Rabbit Care Information

Diet Recommendations
  • Young Rabbits (Under 6 Months Old)
    • You can free feed pellets. Pellets should be at least 18% fiber.
    • Hay must be available 24/7. Any grass hay works, but the most common, healthiest hays include timothy and orchard. These can be mixed as well.
  • Adult Rabbits (6 Months & Up)
    • ​1⁄4 cup of pellets per day per 5 pounds of rabbit weight. When rabbits reach 6 years of age and older,
      they may need larger quantities of pellets to keep up their weight.
    • Grass hay (Timothy) must be available 24/7
Safe Fruits & Vegetables
  • Each rabbit should get approximately 1 cup of greens for each 2 pounds of rabbit body weight per​ day.
Leafy Greens
  • Arugula
  • Carrot tops
  • Cucumber leaves
  • Endive
  • Ecarole
  • Frisee Lettuce
  • Kale (all types)
  • Mache
  • Red or green lettuce
  • Romaine lettuce
  • Spring greens
  • Turnip greens
  • Dandelion greens
  • Mint (any variety)
  • Basil (any variety)
  • Watercress
  • Wheatgrass
  • Chicory
  • Raspberry leaves
  • Cilantro
  • Radicchio
  • Bok Choy
  • Fennel (the leafy tops as well as the base)
  • Borage leaves
  • Dill leaves
  • Yu choy
Leafy Greens (In Moderation)
These leafy greens can be fed in moderation due to high amounts oxalic acid (no more than 1/3 of the total leafy portion per day.)
● Parsley
● Spinach
● Mustard greens
● Beet greens
● Swiss chard
● Radish tops

Non Leafy Vegetables
(1 tablespoon per 2 pounds body weight daily)
  • Squash
  • Zucchini
  • Bell Pepper
  • Carrot
  • Cucumber
  • Celery leaves
Fruits
(1 teaspoon per 2 pounds body weight daily)
  • Apple (no stem or seeds)
  • Banana
  • Raspberries
  • Blackberries
  • Strawberries and tops
  • Blueberries
  • Peach
  • Pear
  • Kiwi
  • Star Fruit
  • Melon
Health Care
  • Rabbits are prone to have coccidia flare ups when stressed (moving to a new home). We recommend that you add Corrid to their water source for 2 weeks when you first bring them home to treat the coccidia.
  • Our vet does not recommend any vaccinations for rabbits – check with your personal vet to see what they recommend for your area.
  • Litter Training: Older rabbits tend to learn where to go more quickly than a baby rabbit. Rabbits tend to use the same corner for their restroom use, so simply place a litter box in that space. Putting the box near food helps, as they tend to chew while they go. Use paper or wooden pelleted litter, place a little soiled bedding in, and let them do their thing. If they consistently go outside of where you put the box, it is easiest to compromise and put it where they most often go.
  • Dental Care - Rabbit teeth never stop growing - Timothy Hay needs to be available 24/7. It is a very stemmy hay and keeps their teeth worn down. Having toys / chews for them to gnaw on as well is very helpful in making sure they have a healthy mouth. Poor dental care is one of the biggest causes of health issues in rabbits.
Grooming
  • ​Just like our fingernails and toenails, your rabbit’s nails will grow. They need trimmed approximately every month or two.
  • Rabbits need brushed once a week for short haired and once daily for long haired. Rabbits generally go  through a shed every 3 months, and will need brushed daily during this period of heavy shed. Make sure you find a gentle, rabbit friendly brush so as not to irritate their skin.
  • They are self cleaning, like a cat, so please do not wash them. It can be very stress inducing.
  • Rabbits have scent glands under the chin and on either side of the anus to mark their territory. Occasionally the anal glands can build up and get a little smelly. If this occurs, simply locate the two slits on either side of the anus and gently wipe the brown residue off with a damp Q-tip.
  • Rabbit’s teeth grow continuously, so they need constant access to a variety of things to chew to wear down those teeth.
More Than One Rabbit?
  • Rabbits are very sociable and need companionship either in another rabbit or in a lot of quality time with their human companion.
  • Rabbits need to be spayed or neutered to get along. They can be territorial which can lead to aggression, so it is important to introduce them properly.
  • Rabbits grieve the loss of their companion and will need another rabbit to spend time with after a​ period of grieving.
Housing
  • A standard hutch would be too small for an adult Flemish. For a rough estimate of the space needed, multiply your rabbit’s body length by 4. Also, rabbits should be able to lay (comfortably) outstretched width-ways across their enclosure. A run is recommended for additional exercise, along with places to​ comfortably hide.
Breeds of Rabbits
  • Flemish Giants:
    • 15-20 pounds on average
    • Live 8-10 years
    • Short hair
  • Holland Lop:
    • 4-5 pounds on average
    • Live 8-12 years
    • Short hair
  • Lionhead:
    • 4-5 pounds on average
    • Live 8-12 years
    • Long hair. Can have one wispy mane around the head, or two manes which are thicker with one around the rear and one around the head.
  • Rex:
    • 7-10 pounds on average
    • Live 9-12 years
    • Plush, single layer coat. – only bush once a week with a soft comb. Their velvety hair does not require extra grooming.