Bringing A Rabbit Home: Setting up their home for them

In this post we’re following on from the last post about what to use when bringing a rabbit home.

We’re going to look at what the essential things are that you need for when your bring your rabbit home.
So here are the essential things you’ll need to have in place once your rabbit arrives at their new home.

Think about where you will put your cage/hutch?

Having the room to keep a rabbit is vital to ensuring your new rabbit has the best start to living in their new home.

Think about where you are going to keep your rabbit. Is it going to be kept inside or outside?

What is the rabbit used to. Some rabbit have been kept inside for all of their lives and will just not be used to being kept outside, where as others will be completely fine with being outside.

Get some good background on your rabbit and find out what they are used to before deciding that the rabbit would be a good fit for your home.

If you have any other pets in your home, think about the impact on them. It is a good idea to keep them separate in case they just don’t get on.

Get a good Rabbit hutch

Many owners make the mistake of getting a hutch that is far too small for their rabbits. In fact most pet stores sell rabbit hutches that are far too small for their rabbit.

The RWAF recommends a minimum hutch size of 6′ x 2′ x 2′, which allows rabbits some room to move, stand on their hind legs and enough space for the food, toilet and sleeping areas to be kept apart.

It is commonly accepted that a rabbit should have space for 3 hops, but it is commonly underestimated just how far 3 hops is – our tests show that 3 hops from an average sized rabbit covers 6-7 feet!

A hutch should only be a shelter and not the only living space. It should be attached to a secure run of at least 8′ x 4′.

These types of cages can be bought be very reasonably if you are prepared to look around.

Rabbit food

Stock up on some good food for your rabbit. Get in plenty of food for then as well.

Water for your Rabbit

Get a water bottle for your rabbit so that they have a constant supply of water and never get thirsty. This can be attached to the side of the cage and then refilled when it is getting low.

Hay

Rabbits always need hay to chew on so get hay for them to do this and it can also double up as bedding which they will use to snuggle into when they sleep.

A Run

Rabbits need exercise and love to run. Have a place where they can run around in.

If you have the garden to do this in, it might be worth making an enclosed area where they can run around in.

You can also purchase large grids that you can place on grass that will allow the Rabbit to run around in.

What to do when you get your Rabbit home

When you get home and you have its cage all ready to go, carefully lift the rabbit out of the carrier and give it a good cuddle.

Its important that it gets to know you and what you are like as its owner, building up the trust is important.

It may appear nervous and wriggle around but that’s perfectly normal as it will be nervous and its first instinct will be to go and hide.

After a few minutes of holding it, place the rabbit in the cage and shut the door.

Believe it or not, talking to the rabbit will help it acclimatise and get to know your voice. This is important for the rabbit in getting to know its new surroundings.

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