THE Wild Rabbit LIFE SPAN
Wild rabbits typically live between four weeks and one year. They face various risks, Such as attacks from predators like foxes, wild and domestic dogs and cats, and powerful owls, as well as deadly rabbit viruses, parasites, and "starvation" due to inbreeding. Inbreeding and crossbreeding different rabbit breeds can cause the teeth to misalign, leading to the rabbit losing the ability to chew and eat its food. Furthermore, incompatible inbreeding and crossbreeding can cause numerous genetic health issues that shorten a rabbit's lifespan.
It's essential to note that domestic rabbits are man-made designer rabbits born in captivity. Although they're vaguely related to wild rabbits, they lack the learned survival skills of the wild Rabbit. Releasing an unwanted domestic rabbit into the wild is a death sentence for the rabbit.
Can I keep my rabbit in a backyard hutch?
Keeping your rabbit in a backyard hutch is not a good idea if you want them to live a long and healthy life. Unfortunately, many pet rabbits remain "torched" in cramped and filthy hutches in people's backyards. This is sad because it's not good for the rabbits' health or happiness. When they can't move around and hop as they should, they become unhealthy and depressed... Big hutches are hard to clean and can make a mess of your lawn. Also, keeping your rabbit outside can make it challenging to care for them when the weather is terrible. Most people only interact with their backyard bunnies and clean the hutches when the weather is nice. It isn't fair to the rabbits, who need positive and regular human social interaction and clean housing for their well-being.
Deadly weather extremes kill rabbits
Temperatures over 27°C can cause Heat Stroke, and temperatures below 10°C can cause Hypothermia. Both are deadly for a contained pet rabbit. Old School Theory: Providing an ice brick to keep your rabbit's temperature cool outside on hot days is hard work and unreliable; you would need to do this every few hours to keep your rabbit alive in hot Australian weather. The best room temperature for a rabbit is between 14°C and 22°C.
Living in a BACKYARD hutch is very risky
Deadly spider bites, mosquitoes, flies, and fleas are hungry and sneaky, and they can infect your rabbit with fatal viruses and diseases. Mosquito netting does little to protect your rabbit from determined insects. Predators: A neighbour's dog or a fox can rip an average wooden hutch apart in three minutes; seeing an unknown dog, cat or fox could give a rabbit a heart attack.
THE Backyard Rabbit life span
Backyard rabbits usually live for a span of three months to three years. There are many life-threatening risks for the backyard rabbit. These include harsh weather, predators, parasites, and highly contagious and deadly rabbit viruses such as Calicivirus and Myxomatosis. Apart from these risks, Out of sight - out of mind - If the rabbit is not given proper care and twice daily maintenance or is poorly bred with genetic health issues, it will have a short lifespan! Also, It's common to hear stories of pet rabbits being left alone in the backyard playpen for just a few minutes to answer the phone, only to return and find that a neighbour's cat or dog has killed the bunny.
THE House or apartment rabbit LIFE SPAN
House rabbits live longer because they are "protected" from the many life-threatening risks that rabbits living in the wild or a backyard hutch face. Rabbits living in a house or apartment with the company and love of their human guardians can live for eight to ten years or more when they are well-bred and receive correct care and love. A HOUSE RABBIT IS THE SAFEST RABBIT! - WHO LIVES AND LOVES THE LONGEST!
DO I NEED TO VACCINATE MY RABBIT?
Yes, you should vaccinate your pet rabbit if you want it to have a long and healthy life! In Australia, wild-feral rabbits can cause a lot of damage to farmland, building foundations, and ecosystems. Our government releases Rabbit Calicivirus to cull the wild rabbit population. Calicivirus is deadly to wild and pet rabbits,
Calicivirus is spread through various methods, from mosquitoes, flies, fleas, and rabbits to rabbits, contaminated food, grass, weeds, shoes, and even second-hand rabbit cages and equipment.
Unfortunately, rabbit calicivirus does not discriminate between pet and wild rabbits, and thousands of Australian pet rabbits die each year from this preventable, deadly, highly contagious virus.
Rabbit Calicivirus is a painful way to die and has a 99.99% death rate in infected rabbits. Rabbits can die suddenly without prior symptoms or suffer from foaming at the mouth, bleeding from the anus, and convulsions before dying. Calicivirus has no cure, so the best way to protect your pet rabbit is to keep it indoors with you and regularly vaccinate.
