2. What breed is my rabbit?
This is a tough one. There are over 50 breeds accepted by ARBA and who knows how many others “in the works.” There is also the possibility of it being a mixed breed. First you should get a weight on the rabbit and narrow down what types of breeds weigh close to what your rabbit is. Is the rabbit a lop earred or not? Long fur or short? These questions narrow down the possibilities even more. If you are still lost, without any idea, email a picture to a breeder and ask. They may be able to help you, or tell you if it’s a mix or not.

3. How much should I feed my rabbit?
Visit my section on Feeding & Watering rabbits.

4. What’s the best way to water my rabbit?

Visit my section on Feeding & Watering rabbits. Water should be clean, fresh and cold. Rabbits should have constant access to pure water.

5. Can rabbits be litter box trained?
Yes! I have sold many rabbits who take to litter box training immediately, as a cat would. Others have a harder time. Most leave hard round poop where ever they hop, but these aren’t messy or smelly and can easily be picked up. Visit my section on Litter Box Training for more information.

6. Should I take my rabbit to the vet?
Rabbits don’t need shots and vaccines like cats and dogs do. Vets will argue this, but honestly they don’t. I don’t ever take a rabbit to the vet unless they’re showing a true sign of illness or injury that I cannot treat myself. I wouldn’t recommend a pet owner treating any illness or injury on their own if they have no experience. However, rabbits are very clean and generally healthy animals. They do not need routine vet screenings.

7. Why is my rabbit’s pee orange?
This is a normal build up of calcium in the urine. It is completely normal and no cause for concern.

8. My lop rabbit is holding it’s ears up. Why?
This is what breeders call “ear control” or “airplane ears.” Most lops will go through this stage between birth and the age of 3 months. It depends on the genetics if the ears will ever go down normally. If there is not a lot of space between the ears, it is more likely the ears will not lop. (If you can only fit one finger between the ears without making them lop.) A good lop with good ear carriage, you’ll be able to fit 2-4 fingers between the ears on the top of the head.

9. How do I trim my rabbit’s nails?
This is hardest if the rabbit has dark nails, because you cannot see the wick (blood vein) in the nails. If this is the case, just trim the very tip, or file down with a nail file. If you can see the wick, you may clip as close to it as you need to. If you do cut into the vein, it will cause the rabbit much pain and it will bleed. Stop the bleeding with corn starch or by holding a paper towel in place over the wound.

10. Can I give my rabbit treats?

All good rabbits deserve treats, but don’t over do it. Treats bought at pet stores are usually no better then our “junk food.” Too much of it can cause a rabbit to become obese really fast. No vegetables (raw) should be given to any rabbits under 6 months of age. Bananas and apples (no peels, or apple seeds/cores!) can be given to all ages in moderation. If diarrhea occurs, remove the treat and supplement it with timothy hay or dry uncooked oatmeal (no sugar.) Under no circumstances should greens of any kind (lettuce or cabbage) be fed to a rabbit. Giving too much of this is very bad for their health.

11. My rabbit has diarrhea. What should I do?
Diarrhea can be caused by a ton of different things. If you’ve been giving a rabbit a lot of veggies or fruits, stop it and give them oats or hay. If you recently changed food, make sure it isn’t bad. Don’t switch brands of food if you can help it. Different fiber and protein content can mess up their sensitive stomachs. Disease is another cause. If the rabbit has been left to a dirty environment, he will get sick. If this is the case, a vet visit may be in order.

12. My rabbit has lost fur and has dandruff, what can I do?
Sounds like fur mites and/or fleas. Treat with kitten flea powder, as directed. If the missing fur is only around the bottom of the rabbit, as well as it’s tail. It could be hutch burn. Cause frequently by urine guards splashing the urine back up on the rabbit. (Or dirty cages.) Rub Neosporin on the inflamed area, clean the cage and/or remove the urine guards.

13. My rabbit is digging in its ears, why?
Check inside the ears. It could be ear mites if there is anything crusty or fowl smelling. The cheapest remedy for this (with a small outbreak) is to dump mineral oil into each ear. This drowns the mites. If they still refuse to leave, medicated ear drops can be obtained from your vet.

14. My rabbit has a lump, what is it?
Tumors are fairly common in rabbits. No one knows what causes them. Most can be operated on and removed. Any growth should be checked by your vet. If the lump is hard, it is most likely a tumor. If it has a wound and is soft to the touch, it is a sore that needs to be lanced and/or drained. Vets should only do this in case there are complications. If you cut into a tumor, thinking it is an infection, it can be very painful to the rabbit. It can also cause excessive bleeding and lead to death if not done by a professional. Seek medical attention!

