FAQ
Where can I find a rabbit?
What kind of rabbit should I have?
What type of housing will my rabbit need?
What should I feed my rabbit?
What should I NOT feed my rabbit?
How long will my rabbit live?
Do I need to have more than one rabbit ?
How much should I pay for a rabbit?
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Q: Where can I find a rabbit?
A: Rabbits are available from your local pet store, your local newspaper, feed stores and web sites. If rabbit shows are held in your area, they are a great place to get very good quality rabbits. Also, the American Rabbit Breeders Association has a list of breeders for the specific breeds. Check our breed gallery pages for links.
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Q: What kind of rabbit should I have?
A: If you live in a small area like an apartment, you would want to look into the small breeds like the dwarf breeds, or maybe the mini breeds. If you have room for a larger cage, you might consider the New Zealand Whites or the Californian. If you have a good supply of space and a good budget for food, you could look into the giant breeds like the Flemish Giant or the Giant Chinchilla.
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Q: What type of housing will my rabbit need?
A: An all wire cage is the ideal living quarters for a rabbit. They are easy to keep clean and sanitary. You will need one with a pan attached for an indoor rabbit. The hutch type housing is not a very good living space for your rabbit. The wood will soak up urine and the droppings will soil the wood as well. Once this happens, it is very hard to clean. Bacteria will be difficult to get rid of. The rabbits also like to chew on the wood, which is actually good for their teeth if the wood is clean and sanitary, but if it is soiled, it can cause sickness. This chewing also damages the wood causing it to need replacing in the future. A solid bottom pet crate is also not ideal because it will hold droppings and urine. A rabbit can easily get sick if left in a wet environment. They need a clean, dry place with fresh air and room to move around. The average recomendation is to have 1sqft of living/cage space per pound of rabbit.
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Q: What should I feed my rabbit?
A: Your rabbit will do best on a good pellet food for rabbits. These are easy to find and usually not very expensive but provide all the nutrition your rabbit will need. Look for one that has about 16% protein and is high in fiber.
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Q: What should I NOT feed my rabbit?
A: Iceberg lettuce and cabbage, for starters. The iceberg lettuce will just give them diarrhea that can turn deadly for a rabbit because their digestive tract is so different from ours. The cabbage can give terrible gas that the rabbit may not be able to pass which also can prove to be fatal. I do not believe any rabbit under 6mths of age should be fed anything other than pellets. Before this age, they are much more prone to stomach upset that can kill them if too many new foods are given too quickly. After six months, you can feed small portions of fresh vegetables like carrots, sweet potato, or even bread. Sweet treats are not healthy for your rabbit so I would stay away from those.
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Q: How long will my rabbit live?
A: A well cared for rabbit can live for about 15yrs if they are not breeders. Breeders can live about 10-12 years but they will not be productive this long.
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Q: Should I have more than one rabbit?
A: Some rabbits seem to enjoy the company of another rabbits but some seem to be happier alone. If you want to have more than one please consider the following: If a doe and a buck are left together very long the doe will begin to fight with the buck. Also, bucks do not generally get along well with one another after they are mature. Does will also fight other does if left in the same cage, if they are not mother and daughter. Rabbits can be aggressive toward one another. If you choose to have more than one it will be best if they at least have seperate cages.
Q: How much should I pay for a rabbit
A: The price you pay for a rabbit can vary greatly. The average can be more easily found by checking the local feed stores and livestock publications. For the most part you can expect to pay less than fifty dollars for a pet quality rabbit. The younger the rabbit usually the less it will cost. In our area pet quality animals go for about ten to fifteen dollars. If you are looking for breeding quality you can expect to pay more around the fifty mark. If you want proven breeders expect to pay a little more. If you are wanting show quality the price can get well over fifty, more around one hundred dollars. If it is a rare breed the price can double that of a show quality animal. It is best to compare prices. If the price is very low be aware that the animal may not be of good quality or the breeder may need to sell the animals for lack of space.