Hello!!!
Last couple of months I was away, one of the reasons why is because… I addopt a rabbit!!!
My husband and I decide to addopt a Netherlands dwarf rabbit, after months of researching, trying to decide which pet was ideal for us at the moment and finding the perfect furry friend.
That’s why I decided to share my journey, tips and cares for rabbits.
I’m still newbie when it comes to the cares of rabbits, I had plenty of experiences taking care of cats, dogs and hamsters, as I had addopt and foster several of this pets since I was a kid.
That’s why I spent many hours and I’m still reading and researching for tips, do’s and don’ts for rabbits.
I came up with a simply guide of what you need to have prepare and know before adopting a rabbit, specifically a Netherlands dwarf rabbit.
It might look like a long list of things to do and know, but believe me if you had been researching and reading tons of blogs and articles about rabbits, this will be a easier way of ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RABBITS.
☆ Rabbit Care ☆
Let’s start with the longest list of things you need to know. As most people have the worng idea that rabbits are easier to look after than dogs or cats, ha! And I thought my dog was picky for not liking raw meat.
♥︎DIET:
⚖️Quantities of food should I feed according to age:
* Birth to 3 weeks–mother’s milk
* 3 to 4 weeks–mother’s milk, nibbles of alfalfa and pellets
* 4 to 7 weeks–mother’s milk, access to alfalfa and pellets
* 7 weeks to 7 months–unlimited pellets, unlimited hay (plus see 12 weeks below)
* 12 weeks–introduce vegetables (one at a time, quantities under 1/2 oz.
quantities of food should I feed young adults (7 months to 1 year)
* introduce timothy hay, grass hay, oat hay, and other hays; decrease alfalfa
* decrease pellets to 1/2 cup per 6 lbs. body weight
* increase daily vegetables gradually; make sure your rabbit can tolerate them
* fruit daily ration no more than 1 oz. to 2 oz. per 6 lbs. body weight (because of calories)
DO NOT FEED:
iceberg lettuce
nuts
legumes (beans)
yogurt
bread
crackers
seeds
popcorn
onion
garlic
potatoes
chocolate
rhubarb.
caution when feeding vegetables in the cabbage family. These include:
kale
cabbage
bok choy
broccoli
brussels sprouts
collard greens.
For some rabbits they can cause painful gas
Many of these dark leafy greens are also high in calcium, rotate their offerings and give breaks between high calcium greens.
Pellets
5-7 lb of body wt. 1/4 cup daily
8-10 lb body wt. 1/2 cup daily
11-15 lb of body wt. 3/4 cup daily
*Make sure the percent of protein in the package is 12-14 and high in fiber (20-25%)*
*Do not buy a pellet that contains seeds, nuts, or starch-rich cereal kibble mixed in*
🥕VEGETABLES🥕
* Parsley
* Spinach
* Mustard greens
* Beet greens
* Swiss chard
* Radish tops
* Sprouts (from 1 to 6 days after sprouting, sprouts have higher levels of alkaloids)
Leafy Greens low in oxalic acid:
* Arugula
* Carrot tops
* Cucumber leaves
* Endive
* Ecarole
* Frisee Lettuce
* Kale (all types)
* Mache
* Red or green lettuce
* Romaine lettuce
* Spring greens
* Turnip greens
* Dandelion greens
* Mint (any variety)
* Basil (any variety)
* Watercress
* Wheatgrass
* Chicory
* Raspberry leaves
* Cilantro
* Radicchio
* Bok Choy
* Fennel (the leafy tops as well as the base)
* Borage leaves
* Dill leaves
* Yu choy
Non leafy veg should be no more than about 15 % of the diet (About 1 tablespoon per 2 lbs of body weight per day).
* Carrots
* Broccoli (leaves and stems)
* Edible flowers (roses, nasturtiums, pansies, hibiscus)
* Celery
* Bell peppers (any color)
* Chinese pea pods (the flat kind without large peas)
* Brussel sprouts
* Cabbage (any type)
* Broccolini
* Summer squash
* Zucchini squash
♡ A diverse selection of leafy greens should be 10-15% of your rabbit’s diet (plus 80% hay and 10% pellets)
Some vegetables and all fruits are high in starches or sugars – including carrots! Limit carrot, fruits and dried fruits to a 1-inch portion only once per day
Fruits
:
These should be no more than 10% of the diet (about 1 teaspoon per 2 lbs of body weight per day):
* Apple (any variety, without stem and seeds)
* Cherries (any variety, without the pits)
* Pear
* Peach
* Plum (without the pits)
* Kiwi
* Papaya
* Mango
* Berries (any type)
* Berries (uncooked)
* Pineapple (remove skin)
* Banana (remove peel; no more than about 2 1/8 inch slices).**
* Melons (any – can include peel and seeds)
* Star Fruit
* Apricot
* Currants
* Nectarine
Unless otherwise stated it is more nutritious to leave the skin on the fruit (particularly if organic), just wash thoroughly.
Occasional TREATS:
**Sugary fruits such as bananas,grapes and raisins should be used only sparingly, as occasional treats. Bunnies have a sweet tooth and if left to their own devices will devour sugary foods to the exclusion of healthful ones.**
NO:
Processed cereal kibble
Mueslix
Cereal/veggie blends
Candies/sugars
◆As they don’t offer nutritional value for the rabbit and are rather unhealthy, this are the equivalent to taking your rabbit to McDonalds.
Note: Some of the info comes from some articles from House Rabbit Society.
Thanks for reading, I didn’t want to make this post too long, so I decide it to make a series of posts called Beginners guide to rabbits.
Next:
Part 2 What you need to buy before getting a rabbit, plus a Haul of the cute stuff I got for my rabbit
Love, Eden& あいぼん
edenalison.wordpress.com 