Recommended Reading

House Rabbit Handbook:

How to Live With an Urban Rabbit

by Marinell Harriman

House Rabbits

GRR strongly advocates rabbits living in the home. Domesticated rabbits make fantastic companion animals. They are intelligent and social and to leave them locked in a backyard hutch does the bunny as well as the bunny owner, a great disservice. They can be litter box trained, have free roam of a "bunny-proofed" house, and can get along with well-trained cats, dogs, and other pets.

 

 

 

 

House Rabbit Diet

The main staples of a rabbit diet include:

1. Timothy Hay- Hay is essential to a rabbit's good health, providing roughage which reduces the danger of hairballs and other blockages. Apple tree twigs also provide good roughage.
2. Pellets- Pellets should be fresh, and should be relatively high in fiber (18% minimum fiber). Do not purchase more than 6 weeks worth of feed at a time, as it will become spoiled. Pellets should make up less of a rabbit's diet as he or she grows older, and hay should be available 24 hours a day. Never feed your rabbit pellets loaded with colored treats, seeds, or corn. Bunny tummies have trouble digesting such things. Save of the favorite pellets of rabbit friends are Oxbow, Purina Rabbit Chow, and Nutriphase.
3. Unlimited Water
4. Fresh Vegetables- Select at least three kinds of vegetables daily. A variety is necessary in order to obtain the necessary nutrients, with one each day that contains Vitamin A. Add one vegetable to the diet at a time. Eliminate if it causes soft stools or diarrhea.

Litter Box Training

These creatures of habit respond well to litter box training. Put the box where ever bunny indicates is her potty spot. Then put some of her droppings in the box and wait! Whenever bunny looks like she is positioning to potty, put her in the box and say "Good Bunny!” Hay in the box will help too. Simply layer litter in a large litter box with a nice bunch of hay on top of that. The rabbit will sit in the box – munching and going to the bathroom, excellent positive reinforcement!
What sort of litter should a bunny use? Avoid clay or clumping litters since they may cause blockage if ingested. We like to use Feline Pine, which is made out of recycled pine or Yesterday’s News, made from recycled newspapers. Both litters have great odor control, easy clean up and can be composed when it's dirty. **There are also many generic forms of this litter and even a horse bedding this is the same stuff-just cheaper!

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