Frequently Asked Questions

I get many emails from people wanting advice about their rabbit/s, whether they purchased the bunny from myself, or another source. I am always happy to help out, where I can, and try to respond to all enquiries, however due to the volume received this is becoming more difficult.....

If you can appreciate, replying to every enquiry does take up a considerable amount of my time, which is why I decided to include a FAQ's section in my website. If you need advice, please do look through the Questions/Answers below, and hopefully you will find a response that will be of assistance to you.  You could also try my Rabbit Information page and Colour Information pages too, as these will also be of assistance....

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Seasonal queries:  Winter   Bonfire Night

Q A	I keep my rabbit in a hutch in the garden, will he be alright through the Winter? Rabbits can withstand cold temperatures, and if they do live outside permanently, they do acclimatise and adapt to the changes in temperature. However, they cannot withstand damp conditions, so if at all possible the hutch would be better placed in an outbuilding for over-winter.  So if you have an Outdoor Bunny, I would recommend putting the hutch into a shed/garage if you can (A garage used daily for your car is not suitable due to the fumes/noise).   Keep a window open permanently for ventilation, and keep the door open during the day.  Keep the bunny cosy by stuffing the hutch full of fresh dry straw and hay each day. If you do not have a suitable outbuilding or sheltered spot for the hutch, then cover the hutch through the night with a heavy duty cover. Not plastic as this will make the hutch sweaty and damp, an old Hessian carpet would be more suitable. To help prevent frozen water bottles, I would suggest having a second bottle so that you can take out a fresh, warm* bottle of water in the morning, and then bring in the frozen one to melt. Place the frozen bottle in warm (not boiling) water until the ice has melted. You will have to replace the outdoor bottle at least twice/three times a day on really freezing cold days. You could also try covering the bottle up through the night, with an old thermal sock for example. *Don't use warm water straight from the tap.  Boil up some water, then add cold to make up a bottle of blood warm drinking water (don't put the boiling water straight into the bottle as it will melt) , this will be fine through the freezing cold winter months, and better on the stomach than freezing cold water straight out of the tap. I wouldn't do it on a regular basis, but it does keep it from freezing up again so quickly.
Q A	Bonfire Night: Will my bunny be alright outside in his hutch ? Basically, No. Loud bangs from fireworks can cause stress to your pet. Bring your rabbit/s into the house during the evenings around bonfire night.  Try to keep your pet calm. Turn on the radio or the tv and play something soothing or chatty to hide the loud bangs, even if you are not going to be at home. Over the firework period, you can add a couple of drops of 'Bach's Rescue Remedy' (available from chemists) to his drinking water which will help to keep him calm (also good for humans!!!)   New to Rabbits:   Which breed ?    1 or 2 ?    Male or Female ?   Relations   New to Rabbits-Online is Jan's eagerly awaited Rabbit Care & Advice eBook. 101 pages packed full of useful advice & information about Which breed, colour and sex to choose and which would be most suited to you and your family, What you will need to best set up home for your new rabbit, Where to find a reputable local breeder in your area (within the UK), How to feed your new rabbit and ailments and symptoms to look out for should your rabbit ever become ill,  and so much more... At only £2.49 you cannot afford to miss out on such  knowledgeable and experienced advice before you go ahead and purchase your new pet. More information here.....
Q   A	I am looking for a pet rabbit for my child, what do you consider to be the best breed ?   I would definitely recommend Lops and lionheads as they are all very placid and easy to look after, easy to litter train if allowed in the house, and they love to be cuddled and have lots of human interaction and games etc.. both these breeds are ideal for children and adults alike.  I do tend to stear new owners with small children away from the smallest breed, which is the Netherland Dwarf, as they can be quite shy and timid and a little 'scratchy'.   The lionhead is slightly smaller than the mini lop, and does have a fluffy mane around his head but this is low maintenance and they do tend to keep this very tidy , although a comb through once a week with a metal comb will keep any shavings and tangles at bay, the rabbit loves to have the fuss too, and it is a good way for owner and rabbit to bond. Dwarf Lops are slightly bigger and heavier than the Mini Lop, so are perhaps not the most suitable pet for a particularly young child, but they do have lovely temperaments, and are as happy to be handled, and as easy to litter train as the mini lop and lionhead breeds.
Q   A	Is it best to keep one, or two together ?   Bunnies are happy to laze around in their cage all day, and come to life at night/early evening. They are also quite playful in the morning, but if you are dashing about in the morning getting ready to go to work, then a quick cuddle and their breakfast will keep them happy until you return at tea time. then it is a case of lots of cuddles, exercise and then they are happy to cuddle up with you on the settee or in front of the fire. One rabbit on its own, if it gets lots of interaction daily with you and your family, and lots of exercise particularly on an evening, will live happily alone, as he/she will 'bond' with a human companion of his choosing for his soulmate, but this is a lifetime commitment and interaction must be undertaken every day. If the rabbit is to live permanently outside then it would probably be better to have two bunnies to keep each other company. Two rabbits will be happy together, as they are sociable animals. But there are a few things to consider here:- 1. If you wish to keep two boys, you MUST have them both neutered as near to 14 weeks of age as possible, as they may fight with each other otherwise as they get older. Neutering a male bunny is a routine operation.   