How do I care for my new sensitive baby rabbit? Tips for cage and free time.

Hello. There are just so many sites that can give you very good information on rabbit care. I would recommend a veterinary visit just to check your new friend over & make sure he/she is healthy, check the sex & make sure Licorice has been neutered. Rabbits need quite a bit of room to move around, a litter box that is cleaned daily, access to fresh water & good quality hay ( preferably Timothy ). Rabbit pellets should only make up 10-20% of her total diet, very limited fruits, but she should have daily access to fresh greens. Good luck with your new pet & thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Congrats on your new addition! It looks like you have everything you need. A water bottle wasn't listed, so if you don't have one be sure to pick one up at the local Petco. Rabbit safe chew toys can also be found at the store. Melo can eat as much timothy hay, oat hay or similar grasses as he wants. Do not feed him any alfalfa and limit pellets to about 1/8 cup daily. he can get a cup or two of fresh greens daily as well. If you have any additional questions, you can post them here.

Thanks for your question about your new pets! I would recommend finding out what they are being fed now so you don’t switch their food over too quickly. I recommend feeding young rabbits free choice alfalfa hay until 6-9 months old and then transitioning them to a grass based hay, such as Timothy. I also recommend 1-2 tablespoons of pellets per bunny per day until they are full grown. Again, alfalfa based until 6-9 months old and then transition to Timothy pellets. Once full grown, you can give 1 tablespoon per 5 lbs of rabbit. You can also offer greens on a daily basis, but start slowly so they don’t get diarrhea. Leaf lettuce, cilantro, radicchio, and parsley are good options. They don’t require any supplements but the non-fruit based Oxbow treats are a great choice. I don’t recommend feeding fruit to rabbits as it can upset their tummies. For decreasing stress, make sure they have a place to hide and that their environment is quiet for them while they are adjusting. I hope this helps, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Oxbow has pellets and timothy hay in their product line. The majority of the diet should be timothy hay or similar grasses. Pellets should be limited to no more than a 1/2 cup daily. Alfalfa should not be offered after 7 months of age. Trim nails every 3-4 weeks if necessary. Your veterinarian can show you how initially. Teeth should be checked monthly. A yearly exam should include a dental exam and teeth trimming if indicated. Symptoms of overgrown teeth include decreased appetite, drooling, pawing at the mouth, swelling or discharge.

Thanks for reaching out about Buddy. One of the keys to keep on mind regarding rabbits is they are easily stressed. So changing things slowly is best. Once she is introduced to your home, allow her a quiet place to recuperate for a few days, with limited interactions. Monitor water and food intake, and urine and fecal production. If is recommended she be kept away from other pet, including rabbits, until she is more comfortable. Take it slow. Good luck.

Rabbits should eat mainly timothy hay or similar grasses. This should make up the largest portion of the diet. A small amount of a commercial pelleted diet can be offered as can fresh greens and vegetables. If Cuddles is over 7 months of age, do not feed alfalfa. Provide a variety of chew toys to keep teeth trimmed. You should have Cuddles examined yearly, by a veterinarian experienced in treating rabbits, to confirm good health and to trim teeth when necessary. Do not attempt to trim teeth by yourself at home. Below, I have included some articles from the PetCoach Library regarding rabbit care. https://www.petcoach.co/article/what-you-need-to-know-before-you-bring-your-new-rabbit-home/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/choosing-a-rabbit-as-a-pet/ https://www.petcoach.co/question/?id=411310

I recommend introducing Fluffy in a large clean cage with plenty of room for her to move around and clean soft bedding such as Care Fresh or soft wood shavings with plenty of food, toys and ideally a sheltered portion of the cage where she can hide/not be visible. Rabbits are prone to overheating and should be maintained at a temperature of about 15-21 C (60-70 F). If moving her in the winter, be sure to put her cage far from heater, if moving her in the summer (now I assume it is summer in Australia), just make sure that her room is air conditioned /does not get too hot. Offering fresh veggies and treats daily will likely minimize the stress of the move. In addition, try to keep Human/pet traffic/noise in her room at a minimum. Good luck!