Rabbit Recommended Do’s and Don’ts

Do:

  1. Check with your local authorities/housing management for restrictions on animals within your housing.
  2. Research about the different breeds, or talk to a breeder about it.
  3. If purchasing a rabbit for a child, make sure he/she can handle it when it is full grown.
  4. Purchase the best rabbit you can afford.
  5. Make sure the cages are of the correct size for the breed you are going to raise.
  6. Keep fresh water for the animal at all times.
  7. Purchase good quality feed.
  8. Keep cages clean from manure build up.
  9. Keep the rabbit cage free from rodents and insects.
  10. Protect your rabbits from wind and heat — they may be detrimental.
  11. Develop a feeding schedule and follow it daily.
  12. Handle your rabbits regularly, and learn how to handle them properly.
  13. Keep dogs and cats away from the area where the rabbit is housed.

Do not:

  1. Breed your pet rabbit at a young age.
  2. Leave your rabbits in direct sunlight.
  3. Overfeed your rabbits or use mouldy/musty feed.
  4. Keep too many rabbits in the same cage. They may chew fur, fight and possibly breed.
  5. Keep rabbits of opposite sex together if you have no intentions of mating and breeding rabbits.
  6. Purchase a second rabbit for the purpose of keeping the first company. Rabbits are solitary animals and will be fine by themselves!

Information adapted from The American Rabbit Breeders Association, Inc’s “A Practical Beginning to Successful Rabbit Raising, 48th Edition”