If a rabbit dies from an unknown cause, it is essential to consider the possibility of Calicivirus before getting a new rabbit. The deceased rabbit's food, housing, and accessories should be discarded, and all household flooring and furniture the rabbit came into contact with should be disinfected with vet-grade disinfectant F10 before bringing home a new bunny. Calicivirus can live for up to six months on contaminated objects.
Australia has multiple strains of Calicivirus, including RHDV1, RHDV1a (also known as K5), and RHDV2. Myxomatosis is another deadly virus affecting rabbits in Australia, but no vaccination is available.
Regular Calicivirus vaccination is essential for a rabbit, but no vaccine is 100% foolproof; keeping your rabbit indoors with you provides extra protection. And they do make wonderful indoor pets.
Responsible pet rabbit ownership includes regular vaccinations, health checks, desexing and keeping them as indoor pets.
All rabbits in our care are vaccinated, And all baby rabbits leave our care with the initial first two four and eight-week-old Calicivirus vaccinations to start protection as soon as possible.
IS IT necessary to desex your pet rabbit?
Yes, it is; just like dogs and cats, rabbits benefit from being spayed or neutered. It helps maintain their good health and promotes clean and friendly behaviour.
If you have a female rabbit and don't get her spayed, you may notice unwanted changes in her behaviour as hormones kick in between the ages of five and six months old. She may become moody, defensive, and unfriendly. Additionally, litter tray use may become inconsistent. Up to 80% of unspayed female rabbits develop "cancerous" uterine changes from one to two years old. They may also suffer from phantom pregnancies. That's why desexing them at the appropriate age is vital to avoid complications and potential health issues.
Similarly, an unneutered male rabbit may exhibit undesirable behaviours, such as urine and poop spraying, humping things, or even you or your child! At around four to five months old, hormones kick in and can frustrate them. Furthermore, testicular cancer is a genuine concern for male rabbits. On average, 20% of unneutered male rabbits develop testicular cancer. By getting your male rabbit desexed, you can prevent these behaviours and health problems from arising.
Caring for hormonally charged, not desexed rabbits is hard work!
In summary, desexing your pet rabbit is essential for their health and well-being. Don't wait for unwanted behaviours or health issues to develop! Desex at the appropriate age to contribute to your furry friends' happy and healthy lives.
When cancer symptoms appear,
It is often too late to operate. The operation to attempt to remove cancer will cost thousands of dollars; Prevention by desexing is better than cure!
Unsexed abandoned rabbits fill rabbit rescue centres due to behavioural problems that could have easily been fixed with desexing.
To ensure that your bunny stays healthy, calm, friendly and well-behaved, It is recommended to have them desexed at the appropriate age. We advise desexing boy bunnies at four and a half months old and girl bunnies at five months old. The cost for desexing (spaying - females and neutering - males) usually ranges from $450.00 to $550.00. Budget for this to happen a few months after taking your new baby bunny home.
Regular Health Checks And Vaccination Boosters Are Important!
It is essential to schedule six-monthly health checks, apply preventives and vaccinate as advised. Rabbit medicine requires specialised expertise, and not all veterinarians have sufficient education or experience. However, we can assist you in finding highly qualified and experienced rabbit veterinarians.
DO I GET ONE OR TWO RABBITS AT THE start?
Getting to know one rabbit before deciding whether to get another is recommended. It is best to have your first rabbit desexed and then consider getting another rabbit after careful consideration.
Starting with one rabbit avoids many complications and allows you to develop a loving bond with your first rabbit. The first rabbit tends to have the strongest bond with its owner, while the second rabbit may be more interested in the first rabbit than its owner.
One rabbit can be content living with humans who spend time with them daily, showing them love and affection. Establishing a routine with set times each morning and night is ideal, as rabbits love routine and look forward to spending time with their guardians.
If you have limited time with your bunny, getting another rabbit after desexing is a good idea; rabbits are social creatures and need regular company.
As social creatures, rabbits require regular company and affection from humans, other rabbits, or gentle household pets. Having another connected spirit in the room with them regularly can bring joy to their lives.
While some households may be suitable for one rabbit, others may be ideal for two. Watching two desexed rabbits in love is delightful.
WHICH Gender of Rabbits Makes the Best Pair?
A pairing of a male and female domestic rabbit is the most uncomplicated and harmonious. To avoid complications, we highly recommend beginning with one rabbit and having it desexed before considering a partner of the opposite sex.
