Rabbits

Rabbits - Easter Toys vs Family Pets

If your young child wants a rabbit, get them a stuffed animal.

We love our pet house rabbits, but they are decidedly not for most young families. Rabbits are timid creatures. they are easily terrified and will nip when they feel threatened. They do not do well with loud sudden noises. Children constantly emit loud, sudden noises.

If you decide as a family that you really want a rabbit, here's some advice.

Don't Shop - Adopt!

Please do not buy a rabbit at a pet shop or feed shop at Easter. Rabbits live 10+ years! They become a part of the family. If you want a rabbit to join your family, please wait a few weeks. Think about it. Prepare your home. Contact a local rabbit rescue - and adopt! 

Rescue organizations take in abandoned rabbits, and they are overwhelmed with rabbits in the weeks and months after Easter. People abandon their Easter bunnies when they realize they are a lot of work. 

Pet rabbits require significant handling and the behavioral considerations are very different from rabbits who are bread for other reasons. 

Rabbits who are not adequately socialized will attack people and destroy homes, chewing through wires, baseboards, and couches. 

Adopt in pairs! Rabbits are social and they will be less needy for attention if you adopt a bonded pair. They will also groom each other, which means less work for you! 

By adopting an older rabbit from a rescue organization, they will be sexed appropriately and they may even be spayed / neutered. Rabbits are more mellow when spayed / neutered, and vets give discounts on the procedure to rescue organizations. 

Home Habitat Advice

We don't keep our rabbits in a cage. A puppy pen gives them plenty of space to roam as they begin to feel comfortable in the home. A cat sized litter box (without a top) is a necessity. Fill it with wood chips and lots of hay. We prefer to clean ours out every morning. Rabbits prefer to do their business in the same spot every time, so they naturally litter box train.

 

Here is one of our rabbits enjoying her grass hut. She loves to have safe spaces to hide. She needs toys she can chew, that won't give her a tummy ache.

Older Children and Rabbits

Our 9 year old is gentle and loving with our rabbits. She has taken the time to hand feed them daily and they have bonded with her. Here is a photo of her kissing our white rabbit.

Houserabbits and Toddlers

Rabbits and toddlers usually do not mix. But here are our tips.

Our 2 year old knows any time she gets to spend holding Luna or Onyx is precious. Perhaps this is why she is the most gentle.

Here is a precious moment that we captured.

Experienced houserabbit parents can bring rabbits into a home with a toddler, if everyone has the right temperament. 

Here are some of the things that make this work for our family:

- Rabbits love quiet during the daytime. We call it their Naptime and we won't disturb them. All of the children are out of the house at school during the weekdays, and on weekends we remind them not to disturb. 

- Rabbits need a place to escape from children. We have a crate inside our pen where the rabbits can retreat and our toddler knows that's the rabbits' safe space.

- Our rabbits are given endless hay all day, and are only given special treats if they take them out of our hands first. This forges a stronger bond and encourages them to interact with even the youngest of us.

Resources

Hopefully this has been helpful! But it's only a start. Check out the wealth of resources at the House Rabbit Society's website. https://rabbit.org/