Bunny Care
Things I Have Learned…
I have a learned a few things “The Hard Way” raising rabbits. I thought it would be good to pass along some obvious and not so obvious tips to those going down the same road I did in learning to take care of bunnies. The bullets below should be researched further for additional information. I will continue to add to this list and if you have any suggestions please send them to me!
FEEDING
Hay – Keep your hay inside, off the ground, clean and dry. Chickens spread coccidiosis (treat with Sulmet) and this will kill your rabbits in just a few days. Mice and rats also spread disease.
Water Bottles – Check your ball valves every day to make sure water is flowing and monitor water consumption level. A rabbit can die with no water in just a couple days depending on age and temperature.
BREEDING
Foster – Breed a new mother at the same time you breed a seasoned mother. You can foster kits that are not getting cared for with the seasoned mother. Be careful not to rob her milk from her kits!
Nursing - Manually feed newborns powdered kitten milk though a nippled bottle or a syringe. Force mother on her back and place the kits on the nipples to ensure they are getting fed. No more than 5-10 mins once a day twice a day if they are very skinny. You can overfeed and kill the kits. Turn them over to see the milk in the side of the kits after feeding.
Bucks - They go sterile in the summer due to hot temperatures. Keep them cool if you want to breed.
Milk – You can help to initiate the flow of milk by feeding the mother greens. I give mine wild strawberry leaves, clovers and thick grass.
Cages – Make a special birthing cage with narrow spaced wire to prevent the babies heads from getting wedged or put solid walls up in the cage.
MEDICATION
Sulmet – Give rabbits this medication in their water once a month as to help prevent disease. 2 tps of per gallon.
Terramycin – Treat highly contagious ”Weepy” eyes with this ointment. Wash your hands when done!
Ivomec – Rabbits that need to be wormed.
CAGES
In/Out – When you take your rabbits out of the cage be careful not to hook their ears and especially their legs. Put the rabbits back into their cage tail first so they don’t get excited and start kicking.
Cage Building - Don’t use “Tin Snips” buy “Electric Shears” from Harbor Freight for $45. 
MISC
Clothes - Wear a 100% Polyester long sleeve shirt when working with EA’s. The hair won’t stick and your arms are protected from scratches.
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Bunny Cage Tags
As a breeder it is very important to be able to keep good records on your rabbits. To do this I made a nice looking cage tag that I keep on the door to all of my hutches. I put all of the basic information about the rabbit on the tag including breeding information. You can download, print and laminate this standard 8.5×11 page that has 6 cards per page by clicking on the image. Use a fine point permanant marker and alcohol to make notes on the card. Even if you have just a few rabbits or dozens, this will keep your bunnies in order.
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Remedies For Rabbits
There are many great natural remedies that you can use to keep your rabbits in good health. You can use these remedies fresh or dry them and store them for later use. Remedies 1, 2, 4, and 7 are antiseptic, anesthetic and detoxifying or sedative by nature. The herbs should be given to the rabbit for three days after the ailment is gone to ensure a full recovery. Columns 3, 5, 6 and 8 are recommended for their high mineral and vitamin content. These herbs can be fed as often as you like.