pick up your dwarf rabbit use two hands- one to support it's chest and the other to support it's bottom. Hold it against your chest and always support it's bottom.
- Make sure you keep your rabbit away from small holes and under the furniture because it can be difficult to get them out and can hurt them.
- Fresh fruits and veggies should be provided 5-6 times weekly to rabbits over 6 months of age.
- Never hold them by their ears, it really hurts.
- Dwarf Rabbits need at least 2 hours of exercise and interaction time each day.
Warnings
- Watch out for anything dangerous to your dwarf rabbit in your home such as electric wires, and small spaces in which they can get stuck.
- Children under the age of 9 or 10 should be supervised at all times. Rabbits bite and sometimes very hard.
Things You'll Need
- Large cage
- Bedding
- A rabbit pen/enclosed area
- Hay
- Rabbit pellets
- Fresh fruits and veggies
- Rabbit toys
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