How do you deal with a new rabbit?

If the title of this post caught your attention, you are probably considering getting a new rabbit. I have just recently added a couple of rabbits to my herd, so now may be a good time to discuss how you treat them. I am going through the same issues you will be facing when you bring your new rabbit home, and this is how I am dealing with them. The first problem you have to deal with is disease. Now, if this is your first rabbit, you don't need to worry about this. However, if your last one died recently and you are looking to get a replacement, it's a different story. First, do you know for sure that it didn't die from disease? If you don't know this for certain, keep your new rabbit away from the old one's living space. If there is no wood on the cage, it's okay to use it. Just scrub the cage really well, (using liquid bleach on it may not be a bad idea) and let it sit out in the sunshine for a day or two. Ditto with any crocks or water bottles the old rabbit used (just make sure you rinse them out really well before the new rabbit uses them.) Why do you need to do this? Well, in case your old rabbit had any diseases or parasites which caused him to die, you definitely don't want your new rabbit to catch them. This isn't necessary if it died a long time ago or if you're sure it died of causes other than disease, but it's still a good idea. If you have rabbits already, keep your new one quarantined for at least two weeks, unless you know and trust the breeder well. Sometimes new rabbits will have infectious diseases, and this period will give any disease it may have time to show itself. Make sure you examine the rabbit for any signs of disease (more on that later) before buying it or moving it in with the other rabbits. Be gentle with your new rabbit the first week you bring him home. He's gone through a lot of stress recently, what with the trip in the car, strange people handling him, and all the unfamiliar sounds of your home. You may not want to get him out of his cage the same day you get him. Leave him alone and let him get used to his surroundings. Feeding rabbits greens before they are ready will result in diarrhea, tummy aches and maybe even death. Don't feed him greens (or anything that isn't dried)until he is at least three months old, and don't over do it then. In fact, don't feed him anything he's not used to in large amounts. To give you an idea of how little to start with, if you are planning on feeding him carrots regularly, start with a single carrot round per day. You can gradually increase the amount as he gets used to it, but it really isn't necessary for him to have any treats at all. The pellets will give him all he needs. However, a little treat won't hurt every once in a while, and if he's an angora, giving him hay may not be a bad idea. It helps with wool block. Also, make sure you get a sample of food from the breeder if it is different from your own, then gradually mix your pellets with the pellets he's used too. Rabbits are wonderful pets. Above all, just love your rabbit. But love him enough to care for him properly. Do your research. The more you know about your rabbit the more you can truly love him the way he needs to be loved.

Cinnamon and Crystal went to their new home yesterday. Now it's just Skwert and Drizzle and Cirrus and Lity left. I'm going to miss them but their new Mom is going to take good care of them. I'm looking into getting a French Angora buck from Blossom Acres rabbitry. I'm interested in either Thumper or Smokey. Either one will do the job I think, I'll just have to decide which has the best personality.

I have just made an important decision. I have decided to switch to the French Angora. The basis for my decision is time. Recently on the website of an experienced breeder, I saw that for full coat, the general rule of thumb she uses is a half half hour per day per rabbit. In a few years I will be going off to college, and my sister will have to take over for me. I don't have that kind of time, and neither does she.  Since I have almost no idea what to look for, I will start by getting a rabbit from a local breeder I know, whom I trust to steer me right. He can also give me an idea of what to look for when I go searching on my own.
     The other major decision I have made is to get a new rabbit shelter. Basically my rabbits are in a glorified tent right now. It is very dark and also gets very hot in the summer. After I sell my English, I will make sure I have something more decent set up before I get my French.

"Drizzle" Junior BEW Buck

"Cinnamon" Junior chocolate Doe