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COMPASS MAGAZINE, April 1999. VOL. 6 ISSUE 4

Bunny care in the Year of the Rabbit
By D.J. Chen

As you enjoyed the shopping and festivities of this Chinese New Year, you probably noticed that many animal vendors have recently added one more creature to the usual for-sale birds, hamsters, guinea pigs and other critters. This being the Year of the Rabbit, rabbits seem to be grabbing everyone's attention, with their big eyes, long ears, twitching noses and mild temperaments.
If you are one of those who has caught rabbit-raising fever, it would be a good idea to gain some common knowledge about rabbits to and rabbit care to get off to a good start:

1. Environmental conditions
People have kept rabbits as pets for hundreds of years, primarily because of their pleasant character and because they are easily domesticated. However, even pet rabbits retain an element of their wild selves and are easily alarmed or frightened. As a result, you should always be gentle picking them up or holding them. It is best if you have a garden or back yard with grass to allow them to run around in a more natural setting. They are also group animals and feel best in the company of their masters or other rabbits. Questions to ask yourself are, how much time do you have to take of them, can you help your children raise them if they want them as pets, and do you have friends to watch them while your away from home on vacation. If you can positively answer these questions, then you're ready to pick up your rabbit!

2. Choosing a rabbit
You probably need to think about what kind of rabbits and how big a rabbit you prefer. The largest rabbits are Flemish Giants, averaging nine kilograms in weight. The smallest is the Polish Rabbit, weighing less than one kilogram. Most popular are the Japanese White or New Zealand White and some mixed spotted rabbits, which weigh about four kilograms as adults. You might be wondering so-called "mini rabbits." Actually, these are newborn bunnies, which leads some owners to complain when their mini rabbit grows to puppy size. Netherlands Dwarf rabbits are often seen here usually weigh about 1 to 1.5 kg. Dwarf Lap rabbits usually weigh around 1.75 to 2.25 kg. while Dutch rabbits weigh about 2 to 2.5 kg. These small rabbits are very popular in Japan, Europe and America but not Taiwan, where rabbits are not as popular as pets.
The next question you have to consider is how many of them you want to raise. Rabbits need company and to be loved. If you want to have two or more, the sex of rabbits will be important. After they are four months old, male rabbits start to build their territory and might bite each other so they have to be separated. Female ones are usually quieter and gentler to each other. However, all rabbits need to have enough of their own space and face too much pressure if it is not big enough. Can a male and female be raised in the same cage? Definitely, but, before you do this, keep in mind that a that a pregnant rabbit only needs 30 days before it gives birth, with eight to 10 babies born each time -- up to seven times per year. This can easily lead to a population explosion.
When choosing rabbits, look for healthy ones with bright eyes, that are active and not too afraid of people, with soft, neat hair, no white build-up in their eyes and noses, and clean ears. Also check with the seller about how old your rabbits are because it takes them six to eight weeks to stop nursing; the best choices should be seven to 10 weeks old. Three to four week rabbits are cutest but they are also too small to be taken care of.

3. How to raise rabbits
Try not to raise rabbits outside and avoid rain, too much sun and the intrusion of other animals, because they may harm your very sensitive pet. After finding the right environment, the first task is to prepare a rabbit hutch, best made of wood, to provide a dark and cool area for a rabbit to rest in it. You should also prepare some fine wood shavings, straw and corn leaves for their nest and a heavy but shallow dish for them to eat out of. You also have to prepare a piece of wood -- branches are better -- for them to chew so that their teeth won't grow too fast and too long. The last thing to prepare is a shallow plate for them to defecate in.
If you decide to raise your rabbits in your house, roaming free like cats, you can train them to urinate and defecate in the same place, but it takes several training lessons before they get the idea. Some gentle, repeated reminders, without real punishment, should be enough.

4. Feeding your rabbit
Rabbits food is mostly grains, vegetables and dry grass. Breed food mixture packages are available at pet shops, for prices similar to dog and cat food. They like roots or stems such as carrots and sweet potatoes. Green leafy vegetables and beans are good for them to eat, too. Fruits like apples, strawberries, bananas, pears and grapes are good but avoid overly-juicy ones. Do not feed rabbits under 12 weeks old green leafy vegetables because this may cause diarrhea. Adult rabbits should not be fed too many green leaves and make sure all food has been cleaned with water. It is better to feed more than one kind vegetable--fresh and not boiled. Some shops also sell dry grass for rabbits. While wild leaves are edible, avoid street-side grass which may be badly polluted. You can feed them one cup of dry food in the morning and a mix of fresh vegetables in the afternoon. Dry grass and clean water should be offered all the time.

5. Exercise and care
Your pet should be let out of the cage once a day but the space for exercise should be limited to keep them from outside danger. They shouldn't go out if it is too muddy after rains or too cold or hot. Brushing their hair, even though they can brush their own hair, gives you another chance to be closer to your pet. Brushing is very important with long-haired Angora rabbits. Some people incorrectly believe that rabbits do not need water and will die if they drink water. In fact, you can even give your rabbit your bath although this is not advised until your pet is very comfortable with you. One of my rabbits trusts me so much that it falls asleep during baths. Stranger yet, some rabbits like to eat meat, hate carrots, love sweets and are capable of intimidating dogs and cats. You, too, will no doubt learn more about the individual personality of your pet as you experience the fun and fulfillment of raising a rabbit.