1st – 9th June 2019
Rabbit Awareness Week has been running for the last 12 years to raise awareness of the 5 key welfare needs of rabbits in order to improve their living standards, and this year it is back from 1st – 9th June.
Rabbits make great pets for lots of reasons. They are extremely sociable and highly intelligent, they are super clean, and they are great fun to watch running and jumping around! They do, however, require commitment from their owner to meet their basic welfare needs and keep them happy and healthy.
Diet
Around 90% of your rabbits’ diet should come from good quality hay, as fibre is essential in order for their digestive systems to work correctly and to prevent their teeth from becoming overgrown. Nuggets should be fed to ensure they are receiving all the minerals they need. Fresh greens also provide additional nutrition, and snacks are a great way to add variety, encourage foraging, and help bonding. But remember, fresh water must be available at all times!
Environment
Rabbits should be able to exercise freely at all times in safe housing with as much space as possible. They need shelter, places to hide, and enrichment items such as willow balls, tunnels and platforms. They also need soft, safe bedding where they can sleep that is separate to their eating and toilet area. You should give their housing a quick clean daily, and a thorough clean once a week, replacing all bedding and hay. Using a pet safe disinfectant is also important to prevent bacteria, and keep it smelling fresh.
Behaviour
Rabbits need to be able to display natural behaviours in order to be happy. They are not aggressive by nature, but they can bite, scratch or kick if they feel nervous. Changes in behaviour can indicate that your rabbit is in pain, but ensuring their environment is appropriate will allow them to express natural behaviours – remember, rabbits spend 70% of their time foraging so access to hay and grass is very important.
Companionship
Rabbits are sociable animals that like interaction with both humans and other rabbits. They should be kept in at least pairs, but not with other animals. Introduction to other rabbits should be done over a few weeks to prevent aggression. Try sprinkling some healthy fruit salad or dried plantain through their hay or around their pen once they are living together to encourage foraging and as a great way to bond with your rabbits.
Health
You should take your rabbit to the vets for a check up at least once a year, as they are prey animals so are good at hiding ill-health. You should groom your rabbit daily if possible using a soft brush or comb to check for problems like fly strike. An insecticidal spray like Fly Free can help to prevent this. You should also check your rabbits nails weekly, and carefully trim them if needed to prevent them becoming overgrown.