15. Should I get my rabbit a play mate?
NO. Rabbits do not get lonely and do not need another rabbit to make them happy. Once rabbits are sexually mature, they may fight or even kill one another. They may also mate if they are of the opposite sex. Rabbits should be housed separately no later then 4 months of age (or when they start fighting.)

16. Why is my rabbit suddenly aggressive and/or spraying?
If your rabbit is going on 6-7 months (9 months for bigger breeds) he/she may be becoming sexually mature and frustrated. They can become very territorial, causing them to spray. Males and females can do this. Not all rabbits do it, in my experience genetics have some of the fault here with their attitude. Females may become agitated and bite or nip. Males may appear to be overly friendly and demand attention, when suddenly they spray at you. To fix this you may consider spaying or neutering the rabbit.

17. My rabbits teeth have grown wildly! What happened?
Rabbits teeth grow like nails and need to be worn down. Many rabbits will chew on their food dishes, cage wire, whatever they can to file them down. Sometimes, due to a genetic flaw a rabbit may develop a malocclusion. This is where the bottom teeth grow up over the top and split. The top teeth may curl back inside the mouth. This makes it much harder for the rabbit to eat and may eventually lead to death by starvation. Teeth like this can be clipped with nail clippers or scissors. It’s really very easy to do. You won’t get them even or perfect looking, but it will improve the rabbit’s life. If you are unable to clip the teeth yourself, seek a vet to do it for you.

18. My rabbit eats it’s droppings sometimes. Is this normal?
Yes, this is called coprophagy (the eating of night droppings.) This is perfectly normal. These night droppings help restore the good bacteria and some of the essential nutrients in the rabbit’s system. Most of the time, the rabbit will eat this type of dropping directly from the rectum. It is normal and important to the rabbit’s proper nutrient balance.

19. My rabbit is not eating or drinking. What is wrong?
Check your feed and make sure it isn’t bad. Check your water bottle and make sure it is working. Rabbits won’t eat without a good water supply. If all is good, the rabbit might be ill. If it hasn’t ate by day 3 seek out the vet.

20. How long do rabbits live?
Rabbits live between 8 to 12 years, although some have been known to live much shorter, or even longer. As long as the rabbit is kept in a clean environment, fed healthy food and played with often, he/she should live a long and healthy life.

21. Should a rabbit be let outside to play in the yard?
This is up to you. I would only advise it if you can supervise the rabbit. Rabbits are VERY VERY hard to catch if let loose. They are very fast. I would only do this in a fenced in yard, and make sure the rabbit cannot squeeze out of the fence anywhere first. If dogs are in your yard, chain them or put them in the house first. Neighborhood dogs can startle the rabbits as well. Rabbits should not be left out without supervision. They are diggers and can dig a hole under the fence and escape. They also may end up eating something poisonous or fall victim to a neighborhood dog, or even a hawk attack.
Some people I know have set up play areas outside for the rabbit to run through. This is good and fun, but it should not be the rabbits home. Do not let the rabbit out if you use chemicals or pesticides, it will poison the rabbit.

22. Can I let my rabbit have babies, just once?
Again this is up to you, but you must consider the responsibility. Rabbits grow up and need to be separated before they breed to each other. If you have young children, think of them and how they would handle knowing any of the babies might die. The perfect pregnancy has no deaths, but that is not always the case. Either someone might get stepped on, or something to lead to its doom. Also some does are bad moms and may even eat the babies and leave a gruesome find for in the morning. Most importantly, you must decide if you can house all the babies, or if you can find homes for them when they’re weaned. (No sooner then 8 weeks!!!)
So it is up to you. You will also need to know the basics on breeding. A doe will kindle (have her babies) within 30 days of mating. Sometimes sooner, sometimes later. You must get a nest box that is big enough to hold the doe and her babies. You must have nesting material (hay or straw) for the litter to be born in. When in a jam, newspaper shredded in long strips works. The mom will make a nest out of the material and fur from her own body to support the babies. I usually put in a nest box by the 28th day.

23. Should I spay or neuter my rabbit?
Completely up to you. Some people will argue that it adds onto the rabbits life. I have no evidence one way or the other. I do know that in a particularly sexually aggressive male or female, this will calm them down somewhat. It will stop them from spraying as well. I would not recommend either technique unless the rabbit has become unruly.