When starting with two young rabbits, "complications" may occur, such as:
The rabbits being sexed incorrectly. Occasionally, even if a very experienced vet or breeder sexed the rabbits at eight weeks old, at this young age, a rabbit could appear to be one sex and become another. Sometimes, the rabbit's sex can only be confirmed one hundred percent when the rabbit reaches three months old.when the rabbit reaches three months old.
If rabbits are sexed incorrectly, and it turns out that you have two males, you may have to choose which rabbit to keep—and then have to rehome the other rabbit because they fight ferociously. Or do you keep the two boys in two separate housing areas forever?
Then there is the possibility that you thought you had two girls, But one is a boy, and one is a girl (it happens), and you end up with an unplanned inbreed-brother-sister litter, hopping with genetic health problems to rehome.
Rehoming an accidental inbred (brother-sister litter) should be done with complete transparency. , E.g. This rabbit may have genetic health issues and a short life span, and you may have to pay hefty vet bills because their parents are brother and sister - full disclosure is the right thing to do.
When bringing a partner home for your first desexed rabbit, If the second rabbit brought home is not of the opposite sex, it may become apparent if the first rabbit shows continuous, unwavering outright disgust towards the new rabbit and continuously attacks it.
Sometimes, your first desexed rabbit may be territorial with a new rabbit of the opposite sex, but it is pretty easy to get around this; we give you bonding instructions, and love will happen!
Bonding same-sex rabbits can be challenging and sometimes impossible, even after desexing.
Can two Male rabbits live together? Even if they are from the same litter and desexed, they rarely get along well, and sometimes, one bully boy may harass the other boy; even after desexing, they may still fight and possibly hurt each other. Sometimes, they will put up with each other and are ok. On rare occasions, they may make peace with each other. Every bunny is an individual!
Can two Female rabbits live together? Yes, they can, especially if they are from the same litter. During the first four to five months of life, they will get along well, But if not desexed at five months old, two female rabbits, even from the same litter, often fight and hurt each other. After desexing, they may still have occasional disagreements. Most often, they find friendship and peace with each other if spayed at the appropriate age.
Purchasing a pet for your children is a big deal; you create memories that will last a lifetime. Suppose you have two or three children who want their very own rabbit. Starting with one rabbit is an excellent opportunity for your children to learn to share. You can consider another rabbit if they can help you maintain one rabbit well.
It is essential to remember that every rabbit is an individual, and there will always be exceptions to the majority. This advice is based on 40 years of experience caring for pet rabbits in Australia and aims to provide the best odds of success and reduce complications.
Can I Use a Harness and Leash with My Rabbit? - no!
Many pet shops sell rabbit leads and harnesses, but using them with your rabbit is not safe or appropriate. Unlike a dog, it is not agreeable or natural for a rabbit's movements to be restricted.
Unfortunately, many online guides on rabbit care are written by people who have never owned a rabbit and provide incorrect information. These guides often include cute rabbit photos to sell inappropriate, unhealthy, and dangerous products for pet rabbits.
Harnesses and leads, in particular, are among the most dangerous products available for pet rabbits. Putting a rabbit in a harness attached to a leash can be deadly.
Although training your rabbit to jump over obstacles in a harness is possible, restricting their movements with a harness can be dangerous. Attending rabbit hopping events can also expose them to parasites, diseases, and deadly viruses.
Rabbits have fragile skeletons. If startled by an unfamiliar noise or the appearance of a strange cat or dog, they will panic and try to escape, often leading to broken bones.
Broken bones can cost thousands of dollars to repair if repairable; a rabbit often dies due to broken bones.
Or, due to the inability to escape the situation immediately by being restrained by a harness and lead, a rabbit can suffer a heart attack and die. A panicked rabbit can also get entangled in the lead, causing a broken neck. Additionally, the stress of wearing a harness can lead to gastrointestinal stasis, a potentially fatal condition in which the digestive system slows down or stops working entirely.
On a positive note, rabbits are intelligent and trainable. You can train them to perform tricks and come to their names with patience and motivation. You can create obstacle courses in the safety of your home without using a harness and lead.
Can I let my rabbit hop around on AND EAT grass?
NO! NOT IF YOU WANT TO PROTECT YOUR RABBITS HEALTH!
Backyard Grass, all ground Grass and weeds are unsafe for bunnies to hop on or eat! Although we do the regular and essential vaccination for Calicivirus, no vaccine is foolproof! And we do not have a vaccination for Myxomatosis.
These viruses are highly contagious, deadly, travel with the wind via flies and mosquitoes, and are lethal with contact with just one spore left on the Grass by a passing bird; grass fleas are common on Grass and just one bite and game over.
