Animal Antics for Students - Rabbits

Food

Rabbits eat pellets, hay and chopped vegetables like carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes and apples.

Water

Rabbits must have fresh water all the time.

Shelter

Rabbits live in hutches, which are built of timber and wire. Part of a hutch should have a roof so the animals are safe from the sun, wind and rain. The floor should be covered in wood shavings and straw for the rabbits to make their beds in. Remember to clean the hutch regularly.

Friends

It is best to have two desexed rabbits, one male and one female.

Exercise

It is good for rabbits to explore the world outside their hutches regularly. Make sure rabbits can't escape under fences or through gates. Stay with the rabbits when they are exploring in case cats, foxes or dogs show up.

Vet care

Rabbits must visit the vet once a year for a check-up. Vets give rabbits vaccinations to stop them catching diseases. You should also take rabbits to the vet if they have weeping eyes, are sleeping all the time or not eating.

Identification

A microchip can be put underneath the coat of a rabbit so it can be returned home if it is lost.

Lifespan

Rabbits live for up to 10 years.