Editing House rabbits
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== Housing == | == Housing == | ||
Rabbits should NEVER be free roamed without supervision. It is important to have a properly sized wire bottomed cage for your rabbit to use as it's home base for times you can not monitor your rabbits activities. | Rabbits should NEVER be free roamed without supervision. It is important to have a properly sized wire bottomed cage for your rabbit to use as it's home base for times you can not monitor your rabbits activities. Free roaming should be supervised at all times. | ||
==Rest mats== | ==Rest mats== | ||
Rabbits get friction | Rabbits get friction from solid flooring which can cause sore hocks in Rabbits with narrow feet. Sore Hocks can be bred out of a line by selecting for Wide Well furred feet. Rest mats are used for extra Large Rabbits and Breeds like Rexes who are prone to getting sore hock due to there excessive weights, or thinner coat types and if a rabbit wants to get off the wire flooring. | ||
==Feeding== | ==Feeding== | ||
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Some brands that have complete pellets are Heinold, Kalmblach, Manna Pro Sho . It is important to select a 100% completely balanced diet. No different than balanced kibble. | Some brands that have complete pellets are Heinold, Kalmblach, Manna Pro Sho . It is important to select a 100% completely balanced diet. No different than balanced kibble. | ||
==Enrichment== | ==Enrichment== | ||
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==Housing rabbits together== | ==Housing rabbits together== | ||
Rabbits naturally do not bond. When a rabbit doesn't want to be near it's "friend" They can kill one another or cause severe injuries. Domesticated rabbits descend from European wild rabbits. European wild rabbits live in groups depending upon resources available. The more resources that are available, the less tightly they group, and actually prefer quite a bit of distance from the other rabbits. A literature review concluded that wild rabbits are either dominant or subordinate and the subordinate animals live in a constant state of stress and fear when in a group setting. Dominant animals require submission from subordinate daily, and if not performed, leads to violent fighting. | |||
Domesticated rabbits allowed to live in colonies showed much aggression to each other, and the reviewers came to the conclusion that rabbits are very aggressively territorial animals and for their safety, should be housed individually. | Domesticated rabbits allowed to live in colonies showed much aggression to each other, and the reviewers came to the conclusion that rabbits are very aggressively territorial animals and for their safety, should be housed individually. | ||
Notes from housing studies recommended separating Rabbits before 80 days of age, as in their study they found that rabbits particularly bucks but also | A few studies have mentioned at pairs or rabbits may be doable but even then one will take the position of the dominate rabbit, and it is a precarious social structure. Notes from housing studies recommended separating Rabbits before 80 days of age, as in their study they found that rabbits particularly bucks but also doe that reached 80 days old while still in a group setting became very aggressive toward on another as they hit adulthood. Spaying and Neutering does not effect aggressive behaviors since typically their behavior is the way rabbits are wired as a species. Occasionally altering a rabbit will make it more aggressive as well as open it up for other types of cancer, skeletal muscular, and hormonal issues. | ||
==Interaction== | ==Interaction== | ||
Interaction is important even with rabbits | Interaction is important even with meat rabbits. Interacting daily with your Rabbits makes them calmer, and friendlier and reduces stress when taking to shows or even on butcher day. Playing with your Rabbit Calmly, letting them come to you, giving treats, Grooming, are all ways to stimulate your rabbits. Supervised free roam time, Grooming, and supervised inter species playtime can be a fun outlet for your Rabbit. |