Rabbits

How to choose the best bunny?

Many of you have heard that rabbits are much more of a pest than anything else but there is more to it than meets the eye. Rabbits are actually quite docile creatures and actually do make great pets. Now before you go out with a net and try to catch one, there are a few things to keep in mind.

1. Wild rabbits are wild for a reason. They are used to living in the wild, being born there of course. If you took one from the wild and put it in a hutch or pen, they would not be suited and can even hurt you if you try to pick them up. They can also carry diseases and can make you sick so it is not a good idea to grab one from the wild.

2. Pet store rabbits are not always hand tamed. They are just rabbits who are put in the store and looked after until they are sold. Though they are not wild rabbits and fit for any home it is really a good idea to make sure you get pretty young rabbits so that they can grow to like you.

3. Buying from people selling at home is not always a good idea. You have to be careful when picking a rabbit, or any pet that is if you are buying from someone who has bred them and is selling the young from their home. They may be selling you a sick rabbit; one that is too young to be sold to a new home or they may be selling ones that have a genetic defect. It is difficult to tell with genetic defects watch to see if they walk strangely, if their eyes are not so bright, if they have mucus coming from their noses, or they are slow and not very active.

From the three above your best chance at getting a very healthy rabbit would be from the pet store. Even though they are not hand tamed you can be fairly sure that they are healthy. Buying from a home seller makes for a better chance at getting a hand-tamed rabbit, but it is best to ask before picking them up.

With any breeder or pet store it is also good to ask about the breed of the rabbit and how big the owner thinks the rabbit will get. Some rabbits can get extremely large and some can be very small. Knowing the breed can also help with special care for the rabbits. A dwarf rabbit will have a shorter coat than that of an angora rabbit. You will not have to brush as much as a dwarf than with an angora!

Never pick a rabbit up by the ears, as it can be very harmful to them. Using both hands, pick up the rabbit from underneath, having one hand over the chest and the other around the back legs so if the rabbit kicks you have a better chance of stopping it.

It is also important to make sure you have everything prepared before you actually go and buy the rabbit to take it home. It must have a place to live, where it will be able to hop around and sleep at night, enough food and water and the accessories such as brushes.

A good home can be just a normal hutch with a place to sleep and a run that rabbit can hop around and lie in the sun. Home made ones can also be good. But it is best to buy one, as home made ones may not be built properly and the rabbit will escape.

Rabbits will eat most green food. Such as lettuce, grass and carrots but buying rabbit food from the store may be a better bet as they have the certain foods rabbits need. Giving them grass or carrots everyday with this store bought food will keep your rabbit healthy.

Accessories that can be used are brushes and if you want you can even bathe your rabbit. If you do, make sure you do not pour water over the head, but wet your hands and softly brush the water over its face. Do not put any animal shampoo or conditioner that is not meant for rabbits and never put it on their faces or heads. Never bathe them on a day where it is windy or cool, as they will catch a cold and maybe even die. Be sure to dry them very thoroughly and until no water drips off their coat.

And best of all, play with your rabbit, stroke them and talk to them. This is the only sure way that they will grow to love you.

Rabbits are sweet natured creatures and with a lot of loving and care, you will find that you will learn new things about them everyday.

- Tamara, 17, South Australia