Rabbit Care Guide
Everything you need to know to give your bunny a happy, healthy life.
Care Topics
Tap any topic to expand it. We recommend reading all sections before your bunny comes home.
Creating Their Perfect Home
Your rabbit's living space is crucial for their well-being. Both cages and colonies can work — what matters is that the setup is safe, the right size, and easy to keep clean.
Key Tips
- Cages: 1"×1/2" 14-gauge wire flooring (or thicker, with a resting mat for comfort) and 1"×1" 16-gauge mesh walls
- Equip with a J-feeder, a water bowl (rabbits drink more from bowls than bottles), a safe toy, a collection tray, and a urine guard
- Don't forget a hide box — rabbits love safe, enclosed spaces
- Colonies are great for a more natural environment, but rabbits are burrowers — fully enclose the colony, including the floor, to prevent escapes
- Use straw for colony bedding — it's non-edible and easy to maintain
A Healthy Diet
Proper nutrition is fundamental. The core of a rabbit's diet is high-quality pellets and unlimited Timothy hay. Rabbits have sensitive digestive systems, so always introduce new foods slowly.
Key Tips
- Timothy hay should be unlimited; alfalfa is okay for younger rabbits to aid growth
- Introduce new foods slowly over a few weeks to prevent bloat (which can be fatal)
- Avoid sugary foods — including carrots — rabbits don't process sugar well. Carrot tops are a great option instead
- Stick to hay and pellets until your rabbit is at least 5 months old
- Safe-to-chew twigs and branches from appropriate wood types are appreciated
- Provide clean, filtered drinking water at all times — if you wouldn't drink it, don't give it to your rabbit
Essential Grooming
Regular grooming keeps your rabbit comfortable and healthy. Holland Lops and Netherland Dwarfs are short-coated, so this stays simple.
Key Tips
- Brush occasionally to remove loose fur and trim any tangles
- Trim nails regularly — they grow continuously and cause discomfort if left long
- Periodically check teeth for overgrowth (malocclusion is a serious issue)
- Make sure their rear end stays clean
- Never bathe a rabbit — they can go into shock from the stress
Litter Training & Behavior
Good news — rabbits can be litter-trained. They naturally prefer to keep their space clean.
Key Tips
- Place the litter box where they eat — they often go while munching
- Spaying or neutering makes potty training significantly easier
- Rabbit droppings are excellent for composting your garden
- Daily gentle interaction builds trust
Outdoor Living & Climate
If your rabbit lives outdoors, temperature management is the most important factor. Rabbits handle cold better than heat, but neither extreme is safe without preparation.
Key Tips
- Bucks can become sterile above 75°F — anything over 90°F is dangerous
- In hot weather, provide ice in water bowls or frozen bottles to lean against
- Cold is less of an issue than heat, especially for older rabbits — unless temperatures are in single digits
- The most important thing: provide shade in heat and shelter from cold winds
When to Be Concerned: Health Signs
Rabbits are prey animals and tend to hide pain, so knowing the warning signs is vital.
Key Tips
- Healthy poop is dry, round, and consistent in size — runny poop is an immediate concern
- Smaller-than-usual or shrinking poop can indicate GI stasis, where they stop eating and pooping (serious)
- If your rabbit is unusually still, sitting in a corner, or doesn't squirm when picked up, they're likely in pain
- Sudden behavior change of any kind warrants attention
- Don't hesitate to call us — Michael is happy to help before or after purchase
Spay/Neuter & Vaccines
These are decisions every owner should think through. We recommend spaying or neutering for non-breeding pet rabbits.
Key Tips
- Highly recommended if you're not breeding — neutered rabbits mark less, spray less, and fight less with other animals
- Females spayed early have significantly reduced cancer risk
- Vaccines are a personal decision — research and choose what you believe is best for your rabbit
🐰 Example: Indoor 2-Story Hutch on Wheels
A favorite indoor setup: a two-level hutch on casters so it can roll for cleaning, with a removable tray under each floor. Easy to wipe down, easy to move, and gives your bunny vertical space to explore without a big footprint.
The pull-out trays make daily cleanup fast and help keep odors down — a big win if your bunny lives in a shared room.
📦 Our Pickup & Adoption Policy
- Deposits: A flat $100 non-refundable deposit reserves a young rabbit who isn't yet ready for pickup. This ensures the kit stays with its mother for the critical 6–8 week window.
- Pickup: We coordinate a convenient pickup time. Each rabbit gets a health and gender check, and you'll receive startup feed. Once the kit leaves, they become your responsibility — but we're happy to keep offering support and advice.
- Transport: We work with a 3rd party for door-to-door transport. Prices start at $100.
See the full sales policy for details.