Rabbit Care Awarness Group

Please see our 'Before you Buy' page if you have not already done so, as before you even choose your rabbit, it is important to decide if having a rabbit is the right thing for both you and the animal.

If you have considered the financial implications and decided that you have enough money and enough time to devote to your rabbit, then there are other important factors that you should consider when deciding on which rabbit is going to be the best one for you.

This includes considering the breed of rabbit, the sex, and whether you want to have one bunny, or more.

There are many different breeds of rabbit to choose from, and you will find that most rabbit lovers do have a favourite.

When choosing your ideal breed, each one has a lot to offer, and its own particular brand of charm. One of the things to consider is the size of the particular breed.

There are some rather large bunnies out there, and it is important when considering one of the larger buns that you have adequate space for them. This is where buying from a reputable breeder is a definite advantage as you can view the parents to get a good idea of what your little bundle of fluff will look like in a year's time. Bigger rabbits can be harder to handle, purely because of their size, not their temperament. And this can make them less suitable as pets for very young children. (If you do decide to buy a larger rabbit for your child, please be aware that you will have to help them with all aspects of the care of the rabbit from handling to cleaning).

Talk to your breeder about the recommended size of hutch and run that you will need for the particular breed you have chosen.

The large rabbit breeds include the French Lop, English Lop and British Giant. All have lovely temperaments although it is worth pointing out that the temperament of the rabbit is of course affected by the way you treat it after it is brought home. As ever, the more time you are willing to spend with your rabbit, the higher the chance that your rabbit will be happy and a friendler pet.

Smaller breeds are obviously more suited to those who have less room available for their rabbit.

Smaller rabbits can be more energetic than the larger breeds who can be quite lethargic when they are past the baby stage.

(For more information regarding breeds, please see our 'Rabbit Breeds' page, and our page of recommended breeders. If you have specific questions regarding any particular breed, please contact us at rabbitcampaignscotland@yahoo.co.uk.)

(More information will be posted here at a later date) 

Once you have chosen the type of breed you are interested in, it is important to consider whether you would like a male or female rabbit.

There is no set rule that says for example, 'get a boy bunny, they are much friendlier'. Any such advice could be very misleading as, just like people, rabbits are individual creatures with their own personalities.

The major concern with whether to buy a male or female rabbit, is the behaviour of the rabbit once it has reached sexual maturity.

Boy bunnies can become territorial and start to spray, and you may find them circling your ankles for no apparent reason! Although, once again, this does not apply to every male rabbit.

Girl bunnies may also become territorial and experience phantom pregnancies. They can start pulling out their hair to make a nest as if making ready to have their babies. Like many women they can be quite irritable at this time.

For both boys and girls, having them neutered or spayed is likely to reduce this type of behaviour.

If you have decided that you'd like to give more than one rabbit a home then there are a few important points to consider.

It is not recommended to keep two boys together. Even if they are brothers and have been kept together since birth, once they reach sexual maturity, it is likely that they will fight for the position of alpha male, and could seriously hurt eachother.

Two girls are a better match than two boys. They are generally slightly less territorial and if taken from the same litter and never separated, there is a good chance that they will stay friends throughout their lives. But not always! Whether they stay friendly towards eachother depends again on the personalities of the individual rabbits.

Most breeders would agree that the best combination is a boy and girl, providing of course that they are neutered. This is extremely important, as without wishing to state the obvious, rabbits breed like, well, rabbits. They have large litters and the gestation period is very short, leaving you with a lot of extra bunnies on your hands!

It can be a very good idea to have more than one rabbit if your finances and time allows. Rabbits are highly sociable creatures and unless you can give a single rabbit a lot of attention and toys to keep it entertained, it is likely to get bored, and even depressed, living life as a singleton.

Again, I want to stress that this is a very important decision, and you must only take on more than one rabbit if you are sure you can afford it in terms of both money, and care.

Once you have decided on the breed you would like and have contacted a breeder it will be time for you to choose which rabbit you would like out of the litter.

When you first see the litter look first at where they are kept. The cage should be clean and the rabbits should have access to clean water. Look at the droppings in the cage to make sure there are no signs of diarrhea. Rabbit droppings should be small, dry round pellets.

Look at the whole litter as a whole. Are they all bright eyed and interested in their surroundings? Do they look well and not skinny or lethargic?

Should you see one that does look poorly, beware.  Any signs of running eyes or runny nose should be noted. Do not buy a rabbit that has these signs, or any rabbit from that breeder. It could be the start of  an infectious disease. A reputable breeder will NEVER sell a rabbit that could be ill.

Baby rabbit are generally quite friendly and don't mind being handled but don't be too concerned if the rabbit is a little nervous as rabbits are naturally nervous animals and don't like change or strangers.

Once you have picked out your new baby you breeder will give you all the advice you need. Remember to ask any questions you can think of that might benefit you for example how to trim claws. Its much easier for your breeder to show you there and then than try and explain over the phone.

Most breeders offer their assistance and aftercare for when ever you need it. Please do use this if you are concerned at all about your baby.