24. How do I pick up a rabbit. By it’s ears?
NO! The ears are not the handles! Some pick up rabbits by the scruff of the neck. This also is not the best way. It will loosen the skin and is uncomfortable for the rabbit. Slip a hand under the belly and lift with both hands. Support the legs either with your body or a free hand. If the rabbit gets jumpy, cover his/her eyes and support the back feet. They will usually calm down. Lots of rabbits love to be held on their backs in your arm like a baby.

25. When are babies old enough to buy from a breeder or pet store?
8 weeks is the minimum legal age to sell any animal. Lots of breeders and pet stores will sell rabbits younger and it is WRONG. While some will live, quite a few will die, because their stomachs are way too sensitive to be on an all pellet diet. Some also may have internal parasites that either the pet store, or breeder did not treat for. These might remain dormant for a few days or weeks, but could eventually lead to the rabbits death. Under no circumstances, do not buy a rabbit under the age of 8 weeks. Some breeders may swap younger rabbits, but only because they have does on hand who have babies around the same age, that could foster if needed.

26. Are rabbits rodents?
Not anymore, that are classified as lagomorphs. They used to be classified as rodents until scientists discovered a few key differences. The main difference is they have 2 additional incisor teeth, and do not use their hands to eat their food.

27. Do rabbits make any noise?
Rabbits like to bang and jump around and cause annoying clanking sounds. They will also grunt and squeal if they are excited or scared. Some will scream if they are in pain.

28. Can I keep brother and sister rabbits together?
Not unless you want inbred babies, or lots of fighting. Having babies too early for some does can result in death. Sisters and brothers also start to pick at each other and even fight after 3 months of age. The buck may also eat the babies if they are born. Spay and neuter if you must house them together. If you cannot, separate them. Or just get one.

29. My rabbits are fighting! What happened?
The rabbits have become sexually mature and are fighting over territory. Spray or neuter or separate them.

30. My rabbit had babies. Can I touch them and play with them?
You should avoid “playing” with the babies and handle them as little as possible. Handling directly after the kindling process is fine, so long as your hands are clean. The mom rabbit usually won’t keep you from touching and holding them. They need to be in the nest as much as possible to remain warm from the other kits. I usually only remove mine from the nest to count and make sure they are all alive. Remove any dead kits as soon as they are found. Search the entire nest if you count one missing, incase they crawled off into a corner. Make sure they all stay together in one spot. The mom will usually only be in the nest really early in the morning to feed the babies ONCE.

31. Will the mom rabbit keep her babies warm?
Mom rabbits rarely hop in the nest except to feed their babies. They usually will not sit in the nest to keep their babies warm. The babies should keep each other warm with body heat. Cover them with the mother’s fur if they become chilled.

32. My rabbit is old. Can she/he still have babies?
I’ve had does as old as 8 years old have healthy kits. It is recommended they receive a shot of Penicillin before breeding. I also give mine wheat germ oil in the food. This helps kick their reproductive system into gear.

33. When do baby rabbits’ eyes open?
Usually around 10 days. Do not force them open earlier, let them open on their own. Remove the nest box at around 3 weeks of age to prevent any eye infections.

34. My rabbit had babies on the cage floor. What happened?
Sounds like you purchased a female rabbit who had been previously bred. This happens most often on rabbits bought from pet stores, or from breeders who have kept rabbits together too long. The only other reason is sometimes a doe who has been bred may have her babies early. In either case, there is little you can do.

35. How long does it take a rabbit to have babies? What do I need to do to prepare?
It takes 30 days from the time of breeding, for the doe to kindle. Mark it on your calender so you don’t forget. By the 28th day put a nest box in with the doe, with nesting material. (Hay, Straw or shredded newspaper) She will build a nest and kindle by the 30th day usually. Sometimes it is as late as the 34th. If it’s longer then this, she either had a false pregnancy, or will deliver stillborn kits.

36. Should I buy from a breeder or a pet store? What is the difference?
I would recommend from a breeder for many reasons. Pet stores may not be able to tell you the age or sex of the rabbit. They won’t know the breed, or real color. They won’t be able to offer you any help if the rabbit is sick or if you have any questions down the road. Pet stores often sell rabbits for $89 and above (in my town it’s more like $129 and above.) Pet stores often store all ages of rabbits together. This allows for unchecked mating. Does are frequently bought by consumers only to find one morning that their pet has died from birthing babies too early, or she has had dead babies on the cage wire.
A breeder can help you avoid all of this. Buying pets from breeders is also usually much cheaper. I sell my pets between $25-50 each. Some breeders even give away free rabbits, or sell much lower depending on the breed and how badly the breeder needs to free up cage space.