First Bunny?
First thing for you to do is pick a breed. Being a breeder for 11 years, I have some suggestions from my experiences with these breeds. I have raised six different breeds of rabbits and suck with only three. If you are looking for a small breed, don't go any smaller than the Mini rex. Mini rex also have the mildest temper of the small breeds. Netherlands Dwarfs have an attitude and are known for biting and scratching. Other smaller breeds have genetic problems and some are so small when they get scared they have heart attacks.
Looking for a large breed? Satins are the mildest of the large bunnies. English spots are known for biting and attacking people. With their large size they do quite a bit of damage to arms and legs. Larger breeds take more food and more tray cleaning than other smaller breeds.
Looking for a medium sized bunny? Holland lops are nice and Havanas are sweet also. They also do not need constant brushing or take as much food as the larger breeds.
If this is your first bunny, I recommend staying away from long hair. They require hours of brushing and primping. Also if you want bunny to play in a fenced yard, check for holes in the fence first. If you plan on just having bunny play in a puppy pen, watch out for hawks and wondering dogs. They can cause trouble. Make sure bunny has the choice of sun or shade along with water. It is easier than it sounds. Know to your choice will stick. Bunnies can live to be 16 years old!!
Care:
Bunnies must have some sort of alfalfa pellets(I recommend buying the Kent Brand) everyday with a constant water source. I do not recommend using water bottles. You can not clean them good enough. It is better to use like a dog crock instead. If they are indoors it helps if you have them in a wire bottom cage. Rabbits are clean animals and constantly clean themselves, so to prevent parasites the wire bottom will keep them off of their droppings.
Having problems with the odor? Well there are several things you can do. Add wood chips to their tray. Only use white pine. Cedar scented wood chips have been known to give rabbits pneumonia. Not having luck with that? Sprinkle a non dust cat litter on top of the wood chips. That will help with the smell. Also clean their cages(if indoors) about 2 to 3 times a week. It is easy to do and will take 5 minutes tops.
Want to give bunny a treat? Don't buy those yogurt treats or artificial things from the pet stores. A real treat for bunny is some live food. Like a slice of apple, pair, banana(or the peal), a handful of clean grass, salad greens(just not Iceburg), or a small untreated apple branch. These are all live food that will help make up for all the dried alfalfa pellets you have been feeding bunny.
Getting two bunnies?
Make sure they are the same gender! If they are not and they get in together, she will have the kits 27 to 31 days later from that date. Put a nesting box in for her to make a nest for the kits. To prevent that from happening and you want to different genders, get the buck "fixed". Why the buck? The doe's surgery would be more complicated. His surgery takes place out side of his body. Hers would have to be inside her torso and has a higher risk of infection. If they are the same gender, then you are good to go.
Not the same gender? Keep them separated until one has been "fixed". Opposite genders get along better than two of one gender(if they have not been raised together.).
Researchers have done a study. They say bunnies that have another bunny live longer. I have not yet put this to the test but it makes sense. Almost any animal needs another.
Any questions or problems? Email me and I will do my best to give you some helpful info.
