Are you looking for a pet? Maybe a rabbit is the right animal for you! Then again, maybe not! This page was written to inform first-timers about rabbits in general. The responses to the following Frequently Asked Questions reflect our personal experiences and policies only. Other sources may conflict with this page, but this is what we say...
| Should I buy from a rabbit breeder or a pet store? |
| Rabbit breeder, of course. The keyword here is Rabbits! A rabbit breeder not only has a passion for rabbits and will have taken care of your future pet better, but they are extremely knowledgeable in the world of rabbits. A pet store is trying to sell pets and make money. It's just a business for them. A rabbit breeder will take the time to help you and your new pet out and answer any questions that you have. If you visit the rabbitry, you'll get to see the full-grown version of your future pet. And, a rabbit breeder won't sell you a rabbit that's too young. Pet stores tend to sell "Cute Bunnies" that are too young to be weaned, and too young to fight off sickness. A rabbit breeder is your best choice for a healthy, purebred pet rabbit. |
| How hard is it to take care of a rabbit? |
| Not hard at all! All they need is food, water, shelter, and a little bit of your love and time. Compared to other pets, rabbits are easy to take care of. They're self-cleaning! They don't need baths or regular trips to the vet. They won't drag mud into your house! |
| Can rabbits live outside? |
| Yes. Of course, the rabbit needs a shelter to protect them from the wind and weather though. This can be a building or covered hutch that opens away from the wind. Rabbits do great in the winter time! We get a lot of questions regarding whether or not rabbits can survive cold weather. The answer is yes! They have fur coats! The biggest problem is that their water will freeze and needs to be thawed regularly! Summer is the hardest time of year for the rabbit and they will need to be kept cool with a fan (that doesn't blow directly on the rabbit), or used soda bottles filled with ice for the rabbit to lay by. |
| Can rabbits live in the house? |
| Yes. Our rabbits would love to come into the house and ditch the stinky old barn any day! Rabbits shouldn't be free to roam your house, though. Because their teeth continually grow, they love to chew on anything they can sink their teeth into, like furniture, electrical cords, carpet, etc. These items can kill your rabbit and cost a lot to fix. It's a good idea to have them live in a cage and get them out when you'll be watching them. Rabbits can be litter-trained to keep the carpet clean! |
| Can rabbits be litter-trained? |
| Yes. Rabbits don't have full control of their pellets, though, and some random pellets may be left behind. However, the rabbit will only use the litter box to urinate. |
| How long do rabbits live? |
| We've never had a rabbit live past 5 years, although we've heard of rabbits living far past that age. Pet rabbits live longer than show rabbits who are regularly stressed, and may live 5 to 10 plus years. Smaller breeds such as the Holland tend to live the longest. |
| Should I get a doe or a buck? |
| We have found that bucks make the best pets, although they may become territorial and spray. Does sometimes have a temperment but usually do not spray. Rabbits may be spayed or neutered to produce a more desirable attitude, although we haven't tried doing so. Ask your vet if you want more information about this topic. |
| Can rabbits live together? |
| In short, no. Rabbits want their own personal space, so each adult rabbit should have his or her own cage. We separate our babies between 8 and 12 weeks old to avoid fighting or, if they're opposite sexes, babies. You can spay or neuter rabbits, although we haven't tried doing so. Ask your vet if you want more information about this topic. |
| Should I buy a rabbit with a pedigree? What does "pedigreed" mean or do for me? |
| Maybe. Pedigreed means a breeder (like M-n-M Rabbits) has kept track of three generations of a rabbit's ancestry on paper. This is only useful if you plan to breed or show a rabbit. Pet owners may get peace of mind out of a pedigree by knowing that the breeder stands behind their stock. This usually insures healthy, well taken care of rabbits. Pedigreed stock typically costs more than a normal rabbit. All of our rabbits have pedigrees, but we will sell them without pedigrees for a price break. "Pedigreed" should not be mistaken for or interchanged with "registered". "Registered" means a rabbit has undergone inspection and been admitted into the official registry of the American Rabbit Breeders Association. A fee of $4 has been paid, an exclusive tattoo has been added to the rabbit's right ear, and a certificate of registration should accompany the rabbit's pedigree. Registered rabbits will definitely cost more and might not be your best choice for a pet. |
| What kind or size of cage should a rabbit have? |
| All of our cages are made of 14 gauge double galvanized rabbit wire, and we wouldn't recommend anything else. Wooden hutches, if cleaned regularly, are a good choice for pet rabbits, but are little competition for modern wire cages. The cage bottom, or floor, is constructed of 1/2 by 1 inch wire. The door, sides, and top are 1 by 2 inch wire. In terms of size of cage, we make sure their cage is large enough for them to hop at least once from a corner to the other side of the cage. Our Mini Rex and Hollands are comfortable in 18" x 24" cages, although several live in our bigger 24" x 28" cages, which are a good size for New Zealands and Palominos. Of course, brood does will need larger dimensions to make room for a nest box and babies. |
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