Chemical treatments used on backyard grass are also toxic for a bunny.
Regular grass has no reliable nutritional value; a domestic rabbit's diet is primarily Oaten Hay, good quality, safe hay purchased from a trusted supplier.
You do not want to take any chances with your beloved bunny!
If you want to feed your rabbit grass or (safe rabbit weeds) as a treat, grow it yourself in a pot off the ground.
Placing a rabbit on its back stresses it ouT!
AND IS DANGEROUS FOR ITS HEART AND SPINE. APPEARANCES CAN BE DECEIVING: Many think their rabbits enjoy being held like babies on their backs because they aren't moving or trying to escape. The rabbit visually appears to be relaxed; This is an illusion! Placing a rabbit on its back removes all free will to move; a rabbit on its back is paralysed and in a state of extreme fear and stress.
A rabbit goes into an automatic fear and stress-induced response where it cannot move when on its back. It is playing dead; this automatic response comes in handy in the wild when in the jaws of a predator. If the predator thinks the rabbit is finished, the predator may release it, and the rabbit may have a chance to escape if it does not have a heart attack first.
Injury possibility: Rabbits have fragile spines. If the rabbit can resist as you place it on its back, it will kick and struggle to get upright, possibly leading to a spinal injury.
Exceptions:
At their discretion, a trained vet may need to place a rabbit on its back for a health check or medical procedure.
As a last resort for the rabbit's safety, a "trained" rabbit handler-groomer may have no other option but to place the rabbit in this position to trim the nails safely; this is not something pet rabbit owners should do! If Bunny's Nails are trimmed regularly from a young age, most accept it as part of life, and nail trimming is not hard to do.
Learning to trim the nails of an experienced rabbit groomer is advised.
Relaxing your rabbit before nail trimming and ensuring you are relaxed also helps.
We offer you the option to learn how to trim nails when you adopt a bunny from us.
Rabbits and other domestic PETS
Rabbits get along well and enjoy the company of dogs with a proper introduction. We also have bunnies living successfully with cats, but this depends on the cat's nature. Indoor-only Cats are better suited. Some cats are just not suitable to live with bunnies. One cat scratch can be deadly.
Prior to bringing a pet rabbit home
Consider whether you are prepared to provide appropriate care for a bunny for eight to ten years.
The initial expenses include purchasing a health-checked, "well-bred" baby rabbit that has received its four and eight-week-old Calicivirus vaccinations and parasite preventive treatments. Starting with a well-bred and protected rabbit, the right housing food and accessories will save you a fortune in vet bills and avoid heartache.
We have an excellent, complete bunny home care package available for you to buy.
A booster Calicivirus vaccination and a health check will be required one month after bringing the rabbit home.
Desexing is essential when they're four and a half to five months old, as it helps maintain clean, calm, and friendly behaviour and can prevent common reproductive cancers. The average cost of desexing a rabbit in Australia is between four hundred and five hundred and fifty dollars.
After the initial expenses, the average ongoing cost of caring for a well-maintained rabbit is approximately two dollars per day, which equates to seven hundred and thirty dollars per year in 2023. This cost includes food, toys, health checks, vaccinations, and preventatives but does not cover unexpected vet bills. Starting with a healthy rabbit from a reputable and experienced breeder is essential to minimise the likelihood of unexpected vet bills.
DAILY PET RABBIT CARE NEEDS
A rabbit must always have an unlimited supply of hay, two water sources, a clean water bowl, and a glass pet drinker for backup. Rabbits can not be without these two essentials ever! They do not fast!
DAILY ROUTINE: 1. Provide food and water top-ups twice and once daily; brushing is required to keep their digestive system hopping efficiently.
2. Feed rabbit-safe supplement foods in the advised portions, morning and night, and hand feed some of the supplement foods for extra love. We provide you with a comprehensive list of rabbit-safe and healthy supplement foods.
3. Cleaning: To maintain a clean living environment for your furry friend, a quick daily spot clean of their home with a dustpan and broom and a once-a-week total cleaning of their living area is required; this takes about ten to fifteen minutes. Change the litter tray - the toilet every two days.
4. Rabbits, being social creatures, rely on human companionship for their well-being. To establish a solid and affectionate bond with your bunny, spend a little time with them in the morning and as much time as possible in the evenings, even if it is just simply being in the same room. Rabbits love routine, so spending time with them and feeding them at the same time each day is ideal.
RABBITS ARE ENCHANTING PETS AND A JOY TO CARE FOR.