Prepare a Rabbit Cage
So you're getting a rabbit? The most important thing to extend a rabbit's life is the environment. Without a great environment, the rabbit can get sick, get an injury, or even die, but with this how-to, you're guaranteed a rabbit with a long life!
Steps
- Get your cage. It should be very spacious and let your rabbit hop around at least a few steps. The rabbit's ears should not touch the top of the cage and the rabbit should be able to turn around, flip, and explore very easily. The cage should never have wire flooring, but a solid plastic bottom.
- This is describing a house rabbit's cage, not a hutch.
- Buy your bedding. The bedding should be specifically for rabbits, or at least the package should say it is safe for rabbits. The best bedding to purchase is recycled, dust-free bedding, as wood shavings can harm rabbits. Make sure you have enough bedding for at least a month or two. A good type of hay is Timothy Hay, which is edible and can keep your rabbits warm during cold nights if your rabbit is outside. Baby rabbits should have Alfalfa hay.
- Spread your bedding around. Lay down at least two inches of bedding throughout the whole bottom. Be sure to get the corners!
- Add a water bottle. Wash the metal/plastic tube with water and a rag. Soap could get in the metal tube and make your bunny sick, so be careful to rinse it out completely if you use soap.
- Make sure you have a food dish.
- Fill it with rabbit food pellets (alfalfa for young rabbits and timothy for adults). Some bunnies like to flip their bowl, so a dish that hangs on the wire part or is very heavy works great! Also, put their favorite treat in there, such as lettuce or kale. Both if you don't know what your rabbit's favorite food is.
- Buy a salt block that hangs on a wire loop, that attaches to the wire wall. It's important that a bunny has the minerals in salt to grow up with.
- Buy lots of toys! Very tough plastic toys work amazingly. Some pet stores offer kabobs or wood blocks. Wood blocks are necessary for the rabbit to trim down his/her teeth. If the rabbits teeth get to long, the rabbit will be uncomfortable and may not be able to eat it's food.
- Watch your rabbit to make sure he/she is comfortable, safe, and happy. Watch him/her for a half hour or more. You're done preparing the cage!
Related Articles
- Choose a Rabbit Cage
- Build an Outdoor Rabbit Cage
- Set Up a Playful Environment in a Rabbit's Cage
- Make Your Bunny Come to You when You Open the Cage
