Easter will be here on Sunday March 23, 2008 and I know that a lot of people find it a great gift to give the children a pet rabbit. I think it’s a terrible idea to have an impulse purchase of a pet. They are adorable but they also require care, love and attention. If you feel strongly that you want a pet rabbit take time to research having them before you rush out to get one for Easter.
We happen to have a delightful little pet rabbit. His name is Chuck Norris, which always gives me a giggle when I have to speak out loud his full name. Our pet is a mini rex and he’s a wonderful pet. Small enough for the children to hold and pet and very soft to touch and caress. He’s very docile and enjoys being held and carried but loves to run around free. He has a 4-foot long by 2-foot wide cage that we keep indoors. I know a lot of people put a hutch outdoors for their bunnies but they really should be kept in out of the weather. Our rabbit has a litter box in his cage that we fill with organic litter and he uses it so we don’t have a lot of mess. Rabbit’s are
quite easily trained to use a litter box and are very smart.
Rabbits can live for many years and are a long-term pet if you choose to bring one into your life. They are very social creatures and require attention. You can have a rabbit spayed or neutered and you should if you are going to have more than one. Rabbits require a healthy diet and should
be given a great deal of timothy hay. They need the fiber in their diets. They love to chew so keeping chew toys in their cages for them is a good idea. If you are going to let your rabbit roam free you should take care and make sure there are no wires laying around. You can thread them through a small PVC pipe so that they are protected from the rabbit. They will chew your baseboards and furniture legs as well. We keep our rabbit in his cage unless he is out supervised for periods. We have three dachshunds that would love to play with him and they would play too rough. So please be mindful of your other pets around your rabbit. It's best to have safety in mind for your pet rabbit.
Rabbits also love treats even though they should not be overfed foods that aren’t that healthy just like us as well but an occasional treat is alright.
Honey Balls
Ingredients:
Weetabix crushed 1/4 cup
Oats 1/4 cup
Honey
Rabbit pellets crushed 1/3 cup
Carrot cut in tiny pieces
Instructions:
Mix all ingredients into a bowl (except honey) once mixed add as much honey as you
need to make the balls stick together.
Homemade Bunny Biscuits
1 small carrot, pureed
1/2 banana, mashed until really creamy
1 tbsp honey
1/4 cup rabbit pellets, ground finely in a coffee grinder
1/4 cup ground oats, ground finely in a coffee grinder
Mix pureed carrot, banana and honey in a medium bowl. Add pellet powder and ground oats. Mix until blended. Knead in your hands for 1-2 minutes. Roll out the "dough" in 1/8- to 1/4-inch thick layers between sheets of plastic wrap. Cut into small cookies (about 3/4 inch across). Place cut shapes onto a parchment paper covered cookie sheet. Bake at 325 degrees for about 30 minutes (check to make sure they are not browning too much). Turn off the heat and let the cookies sit in the warm oven for an hour or so.
Remember, never to give rabbits a lot of foods that are sugary and high in carbohydrates you don’t want to upset their digestion and cause diarrhea. It’s all right for the occasional treat sparingly but not all the time. They do enjoy fruits and vegetables but be careful with iceberg lettuce.
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