Rabbit
Breeds
The Dutch
The Dutch is highly suitable as a pet. It has a white upper body
and white blaze on the face. The rest of the body and face is coloured
(black, blue, chocolate and yellow are some examples).
Netherland Dwarf
Probably one of the best known breeds, Netherland Dwarfs have been
bred to be extremely small and they weigh less than 1kg. They have
short ears and faces and come in a variety of colours, such as white,
black, blue, sealpoint chinchilla. Netherland Dwarfs are an attractive
pet for children, but their temperament can be uncertain.
Dwarf
Lop
The
dwarf lop is extremely popular. It is a small compact breed with floppy
ears and makes very good pet. Dwarf lops come in a variety of colours
– black, blue, agouti, chinchilla and butterfly are just a few.
Lops also come in other varieties, such as mini lop, English lop and
the giant breed, the French lop, which can weigh up to 5kg.
It is important to choose the right breed for you to be able to handle
with confidence and safety. Some of the giant breeds may be too big.
What to Feed Your Rabbit
Rabbits need feeding twice a day, every day (in the morning and in
the evening). A good quality, heavy, earthenware food bowl is essential
to keep the food dry and clean, and prevent the rabbit from tipping
the food on to the floor of the hutch. Their bowls must
be cleaned after every use.
Rabbits need a balanced diet with high levels of fibre to keep their
gut healthy and to encourage grinding to keep their continually-growing
teeth in trim to ensure that they stay happy and healthy.
Fresh vegetables and hay should be provided every day.
Many small animal food brands currently available contain a mixture
of ingredients of varying taste, texture, shape, size and palatability.
These foods are known as coarse mixes.
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Bringing
Your Rabbit Home
Make sure that you have everything ready for him before you collect
him, so that you can pop him into his new home as soon as you arrive
and he can spend the first 24hrs getting used to his new environment.
Don’t forget that he will be missing his brothers and sisters
and will like you to talk to him.
We suggest you don’t handle him too much for the first day or
two, but give him plenty of clean water and feed only hay for the
first 24hrs to avoid digestive upset. Introduce his new diet gradually.
You will soon know when he has settled in as he will begin to eat,
drink and groom himself.
In their natural habitat rabbits eat a range of grasses, weeds, leaves,
shoots, twigs as well as the bark of shrubs, bushes and trees.
They will also eat crops, roots, fruit and vegetables. Rabbits are
herbivores and their digestive system has evolved to be extremely
efficient, with the ability to eliminate indigestible fibre rapidly
and ferment those fibres that are digestible.
Hay should be available at all times and form a major part of your
rabbit’s diet in order to prevent boredom and aid dental wear
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