2. 2 x females will get along happily together initially. But, if they do become territorial towards each other as they mature, then you 'may' need to consider having them both neutered to calm them down. I say 'may', because this is not always the case, sometimes 2 females do just get on quite happily throughout their lives.  2 females is probably the best option, and is the most popular pairing when keeping more than one rabbit. However, females not used for breeding may be prone to ovarian cancer from 4/5 years of age, so I would recommend neutering anyway, as a healthy, happy rabbit can live up to 9 /10 years of age otherwise.   3. 1 of each sex is a good option, but, you would need to have the buck neutered asap, and you would need to have the girl neutered too when she is 6 months old because, as she matures she may become a little hormonal and territorial with another bunny around, (regardless of whether the other bunny is male or female or neutered) and she may go through phases of phantom pregnancies, (and may tend to be a little frisky with the other bunny).  I do not actually sell mixed pairings so, If you have a rabbit already, and are looking for a companion. I do like to see proof of neutering prior to selling a companion to you. Or if you opt to purchase a male from me in the first place, and then wish to obtain a female at a later date once the male has been neutered, please kep your neutering paperwork from the vet so that I can sell you a female at a later date.
Q   A	Which Sex of rabbit is the best option ? If you opt for one bunny to live alone with you, then I  personally would recommend a male, as I do feel that they are more laid back and placid than the female, (but not always, females can be just as loving and cuddly, although they can be a bit grumpy during their breeding seasons unless neutered) . You will have to consider having a male house rabbit neutered from 14/16 weeks of age, and at the latest before they reach 6 months, as they can spray when they are a little older (like a tom cat). If you leave the operation until later, to find out if he actually does start spraying, then neutering is not guaranteed to stop the spraying once it has started. So it is always best to neuter as early as you can, prevention is better than cure!!
Q   A	If I opted for 2 females, do they have to be sisters from the same litter ? Generally speaking it does not matter whether the two rabbits are related or not, or even if they are not the same breed of rabbit. If a prospective new owner chose 2 rabbits from me, that were not related, I would house the two rabbits together into their own hutch to ensure that they will get along with each other, and give them chance to bond with each other before leaving me. Usually at a young age of 8-10 weeks, bonding with another rabbit does not cause any problems.  More FAQ's to follow.........
	New to Rabbits-Online is Jan's eagerly awaited Rabbit Care & Advice eBook. 101 pages packed full of useful advice & information about Which breed, colour and sex to choose and which would be most suited to you and your family, What you will need to best set up home for your new rabbit, Where to find a reputable local breeder in your area (within the UK), How to feed your new rabbit and ailments and symptoms to look out for should your rabbit ever become ill,  and so much more... At only £2.49 you cannot afford to miss out on such  knowledgeable and experienced advice before you go ahead and purchase your new pet. More information here.....
Q	Should my rabbit live Indoors or Outdoors ?
Q	What do I need to set up home for my pet rabbit ?
Q	Do I need to have my pet neutered ?
Q	What age should I have my pet neutered ?
Q	What are your views on vaccinations ?
Q	How do I litter train my rabbit ?
Q	I bought my rabbit from a pet shop, and it won't let me pick it up ?
Q	I bought my bunny a few days ago, and he/she seems to have diareah ?
Q	I have a 6 month old male bunny already, I am worried that he is lonely when I am work all day, should I get him a companion ?
Q	My neighbours have cats, how do I ensure that my rabbit is safe ?
Q	My rabbit is only 10 weeks old, can he play on my lawn ?
Q	My rabbit has stopped eating/drinking and is sitting hunched up at the back of his hutch ?
Q	Is it true that Females are not as friendly as male rabbits ?
Q	Are the harness and leads that you can buy safe for bunnies ?
Q	My rabbit bit me, why ?
Q	Can rabbits and guinea pigs live together ?
Q	I have a 3 year old rabbit, and his companion died just a few days ago and my existing bunny seems to be pining, should I introduce a new pal ?
Q	When I let my rabbit out of his hutch to run in the garden, I can't catch him to put him back, any suggestions ?
Q	What do you think is the best sized hutch for my rabbit ?
Q	My rabbit was normal yesterday, but this morning when I went to feed her, she had her head on one side, and her eyes seem to be flashing from side to side, help!!
Q	My bunny has a runny nose, what do you suggest ?
Q	I have a beautiful pet bunny, can I show him ?
Q	My rabbit loves the run of the garden, but she is digging holes all over the lawn, what can I do to prevent this ?
Q	Occasionally, when I feed my rabbit, she tries to attack my hands and the food bowls, why is this ?
Q	How much exercise should my bunny be getting ?
Q	How much vegetables should my rabbit be eating ?
Q	My rabbit lives outside in a hutch, but is allowed into the house for a few hours each evening, is it possible to litter train a rabbit indoors as well or will this confuse him ?
Q	How much should I be feeding my rabbit ?
Q	I have heard that dwarf lops always have problems with their teeth, is this true ?
Q	I have been told that Netherland Dwarfs are vicious, is this true ?
Q	I want to build a run in the garden for my rabbit, how big should it be ?
Q	Do you take rabbits in whilst their owners go on holiday ?
Q	Should I bath my rabbit ?
Q	Will you let my female rabbit mate with one of your male rabbits ?
Q	Do you know of any breeders further South ?
Q	I would like a pet rabbit, but I already have a pet dog/cat, is it wise to have a rabbit ?
Q	My Albino rabbit seems to keep going into some sort of trance, I am worried about it, what could it be ?