Spotlight: Bunny care basics

Spotlight: Bunny care basics

Got rabbit questions? Let us hop to your rescue with this handy summary of all the most important bunny care info!

Housing

Enclosure: When it comes to rabbit enclosures, bigger is always better. Bunnies love to climb, so a multi-level bunny condo is a fun way to give your bunny more space. Wire sides are great for ventilation, but a wire bottom can cause foot problems and should be covered with a thick layer of bedding, or ideally avoided altogether.
Bedding: Hay or commercially available recycled paper products can be offered as bedding. Avoid wood shavings, which are potentially toxic and indigestible if eaten. Bedding should be spot cleaned daily of any feces and urine and replaced completely once a week.
Organizing the bunny home: Rabbits are clean creatures by nature and will urinate and defecate in one corner. They will quickly learn to use a litterbox if you put it in the chosen corner. Place food and water at the opposite end of the enclosure. Your bunny’s home should also have a covered hiding area to help your bunny feel secure.
Indoor vs. outdoor? Outdoor housing poses more risks, like heatstroke and predator encounters. Consult your veterinarian before moving your bunny to the great outdoors.

Food

Hay: High-quality grass hay, like Timothy, orchard or brome, should be the bulk of your rabbit’s diet and always available to your little grazer. Alfalfa hay is not recommended for adult rabbits as it’s too rich in protein and calcium.
Vegetables: Your rabbit will need some leafy green vegetables daily. Rotating through a variety of fresh vegetables will ensure your bunny gets a good selection of nutrients.
- Good vegetables: romaine lettuce, bok choy, mustard greens, carrot tops (but not carrots themselves), cilantro, watercress, basil, kohlrabi, beet greens, broccoli, green peppers, Brussel sprouts, endive, wheat grass, radicchio, squash
- So-so vegetables (give rarely): collard greens, dandelion greens, parsley, kale, Swiss chard, escarole
- Avoid: potatoes, carrots, iceberg or head lettuce
Pellets: Rabbits should get very few pellets, as they can cause obesity and soft stools.
Treats: The best bunny treat is a yummy veggie! If you want to branch out, check with your veterinarian first before offering a new food.
Wait, bunnies eat what?? Rabbits pass a special type of feces, called cecotropes, at night that they eat to get extra nutrients. This is a totally normal—even necessary!—behavior, so let your bunny have at it.
Changes: Rabbits’ delicate guts can easily be upset by diet changes, sometimes with deadly consequences. Consult your veterinarian before making any major food adjustments.

Exercise and Play

Toys: Entertain your clever bunny with toys they can dig in or chew, like cardboard boxes, paper tubes, paper bags and hard plastic baby toys. You can also offer wood sticks for chewing, but avoid cherry wood, which is toxic, and fresh pine branches, which are messy.
Social play: Your rabbit will love some play time with you or another rabbit. A pair of bunnies should both be spayed and/or neutered and introduced to each other slowly to prevent possible aggression.
Free roam? Rabbits should never be allowed to run loose in the house unless they’re in a rabbit-proof room or under strict supervision to prevent chewing dangerous items, including electrical cords, wires, carpet and toxic houseplants.