Rabbit - Newbie

Rabbits are generally long-lived animals that can live for an average of 8-12 years . However, there are also exceptional cases where rabbits can die prematurely or reach a very old age, exceeding 12 years.

The life expectancy of rabbits depends on various factors .

• Species-appropriate housing and nutrition help rabbits to stay healthy and vital, thus increasing their life expectancy. A balanced diet consisting of hay, green fodder and dry food is important for the health of rabbits. Care should be taken to ensure that the food is fresh and varied to ensure an adequate supply of nutrients.

• Keeping rabbits in a species-appropriate manner can also have a positive effect on their life expectancy. Rabbits are sociable animals and should therefore not be kept alone.
  
• A sufficiently large enclosure with enough hiding places and activities is important for the animals to feel comfortable and stay healthy.

• It is also important to identify health problems early and treat them correctly. Regular observation of the rabbit's behavior and physical condition can help to identify illnesses quickly and treat them accordingly. Good veterinary care is essential.

In summary, the life expectancy of rabbits depends on various factors related to species-appropriate husbandry and nutrition.

Good observation and quick response to health problems can help increase the life expectancy of rabbits and enable them to live long and healthy lives.

Rabbits are extremely social animals and should never be kept alone . This is not only unethical for ethical reasons, but also prohibited by law.

Keeping rabbits alone is prohibited in both Switzerland and Austria, and in Germany it also contravenes the Animal Welfare Act.

To keep rabbits in a species-appropriate manner, they should be kept in at least pairs .

• A pair or a harmonious group of three rabbits that have already been introduced together are ideal for beginners.
  
• However, if you want to keep larger groups, you should start with a small group and gain experience before expanding the group. You should always make sure that a group contains a similar number of neutered males as females.
  Pure female or male groups often fail.
  An exception are two early-castrated males who grow up together.
• However, species-appropriate group housing does not simply mean keeping several rabbits in one enclosure.
  Nevertheless, it depends on the characters of the individual animals, because here too it is important to take each individual character into account in order to then integrate the appropriate group of animals.

Rather, the enclosure must be large enough and offer sufficient hiding places and opportunities for activity.

The feeding and care of the rabbits must also be adapted to group housing, both in terms of quantities and costs!

Overall, keeping rabbits in groups is feasible for beginners, but requires some knowledge and experience.

It is important to obtain comprehensive information in advance and, if necessary, to seek expert support in order to give the rabbits a species-appropriate and happy life.

Rabbits are often seen as easy-care pets, but this is not the reality.

They are actually more care-intensive than you think and require a lot of attention and time.

They also don’t like being picked up and carried around.

Being picked up can cause fear in rabbits and they often become very shy.

However, if parents support the rabbit keeping, they can teach their children how to treat the rabbits with respect.

The animals should be stroked on the ground and you can give them food from your hand. Rabbits are great "observation animals" and it is fun to build adventure playgrounds for them.

However, parents should also keep in mind that mucking out and daily care of the rabbits often fall to the parents over time, as children develop other interests at different times.

It is important that parents get enough information about caring for rabbits in advance and are prepared to take responsibility for the animals if their children lose interest.

Incorrect or too rapid introduction/socialization can lead to serious injuries and even death.

It is therefore important to obtain sufficient information before bringing the animals together and to take time to slowly and carefully get them used to each other.

It is recommended that a neutral environment that is unfamiliar to both rabbits or groups of rabbits can make the introduction easier.

If you have any uncertainties or difficulties, you should ask a veterinarian or an experienced rabbit owner for advice.

A successful introduction leads to a harmonious coexistence and contributes significantly to the well-being of the rabbits.

Our exchange group is always available to help you with such concerns.

Rabbits can actually be expensive and should not be considered cheap pets .

Purchasing a species-appropriate enclosure is an important investment and care should be taken to ensure that it is marten-proof in order to protect the animals from predators.

Nutrition should also not be neglected, as it has a major impact on the health of the animals.

Some rabbit owners grow their own food to save costs, but even here care should be taken to ensure that the food is species-appropriate and balanced.

Veterinary costs can also be an important factor, as sick rabbits often require veterinary care and, if necessary, surgery.

Not only can rabbits be extremely expensive when it comes to diseases, but regular check-ups and vaccinations against RHD1/2 and myxomatosis should not be neglected!

It is advisable to have a small budget for unexpected veterinary expenses so that you can react quickly in an emergency.

The topic of species-appropriate rabbit feeding actually seems to be quite simple, but unfortunately it is often done incorrectly.

Many people think that rabbits need commercially available prepared or dry food to stay healthy. However, rabbits have the same digestive system as their wild relatives and therefore need the same food.

This consists of a diverse selection of meadow plants, branches, buds, flowers and roots - everything that nature has to offer, especially in summer.

The main food of the rabbits should be a variety of green fodder , which should always be available along with hay .

In summer you can collect this in nature, for example lots of grasses or twigs.

In winter, you can switch to leafy vegetables such as bitter lettuce, herbs and cabbage and supplement these with a few root vegetables.

