Rat
Rescue :: Outdoor
Rabbit Guide
Outdoor Rabbit Guide
Rabbits have been popular pets for centuries, and they live
on average to 5 years old (though we have heard of a few reaching
9 years old..and still going!)
Rabbits are usually very docile but, if cornered, frightened
or frustrated, can be nervous and will bite or 'attack' you
by scrabbling with their front paws.
Rabbits are lagomorphs and that means that their teeth are
constantly growing. They require plenty of hard food to chew
to keep their teeth worn down. Complete rabbit dry foods are
good, but should not be the sole diet.
Rabbits should have good hay and fresh water available all
the time. Very small amounts of cabbage or carrot can be fed
as treats.
Any new food should be introduced slowly and not fed to excess
as it may cause diarrhoea until the rabbit is used to it. This
especially refers to young rabbits that have either just left
their mother or their litter brothers and sisters, as this is
a traumatic time for them anyway.
Additional wood, or branches from apple or pear trees or proprietary
nibbling treats are useful to wear the teeth down. If the teeth
get overgrown they can be cut or removed by operation by a veterinary
surgeon.
NOTE: If your rabbit does suffer from diarrhoea, feed it strawberry
leaves. NEVER feed a rabbit lettuce.
Accommodation
Unless they are (same sex) litter mates, or a neutered buck
with a doe, rabbits are best kept singly. If kept in a hutch,
the hutch must be at least 4ft long and 18" deep and have
a private nest compartment. If the hutch is outdoors it should
be adequately felted to prevent draughts and dampness. It should
be sheltered, and ideally placed in a garden shed over winter.
The bedding material should be absorbent e.g. pet bedding*,
straw or hay. The seeds should be shaken out of the hay and
straw to prevent them getting in the rabbits eyes.
Supplies for your Rabbit
* Although woodshavings are the popular choice for pet shops
and breeders, we either use a paper based cat litter such as
biocatolet or carefresh supreme. In our experience, in some
cases, woodshavings / sawdust can cause respiratory problems
which can kill.
General Care
Long coated rabbits must be groomed daily. All rabbits should
have their teeth and nails checked for overgrowth. Some rabbits
get soiled around the vent (bottom) area, this is very often
caused by the rabbit being overweight, (one large handful of
food is sufficient for an average size rabbit).
This is particularly dangerous in summer as flies will lay
their eggs in the coat leading to maggot infestation (flystrike),
which can be FATAL. All rabbits should be checked daily in the
summer and kept very clean.
Vaccination is available for two fatal diseases, myxomatosis
and VHD (Viral Haemorrhagic Disease). Vaccinations can be done
from 8 weeks of age and are boosted annually. In a high risk
area (e.g. with wild rabbits around) boosters should be every
six months. Your vet will be able to advise you on this.
Vaccination is important, it is the only way to protect your
rabbit and prevent further spread of disease. VHD symptoms vary
from loss of appetite to sudden death. Rabbits develop breathing
difficulties, convulsions, in coordination, and often a bloodstained
nasal discharge. It is very distressing and happens very quickly.
All breeds of rabbit can be affected including pet, show and
wild rabbits. This year VHD has killed 10 times more rabbits
than it did last year. The virus is present in the saliva and
nasal secretions of rabbits, and it can be spread by direct
contact with rabbits or carried on people, clothing, objects,
birds and other animals.
Myxomatosis is spread by fleas and mosquitoes and is a horrible
disease. Symptoms include puffy fluid swellings around the head
and face. 'Sleepy eyes' are a classic sign along with swollen
lips and ears and genitalia. It is fatal. As well as vaccination,
flea control is important in prevention.
Wild Food and Feeding for Rabbits.
Wild Plants: Feed
Avens or Geum, Argrimony, Bramble, Bindweed, Bishop's Weed or
Ground Elder, Burnet, Butterbur, Cow Parsnip or Hogweed, Clovers,
Coltsfoot, Convolvulus, Chickweed, Goosegrass, Crosewort or
Maywort, Dandelion, Dock (before seeding), Goutweed, Hawkweed,
Heather, Hedgeparsley, Knapweed, Knotgrass, Lucerne, Mallow,
Mustard, Nipplewort, Plaintain, Sea Spinach, Shepards Purse,
Sour Dock or Sorrel, Thistles, Trefoil, Vetches or Tares, Watercress,
Yarrow.
Wild Plants: Avoid
Arum, Anemone, Black Nightshade, Bluebells, Buttercup, Bryony,
Colchicums, (Meadow Saffron), Corn Cockle, Celandine, Deadly
Nightshade, Docks (in seed), Dog Mercurry, Figwort, Foxglove,
Iris, Fools Parsley, Ground Ivy, Hemlock, Henbane, Poppies,
Scarlet Pimpernal, Spurges, Toadflax, Travellers Joy.
Cultivated Vegetables and Roots: Feed
Artichokes, Jerusalem (Leaves and Roots), Beetroot, Brussels
Sprouts, Beans and Haulms (Not Scarlet Runners), Chicory, Cauliflower,
Carrots, Cabbage, Celery, Clover, Dandelion, Fodder Beet, Horse
Radish, Kale's, Kohl-Rabi, Lucerne, Maize Mangolds (after 25th
December), Parsley, Parsnips, Strawberry, Swedes, Sainfoin,
Savoys, Spinich, Sunflowers.
Cultivated Vegetables and Roots: Avoid
Mangold Tops, Mangold Roots (before December), Tomato Leaves,
Potato Tops, Lettuce.
Flowers: Feed, Asters, Borage, Calendula, Centaurea, Daisies,
Galega, Geranium, Geum, Helenium, Hollyhock, Honesty, Lupins
(not seeds), Marguerites, Marigolds, Michaelmas Daisies, Nasturtium,
Rose, Stocks, Sunflowers, Wallflowers.
Flowers: Avoid
Acacia, Aconite, Antirrhinum, Arum, Anemone, Columbine, Daffodil,
Dahlia, Delphinium, Feverfew, Gyposphilla, Helleborus, Hyacinth,
Iris, Larkspur, Lilly of the Valley, Linarias, Lobelia, Love-in-a-mist,
Monkswood, Poppies, Snowdrop, Tulips.
Trees and Shrubs: Feed
Practically all Deciduous trees,(Except very fresh growth of
young trees and twigs), Blackberry, Rose, Raspberry Canes and
Winter Ivy.
Trees and Shrubs: Avoid
Most Evergreen trees and Shrubs, Acacia, Box Elder, Beech Mast,
Gorse Seeds, Laburnam, Oak, Snowberry, Plum, Ivy, (Except in
Winter when no berries or flowers).
NOTE: BEFORE FEEDING YOUR RABBITS
WITH ANY WILD PLANTS MAKE SURE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN CONTAMINATED
WITH PESTICIDES, OTHER CHEMICALS OR FOULING BY DOGS.