It is also important that rabbits are always offered water from a bowl , as they drink less from drinking bottles because the water only comes out drop by drop.

Unfortunately, the ready-made rabbit foods available on the market are often unsuitable for feeding.

Most types of food contain pellets or similar and are therefore not sensibly composed and can therefore be life-threatening.

There are only a few types of food that do not contain any unnatural additives and are therefore sensibly composed.

Therefore, rabbits should always be fed natural food sources.

Traditional rabbit farming with pens, stables or cages is absolute animal cruelty and should be avoided.

This type of housing is comparable to locking cats in prisons. Rabbits are very active and changeable, which means that they are also active at night. It is therefore important that they have enough space and can move around freely.

Therefore, a marten-proof permanent run should always be installed in the stable so that you can protect your pet.

Rabbits can be kept freely in the apartment if they are house trained or if a certain area of ​​the room is fenced off. Alternatively, a balcony can also be used for keeping them, but here too you should always pay attention to the safety of your pets!

For two rabbits that have several hours of free running in a large area every day, an enclosure of at least 4m² should be provided, preferably larger. For groups of rabbits with no free running or with little or irregular free running, we recommend enclosures of at least 10-12m².

Other organizations also specify a minimum size of 6m² per animal in this case.

It is important that rabbits have enough space and can live out their natural behavior.

Therefore, before purchasing rabbits, you should find out about species-appropriate care and make sure that you have enough space and time for the animals.

But here too, we are happy to provide you with advice and support.

Rabbits can be kept outdoors all year round without any problems , in the garden or on the balcony.

But they can also live well indoors. If you want to keep rabbits outdoors, you should set up a large enclosure with a partial roof and a shelter.

This way they can stay outside whatever the weather.

They enjoy digging in the snow, grazing in the rain and romping around in all weather conditions.

However, if they get too wet or cold, they will return to their protected area on their own. It is important that rabbits are allowed to run around in all weathers and decide for themselves where they want to be.

You should slowly accustom them to the outside temperatures by putting them outside in the spring/summer months.

It is important that the temperatures are above 10 degrees Celsius even at night!

This way they can slowly get used to the colder temperatures.

However, you should never make the mistake of locking the rabbits in a small hutch during the winter.

If you decide to keep your rabbits outdoors, you should make sure that the enclosure is large enough and that the rabbits have enough space to move around. Regularly cleaning the enclosure and feeding them a healthy diet are also important.

Before deciding to keep rabbits outdoors, you should find out about the special needs of rabbits and make sure that you have the necessary resources to keep them in a species-appropriate manner.

Because keeping animals outside is a very demanding form of keeping and is quickly underestimated!

Especially when kept outdoors, it is extremely important that you protect your pets from predators.

• What does the coat look like? Is it shiny and clean or dull and shaggy?

• Are the eyes clear and shiny or cloudy and dull?

• Are there any signs of diarrhea or constipation?

• Are the teeth and claws normally developed and worn?

• Is it retreating more and more?
  
• Has it decreased in the last few days?
  
• Is the enclosure clean and dry, with no signs of injury or infection?

If you notice any changes in one or more rabbits, it is important to act quickly and consult a veterinarian!

Regular check-ups by a veterinarian are also recommended to detect and treat diseases at an early stage.

Because most of the time our darlings very rarely show signs of illness or similar.

Good health is essential for a happy and long life for your rabbits.

For example, if a rabbit is not eating or behaving differently, this may be a sign of serious illness and emergency veterinary services should be contacted.

It is advisable to have an emergency medication in your medicine cabinet and to set up an emergency first aid kit.

A weekly health check should be performed as well as regular weight checks , including an annual stool sample and ear care for floppy ears .

In spring, rabbits should be vaccinated against myxomatosis, RHD and RHD2!

It is important to act responsibly when purchasing rabbits. Buying from pet shops, hardware stores or small animal markets should be avoided, as these animals often come from mass breeding farms that are kept in poor conditions.

These animals are often sick and infected with intestinal parasites, which can cause high veterinary costs and also endanger the animal's life.

Unfortunately, many rabbit breeders are also dubious, with poor living conditions, unhealthy nutrition and a lack of vaccinations.

Most breeders also breed with the pathogen EC, which the animal carries for life and breaks out in cases of stress or other illnesses.

To ensure that the animals are healthy, you should purchase them from reputable breeders, foster homes or animal shelters that regularly take stool samples and ensure that they are kept in a species-appropriate manner.

A better option is animal shelters and rescue stations as well as some private donations.

There you will receive healthy animals that have been examined by a veterinarian, neutered and vaccinated.

You will also receive good advice and can return the animals in an emergency or get help with questions and problems. More and more animal shelters are also testing the EC status before handing over the animal to prevent the spread of this disease.

If you decide to get a rabbit, you should make sure that it is at least ten, preferably twelve weeks old , before it moves to its new home.

If you are offered younger animals, the source is probably not reputable. The breed also has a big influence on susceptibility to disease.

All in all, you should be careful when purchasing or adopting a rabbit to ensure you get a healthy and happy animal.